Electric impact wrench
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 237
Likes: 2
From: Sterling
I carry the following around and charge the battery off the inverter. Used this many times in the pits for road racing.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 10
From: TEXAS
I also have the electric impact wrench from Harbor Freight with the battery clips. I have had one experience where the wire leads were not long enough to reach what I needed. So I hooked a pair of battery jumper cables to the battery, then put the impact battery clips to the end of the jumper cables for the needed length. Worked like a charm.
Now one thing that is different about the electric impact hammer is that it works as a hammer design. You will hear the motor spin as in the sound of a free spin motor, and then bam it engages with a hammer strength hit. It will do this a few times until the bolt/lug nut has broken loose. After which you need to turn/remove the nut with a 4-way or by hand. It's not designed to back the nut all the way off, only break it loose.
Personally I keep a breaker bar in my tool box along with a piece of pipe for added leverage if needed.
Now one thing that is different about the electric impact hammer is that it works as a hammer design. You will hear the motor spin as in the sound of a free spin motor, and then bam it engages with a hammer strength hit. It will do this a few times until the bolt/lug nut has broken loose. After which you need to turn/remove the nut with a 4-way or by hand. It's not designed to back the nut all the way off, only break it loose.
Personally I keep a breaker bar in my tool box along with a piece of pipe for added leverage if needed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 412
From: Washington Coast
I carry an inexpensive 120 piece tool set from Northern tools, a set of 1/2" & 3/8" impact sockets, ball peen and 3 lbs hammer, 18" & 24" heel bars, 36" pry bar fuses, wire, electrical tape, and carry on my trailers a spare hub and 2 sets of bearings and seals. A few years ago spent 4 hours removing and rebuilding an axle on my old flat bed after loosing a hub.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 689
Likes: 44
From: British Columbia
Cordless is the way to go. I'm always concerned when goin on a trip, what portable tools I need to take. Have good electric impact that I can use with my generator, but need a 'generator'. I have a good air impact that requires either 'on board air' or 'air hoses'. Been thinking of a Milwaukee 1/2" impact that has as much torque as a good air impact nowadays but am too cheap right now lol. So, since I have 18volt 1/4" Fuel Milwaukee Impact, thought I would try it on my next tire rotation. Wow! rotated my 40" tires with my 1/4" impact! It struggled a little but was just as fast as any other impact. Used a torque wrench after just to make sure, and it was spot on. I'm sold. However, I will get the 1/2" impact soon. I can't think of anything that would be as portable and powerful without all the extra accessories. I know it eventually needs charging but it has great longevity and great power. My hats off to Milwaukee. 
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 80
From: New Jersey
When I am towing the trailer, I usually carry the Dewalt 1/2 inch impact cordless for tires and the jacks. Mainly I have the batteries already so it makes sense. The long trips I carry the charger and an power inverter as fail safe plan.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Ventura, Ca
Cordless is the way to go. I'm always concerned when goin on a trip, what portable tools I need to take. Have good electric impact that I can use with my generator, but need a 'generator'. I have a good air impact that requires either 'on board air' or 'air hoses'. Been thinking of a Milwaukee 1/2" impact that has as much torque as a good air impact nowadays but am too cheap right now lol. So, since I have 18volt 1/4" Fuel Milwaukee Impact, thought I would try it on my next tire rotation. Wow! rotated my 40" tires with my 1/4" impact! It struggled a little but was just as fast as any other impact. Used a torque wrench after just to make sure, and it was spot on. I'm sold. However, I will get the 1/2" impact soon. I can't think of anything that would be as portable and powerful without all the extra accessories. I know it eventually needs charging but it has great longevity and great power. My hats off to Milwaukee.
we have the 18 volt Milwaukee m18 1/2"dr cordless impact in our shop truck for regular duty work and for when we don't want to fire up the air compressor. the m18 is a beast, it will remove pretty much any lug nut or bolt. it has over 450 ft/lbs of torque, it's beast
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Moose Jaw Saskatchewan
I have an electric impact I use in my shop all the time it draws 7.5 amps and it is not the most powerful out there so you would need a 1000 watt inverter as that works out to about 900 watts. I to would recommend a battery impact. I am partial to Makita as I have 10 LXT 18v tools in my shop.
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