ADVICE – 4X4 TOOL KIT

It’s great to have a garage full of well organised tools that let you strip down and put your 4x4 back together, but there’s certainly some tools you’ll want to have when you go off the beaten track. Keep in mind that while you can grab what you’ve already put in the shed, you might actually be better dropping past your local Burson Auto Parts or Autobarn and grabbing a second set that you take with you, leave in the car when it’s parked at a mates, or even lend out to those who aren’t as forward thinking.

1. DUCT TAPE

The sticky tool that can fix just about anything, ‘to a degree’. Duct tape is brilliant and a multifaceted talent: it will pack together broken body panels in a pinch, keep a bumper from falling off while you get back home, and keep a broken window together (as long as it isn’t under much pressure).

Duct tape will also serve as a handy fix for leaking hoses, keeping liquid in a cracked container and even insulate heat from your hands if you wrap it around your fingers. Cheap and strong, you’d be a miss for not adding a roll of duct tape into your emergency toolbox.

2. SHOVEL

Yep, this certainly does more than just one thing when your bogged, because if you’re staying overnight, you might want 5 minutes of alone time and need to dig a hole. But for all other occasions, this handy little blade will be crucial for moving mud and getting around a bogged wheel.

3. SOCKET AND SPANNER SET

There is basically no way of getting a bolt out without a socket and/or spanner set. Items like spark plugs are deepset and a spanner won’t help, so think about a combined set with both spanners and sockets – and don’t forget the trusty 10mm!

4. SCREWDRIVER SET

Like sockets and spanners, you’ll be having a bad day if you need to adjust a screw or remove a clip and don’t have a screwdriver. Given you don’t really need all sizes, a couple of handy flat and Phillips heads will be all you need.

5. ADJUSTABLE WRENCH

You can substitute the spanner set for a quality adjustable wrench. Yes, it won’t grip as tight and will be a bit thicker for those hard-to-reach places, but the adjustable wrench comes in different sizes and will be a lifesaver if you have to tighten a bolt back up or pop off a battery terminal.

6. JUMPER CABLES

It goes without saying that if you need to jump start a car you need jumper cables. Without these trusty black and red wires of life you’ll be stuck waiting for a call out or a very nice mate. It also means you can play the good Samaritan for those unfortunate enough to have left their headlights on and need a jump.

7. TORCH

Not just for helping to see what’s going on in the engine bay, you’ll be beside yourself if you break down at night and don’t have some quality light. Consider a torch and a floodlight, though even just one small torch is better than nothing when you’re stuck on the road to nowhere at 1am.

8. RECOVERY KIT

With so many options from recovery tracks, snatch straps and more, each person’s recovery kit will likely consists of some trusty items they know well. For begginers, a good starting point is picking up a basic kit or at least getting a couple of snatch straps, some rigger’s gloves, three or more shackles (in case one breaks) and a tree trunk protector.

AND MORE…

Of course, the vintage of your 4x4 and type will dictate what you need, not to mention the unique traits of your vehicle. There’s an endless choice of course, so now you have a good excuse to get into the store, drop past your local Bursons or Autobarn and get an emergency toolkit together for your car.