5 Essential Tools for Ford Truck DIYers
We’ve all heard it. Your smartass friend sees your truck and chimes, “You know what FORD stands for, right?” You sigh, and get ready to hear it again for the thousandth time. “Fix Or Repair Daily! Wait, what about Found On Road Dead!” You need new friends, and maybe some tools to keep handy in your truck to keep it running at its best, and to prove them wrong.
1. Jack
The factory-supplied jack in most cars and trucks is borderline useless and tends to break after a few uses. A small aluminum jack is compact, relatively lightweight, and will actually make quick work of jacking up your truck.
2. Duct Tape
While we generally shy away from using duct tape when repairing our rides, it does have a very useful purpose in roadside repairs. Busted mirrors, stripped bolts, or even a busted differential, duct tape knows no bounds.
3. Multimeter
Battery, starter and alternator; If any of these go bad, you’re going nowhere. A multimeter is the singular instrument to test them all and ensure that your charging system is up to the test of starting your engine, and keeping it running.
4. 1/2″ Ratcheting Wrench and Basic Socket Set
This one is a bit of a cop out, as it involves a small box of things, but you really should keep a ratcheting wrench and socket in your truck. A small socket set is discreet enough to be stored under the seat or in the glove box. If space allows, we recommend a ratchet that uses 1/2″ bits versus 3/8″ as they tend to be tougher and better for breaking loose those stubborn bolts.
5. Tire Iron / Breaker Bar
When that 1/2″ ratchet isn’t enough, a breaker bar will fit any 1/2″ sockets and be guaranteed to get those stuck bolts unstuck. In this case, one of those fancy 4-way tire irons can be used interchangeably here depending on your proprieties. Either one can loosen lug nuts and help with an emergency tire change.
For more information on maintenance and repairs, please check out our do-it-yourself technical articles at https://www.ford-trucks.com/how-tos/.
