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Dave12345



Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 1989 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Keswick Green
What’s in your in-car toolbox?
Hoping for some feedback and a guide for others if this hasn’t been done before.

What stays in your Landy as a “get you home” toolkit? What am I missing?

Caveats: not planning on crossing a desert or including any specialist recovery gear in this. Want to keep it all in one box/roll with the exception of the Jack and breaker bar.

So far I’m thinking:

Hammer

Jack
Pump
27mm socket + breaker bar

Spanners & sockets: 10-14mm (most body and suspension fixtures covered here?)
Mole grips
Adjustable spanner
29mm socket - for oil sump plug

Screwdriver + heads

Crimping tool/wire stripper
Selection of spade connectors, male+female
Couple of ring connectors
Fuses
Needle nose pliers
Snips

Torch
Cable ties
Hose clips
Small selection of nuts, bolts and screws
Bulbs

Oil
1L coolant
WD-40
Gaffa tape

Tow rope & RAC membership if all else fails

Box to put it all in.

Knowledge to use it all - working on this one.

Any suggestions? Common failure points I wouldn’t be covered for? Hoping to tap into the collective wisdom of past breakdowns.

Dave
Post #969120 27th Oct 2022 9:50pm
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nitram17



Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

Two pairs of mole grips rather than one (one small long nosed?small plumbers gas torch and couple of spare canisters of gas for those nuts that wont move)
Post #969122 27th Oct 2022 10:05pm
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DSC-off



Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1428

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
The question was asked recently for a Puma, most of it will be the same.

https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic84173...t=tool+kit
Post #969127 27th Oct 2022 11:51pm
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Mossberg



Member Since: 29 Feb 2020
Location: Lancs
Posts: 553

United Kingdom 1993 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green
Watching with interest! I haven't put anything together yet tools wise but I want too. I want to make something up that could perhaps be in a couple of boxes - one permanently in the truck and another for longer journeys. My thoughts behind this are I would not want to leave high value gear in it permanently as it is a potential target for theives, especially as I don't have under-seat storage due to fuel tank position.

For the longer trips I think adding a suitable ratchet, spanners, adjustable, hammer, hub nut tool. Also prop shaft spanner and socket.

Things to include in the "permanent" kit are;

Top-up fluids such as engine oil, water, screen wash and perhaps a coolant mix. Kitchen roll, baby wipes, gloves. Serpentine belt (i saved the old one last time i changed it). These tend to be bulky and live in a storage box in the back.

Couple of wheel bearings and grease. Plastic drive flange cap, couple of hub nuts and locking washer (I have these spare as I have changed all my wheel bearings and kept some old ones paired together)
Some wire, bullet and spade connectors, crimping tool/strippers, insulation tape, spare bulbs, spare fuses.
Jubilee clips and cable ties.
The bearings and wiring kit may fit in my battery box if I use a suitable container.

I do look at this kit and think why do I need to carry all this whilst I only carry wheel changing kit in my car - but then I think my truck is coming up to its 30th birthday, much of the engineering is 60/70/80s design, and many things can be road-side "get me home" repairs.
Post #969128 28th Oct 2022 2:09am
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HardCharger



Member Since: 03 Mar 2013
Location: Manila
Posts: 740

Philippines 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Stornoway Grey
Don't forget the fan tool. For Pumas, you cannot change a belt quickly if you do not get to remove the fan.
Post #969129 28th Oct 2022 2:25am
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100inch



Member Since: 15 May 2012
Location: Brunswick
Posts: 411

Australia 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Santorini Black
My suggestion is to be familiar with what you got. Even perform a dry run at home and ensure you are not missing anything. Perfect examples are front calipers, prop shaft, fan belts just to name a few. m
Post #969130 28th Oct 2022 3:58am
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Leamreject



Member Since: 19 Dec 2020
Location: Middle Earth - Leamington Spa
Posts: 970

Italy 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Fuji White
Just extra long jump leads and a tow rope. Also most importantly an AA membership card, works every time whatever the fault Thumbs Up Ride like you stole it!!
If I’m not on a bike it’s because only a 4x4 will do…
2011 2.4 Puma 90 HT


