Thoughs and musings on the perfect tool/repair kit.

[wyomingresident]

Here are some pics & prose concerning the current state of affairs in my tool orbit:

I wanted to spare the Collective the item by item inventory of the stuff in my tool bag, but I think I have it down to a science. It was the fact I needed a 15/16th wrench to get off my ball joints that got me thinking. I've amassed a pretty cool collection of tools and they all fit in my canvas rigger bag. My Dad liked Craftsman tools- I do too. They have worked well for me.

A little gem I've recently put in there is a 24" flat head heavy duty screw'em driver. Nice to have.

I thought I'd share some of the gems in my repair/road kit. These are in my 1984 Vanagon whether I'm going to Teton Village, or I'm driving across the country. This is my third VW Van/Bus (1970 Campmobile, 1972 Pancake Passenger and my current 1984 Westy) and I've had two air cooled bugs as well. I've collected important stuff over the years and feel pretty good about what I'm carrying.

My rigger bag is a great traveling companion. It is stocked full of goodness... I wouldn't leave home without my tire wrench, of course.

Underneath it is my cheater bar. Wow, that's a valuable item! I keep the stock jack- of which I'm a born-again fan. We'll talk about my other jack later. There is the big Bosch fuel filter sitting there- I haven't put it on yet- I just like changing out the little Israeli ones on a frequent basis.

Gloves and work clothes. A plastic painter's drop cloth is there in case I need to fix the bus if I'm clean and the ground is dirty- I usually have to make my on the road repairs in a less than ideal spot.

Oh yeah, I like carrying two air filters- geologist friend of mine says air filters will be the limiting factor when Yellowstone blows up, but I can't help thinking that if Yellowstone blows up- I'll have other stuff to worry about. My stock extension cord and a heavy duty one all fit pretty well under the seat. I'll take a pic later.

I carry two tow ropes. A standard piece of heavy webbing with the hooks on it and the orange and green one. It was an old climbing rope that was been living it up in the Vanagon. I've abused it numerous times and it still keeps going. Lots of happy memories there (climbing) and lots of sad memories (my VW is getting a pull from someone for some reason).

There is a pretty good selection of fuel/vacuum line. Probably more than I need. It is nice to have. Don't leave home without a few fuel filters and at least one fuel pump. I can change a fuel filter in 180 seconds- on the side of a busy highway.

I have a great local shop- although thankfully I don't have to go there frequently- they know a lot about Vanagons. If you are ever passing through Jackson Hole, Shervin's Independent Oils is a safe bet. I've gassed up there for years.

I keep a timing light. I'm thinking about ditching it, but a friend tells me not too.

The old Nissan scissor Jack is great. It has helped me numerous times. I keep a bottle of zip-ties as well. They help with all sorts of stuff.

The little cubby next to the fridge is what we call the toy box- it was a goal of mine to get it cleared out. When the Gang was babies, that was the allotment of space for the toys. Well, maybe we had some other stuff, but not much else if it didn't fit into the toy box. At a yard sale, I bought a large roll of CAUTION tape- nice to have if I break down somewhere busy. Oil, break fluid, and other stuff to taste. I've found keeping a can of brake part cleaner around is a pretty good idea. Liquid Wrench is in there too.

JB Cold Weld. That my friends is one of the wonders of the world. I'll write about that later.

I keep a bunch of flashlights/lanterns around. Seeing in the dark is essential.

I think two jacks are fine. A friend tells me I should have at least one small jack stand to help things out, but I can't see where/how I'd ever get it in there! It would be nice, but I'll just go buy one if I get in a pinch.

When you go climbing in Grand Teton National Park, the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers make you bring one of these carry-your-sh!t bags. I hate using them, but had one left over one time and I keep it in the bus. May be handy one day- you never know.

The plastic bag is full of ring clamps and such. I've a pretty good collection. It was greatly augmented by the worthless clamps sent to me by GoWesty.com when I ordered my tune up kit. The clamps they send require a special tool to do the crimping- a tool I didn't have. So there they sit... I had to go out an buy all new clamps. The crimping tool is something like $25. A good friend of mine is a painter and gets these really nice canvas scraps to do artsy-fartsy stuff. I got ahold of some of them and keep them around to lay my tools in when I am working on the bus. Handy!

