A newbie asked me, TOOLS ?

I used to carry a tool set like that with me, but the handtools were constantly being damaged by vibration. Ratchets, torque wrenches, crescent wrenches, geared tools, pulley pullers, snap ring pliers and tools with moving parts in them. Are you having a similar problem?

 

Who remembers stories about guys doing an inframe on the side of the road? That would likely take a bit of tools. Lol.

 

I took a 3 pound hammer with me. Some good crescent wrenches. Two sets of combination wrenches 3/8-1.5". Tire irons (would have been nice to have an air canon). One of those megawatt hand held flashlights with tether cord. Air hose with tire chuck, tire pressure air guage 50-130 range, as well as blow gun, and a air grinder. A couple of cans of elephant snot (lubricant). A cordless drill, as well as a 130 piece drill box (has everything you would ever need). A hex drive screw driver handle (when the cordless dies or is charging).

Anything more than that I might as well be at home with the lathe and mill.

 

If I can't fix it with a Leatherman, the truck will go to the shop since it's under warranty.

 

Ditto on the Vice Grips. Alligator jaws can be used to pinch of broken airlines and limp an otherwise disabled brake system to a shop.

 

add simple J1708 scanner, DVOM, heat shrink kit, and wire cutters, LED puls probe, o-scope, CAN viewer, laptop, RP1210 adapter..... especially if you have new truck aka volvo, KW, Peter, MAN, ore Actros))))

 

I see a lot of useless things being carried around for no reason other to impress some newbie. After being out here as a O/O for 16 yrs.

All one needs is a full set of wrenches, 1/2 & 3/8 deep sockets & extentions.
You'll find 9/16, 5/8 and 3/4" is your most popular sizes needed.
Hammer, 4 screw drivers 2 small & 2 Larger phillips and straight head, allen wrench cluster. 1 med crescent wrench
vise grips and a 18" pry bar or breaker bar, preferably.
A Hack saw does come in handy, but not very often, but its nice to have.

Air line, air chuck and air gauge and maybe air ratchet.

Electrical, small fishing tackle box works great, assorted connectors, butt connectors, splicers, shrink tubing, fuses, 12V tester, pigtail tester, electrical tape, Ohm meter is also helpful. extra lights... ZIP TIES !!! lots of them.

Incidentals...
tube of silicone gasket maker
Teflon tape
Never seize
Duct tape
plugs 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2"
Air line splicers 3/8"
valve stem cores
slack adjuster pins and cotter pins
Flashlight and a head lamp (light that clips to a hat bill or goes around your head... trust me when I say that is what you want for those late night emergency repairs.
1 spare brake air line or one that can be made up to fit, generally a #8 hose with ends you put together yourself.
Spare Alt belt
spare headlight, tail light and signal light.
(sure you can buy them at a truckstop and pay double or triple)
a small propane torch to help with frozen brakes in winter

Supplies...
washer fluid
Diesel treatment, winter time... 911 emergency melt
Anti freeze
1 or 2 gal of oil
2 fuel filters and wrench (I carry small qt bottle of diesel for filter changes)
small supply of shop rags and hand cleaner
I also keep a box of latex or nitrile gloves to help keep the hands clean.

I realize all this sounds like a lot, but it really isn't.
All the tools fit in one 24" tool box and a small fishing tackle box for the electrical stuff.
The supplies fit in a couple of milk crates.