I carry a 3/8 inch drive socket set, a 3/8" and a 1/2" breaker bar, a 1/2" set of deep well 6pt sockets, pliers, razor knifes, screwdrivers, hammer, extra belt, some oil and some brake fluid, an adjustable wrench, and probably some other tools I'm not thinking about.

 

Tools to carry

Metric 7mm-21mm sockets and wrenches, nut drivers (7mm, 10mm, 12mm, 5/16ths), Torx screwdrivers, pliers (slip jaw is what I carry & long reach needle nose), blunt nose wire cutters, razor knife and of course a ballpeen hammer. With these tools you can strip a 2nd gen Ram down to its bones.

Edit: I could add things like the axle nut socket but most will not do this repair on the side of the road.

 

You'd be surprised as to how inexpensive you could get all those tools I listed from Harbor Freight (and a soft-sided tool bag to put them all in). And the truck/Jeep/NRA magazines usually have HF coupons for 20-25% off any one item (which helps). If you've ever had to replace a radiator or a water pump or an alternator or a starter in a parking lot away from home you quickly appreciate carrying more than just the bare minimum of tools.

The unit bearing hub socket is a 1-11/16" (43mm) socket. I had to order it on-line as the tool places around where I lived didn't carry that size. I hope I never have to replace one on the side of the road, but there's been a lot of stuff I never thought I'd be fixing/replacing in a parking lot or on the side of the road.

 

Make sure you have a 12 point 9/16ths 1/2" drive socket and breaker bar with you if you are thinking you will be changing out a unit bearing/hub bearing.

 

I just put together a toolkit for my Ram I just bought consisting of this socket set I found at Walmart on sale for $50 http://www.walmart.com/ip/21930758 along with various pliers,screwdrivers,vice grips, the old belt I just changed out, a good set of jumper cables, and a chain. I might have a couple other various things in there but that's the majority of it.

 

A flashlight, with good batteries and a wide beam.

As a driver, I see a lot people on the side of the road late at night trying hard to become roadkill because you can't see them crouching by the side of the car till you're on top of them. No flashlight or hazards blinking, changing a tire or leaning under the hood troubleshooting without any kind of a light. Scary.

Flashlight first, everything else second.

 

I know how cheap I can get the hand tools. I have to get a benchtop press, an impact, and a set of press removal/installation tools. That stuff right there is about $250 with coupons. I used to work on cell towers, I'm on the HF preferred customer mailing list. I moved away from my home town a couple years back and always used the old guys' shops, so I never had to buy shop tools. For the time being I've got extra sets of hand tools in my shop boxes but I will be buying that monster socket.

 

Totally agree about the flash light! I carry one of the large Maglight LED Flashlights. It puts out a ton of light, beam is adjustable and can get plenty wide.

I even take it apart every 6 months and apply Petroleum Jelly to the rubber seals (Per Directions).

 

I bought a big tool set from auto-zone for $75 or so and haven't been disappointed, big flash light and of course my 1911.

 

Sweet, I carry my 1911 everywhere plus I've already got my Savage model 24c .22/20 living under the rear bench. I carry the SR1911. Which one do you carry?