What's inside the onboard tools? 5 surprisingly useful picks & 3 picks that you don't understand why they're there.

Maintenance is fun, but I can't keep tools in the garage. Living in an apartment under such circumstances, I want to manage with some tools stored in the car, and I want to carefully select super functional ones. As for me, who has air-cooled engines and point ignition cars (a Volkswagen) and motorcycles (a Cub & Z), I carry things like this. Here’s a selection that is hardly useful.

What is inside a carefully selected vehicle tool kit after taking the time to curate it

How to compactly store only the tools that are actually used. As tools get eliminated in the usage process, the best lineup for that person and that vehicle is created. The interesting part is that the result of what remains within the constraint of “fitting into this space” becomes a unique tool kit for that individual.

The author, who is lazy and has reasons for not being able to leave things in the parking lot, found surprisingly many items when everything was taken out again. By the way, the tool kit being used is the "TRUSCO Trunk-Type Tool Box T-350".

The tool box that should have been carefully selected over nearly 10 years. Upon taking everything out again, there were over 60 types of items ranging from those commonly used to those hardly used at all. Including miscellaneous items, there were about 100 pieces (excluding electrical tools).

While the very standard recommended items have been mentioned in this article, today I will reveal 5 surprisingly frequently used items and 3 items whose inclusion may not be understood.

【工具道】極私的！買ってよかった工具箱に入るハンドツールのベスト5

古いクルマやバイクを趣味にする、いわゆる旧車オーナー。そのメンテナンスはやっぱりある程度自分でできると楽しいですね。そんな趣味人を目指す人に参考になるのか、ならないのか。買ってよかったハンドツール（工具）の「極私的」ベスト5。

5 Surprisingly Frequently Used Vehicle Tools

1. Ko-ken Z-EAL 3/8"(9.5mm)SQ. 3725ZB-280

The 3/8 ratchet handle comes in three pieces. The sockets from 7 to 19mm in 1mm increments are stored in the toolbox from Ko-ken. When I need torque or for larger sizes, I use the 1/2, but since I bought this 3/8 280mm handle recently, I've found myself using the 1/2 less often.

Even with bolts that have torque, it can be turned easily, so whether it's a car or a motorcycle, it's comfortable in awkward positions that are hard to reach. For oil drains, I really feel how easy it is to turn. Of course, I’m careful not to over-torque when tightening small bolts and nuts, but as long as there’s space, it’s quite versatile, well-balanced, and easy to use.

2. KTC Spanner 13×15mm S21315

I used to think that spanners couldn’t apply torque and had no practical use, but depending on the vehicle model, they can be quite handy for accessing specific bolts or nuts. Once you know where those spots are, you start wanting fixed-size spanners. For air-cooled Volkswagens, having 8, 10, and 13mm sizes can be quite useful, don’t you think?

3. KTC Short Ratchet Combination Wrench 10mm MSR2SA10

It’s convenient to have smaller combination wrenches too. Particularly, this short combination is great because the wrench side is a ratchet, making it extremely handy for quick turns; I also use the open side in places where I want its slimness. The short ones are a bit more expensive, but I find this KTC to be the easiest to use and I really like it.

4. STRAIGHT Screwdriver (300mm)

Recently, I've been using this shorter screwdriver quite often for some reason. It has a versatile feel, perfect for popping open covers or wedging in places where there’s tension in the suspension. I used to manage mostly with a flathead screwdriver, but this one feels more refined, and I find the shape and length of the tip makes it easier to use.

5. Unknown Manufacturer Magnifying Glass

My eyesight has been getting worse every year, so I surprisingly use this magnifying glass quite a bit. I probably bought it at a 100 yen shop. Situations like checking the jet number of a carburetor or the ignition position of the points, which I used to see clearly, are now impossible to do without help. It's handy to have it around, especially in situations where I might misread something.

Three essential car tools that are almost out of the first string but not quite.

1. BAHCO Adjustable Wrench BAH9031

When it comes to tools that I want to keep even if I don't use them, the number one that comes to mind for everyone is the monkey wrench. My toolbox contains a 3/8 ratchet up to 19mm, along with a socket and a spanner, all sized to work together, but I am short on sizes above 20mm. So, I think I need a monkey wrench that can handle larger diameters for those rare occasions, but I hardly ever use it even once a year. As I'm starting to think it's time for it to be benched, this monkey wrench that can open up to 38mm continues to provide the comfort of a veteran standing guard.

2. WORKPRO Locking Pliers 178mm

For some reason, the locking pliers also stay put. I have a vague memory of using them to clamp items occasionally to prevent them from rotating, but along with the monkey wrench, they remain one of those tools whose purpose is unclear. I wonder why I keep it.

3. TONE Tension Spring Hook TSH-001

The spring hook is convenient when disassembling drum brakes, but conversely, it's almost completely unused for anything else. Outside of brakes, I occasionally use it to pull on carburetor springs, but it might not even need to be in the car. I wonder why it's in my toolbox.

People and cars, each a treasure chest

In fact, my air-cooled Volkswagen is not just this but is loaded with various tools, making it a "mobile toolbox." From items that are quite common in old cars to those that are almost like "amulets," there are various kinds. But a box that holds the tools you really need feels just like a treasure chest.

What do you have in your car? If we meet somewhere, please show me.

Photography and text by Masashi Kakino

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