DIY Tacoma Specific "Trail tool kit"

I'm currently trying to compile a tool bag that will either live in the truck full time or be carried with me whenever I go offroad or on any trips at the very least.

*disclaimer, this specific list will be specific to my truck and needs * but hopefully, a good starting point for others across all gens and mods * and most will apply to stock trucks too * check your bolt sizes first and modify as needed*

The goals are:

• To be minimalistic, for space and weight conservation
• Relatively cheap ( I'm not IG famous so I can't afford a full set of Snap-On for both the trail and the garage)
• To encompass the tools necessary to fix the most likely issues & repairs on the trail, in the desert, or on the side of the freeway in LA. (suspension suspension suspension)

I watched a Driving Line video the other day, which covered Matt Moghaddam's setup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upsFrbWMFY4

I liked his use of the tool roll instead of a hard toolbox or case.

Here's my go at replicating his setup on a college student's ramen budget!

Starting with an $18 tool roll

Portmaxi Tool Roll Bag, Tool Roll Up Bag With Marking Cards, Five Zipper Pockets Roll Up Tool Bag for Electrician Tools Household Tools Best Gift For Yourself Brother Father Husband

HERE

• These tools will mostly be off-brand chinesium due to the hope I don't have to use them much at all. I'll save the quality tools for home use that I use regularly.
• Pretty much all off Amazon, because I get 5% cashback there on my credit card right now
• Most sockets are 3/8 drive. It's small enough to remain compact(ish) in the bag and when working across the whole vehicle, but it should withstand close to 100ft-lbs of torque

Torque Guide for pretty much any 2005+ truck:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-torque-spec-guide.318116/

Below are the sizes I've found I need for the bolts that come loose on my 2012 Prerunner v6, with Camburg LT and a custom rear 12" shock set-up, some of your bolts may differ, as noted with an * if it is a non-OEM bolt/part -- Ie: check yours to see what you have.


Tools:

