Tool bag for offroad/ overland

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Knappsover

New member
I recently purchased a 2017 TRD. I'm equipping it for a North America overland trip. To cut weight I only want to carry the necessary sockets and wrenches etc.
Being new to this vehicle and not having done a ton of work on it yet I'm not sure what the common sizes are yet.
Obviously I will be crawling around it checking all the important stuff (sizing it) but I know there's a massive amount of knowledge here.

Can any of you 4Runner lifers help me out? Any oddball items you carry?
I don't want to be stranded on the Dalton Highway.
Thanks for the help.
Cheers.
Tom
 
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Knappsover said:
I recently purchased a 2017 TRD. I'm equipping it for a North America overland trip. To cut weight I only want to carry the necessary sockets and wrenches etc.
Being new to this vehicle and not having done a ton of work on it yet I'm not sure what the common sizes are yet.
Obviously I will be crawling around it checking all the important stuff (sizing it) but I know there's a massive amount of knowledge here.

Can any of you 4Runner lifers help me out? Any oddball items you carry?
I don't want to be stranded on the Dalton Highway.
Thanks for the help.
Cheers.
Tom
Click to expand...

It depends what mods you have done to your vehicle.

For example, if you replaced your UCA, carry the stock ones with you.

A basic metric toolset will cover almost everything. I carry both a 3/8 and 1/2 set w/ short and deep sockets from 8mm-22mm, along with wrenches, a breaker bar, and torque wrench.
 
I carry a small socket assortment, but for larger sizes the individual sockets / wrenches I know I need. One impact for my lugs, and two snap-on flare nut wrenches for the brake line fittings.

Knipex Cobra and Knipex Pliers Wrench… both are very high quality adjustable wrenches which will accommodate a wide variety of sizes and uses beyond just turning a bolt. Knipex needle nose pliers, Knipex Mini Bolt Cutters, Knipex Diagonal cutters, screw drivers, and other common hand tools also made it into my bag. I like Knipex but anything similar will do.

Electrical tools… I carry a large assortment due to all the aftermarket electrical I did, but to skinny it down a multimeter or DC clamp meter for trail repairs and some assorted crimp heads and crimper. Replacement bulbs, fuses, and other misc items.

Don’t forget emergency communications equipment… Garmin InReach Mini is worth its weight in gold. Inexpensive 2-way satellite communicator is a very good safety tool for a trip like this. Reliable global satellite coverage for <$20 month and you can deactivate/standby it at any time to save money.

Air compressor, chains, tire patch kit, valve stems, green slime, fluids, service manual in PDF, spare serpentine belt and all the other stuff I assume you have covered?
 
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I've been assembling a toolkit for my 4R. I was mildly irritated to find my set of sliders and skid plates uses a mix of standard and metric hardware...
My list also includes SS safety wire, zip ties, a small multimeter, spare metric fasteners, small lithium jump start pack, quick and regular JB weld. I'll probably think of lots more.

I too have an InReach- I love that thing- I often am solo riding dual sport in out of the way places.
I really like the fact that Garmin stores all my tracks for viewing on a map- we often wonder for example- what was that campground we stayed in 2 summers ago somewhere in MT??? Look it up on the InReach map- bingo we have the answer, right down to the date and time to the second we arrived and left.
 
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Knappsover said:
Any oddball items you carry?
I don't want to be stranded on the Dalton Highway.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there's all sorts of unusual items guys carry. However, when it comes to what you should carry will depend greatly on what types of repairs you are willing and able to perform in the field. For example, if you're not up to task of pulling a broken or bent front axle shaft... then you're probably safe leaving that 35mm 12 point socket at home.

Anyway, the only oddball item that I personally carry is a plethora of 10mm sockets... stashed everywhere. They claim the only sure things in life are death and taxes... well, if they ever want to add a 3rd item to the list it will be that you will drop and subsequently lose every single 10mm socket you ever purchase. They should sell them in bulk IMO.
 
I have a tool roll with everything I needed for my Jeep. To be honest that tool roll got pretty big. Things break and breakdown on a Jeep often. So now I'm looking to downsize a little now that I have a 4R. Does Toyota use Torx for anything??
 
Oil filter canister wrench. I have a cheap one of these but there are better built ones out there. This one is a Napa offering someone posted a few years ago, looks pretty good and is similar to one that Toyota sells. Uses a 3/8" drive. I don't trust the 10k mile oil change intervals so on long trips I change my own oil. Oh and make sure your skid plate bolts aren't stripped. Dealers oil change monkeys are notorious for stripping these out. Not something you want to deal with doing repairs on a long trip.
 

