>For a more detailed essay, see: http://www.cavetexas.org/mexico/tools.html
One thing I didn't see in Gill's tool list which is very handy is a small
volt-ohm meter. Even digital ones are really cheap now, and can save all sorts
of time when checking for electrical faults or bad components. Gill mentioned
taking spare lug nuts, and I would add to that a couple of spare wheel studs.
If a lug nut gets loose it is easy for the wobbling wheel to damage the threads
on the stud so that you cannot retighten the nut. It is also not uncommon for
a stud to break off when changing a tire, especially if a tire shop really
torqued them heavily. Some studs are easy to replace, while others are not.
Under tools, Gill mentioned Allen and Torx wrenches. It seems like auto
manufacturers are using more and more weird bolt types, probably to discourage
tinkering. I carry a set of all manner of weird drivers for every type of bolt
head imaginable. Some I've never used, others I use fairly often. It would
pay to look around your vehicle and be sure you have the proper tools to remove
anything that might need to come off, including things that aren't critical or
likely to break but which must be removed to get to other things. Torx and
some other types of drivers come in both the ordinary variety with solid
shanks, and a so-called tamperproof variety with a hole that accomodates a pin
sticking up in the middle of the bolt head that prevents an ordinary driver
from fitting. The tamperproof drivers will work on similar regular bolts, so
you only need the tamperproof ones in your tool box. And remember that whether
or not you have an American-made vehicle, it is likely to have a lot of metric
bolts and nuts on it. I carry a complete set of both SAE and metric wrenches
and sockets. That way you can also help anyone else who has a problem.
Mark Minton
