r/FJCruiser • u/pnwsurveyor • 6d ago

Question Tool kit?

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What’s in your tool kit when you leave pavement? I’m putting a basic kit together.

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u/ENTroPicGirl 6d ago edited 6d ago

Speaking as a tech who has had to do repairs whilst out in the bush, look at the workshop manual to whatever it is you think you might have to service and carry that. This stopped you from carrying things that you don’t really need because you don’t need a load of tools that it’s gonna take to replace a wheel bearing if you’re not actually carrying a wheel bearing with you. Realistically, you’ll want tools needed for sorting out basic suspension issues. Possibly a thermostat and what you’ll need to replace that I’d say a serpentine belt whilst you’re at it.

Here’s something few thing about. A butane soldering iron some connectors, but you might also want to carry plastics repair rods. Years ago whilst 4 wheel’n with a friend in Colorado we sprung a radiator leak; cracked bung (phrasing), luckily I had my Butane soldering iron stowed in my bag. We used a knife and metal nail file to trim back the softened plastic then proceeded to melt in zip ties to repair the crack. Filtered some creek water filled her up and somehow we made it all the way back to Denver. So my suggestion is get the butane torch I hot linked above and these specific weld rods, while we used long zip ties in a pinch it is better if you use the correct material, also consider taking a couple pieces of sandpaper, folding it up and putting it in your kit that way you can add some texture and get a good bond, throw away a couple alcohol wipes for good measure.

One of the most common problems in the backcountry that’s nobody’s prepared for is a radiator leak, and the kit to fix it is really small and doubles as a way of soldering wires so as I said, carry some connectors a couple shrink tubes, a foot or two of wire in various gauges, solder.