Whenever you’re out and about driving, the last thing that’s on your mind is your car breaking down. Too often, breakdowns occur in troublesome areas where you can’t find any cell bars to call for help.
All the tools you have stashed in your garage won’t serve you any good out there in the wild. So, it is a good idea to have a backup car tool kit always in your vehicle if you find yourself stranded on the road. Below are some of the essential tools you should always have in your truck. The possibilities are endless when it comes to essential tools. You can never have enough of them, and the only limit is how many your vehicle can carry. If you find yourself with a spare tool, always throw it into your car. It may be helpful at some point.
Having a well-stocked car tool kit can help you tackle unexpected issues on the road, such as a flat tire or a dead battery. Here are some essential car tools to keep in your car:
- Tire pressure gauge: This will allow you to check the air pressure in your tires, ensuring they are properly inflated.
- Jack and lug wrench: These tools are essential for changing a tire. Make sure you know how to use them before attempting to change a tire.
- Jumper cables: These can help jump-start a dead battery.
- Basic set of screwdrivers: A set of Phillips and flathead screwdrivers in various sizes can come in handy for a variety of tasks.
- Pliers: These can be used for gripping, twisting, and cutting.
- Adjustable wrench: This can be used for tightening or loosening nuts and bolts of different sizes.
- Duct tape: This versatile tape can be used for temporary repairs.
- Flashlight and extra batteries: This will come in handy if you need to make repairs in low-light conditions.
- Road flares or reflective triangles: These can be used to alert other drivers to your presence if you are stranded on the side of the road.
- First aid kit: It’s always a good idea to keep a basic first aid kit in your car.
- Multi-tool: A multi-tool can have a variety of functions, such as pliers, scissors, and a knife.
- Tire sealant: In case of a small puncture or leak, tire sealant can temporarily repair the tire and allow you to get to a repair shop.
- Portable air compressor: This can be used to inflate a tire that is low on air.
- Gloves: It’s always a good idea to keep a pair of gloves in your car to protect your hands during repairs.
- Blanket: A blanket can keep you warm if you are stranded in cold weather.
These are just some of the essential car tools to keep in your car. Depending on your needs, you may want to add additional tools or supplies to your kit.
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Jumper cables
Jumper cables are essential tools to have in your car. Flagging down a vehicle to help you might be difficult. But it’s not as frustrating as when a car arrives to help you, and neither one of you has any cables. When choosing the best jumper cables, go for ones with 4-gauge or 6-gauge wires and are 10 feet longer or more.
Also, make sure you have a storage bag. Most times, shops selling them will often include storage bags. If you don’t have a jumper cable, you can stock up on a power bank and a jump starter. These two should help you get your vehicle up and running again without needing the help of another car. Additionally, it may come in handy when you need to charge any of your devices.
Tire inflator and a sealer
If you regularly keep a spare tire in your car, you need to ensure it’s properly inflated at all times. This way, it becomes steady when you need it. If the backup tire isn’t ready, then what do you do? A can of tire sealant can come in handy in such a situation.
A tire season comes in handy for almost any tire problem. It creates a permanent seal by maintaining the tire’s pressure. While sealants usually work on nearly all tire issues, they don’t fix blowouts. Therefore having a spare tire and ensuring it is adequately inflated goes a long way.
Another good tool to have in the back of your car is a tire inflation gauge. An inflation gauge helps you check your tire’s pressure levels. This way, you’ll always know if your vehicle is ready to hit the road and when it’s not.
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Duct tape
Duct tape isn’t technically a tool, but it comes in handy in unimaginable situations. Always keep duct tape and a knife or scissors for cutting it in your car. You can use it to handle temporary vehicle repairs such as a broken fan belt, a leaking hose, or even a hanging body panel. It can even work as a glove if you’re making repairs on hot surfaces.
The trick is to wrap it around your fingers to avoid toasting your hands whenever you don’t have gloves on the go. The good thing about duct tape is that it’s affordable, and you can dispose of once you’re done. As for the knife, it can come in handy on many occasions. You can use it to open food containers, cut wood to build an emergency fire, or even cut wires.
Screwdriver set
Duct tape might temporarily hold some items together, but it might not do the trick on its own in other situations. If you have a bolt or screw that’s loose or vibrating and looks like it would come apart, you need a screwdriver set to tighten it and make it secure.
Always try to keep some sockets, screwdriver tips, and extenders in your car so that you are better equipped to handle any loose components. Ensure you know how to use the set before restoring them so that you don’t find yourself having the right tool and not knowing what to do with it.
LifeHammer
Accidents aren’t always the first things you think about when life tools cross your mind. However, a LifeHammer could potentially save your life in some scenarios. If you find yourself drowning inside a car or otherwise trapped in your vehicle for one reason or another, a LifeHammer could come in handy in helping you break free.
You can keep the LifeHammer near the driver’s seat and attach it using double-sided tape or Velcro. These attachment methods help you quickly access it in case of any emergency. It has various features that make it a handy tool.
For example, the LifeHammer is designed to cut even the most rigid fabrics, such as seatbelts, quickly to help you get out on time. You can also use it to smash the window to get out quickly. Remember, time is of the essence if the car is on fire or you’re running short on-air underwater. The LifeHammer is equally easy to use.
Tow strap
Tow straps are made with super-strong fabric that come in handy when hauling vehicles in short to medium distances. With a tow strap, you’ll be able to move your car with the help of another vehicle, of course, from one location to another. A tow strap’s strong fabric also makes it an excellent all-purpose tool lengthwise that can enable you to pull yourself from any tie-downs.
Flashlights
You may like to think that your car might break down on a bright sunny day but what if it happens at night? Your smartphone may not come in handy when piercing through the dead of the night. Therefore having a flashlight will help you get work done on your car at night or in less accessible areas.
Before you store it in your car, always ensure that the batteries on the flashlight are new. Additionally, get a spare battery just in case the ones in the flashlight end up not working. Extra batteries will ensure you have a continuous source of light for longer hours.
Also:
- “10 Essential Tools for Every Car Owner” by Popular Mechanics – This article provides a comprehensive list of tools that every car owner should have in their tool kit, including a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables, and a basic set of wrenches and screwdrivers.
- “Must-Have Tools for Your Car” by Edmunds – This article provides a more focused list of essential tools for your car, including a flashlight, duct tape, and a multi-tool with pliers and a knife.
- “Top 15 Best Car Tool Kits” by AutoGuide – This article reviews and ranks the top 15 car tool kits on the market, providing detailed information about each kit’s contents, durability, and value for money.