I'm on the search for a nice mallet. There is a nice 20 oz Vaughn framing hammer in the canvas bag, but it doesn't have the balls to knock the sh!t out of something when you really need to.

Sorry for the long wandering post, but I still meet Vanagon owners who don't carry a great deal of tools. Not because the Van is running great, but they thing they can't perform roadside repairs- YOU CAN!

Fuel pump/fuel filter/wheel cylinder/distributor cap/old spark plug wires/some electrical wires & components and not much more. I figure if I really need it, I'll just order it FedEx and wait somewhere till it arrives. I've found that even the most obscure Vanagon parts can be had from the FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store).

Don't leave home without the self sufficient essentials.

Thanks for reading!
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Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.
Mark Twain

[wyomingresident]

Everything but my work clothes made it in there. Only one Mann air filter made it in there. The other is in the back.

The rear fan/heater core is still in place. I should remove it as I don't drive the Van much in the winter. The box covering it is still in place too. I know I should take it all out, but it being there makes me be judicious with my tool selections.

I think I'll put my work clothes in the toy box.

I have a propane torch from when I was removing the pin in the brake backing plate. Mechanic friends tell me I should go get a yellow bottle- what ever it is, I can't remember- because it burns hotter- essential when you need to get something really stuck unstuck.

I have tach/dwell meter and have tried to use it, but have never figured out how to use it. Maybe somebody will post a tutorial.

It went together pretty well- now all I have to do is keep it in there...

Thanks for reading (again)![/url]
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Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.
Mark Twain

[photogdave]

I carry my AAA card.

But seriously I do carry a small tool kit and spare fluids but I need to leave SOME room for camping gear!
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89 Syncro GL Westfalia 2.1 WBX/WBXaustSS

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[SCM]

[danfromsyr]

Umm WOW, that's alotta shytt..

I thought it was bad that I was going to toss the full size 3ton floor jack under the back for our upcoming family tour/trip. but that'd be in mom's and she don't use the underbed space..
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[MarkWard]

All my spare small parts and filters go in the top of the rear cabinet and in the tray behind the upper rear cabinet. I have a plastic "ammo" box that I fill to the brim with hand tools. In the event I need the tools, they are there, but rarely even open it. When we get home, all the tools go back into my shop box. It fits under the back seat and takes up little room. We use every inch of storage for consumable supplies. Aside from the ammo box, hose, extension cord, mr buddy, level ramps and jack all go into the area under the seat. I carry a snapon breaker bar and torque wrench as well. They don't fit in the tool box, but fit under the seat next to them.

[bosruten]

...A must!!

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'87 Syncro Weekender

[wyomingresident]

I heeded good advice and purchased a AAA membership. Cheap insurance.
_________________
Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.
Mark Twain

[JED THE SPREAD]

Try this, http://campervanculture.com/2011/03/tools-to-take-away-in-a-syncro/

jed
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[chojinchef]

I keep a Unilever cooler bag (two of these fit great in my FLH tourpak) with my goodies. Fits perfectly on right side of the heater hump under rear bed. Have a couple other things in rear storage cabinet

Metric wrenches - full set from 10mm to 19mm, plus a set of dual sided metric wrenches for 10mm to 15. And an adjustable hack wrench, and a few ratchet wrenches in common sizes. Piece of pipe to provide some extra leverage on wrenches.
Hammer- ball peen style I made in high school.
Assorted screwdrivers
Wiring pliers, linesman pliers, channel locks, couple clamps to pinch fuel lines
Electrical test light and multimeter
Wire brush, file.
Allen key set
1/4 in and 3/8 socket set
grease pencil, razor knife, blue goo
Safety glasses
Zip ties, electrical connectors and spool of wire in obscure color. Elec tape, shrink tubing
1/2 in breaker bar and socket for wheels
Fuel filter, temp 2 sender, ignition switch (per someone elses suggestion), v belt, PB Blaster, set of wires I just took off, various vehicular fluids, light bulbs, fuse assortment. Spark plugs.
Black latex gloves.
I use only wire hangers in closet, just in case I need a piece
jumper cables
I am sure there are other things as well, but thats the majority
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Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory.