Last edited by Leamreject on 28th Oct 2022 4:36am. Edited 1 time in total
Post #969131 28th Oct 2022 4:35am
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Mossberg



Member Since: 29 Feb 2020
Location: Lancs
Posts: 553

United Kingdom 1993 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green
Agree with this - assess what you may do and do a trial run or watch a YouTube video. List the tools you need and the simple things like a 90 pence gasket. Don't forget the circlip pliers and chisel for wheel bearings etc.
Post #969132 28th Oct 2022 4:36am
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5729

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
Small test light for electrical issues
Special long socket for prop bolts
Socket for hub nuts
14mm ratchet spanner so can take a swivel off.
Post #969137 28th Oct 2022 6:48am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17443

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
No-one has yet mentioned the internal and external circlip pliers, torx sockets (m and f), ball joint splitter, piston ring compressor, rigid towbar, tirfor, ground anchors, ratchet straps, choker chains, J-hook chains, Gummi-Pflege, tyre inflator, tyre deflator, assorted torque wrenches, taper punches, pin punches, files, Hi-Lift and attachments, shackles, fid (for rope splicing), and diagnostic tool, chainsaw and axe, shovel and mattock. Nor I think the fire extinguishers and first aid kit (including haemostat and heavy bleed kit in case of a chainsaw type injury), spare fuel, and an oil/contaminant spill containment kit. Nor the spare batteries for the remote, and most important of all, the Swarfega cleaning wipes (a wonderful product). Where do you draw the line?

And finally you can be sure that despite all of this you won't have the one tool/part/thing that you need, and will end up ringing the AA/RAC/Other recovery company anyway. Or the Defender will be nicked and all your tools go with it.

Possibly a more practical approach is to spend some time thinking through what is likely to happen/break/fail/go wrong on/with/to the vehicle whilst you using it, being mindful of where you are and what you are doing. From this list figure out which failures you would actually want to repair (and be capable of repairing) at the roadside and the tools you would need to do so, and then carry just those tools and parts.
Post #969146 28th Oct 2022 8:54am
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Dave12345



Member Since: 04 Jun 2022
Location: North West
Posts: 87

United Kingdom 1989 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Keswick Green
Some really useful suggestions thank you.

I absolutely get the view of when do you stop, and that’s what this is about really - prioritising. I’d rather not have my expensive full toolkits and sets in the back.

I also get the whole thing of just ring the AA, but having had two successful roadside fixes when RAC were still hours away (through sheer luck rather than skill) I’d rather give myself the chance.

Ideally I’d just stick a clone of Mike of Britannica restorations in the toolkit.

Finally, and absolutely, I’m working on the knowledge side. Some jobs mentioned I wouldn’t attempt at the roadside yet, but given time and practice I likely would, but it’s helpful to get an indication of what to practice too.

Thanks
Dave
Post #969156 28th Oct 2022 11:03am
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markb110



Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2644

England 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
Pretty certain that my dad in the 70’s had a tool roll of spanner’s, screwdrivers, one hammer , small trolly jack a copy of Razzle….. Whistle
Post #969157 28th Oct 2022 11:34am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17443

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
It is surprising how much you can achieve with relatively few tools provided they are the right tools, which I guess is really the point of the question.
Post #969173 28th Oct 2022 1:54pm
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Mossberg



Member Since: 29 Feb 2020
Location: Lancs
Posts: 553

United Kingdom 1993 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green
Not being mechanically experienced, though I have just changed both axle cases, swivels and brakes, I think the road side repairs I would undertake are wheel bearings, hose repair and remove a propshaft in emergency. I think tools for this would not be too excessive.

Anything else would be roadside assistance.

I would like to think I can keep on top of maintenance, but then break downs tend not to be planned!
Post #969180 28th Oct 2022 3:08pm
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LR Nuts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1143

 
Cutlery ....... on the basis you can always 'knife and fork' a repair
Post #969195 28th Oct 2022 5:24pm
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