Originally Posted by roninofako

Have watched this thread for a minute. Wanted to see where it went before offering my pair of coppers.

@craigjacob1

I can't argue with your tool selection. It is nice. I wish I could afford to stock my XJ with such a lineup. However, I can't in good faith do so. Maybe for my work box, but not my portables...

I do like how you addressed this in your second post...and I do, again, agree...better to have a tool you can depend on, especially in a pinch.

So I see your point, and agree to a certain extent...but that said, maybe picking one or two key components like a good ratchet or breaker bar is a great idea, the rest is negligible. Certain things that get used a lot, I see it.

Here's my story. Back in the day, when I started out wrenching my own rig, I was on a serious budget. Had child support, a mortgage, bills, blablablah....and I decided a Jeep was a good idea in all of this, haha...I had given up wrenching for a good many years at that point. Until I got my XJ.

So, the reasons I started wrenching again were:

A. I was trying to save money by doing it myself vs. taking it to a mechanic.
B. When I got my XJ, I wanted a project anyways.
C. Wanted to make sure it was done right from the get go.
D. Pride of ownership, and being able to say, "Yeah, I did that"
E. I really, really, missed working on my own cars.

By that time however, a lot of my tools had been either lost or stolen, I was on a shoestring budget, and wanted something that would cover all my bases, for the most part, all at once.

I got a HF 301 piece mechanic's tool kit. It had 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive sockets, in shallow and deep, as well as 6 and 12 point. Also had allen, torx, and square-bit sockets in those drives. All basic extensions, elbows, and adapters. Some combo wrenches...common sizes. Full handled screwdriver set, in flat, Phillips, torx... plus free Allen wrenches in SAE and metric, slip joint pliers, channel locks, linesman pliers, needle-nose, crescent wrench...just about anything you'd need, want, or would never use...LOL

It was my main toolkit for years. I used it in my garage, at the salvage yards, on the trail...you name it, it went there. Best part was, it was all in one blow molded case, so you knew when something was missing, instantly. This appeals to my inner OCD, haha

I have only broken a couple of things in that kit. All my fault. Either using tools other than intended, such as grabbing a screwdriver for a prybar, or busting an extension on a rusty bolt in the JY, or using a 3/8 ratchet for a 1/2" job...has been the ONLY time I've broken anything from that kit. Over several years. Of hard use. All of which got replaced. Lifetime warranty.

I liked the kit kit so much, I got a second one...why? The original blow molded case had plastic tabs to close it. One broke. So, I took it to work. It now resides in my Snap On toolbox to this day. Still going strong. The new one is in the back of my XJ. I've barely used it, but have faith that it will be just as good, if not better...the tooling has a better feel to it, and the blow molded case has buckles made from metal now.

I also have a Kennedy tool box I got from my pops way back when, a simple tool box. In that I put Vise Grips, Channel Locks, pry bars, hammers (dead blow, mini sledge, ball peen), ratcheting combo wrenches in SAE and metric, and all the miscellaneous things like electrical, etc...

Then I have milk crates. These only go with on the trail. They hold my spares, fluids, electric impact and sockets, and anything or everything else you can think of...first aid, trash bags, toilet paper...and I haven't even gotten started on camp gear yet, haha

My point is this...The 2 boxes (listed before the milk crates) is the majority of all I ever have needed, both in my driveway, and anywhere else. Between the two, I have EVERY tool you could want....
....for ANY job. AT ALL TIMES. The smaller box even has the bigger sockets for things like hub nut or pinion yoke...it was put together over time.

All that, for not much coin. Has never let me down, over many years.

Originally Posted by investinwaffles

Good point on the FSM PDF on the phone. Always important to have.

Also forgot my most used tool, a $20 Bluetooth OBDII scanner.