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This post is obviously meant for folks that are not tradesmen with service bodies and specialized tools. After more than 3 years of ownership, I'm finding this truck is far more reliable than anything I've driven. My only problems have been small repairs like coolant hose o-rings and other repairs easily done with hand tools. I no longer want/need to travel with my full tool box in the bed (secured by a camper shell). I'm planning a basic tool kit for emergencies and helping others. There are a lot of great kits online but the whole point is to eliminate the large box in the bed and go with something smaller, maybe that stores under the rear seat. What kind of kits/storage ideas have y'all thought of?
Nothing more than a pair of wire-cutters/pliers, a couple screw drivers, some tape and zip ties. When I tow the Travel Trailer, Milwaukee Pack-Out has my back ..
I don't carry this daily, but if we go on vacation, or if I have an unknown job to go to, I pack this. Plus anything else I may need for the circumstance.
Philip.
In every vehicle we own, I keep a small HF tool bag with a portable air compressor, tire plug kit (gummy worms), 1/2” ratchet and socket for lug nuts, 1” pvc pipe 12” long, a metric wrench roll, pliers, jumper cables, tow strap, pocket knife, gloves, and always keep a roll of blue shop towels. This is minimum, some vehicles have few more tools.
I’ve never relied on AAA or road service. If I can’t fix what’s wrong, I need a tow truck. More than once I’ve plugged a tire beside the road and got back on my way.
In my old school opinion, a man should be self sufficient as possible. You never know where trouble may find you and there’s no way I want to find myself in a position where my family is sitting beside the road at night or maybe in an undesirable area waiting for some stranger to come rescue us because I wasn’t prepared. Taking care of myself and my family is my job.
Not a bad idea. I just carry one of the cheap multi-function screwdrivers and a little swiss army knife-looking multitool. I'm updating the screwdriver with a Klein 32500 unit from Amazon.
And a 25' Stanley tape measure, because my wife always needs to know how long is that couch or dining room table. Also affords me that "Pro DIY" look while in Home Depot.
In every vehicle we own, I keep a small HF tool bag with a portable air compressor, tire plug kit (gummy worms), 1/2” ratchet and socket for lug nuts, 1” pvc pipe 12” long, a metric wrench roll, pliers, jumper cables, tow strap, pocket knife, gloves, and always keep a roll of blue shop towels. This is minimum, some vehicles have few more tools.
I’ve never relied on AAA or road service. If I can’t fix what’s wrong, I need a tow truck. More than once I’ve plugged a tire beside the road and got back on my way.
In my old school opinion, a man should be self sufficient as possible. You never know where trouble may find you and there’s no way I want to find myself in a position where my family is sitting beside the road at night or maybe in an undesirable area waiting for some stranger to come rescue us because I wasn’t prepared. Taking care of myself and my family is my job.
Not a bad idea. I just carry one of the cheap multi-function screwdrivers and a little swiss army knife-looking multitool. I'm updating the screwdriver with a Klein 32500 unit from Amazon.
And a 25' Stanley tape measure, because my wife always needs to know how long is that couch or dining room table. Also affords me that "Pro DIY" look while in Home Depot.
In every vehicle we own, I keep a small HF tool bag with a portable air compressor, tire plug kit (gummy worms), 1/2” ratchet and socket for lug nuts, 1” pvc pipe 12” long, a metric wrench roll, pliers, jumper cables, tow strap, pocket knife, gloves, and always keep a roll of blue shop towels. This is minimum, some vehicles have few more tools.
I’ve never relied on AAA or road service. If I can’t fix what’s wrong, I need a tow truck. More than once I’ve plugged a tire beside the road and got back on my way.
In my old school opinion, a man should be self sufficient as possible. You never know where trouble may find you and there’s no way I want to find myself in a position where my family is sitting beside the road at night or maybe in an undesirable area waiting for some stranger to come rescue us because I wasn’t prepared. Taking care of myself and my family is my job.
Nothing more than a pair of wire-cutters/pliers, a couple screw drivers, some tape and zip ties. When I tow the Travel Trailer, Milwaukee Pack-Out has my back ..
We have a very similar setup. For what I do, I will never have a truck without a bed slide again.