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The basic tool bag for any Toyota. The common sizes you are going to be using is all metric. 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, & 21. Those sizes will cover your whole truck. 3/8 is a good starting point. Also carry open hand wrenches in the same size. The ratcheting ends will help you a lot more like Gearwrenches. Get an adjustable 1/2 breaker for your lug nuts with a 21 mm socket. Screwdrivers #1, #2, #3: philips and flathead. Adjustable pliers, shorty hammer.

I carry all my tools with me. 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2. I also carry my 1/2 snap on battery operated impact gun and Milwaukee M12 Li-Ion 3/8 in ratchet. Although I have CO2 on my truck, I rarely use it for fixing my truck on the fly. I always use the electric 1st and if the batteries die I can charge it with my solar panel threw my inverter.

Good luck and safe travels [emoji1686]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Space King said:
Anyway, the only oddball item that I personally carry is a plethora of 10mm sockets... stashed everywhere. They claim the only sure things in life are death and taxes... well, if they ever want to add a 3rd item to the list it will be that you will drop and subsequently lose every single 10mm socket you ever purchase. They should sell them in bulk IMO.
Click to expand...

I have never understood this phenomenon. I have over 30 years of wrenching from high school backyard-wrenching, dealerships, and now city fleet... I have never ever lost a 10 mm socket. I thought it was just an urban legend...

Now, a 13mm 1/4 drive socket was left in a hardly-used tool box for enough years to prompt me to replace it, only to find it again in a few months... but that's about as close as I get.

Doesn't stop me from wanting to purchase the 10mm collection offered by NAPA or others of the 1/4 and 3/8 short, medium, long, universal, impact sockets. Just for insurance maybe?
 
busmup808 said:
Screwdrivers #1, #2, #3: philips
Click to expand...

I haven't actually looked but does Toyota use phillips or are they JIS like all the Japanese motorcycles?
There is a noticeable difference since phillips will cam out of a JIS screw much more easily.
 
My tool bag is pretty simple but SHOULD handle most things Id likely encounter. This actually fits UNDER the REAR seat completely out of sight.

Ratchet and socket set 10-21mm
extension
pliers
needlenose
adj wrench
phillips screw driver
flathead
16oz hammer with cut down handle (to keep compact)
zipties
electr tape
small duct tape

*other side has the mini jump box underneath
 
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Recommend a large hammer/rubber mallet, duct tape, and some strong ratchet straps. A tire repair kit is handy with most people carrying ARB’s.
Stuff good enough to limp to a mechanic or somewhere a tow truck can grab you.

I am using Adventure Tool Company’s tool roll and some of their smaller pouches to store everything. Plenty of room to hold my tools without sacrificing a lot of space. Just my 2 cents for what works for me.

That is one of my very few complaints about Toyota is the number of different bolt sizes that make the toolkit bigger. Plus the extra mods/accessories requirements.
 
I put this toolkit together when I had my FJ Cruiser. Basic tools with the most common metric sockets. If I were going on a trip like yours then I would want more tools like a 1/2" drive ratchet & sockets, breaker bar, etc.

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I just finished updating my tool bag for my new 4R. A full metric socket standard and deep socket (1/2" & 3/8) 8mm-24mm. (i have standard set as well since my work requires it)

I got some tools from Harbor freight but i was lucky Sears was closing near me so i got a ton of Craftsman tools for cheap.

Vice grips
1/2" & 3/8" extensions
Knipex Pliers
needle nose pliers
adj wrench
Phillips screw drivers
Flathead screw drivers
zipties
Gorilla duct tape
electrical tape
fuses
Small sledge hammer
Breaker bar
Allen/Torx keys
Oil filter
Test light

This tool bag was perfect: 15 in. Tool Bag with 15 Pockets

I need to get a pry bar and Oil filter canister wrench still.
 
Ripper238 said:
...
This tool bag was perfect: 15 in. Tool Bag with 15 Pockets
...
Click to expand...
If you're going to use a tool bag (instead of a tool roll), I'd highly recommend packing a few spare rags. Use the rags to strategically wrap around the tools and take up dead space in the bag. Not only will this cut down on the noise of rattling tools, more importantly it'll stop hardened steel implements from rubbing and vibrating up against each other over tens of thousands of miles. You'd be surprised how badly tools can get scratched and chewed up just from knocking around in a bag.
 
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