1. CHUANRUI 8-piece Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set, Chrome Vanadium Steel, Metric, 8mm to 17mm, with Carrying Pouch
   8-17mm ratcheting combo wrench set General use; 14mm are the upper coilover bucket bolts and front crash bar/bumper mount bolts
2. $10 FLZOSPER 19mm Metric Ratchet Wrench,Box End Head 72-Tooth Ratcheting Combination Wrench Spanner
   19mm ratcheting combo wrench *upper and lower rear shock eye bolts* ; *front lower coilover eye bolts* ; LCA frame side bolts (not alignment cams) ; UCA frame side long bolt head ; outer tie rod end
3. TEKTON 7/8" Ratcheting Combination Wrench | WRN53016
   7/8" ratcheting combo wrench Rear axle U-bolts ; UCA frame size nut (other side of long bolt)
4. Powerbuilt 644011 SAE 15/16" Raised Panel Combination Wrench
   15/16" combo wrench *LCA camburg uniball nut* ; *LCA camburg spindle adapter bolts/nuts*
5. SATA 14-Piece 3/8" Drive 6-Point Socket Set with 60 Tooth Round Head Ratchet, Metric - ST09523
   8-19mm 6pt socket set w/ 3/8" drive ratchet General use; 14mm are the upper Coilover bucket bolts and front crash bar/bumper mount bolts ; 19mm are LCA frame side bolts (not alignment cams) ; UCA frame side long bolt head; outer tie rod end
6. $12 CRAFTSMAN Deep Socket, Metric, 3/8" Drive, 19mm, 6-Point (CMMT44436)
   19mm deep well socket w/ 3/8" drive Used for the rear spring shackle and hanger bolts/nuts
7. $8 CRAFTSMAN Deep Socket, SAE, 3/8" Drive, 7/8", 6-Point (CMMT43339)
   7/8" deep well socket w/ 3/8" drive I found it easier to use on the UCA nut than a normal socket
8. DEWALT 3/8" 6 PT Socket 15/16" - DWMT19573B
   15/16" 6pt socket w/ 3/8" drive *LCA camburg uniball nut* ; *LCA camburg spindle adapter bolts/nuts*
9. $7 TEKTON 1/2" Drive x 9/16" 12-Point Socket | SHD22214
   9/16" 12pt socket w/ 1/2" drive *camburg 12point UCA to spindle bolt*
10. TEKTON 1/2" Drive x 11/16" 12-Point Socket | SHD22217
    11/16" 12pt socket w/ 1/2" drive *camburg 12point LCA to spindle adapter bolt*
11. $15 LEXIVON 5/8" Swivel Magnetic Spark Plug Socket, 3/8" Drive x 10" Total Length | Enhanced Magnetic Design with Thin Wall Socket, Cr-v Steel (LX-122)
    5/8" spark plug socket w/ 10" extension 3/8" drive Nice to have if I need to crank the engine and push out water, oil, etc...
12. $5 Crescent 3/8" Drive Extension 6" - CDTA9C
    6" 3/8" drive extension Used to reach the upper coilover 14mm nuts from the bottom side
13. $8 DEWALT 1/2" Drive Adapter 1/2" TO 3/8"
    1/2" to 3/8" drive adapter When you need to get 1/2" leverage on a bolt that shouldn't need it
14. 2 Pack Magnetic Pickup Tool, Telescoping Pick Up Hvac Tool, Pocket Pick-up Magnetic Retrieval Hvac Accessories for Hard to Reach Places, Magnet Sticks, Mini, Light Weight
    Magnetic telescoping stick because I drop shit like I have Parkinson's at home, and it'll be worse in the dirt
15. $23 DURATECH 3-Piece Breaker Bar Set with 180° Rotatable Head, 6"-15" Lengths, Premium Chrome Alloy
    1/2" drive breaker bar
16. 3/8" drive breaker bar
17. Philips head screwdriver
18. Flat Blade screwdriver
19. Needle nose pliers
20. Regular pliers
21. Gloves, even though I won't wear them
22. Zip-ties
23. Duct tape
24. WD-40
25. Carb/Contact cleaner
26. Tri-Flow silicone (if you have uniball joint A-arms or heims)
27. Rag

Everything without a link above is something that I have already, or you should be able to find on your own.
All in all, everything linked above should be about $200 shipped.
I know that's the price of some tool kits, even name-brand ones like Craftsman. However, I couldn't find one that encompassed the tools I wanted that were specific to my needs. Don't think I'll be using those 2mm hex wrenches on the Tacoma. Or an array of 30 different interchangeable screwdriver heads.

Please let me know below if there's a tool that you've needed out on the trail that I didn't include! This mainly focused on the suspension, as that's what I find myself working on most.

Also if you have the size of some of the OEM bolts that I no longer use, post up and I'll add them here:
Thanks to @wi_taco for the info!

1. Upper Rear Shock: 3mm or 6mm hex to keep the rod from spinning, 13mm or 14mm nut for OE/equivalent. Depends on what shocks you run.
2. Lower rear shock: 17mm and 19mm
3. Front Lower Coilover: Also 17mm and 19mm I think.
4. LCA balljoint/spindle bolts:
5. UCA balljointspindle bolts:

 

Other stuff for trail repairs, that I already have or aren't necessarily "tools"

2. $172 SmittyBilt AIR COMPRESSOR 5.65CFM - SB2781
   Air compressor <- I’ve had this one for years with no issues.
3. GETOVIN Headlamp Rechargeable, 2-Pack Head Lamp Flashlight Broad Beam USB LED Headlight with Red Safety Taillight Ultra Bright Hard Hat Light Waterproof,Outdoor Camping,Running
   Flashlight (Headlamp?)
4. Digital Multimeter
5. Spare fuses
6. Vise Grips
7. Hammer (ball peen & dead blow)
8. Wood block ; to aid in jacking, hammering stuff, and throwing at friends
9. SUAOKI U10 800A Peak 20000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter (Up to 6.0L Gas or 5.0L Diesel Engines) Auto Battery Booster Power Pack Phone Charger With Smart Charging Ports, UL Certified
   Jump-starting pack (I have an Amazon 800amp 20,000mAH one that I've used regularly for years)
10. Offroad Jack:

