Hello Everyone,
I figured I would come to the experts instead of guessing about what to do with my problem. As a noob XJ owner, I can see that I will need to buy some tools to help maintain the beast. The problem is that I don't have a clue as to what brand to purchase.

What do I buy? My first impression is to buy Sears Craftsman but, I have been told that Sears sold off the Craftsman line and the quality has gone downhill. I would love to get Snap-on but, it's not in the budget. Who makes decent budget tools?

Also, I am not looking for a huge set of tools. Just something to carry for when I am away from home. If you have a brand that has served you well, please let me know. If you have had serious problems with a line of tools, tell me about that, too.

Oh, if there is a specific tool that you feel would be useful, feel free to comment.

Thanks, everyone.

 

I have a set of Craftsman Max Axess sockets (81 piece set) which I absolutely LOVE. This is the "hollow center" ratchets and they are great tools that have served me very well for several years. The downside of this set is that it's not compatible with standard 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" sockets and ratchets.

At a bare minimum, you should have a breaker bar, a 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4" ratchet with sockets that go from the very small (6mm, 1/4") to at least 18mm and 3/4. Obviously more is better, but you can buy individual sockets at your local hardware store for specific uses as you go, so you don't HAVE to go overboard with every possible socket size. You also want a set of conversions so you can put a 3/8" socket on your 1/2" ratchet and so forth. In addition you should have a set of Torx tools. These can be screwdriver type ones, or preferably socket style ones or better yet, a set of each.
You will also want a set of wrenches that range from at least 10mm (a very common size) to 18mm and 1/4 to 3/4 for situations where it's a tight fit and you can't fit a ratchet.

Craftsman may have declined in quality in recent years, but they're still pretty decent tools and affordable. You can get pretty much everything I've mentioned (short of a breaker bar) in a single Craftsman set probably and not spend more than $150.

You may be tempted from time to time to want to buy Harbor Freight tools since they are low priced - however you will get what you pay for - many of their tools are cheap, weak and failure prone.

 

Also a good variety of screwdrivers is a must as well. I have had all sorts of brands and nothing comes to mind as being something to avoid.

 

A Good Sam card...

 

Don't know what your wanting to spend. My son gave me this set over the summer to keep in the XJ. Seems to be a decent general purpose hand tool kit. Link is just for info purposes.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent...48MP/204064285

 

I carry this same kit in my Jeep 100% of the time and love it. For any long trips, I load up a separate bag of misc stuff including most of the stuff other people have already mentioned. Dont forget extra water, some food and warm clothing! First aid kit is also a plus to have.

 

Brands in no particular order:
https://www.wildetool.com/
http://www.langtools.com/
http://www.protoindustrial.com/
https://www.tekton.com/

 

A multipurpose screw driver, Channel Locks, Crescent wrench and a BFH.

 

Harbor freight gets a bad rap but they have good tools, especially their pro line. Probably some of the most budget friendly tools out there. Most of their stuff is holding up from everyday use, and if you break a hand tool, they have lifetime warranty.

 

Get yourself a big ol breaker bar and a 36?mm socket for road side axle shaft/wheel bearing changes

 

I'm personally a fan of Craftsman. Some of their tools are still made in the US.
I recently picked up a new craftsman 153pc set at the pawn shop for $80. It never hurts to check there.
Some technicians at my work use GearWrench tools and swear by them.
Tekton makes some pretty good budget tools as well.


I recommend home depot / lowes and look for whatever is on sale. You will save the most by buying a socket or wrench set in a package at a discount. Most of the husky / kobalt tools are more than adequate, and carry a lifetime warranty.

I actually got a set like that at costco years ago, but it is long gone. The sockets are more like semi-deep sockets. It was one of my favorite sets.

Harbor freight tools also carry a lifetime warranty, and are much better than they used to be. I still tend to lean toward craftsman though.

 

Stock up on 10mm sockets. They always seem to go missing.

 

In all seriousness, just get this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/301-pc...set-63457.html

I have 3 of these kits. One for home, one for jeep, and one at work.

Has never let me down.

Lifetime warranty on all pieces.

My work box has a mix of Snap-On, Cornwell, Matco, and HF tools.

The HF kit has never let me down, out of all 3 kits I own, I have only broken MAYBE 3-4 items, a breaker bar, a couple of screwdrivers I used as prybars (my fault) and a torx bit.

That's it.

 

Changing axle shafts and/or hub bearings is not something anyone wants to be doing on the side of the road. Trying to loosen a nut torqued over 150ft/lbs with only a flat tire jack is just downright dangerous.

 

sounds like everyone has just about as much of a mixed variety of tools.
Same here... Craftsman, Husky, others...and one I didn't see on the list yet is Proto. I've had a decent socket set and ratchet of theirs for years and it's always stood up to a lot of use without fail yet.