My on board tool kit consists of what you see here, which all stows away neatly in one of the larger compartments in my OCD Console Organizer (about $25, Amazon) If you don't have an OCD organizer, get one. You may not realize how bad you need one. I have a place for my tool kit, my "pharmacy" (band-aids, Advil and such) all my USB gadgets, prescription safety glasses and more. You can see some compartments haven't even been used yet.
Another thing I've been meaning to brag on is my converted DeWalt drill box. The airline I retired from bought a lot of these screwdriver kits and just threw the box away. You could ask for one and the cut all the dividers out with a right angle grinder and it's assorted disks. Then you have a large empty box for all kinds of things, in this case a tow strap, 2 12ft ratcheting tie down straps and a bunch of bungees.
As there are no tow hooks on the back of theses trucks now, I keep a clevis ring in my hitch receiver, just in case. The tow strap is sort of useless without it, right? The bungee does a good job of keeping things quiet.
So about my deacon adventure.
In our church we are a service body, not a political committee. We do stuff for those who have need. In this case we are moving a king size bed from a widows home where it's in the way to a young family's home where it is needed. It turns out I'm the only one in the group with an 8ft bed. When we arrive, there is this long, narrow, serpentine driveway that I have to back the big truck up, but the mirrors and 360* cameras make that a snap. There was a crowd of guys grinning at me, hoping for some good natured entertainment, but alas, I disappointed them. The extended running boards and the Box Link tie downs make loading and securing the bed/mattress pretty easy. And of course it all fit just fine in an 8ft bed.
Plus I have the tie down straps. And for some reason I'm the only one there with tools, so the bed was disassembled with the tools in the picture above, which I keep stowed in the truck at all times. God bless the big red truck
I forgot to add I have several flashlights in door pockets and various places. I've had this 3 D cell aluminum flashlight for years, recently put the LED bulb kit in it. The storage brackets are from Home Depot. The flashlight can also be used as a blunt force weapon if need be.
My on board tool kit consists of what you see here, which all stows away neatly in one of the larger compartments in my OCD Console Organizer (about $25, Amazon) If you don't have an OCD organizer, get one. You may not realize how bad you need one. I have a place for my tool kit, my "pharmacy" (band-aids, Advil and such) all my USB gadgets, prescription safety glasses and more. You can see some compartments haven't even been used yet.
Another thing I've been meaning to brag on is my converted DeWalt drill box. The airline I retired from bought a lot of these screwdriver kits and just threw the box away. You could ask for one and the cut all the dividers out with a right angle grinder and it's assorted disks. Then you have a large empty box for all kinds of things, in this case a tow strap, 2 12ft ratcheting tie down straps and a bunch of bungees.
As there are no tow hooks on the back of theses trucks now, I keep a clevis ring in my hitch receiver, just in case. The tow strap is sort of useless without it, right? The bungee does a good job of keeping things quiet.
So about my deacon adventure.
In our church we are a service body, not a political committee. We do stuff for those who have need. In this case we are moving a king size bed from a widows home where it's in the way to a young family's home where it is needed. It turns out I'm the only one in the group with an 8ft bed. When we arrive, there is this long, narrow, serpentine driveway that I have to back the big truck up, but the mirrors and 360* cameras make that a snap. There was a crowd of guys grinning at me, hoping for some good natured entertainment, but alas, I disappointed them. The extended running boards and the Box Link tie downs make loading and securing the bed/mattress pretty easy. And of course it all fit just fine in an 8ft bed.
Plus I have the tie down straps. And for some reason I'm the only one there with tools, so the bed was disassembled with the tools in the picture above, which I keep stowed in the truck at all times. God bless the big red truck
Pretty slick set up with the tools. Why not just put the hitch pin though the eye of the tow strap?
Pretty slick set up with the tools. Why not just put the hitch pin though the eye of the tow strap?
My strap has hooks so I'm not sure how that would work. Besides, the clevis thing was left over from my F-150 and I don't have any where else to keep and it's come in handy once already. Plus the clevis is so universal and flexible. Rope, small chain, come-along, just what ever the occasion calls for. And it's something for Cellphone Sally to run into before she gets to my bumper.
When we arrive, there is this long, narrow, serpentine driveway that I have to back the big truck up, but the mirrors and 360* cameras make that a snap. 