[mtwrench540]

you guys must be preparing for trips to BFE because you have many things and tools ,BUT i did not see in anyones kit BELTS,the one thing that will stop you dead in water air cooled or wbx!!!!!
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87 wolfsberg,74 181w/1915 and lots of patina! learned to fix vw's from hot vw mag in 1964,VWOA instructor,DSM,69 to73,service mgr at different porsche-audi dealers etc,etc,now retired!!! first vw new 64,transplanted 356 eng in 65,400characters are not enough space!!

[mtwrench540]

you guys must be preparing for trips to BFE because you have many things and tools ,BUT i did not see in anyones kit BELTS,the one thing that will stop you dead in water air cooled or wbx!!!!!
_________________
87 wolfsberg,74 181w/1915 and lots of patina! learned to fix vw's from hot vw mag in 1964,VWOA instructor,DSM,69 to73,service mgr at different porsche-audi dealers etc,etc,now retired!!! first vw new 64,transplanted 356 eng in 65,400characters are not enough space!!

[chojinchef]

I listed a v belt. Actually have two, one was a takeoff from when I got the van. Glad I did have a decent kit today. Had a roadside repair to perform.
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Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory.

[GrindGarage]

Love it. Back when I was running the WBX I had the underseat filled to the brim including full size floor jack!

Also a bottle of Scotch.... Used it once!

Now with the Suby I am confident to run with enough to change a flat and thats it.
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-cliff

91 Vanagon AUTO
97 Single Port EJ22 all smallcar.com

[rubbachicken]

i just emmigrated here from the UK, so i bought some of my tool kit here with me, i have an ex makita drill box with the following in it




1 x needle nose plyers
1 x digital multi metre
1 x small pipe cutter
1 x tape measure
1x vise grip
1 x tin shears
5 x screw drivers 2 x phillips, 3 x slotted
1 x plyers
1 x water pump plyers
2 x cable shears
1 x crimp tool
2 x 17mm wrench
1 x 15mm wrench
2 x 13mm wrench
1 x 12mm wrench
1 x 11mm wrench
2 x 10mm wrench
1 x 8mm wrench
1 x brake pipe spanner
1 x oil filter wrench
1 x oil drain plug wrench set
1 x 3/8" rachet
1 x 3/8" 6" extension
1 x 3/8" 3" extension
1 x 3/8" short extension
1 x spark plug socket
1 x 10mm short socket
1 x 11mm short socket
1 x 13mm short socket
1 x 17mm short socket
1 x 10mm long socket
1 x 11mm long socket
1 x 13mm long socket
1 x 17mm long socket
1 x 19mm long socket
2 x allen wrench sets
1 x 14mm allen socket
1 x 3/8" to 1/2" adaptor
1 x 19mm long impact socket 1/2"
1 x compression tester
1 x hacksaw

this one wouldn't fit in the box
1 x torque wrench 1/2"

all the above went into checked baggage with no issues and weighed 20 lbs

i figured that'd be almost every thing i'd need to almost strip the bus if i have too, as we are planning a long road trip, wanted to have almost everything i think i might need if we had a problem

i've been caught out already, the rear wheel bearing are shot, so i need to buy now a 22mm socket and 46mm socket to get to the wheel bearings

since be got here i've had to buy a small'ish floor jack and a pair of axle stands, which will be with us all the time

[r39o]

[jefflane510]

I'm leaving today for our first trip >3 days, so packed a toolbox and other assorted gear (e.g. bottle of coolant), then came inside and found this thread!

The best tool I have is the AAA card (just upgraded to Plus for the 100mi towing). I'm not a very experienced mechanic, and our first Westy is new to us as of spring.

We'll also have bikes on the back, so if we need to get around while the van's in the shop we'll have that option;)

here's hoping the next 3 weeks bring lots of luck!

jeff

[randywebb]

12mm wrench but no 12 mm socket (?)

also, there is nowhere on the Van that requires a 14 mm socket or wrench?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[seanjenn]

Besides a solid array of tools,
spare headlight switch
spare ign swith
belt
voltage stabilizer
hose clamps all sizes
a couple different sizes of sprinkler line fittings for busted hoses, temp repair only as the plastic is only good for about 5 thousand miles.
heater hose
fuel hose
12V "drop" light with really loooong cable
2 2x4 blocks
1 2' piece of 2x4
sometimes a 2' piece of 2x6
jumper cables of course
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1987 GL Sunroof
2.1 4 spd

[rubbachicken]