TheSamba.com :: View topic - What tools/parts do you always have on hand?

Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:37 am

What tools do you always carry with you in your T3?

What parts do you always keep on hand?

Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:22 am

Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:02 am

since tows around here run 90$ minimum (no joke..)

-jump start battery/air pump
-2 ton jack
-open ended wrenches, various sizes
- spare fuel line/filter, clamps, spare wire, pliers, screwdrivers
- gloves, flashlight, lighter, 2 liters of water

next on the list is a towbar, but that wont be carried daily..

Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:09 am

Tools:

68-73 Bentley manual, 61-67 Workshop manual, Haynes manual, The 'Idiot' manual (in order of importance)
combination wrenches 6-24mm
midget wrenches6-10mm
1/4" wrench - I can't remember why I need it, but I need it for something
Hazet and Heyco (can't remember which, maybe one of each) combo 8/13mm and 10/13mm double-ended crescent wrenches
regular and deep sockets 6-19mm
30 and 36mm sockets
18" breaker bar
big and small ratchets
2 torque wrenches, light and heavy
socket extensions 3" and a 6" - 1/4", 3/8". and 1/2" drive
socket adapters and U joints
S,M,L Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
a couple stubby screwdrivers
large and small Vise-Grips
an emery board
Pipe wrench
hammer
rubber mallet
test light
channel lock pliers
2 needle nose pliers, straight and crooked
baling wire
zip ties
stethoscope with the drum removed
carburetor synchronizer
compression tester
electrical tape
allen wrenches
17mm allen wrench
plastic Jesus on the dash
Leatherman tool - the one with the Vise-grip type pliers
scissors
wire clipper
metal shears
spark plug insert tap
a pair of 'dirty' pants and a US Army windbreaker, but a jumpsuit would be nice.
flashlight and spare batteries
roach cli...I mean, wire crimper, the surgical type
feeler gauges
hubcap puller
drift (centerpunch)
shoe goo
CV joint 12pt tool
Bilstein jack
Fire extinguisher
cellular phone
rags
rope
strobe light
pen and paper
tow strap
cash money, to bribe someone to hook up to the other end of the tow strap.

...I think that's about all I carry for tools, enough to strip the car down pretty far.

I know it's overkill - much of it I'd never use roadside, but it fits in the frunk, keeps most of my tools together, and helps counterbalance the rear weight bias.
I've considered hauling a hydraulic floor jack; but if I'd need it, I'd rather get a tow than pull the engine on the shoulder

Spare parts:
2 quarts of oil
oil change gaskets
valve cover gaskets
Bosch distributor cap, rotor, points, condenser, breaker plate, vacuum cannister
8 and 16 amp fuses
lightbulbs
generator belt
generator brushes
mechanical fuel pump
clutch cable and wing nut
bowden tube
accellerator cable
a handful of common sized nuts, bolts and screws
lug bolts
wire and connectors
1 meter each of 5 and 7mm braided fuel line
a few sizes of hose clamps
tire
Idle cut off valve and 2 .45 'hollow points' to replace them.

This will get my Squareback up and going in most any trouble, short of a major catastrophe.
Keep the car in good tune, and you'll never need most of it.

Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:15 am

Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:25 am

Carrying AAA card can eliminate the need for the incredible list above.

Some basics I carry:

Metric wrench set
Couple quarts of oil
Thottle Cable (Very important)
Clutch Cable
Couple Fuel Filters
Screwdriver
Shop Towels
Bentley Manual

That's about it! Thank God for AAA!!

Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:06 am

VWGrover wrote: Carrying AAA card can eliminate the need for the incredible list above.
Maybe so - but all my tools and spares fit easily in the frunk, with space left over for a picnic basket and an accordion; and while someone many would be sitting and waiting for a tow to the shop, or back home - I'm repaired and on to my original destination.

Like I said in my previous post to this thread - keep your car in good tune, and you'll never use most of those things.

On my current Squareback, of all the things I listed, I've only used the pipe wrench, 10mm wrench, and the .45 hollow tips (idle cut off valves).
I could have fixed both roadside issues I've had with the leatherman and a hammer (even without the hammer); but, then again, I grew up just a few miles from MacGuyver.
The rest of you probably weren't so fortunate.

I carry all that stuff for three main reasons:
-my engine is of unknown mileage and the car the engine came from had been subjected to a bunch of questionable 'maintainence and repairs', or lack thereof, by previous owners.
-I can, and still have more cargo space than inferior cars.
-I hate being dependant, and paying for things I don't need, like tow trucks, when I can easily fix whatever's wrong with the proper tools and spares - probably before a towtruck could even get there.

Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:08 am

I left a few things off my original list, too.

Super glue
a hacksaw with a metal blade
a couple turnbuckles
springs
jumper cables
a skateboard

Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:56 pm

A good pair of sneakers.

Anyone want to scan the Muir list?

Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:17 pm

Got it:

I carry a lot of this, and keep adding. I also carry a fire extinguisher (reminds me I need to get a new one), block of wood, snacks, padding, carpet, blankets, factory tool kit (still looking for the pliers), part of a clothes hanger, and a shovel (also good as a weapon and for the Big One).

Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:05 pm

I snapped an axle in Ft Collins a couple of weeks ago after Bug-In. I was not a AAA member. I sure as hell am now. It's a God send

Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:19 pm

BSQUARE wrote: Tools:

68-73 Bentley manual, 61-67 Workshop manual, Haynes manual, The 'Idiot' manual (in order of importance)
combination wrenches 6-24mm
midget wrenches6-10mm
1/4" wrench - I can't remember why I need it, but I need it for something
Hazet and Heyco (can't remember which, maybe one of each) combo 8/13mm and 10/13mm double-ended crescent wrenches
regular and deep sockets 6-19mm
30 and 36mm sockets
18" breaker bar
big and small ratchets
2 torque wrenches, light and heavy
socket extensions 3" and a 6" - 1/4", 3/8". and 1/2" drive
socket adapters and U joints
S,M,L Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
a couple stubby screwdrivers
large and small Vise-Grips
an emery board
Pipe wrench
hammer
rubber mallet
test light
channel lock pliers
2 needle nose pliers, straight and crooked
baling wire
zip ties
stethoscope with the drum removed
carburetor synchronizer
compression tester
electrical tape
allen wrenches
17mm allen wrench
plastic Jesus on the dash
Leatherman tool - the one with the Vise-grip type pliers
scissors
wire clipper
metal shears
spark plug insert tap
a pair of 'dirty' pants and a US Army windbreaker, but a jumpsuit would be nice.
flashlight and spare batteries
roach cli...I mean, wire crimper, the surgical type
feeler gauges
hubcap puller
drift (centerpunch)
shoe goo
CV joint 12pt tool
Bilstein jack
Fire extinguisher
cellular phone
rags
rope
strobe light
pen and paper
tow strap
cash money, to bribe someone to hook up to the other end of the tow strap.

...I think that's about all I carry for tools, enough to strip the car down pretty far.

I know it's overkill - much of it I'd never use roadside, but it fits in the frunk, keeps most of my tools together, and helps counterbalance the rear weight bias.
I've considered hauling a hydraulic floor jack; but if I'd need it, I'd rather get a tow than pull the engine on the shoulder

Spare parts:
2 quarts of oil
oil change gaskets
valve cover gaskets
Bosch distributor cap, rotor, points, condenser, breaker plate, vacuum cannister
8 and 16 amp fuses
lightbulbs
generator belt
generator brushes
mechanical fuel pump
clutch cable and wing nut
bowden tube
accellerator cable
a handful of common sized nuts, bolts and screws
lug bolts
wire and connectors
1 meter each of 5 and 7mm braided fuel line
a few sizes of hose clamps
tire
Idle cut off valve and 2 .45 'hollow points' to replace them.

This will get my Squareback up and going in most any trouble, short of a major catastrophe.
Keep the car in good tune, and you'll never need most of it.

So, you pretty much pack my entire garage.

Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:21 pm

My whole tool box is in my square.

Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:38 pm

combo wrenches size 7-19mm
36and 22mm impact socket and breaker bar.
ratchet and socket set in common vw size^
spark plug socket
a couple different sized of each flathead and philips screwdrivers
led flashlight
zip ties
electrical tape
needle nose pliers and regular if I can find them
wire stripper/crimper tool
fuel pump
starting fluid
couple spark plugs
empty gas can(now!)
MAGNETIC PICK UP TOOL!!!
a knife or razor blades
channel locks
rags
hose clamps
fire extinguisher
AAA card
cell phone(well charged)

it's really not a lot and the past couple years it's never left me hanging.
I do need a spare belt though.

Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:49 pm

Everything but what I need at the time. :roll:

Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:09 pm

Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:30 am

claymonster wrote:

HAHAHA thats awsome! :lol:

Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:14 am

dirtsandwich wrote: So, you pretty much pack my entire garage.
:idea: :idea: :idea:
I know it would be possible to fit 6 Squarebacks in my '3-car' garage if I cleared everything else out.
Assuming you also have a 3 car garage:
I can fit a garage inside a Squareback, and that garage can hold 6 Squarebacks;
each Squareback in the garage inside the Squareback can fit a garage containing 6 Squarebacks containing garages containing 6 Squarebacks containing garages...

VW's engineers were WAY more brilliant than I'd previously thought -
I'd just thought they made a small efficient car that's easy to fix an hauls a fair amount of cargo.
They apparently figured out a way of expanding space within a confined space to the power of 6 to the 6th to the 6th possibly infinitely.
If the Type 3 had really caught on, we'd have no overpopulation or food shortages.

Can I borrow everyone's Squarebacks to test this theory?

Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:19 am

yodismatt wrote: My whole tool box is in my square.

Pretty much ditto. The only things I don't carry in my square are my floor jack, jackstands, and ramps (wood planks).

Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:12 pm

couple combo wrenches
11mm/13mm
14mm/15mm
10mm/12mm "Kawasaki moto"
13mm - 2 lengths of
10mm - a Long(distributor wrench)
Socket Wrench
8mm-19mm Sockets
Cresent Wrenches (Small and Large)
Rubber mallet
Pickle Fork
(doubles as a jack handle and a breaker bar for wrenches)
BIG Flat Head Screwdriver
Flat Head ScrwDrvr
Phillips ScrwDrvr
timing light
Tach/Dwell Meter
Vice Grips - couple pairs of diff size
4Way Lug Wrench
2 Jack stands
2000lbs Floor jack

Not that i use them all
but they are all in the tool box i carry