• DMZ Jack Skid (small for 1.5 ton, large for 2 ton)
• DMZ Jack mount (rear)
• DMZ Jack mount (front) (small for 1.5 ton, large for 2 ton)
• Pro Eagle 1.5t Pad
• Pro Eagle Jack Extension (8" or 15" depending on your requirements)

 

This is good info, I was just putting together a list of things to either dig out of my old junk yard tool bag and had come up with a pretty similar list.

 

The best impact you can afford with a couple extra batteries is a good investment. Turning a wrench in the dark when it's raining fucking sucks.

 

Add a bag full of 10mm sockets.

And some webbing, like 20ft. or so.

 

What’s a good general purpose one? I honestly rarely use impacts, don’t know what rating is good for all around the truck.

 

The Harbor Freight Earthquake impacts are impressive for the quality and price. You're looking at ~$250 for the 1/2" drive, but maybe half that for the 3/8". If I didn't already have a DeWalt I'd have a HF one.

 

Ty! I'll check those out!

 

I bought a Dewalt 1/2" off FB marketplace for $250 with a battery, there are probably resellers near OP, too.

Spanish helps.

 

Well put together Sterling!

 

TY Carey, lol

After helping my friend put the slipping serpentine belt on his LS swapped ranger about 78354 times last weekend in barstow, I decided it would be a good idea to be similarly equipped !
Also had some motivation when I torque-checked all the suspension bolts on my truck and found a few critical bolts to be, essentially finger tight... after I got back from Barstow.
Guess the random dude in the RZR wasn't kidding when he said my truck swayed a bit in the rear

 

Throw a flashlight or two in your kit along with extra batteries. If you need to fix something at night you are screwed if you don’t have light.

 

And don’t forget a compressor to pump up the tire after plugging it.

Add an assortment of fuses to the list.

I’d add a digital multimeter to the mix as well. Put a note on the loadout checklist to inspect its battery before heading out; alkaline batteries are prone to leakage and a DVMM left in the truck with the associated temperature changes will go there sooner than expected. Or use a carbon battery in it.

 

Good points - I’ve carried flashlights and have had a compressor in my truck for so many years they passed through my mind as a given lol.

I’ll add these items to the second post.

 

On the flashlight path I'd also suggest a headlamp. Packs small, hands free, some are USB rechargeable. Always have mine due to other camping & hiking that I do. Very useful.

Hex/Allen wrenches or sockets can be useful sometimes. Not sure how many we have but seems I always need them when I don't have them.

Vise grips can be a life saver on the trail. One pair normal, one pair with the longer/thinner "alligator" style to pinch hoses off.

A hammer of some variety is always good to have - for trail maybe ball peen or deadblow. Also a small wood 2x4 chunk for pounding against is dang near free and protects against the 200lb gorilla behind the hammer smashing things beyond repair at times.

 

For a moment there I thought you were suggesting hitting a gorilla with a hammer. OP's thread would have taken an odd turn if that was the case

 

Sometimes using the hammer on the 200lb gorilla who was behind the wheel can fix the root cause but may also cause other unintended consequences.

 

Bump, anyone know the oem spindle bolt sizes ?

 

Myself and many of my buddies (we're all old-timer wrenches, some of us A&P's) can vouch for the HF Bauer impact guns. I'm pretty new to them but the others have been abusing them with great success. Recently, a AAA flatbed operator stopped to help my wife during a flat tire experience on our new Taco. I pulled up right after he did. He offered to do the tire change no charge. He busted out a beat to shit Bauer 1/2" impact that had been on the truck for a long time and he gave it a major thumbsup. That's a pretty good testimonial. I bought a 1/2 & 3/8" version and using them daily. Good stuff on the cheap!

 

Can you give more details on which specific bolts you are referring to??