Are you PREPARED? $200 Harbor Freight Jeep Trail Tool Kit

Today we take a look at Harbor Freight to see if we can make a compact and useful trail tool bag for our outdoor adventures. While the bag we came up with is not all inclusive, it is a great start to tackle most jobs you may run across. Best of all, everything in the video including the carry bag came in at under $200.

[@iamblaineful]

I need to switch from a tool box to a tool bag for sure. I carry a bit more tire repair kit (more patches, cement, valve stems, valves, etc.) as I go into places that would be rare to get rescued from, like deep into Death Valley, where failure could be deadly. I do carry a spare tire mounted, and I run beadlocks. RTV, thread locker, spare wire, heat shrink, crimp and seal connectors, fuses, and relays are essential. Factory spare bolts and nuts for control arms and sway bars will make you breathe easier. I have a recovery bag and onboard air. Two of my needed items, the longest pry bar that fits in your bag and a Harbor Freight 1/2" battery impact gun, these are both gamechangers when something goes wrong with you or a friend's rig.

[@SADDLEHORN1A1]

JB Quik. Never leave home without it. I once repaired a hole in a guy's 700R-4 trans with it and he drove it home. Biggest keys to offroad success.....leave your hero ego at home. If it jams don't force it. That's what the winch is for. Keep tire size within the limits of the parts behind them. Maintain your rig, belts, hoses etc.

[@jeepingwithjon]

All awesome advice… especially ego. Ego has broken many parts 🤣

[@sasquatchrosefarts]

@@jeepingwithjon I dunno what you're talking about . My jeep drove up mt everest at 70 mph. Right over the top. Set a world record for hill climb. Y'all are soft.

[@jeepingwithjon]

@@sasquatchrosefarts 🤣 I need to come wheel with you!

[@timberwulf3897]

Great work here, like you said… good basic start and individuals can add rig specific

[@HardEarnedBacon]

This is almost identical to what I carry. I'd say a 36mm socket is essential for a Jeep kit and maybe a set of allen keys. Bag starts to get real heavy real quick though lol.

[@MadGreekOff-Road]

I'd say 80+% of my offroad tool bag is harbor freight. Great video

[@thebassclef007]

I carry mostly the same + some vehicle specific/special tools. I would add to yours some long ratchet extensions, wobblies, needle nose vice grips, allen keys, gorilla tape, a USB magnetic worklight.

[@timberwulf3897]

Some good additional suggestions here, like the author said- this is a basic start that should be tweaked for individual rigs

[@thepreparedgamer4200]

Ok I realize this video is an older one. But I believe that if your vehicle is newer than late '90s you should get rid of SAE and only carry metric that will help you to make your tool kit smaller

[@slalomking]

Nice video, gave me some ideas

[@jeepingwithjon]

Thanks! It’s a good start to a comprehensive tool bag. 😎

[@horustwohawks]

Appreciate the video. I would add emergency v-belt(s). Tried nylons (not an uncommon fallback for a broken belt) in an emergency once but couldn't quite cut it.

[@JoBiatch]

Good video. I would add some bungee cords, nitrile gloves, scissors, electrical tape, duct tape, flash light or headlamp, pocket knife/utility knife or razor. All are cheap stuff.

[@jeepingwithjon]

Thanks! Yes absolutely on those items. I have all those in my main trail tool bag. This bag was a spare one I built. Other things to consider would be some RTV, cheap multi meter. Aside from my main tool bag I carry a recovery bag. I should put out a video on that.

[@JoBiatch]

@@jeepingwithjon Haha u can never have enough tools.

[@bamslife2812]

those tire plug kits are awesome

[@jeepingwithjon]

For the price you can't beat them. I have a tire plug kit made by ARB that has a nice case and more heavy duty tools. In a pinch the harbor freight plug kits would do the trick!

[@bamslife2812]

Yeah the Maddox kit in the hard case for 25 dollars works great. And it includes lube!

[@brandonbrevik9112]

Extending ratchets, or breakers break. Buy a regular ratchet. And a 2.5 ft piece of pipe.

[@terrydavis7389]

i believe it was the farm channel that reviewed zip ties and the HF ones held up better than alot of the expensive ones. when they go on sale i always stock up on them.

[@jeepingwithjon]

Yes I saw that too! They were pretty impressive !

[@seventytwo1001000]

I would have added a small multimeter or test light,

[@brendangriffin1791]

Ducttape flash light

[@jeepingwithjon]

I never leave home without it! And a pocket knife!

[@DrewDiaz]

Cold chisel & a punch

[@skelelator]

No 4 way lug wrench or breaker bar? Otherwise good choices IMO

[@jeepingwithjon]

In my main trail bag I do carry a long solid 1/2 breaker bar and more importantly a 1/2” Milwaukee m18 impact gun. For this video I did include a collapsible 1/2” breaker bar 8:04. The sockets and extensions that are included in the kit would allow me to break free any of the lug nuts I have. While not all inclusive, this spare bag will get thrown in my truck and should help out with most situations. I keep a more comprehensive kit in my jeep. I’ll definitely adding small things as I go though! Thanks for watching :) don’t forget to subscribe :)

[@cayman9873]

A tube of rtv or two and a tube of grease..

[@cayman9873]

The sockets and small wrench sets were poor choices. You need 6 point sockets and combination stuff past an inch. Deep impact sockets and a mid torque milw 18 volt impact is worth it. Punch and chisel set and 4 pound hammer.. and pry bars are critical. A heavy wire tie set beats cheap stuff

[@jzuber79]

I've found small tools help for the tight quarter repairs. It's not always an axle nut. Try getting a deepwell and impact gun between a radiator and fan. Tool bags are packed from experience. Not every bag will cover every situation. Might as well call for the snap-on truck. The 18v Milwaukee is good for those that can afford it. But handtools will work

[@jeepingwithjon]

Solid recommendations. I have all of these in my main trail bag. I was just trying to keep this one a cost effective starter bag. The sockets in this bag are all 6 point. Not a fan of 12 points.

[@TheDrewbalicious]

No wire cutters?

[@jeepingwithjon]

I do carry a set in my main trail bag, in addition to a lot of other tools not listed. In a pinch, i suppose you could use the diagonal cutters in the video, but I always carry a leather man in the jeep.

[@UncleFjester]

*I drive a Toyota, so no need for any tools!*

[@jeepingwithjon]

I won't argue, Toyota are great! :)

[@cayman9873]

I have a toyota 4 x 4 and carry recovery and twice the tools

[@timberwulf3897]

Oh dang you just jinxed it bro

[@rudybarajas4159]

Audio dropped when you got back to the shop . It was hard to hear . Had to cut out of the video .

[@jeepingwithjon]

Strange. First time I heard that about this video.