What tools do I need to pack in my 4wd?

If your starting battery is more than 3 years old replace it. Make sure all the battery connections are in first class condition.

Auto Clubs (RAA etc..) tell us batteries are the most common problem they have in the city and country. Smithy who writes for the News papers also suggests the life of a battery is 3 years.

Enjoy your trip

This could be a can worms.

Basically if you are sticking to the bitumen then don't worry about anything more than the car has already. Just stop if something does not "feel" right. Feel the wheel rims and look for a flat. Watch your dash gauges. It doesn't hurt to stop for a cuppa anyway.

But if going offroad the your best bet is to join a 4WD club and do a 4wd course. I have a feeling that you may not have the knowledge nor experience to do anything other than change a tyre let alone repair a puncture.

People die "out there" in the red center who are ill prepared. I hope I am wrong but I feel from your initial post that I have to say these things. And a good club with experienced and helpful members and well designed courses will eventually give you the necessary knowledge and skills to even drive the full Canning Stock Route one day and on your own. Of course a good car is necessary as well.

Hi Derm,

If you're towing a van I assume you won't be going too remote, so a tyre repair kit wouldn't be essential. Two spares can be a good idea.

If you have a van you could put a basic toolbox in the van, if you don't have much room in the Landcruiser.
In my toolbox I have a couple of screwdrivers, spanners, sockets, a couple of different pliers and cutters, test lamp, tape,emergency tape, wire and a pop rivet set in the bottom. I put in the basics and then fill it up with bits and pieces.

If you're travelling with others see what they are taking so you don't doulble up with things unnecessarily.

I also carry a milk crate with some spares like belts, oil, coolant, bulbs, bearings and just sort of fill the crate up.

I hope this helps a bit,
Steve

I think PJR's comments are good. The answer depends very much on just where you intend travelling. If you will be staying on the bitumen you probably won't need anything more than the ability to change a tyre. First step up from that would be the tools and ability to plug a tyre and reinflate it. If though you are thinking of something more adventurous you will need tools (and ability) to perform at least minor roadside repairs. If you were going remote and need to be self reliant, the list gets much longer - spare belts, hoses, extra tyres/wheels, bearings, etc and all the tools that go with them.

Our minimal toolbox includes various sizes of flat and phillips screwdrivers, a set of spanners up to 19mm, tyre plugs etc, plyers - needle nose, heavy, vycegrip, multigrip, sundry zipties, misc nuts/bolts/screw 'that might be useful', araldite......
We always carry a healthy air compressor and full manufacture's manuals for the vehicle (even if they don't make sense to you, they will be useful to someone who stops to help.) The list gets much much longer for trips well away from home.)

Also worth a thought - a first aid kit (and a knowledge of what to do with it!)

Cheers

John

G'Day Derm,

As a basic kit, I'd look at a decent socket set (I personally prefer 3/8 drive), a couple of phillips head screwdrivers, a long flat blade screw driver that can be used as a lever, a set of offset ring spanners, a set of combination ring/open ended spanners, pointy nose pliers, vice grips, side cutters, multi grips, a test light, a roll of electrical tape, some wire of different gauges, a handful of crimp connections, a butane soldering iron, cable ties, a small roll of fencing wire, a torch, some worm drive hose clamps of various sizes, a stanley knife, fuses and some gasket goo.

I'm a mechanic so I'm more likely to give most things a shot, but even if your're not mechanically minded, at least have the right tools for the next bloke or sheila that comes along who might have the knowledge, just not the tools.

Now if weight/size is your problem, then consider taking out the tools that you won't need. Eg: keep the 8, 10, 12, 14, 17 and 19mm stuff and ditch the other stuff. You'll rarely need it on a Cruiser.

A good rule of thumb for anyone, is firstly, in the comfort of your garage, replace your drive belts, nip up all essential nuts and bolts and even replace your radiator hoses. By doing this you will A: Know which tools you need to complete basic tasks, B: know how to do it, C: ensure your spares actually fit (I've been dupped by snotty nosed spare parts kids in the past) and D: reduce the risk of breakdown because you've got new parts on your bus.

Don't get too hung up on spare globes and sundry items...they won't leave you on the side of the road.

Good luck.... Fab.

make sure you have wheel braces and jack (and its handle!) that fit BOTH your tow car AND caravan. Test before you go - don't assume.

Derm,
the tool you need to take will be the one you don't. Trust me

All of the above.

Plus in my case I always carry two jacks, one that came with the cruiser and a ten tonne very low profile hydraulic jack that has been used to get the clearance to remove a spare tyre from under the car.

We all carry pieces of timber or blocks of wood to put under jockey wheels or as levelling pieces but are also invaluable under jacks.

In most cases changing a tyre will be in a most difficult spot.

As for tools where do you stop, wheel bearings and the means to remove an inner cone, substantial wheel brace, even an axe or shovel could be considered as "tools"

My suggestion would be to assemble all that you think you will need for the trip you plan and then carefully discard any surplus.

I have found that a generator has proved to be invaluable for drills, angle grinders, soldering irons and the like.

Some one mentioned fencing wire, right on, pop riveter, drill bits.

It often occurs that you may be called upon to help someone else and if you have the right tools all the better.

Try not to double up.

Have fun Haji-Baba