SAE or metric?

I always carry a 1/2 drive ratchet/short extension/and whatever size 6 pt. socket for my lug nuts, a dog bone wrench, "channel lock" pliers, 4 way screwdriver, cheap Harbor Freight magnetic light, and a utility knife.

GrumpyOldMan said:

I tend to agree. I've never really been any sort of mechanic, and now I'm getting to be too old and busted up to be crawling around under a truck for much besides changing the oil. The last time I had a flat tire I called AAA and let them change it. I have no delusions about repairing any of the modern stuff. I'd just like to be able to deal with an obviously loose nut or the like. Plus, there are times when you're out and about and need a tool for something completely unrelated to your vehicle. I've got all that sort of stuff, I was just wondering if it was worth augmenting what I already have with some additions. It sounds like it is, even if only a set of metric sockets. And yes, a good 4-way lug wrench and a cheater pipe to go with it (those tire shops sure use a lot of impact wheaties when they tighten lug nuts - I've wrenched my back more than once trying to loosen one).

Thanks everybody for the quick input!

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Well, sure, a bunch of us are older now, but you can do simple jobs. I wouldn't think of taking taking tires off anymore, when that's all I did as a youth with winter snow tires.

But simple jobs that a critical to vehicle health are still doable for us - like a PCM code-reader, oil changes, etc.

KeithP said:

I’ve never claimed to be a mechanic of any type. But back many eons ago when I was still on the farm, hours away from roadside assistance, I ran GM exclusively. Chevy trucks and Oldsmobiles. Those small blocks were easy for anyone to work on so yeah, I carried tools and the usual array of spare parts too. But, I’ve been in the DFW metro area for 30 years now. Here there’s a tow truck parked at every interchange waiting on an accident or breakdown to happen, so help is never more than a few minutes away.

I’m not a genius, but I’m smart enough to know the AAA card is the only tool I should be using on the vehicles I own today.

If I were to move back to the farm. I’d sell what I have and buy something that the engine displacement is measured in cubic inches instead of liters…….and run an antique tag on it.

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Dad was a field service ag rep. He always drove Chevys because they had the most service garages.

These modern drive-by-wire things they call vehicles these days are like trying to service an airliner sometimes. I bought a mid-level scan tool, but turned it over to my boys. I still to the simple stuff like oil changes.

If you’re just looking for a basic set of tools to keep in the vehicle to use in an emergency good old Harbor Freight has several kits of basic tools neatly organized in plastic boxes. Yes they are all made in China and not durable enough for daily use but in an emergency it’s better than nothing. The kits are inexpensive and fit behind the rear seats nicely.

With our Rams, you almost need a set of plastic Trim Tools
They are handy for door panels & radiator cover

I use my truck as a work truck so I 99.9% of the time I have all kinds of tools and testers. I agree there isn’t much you can do for a major mechanical issue but I couldn’t tell you how many times they have come in handy in a pinch either helping myself or someone else. The downside is not having a usable truck bed because it’s full of tools.

Marshall said:

That can run into a 2 hr wait , or more where I use to live, and no 24 hr service in the country.
I carry a long breaker bar and 2 sockets that fit the 2 set of wheels I use, summer and winter tires, a small and large crescent wrench, and a pair of pliers. I use to carry a set of belts, but these days don't know if I could change it. The club cabs have a good place for all that under the back seat
I can't remember the last time I needed a road repair, had a tire go in the 1980's

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I still run into in Florida with no cell service

For changing a tire carry a 1/2” breaker bar or battery powered impact gun & 6 point deep set impact metric sockets or…. a AAA card, probably cheaper than the tools.

i need metric and sae to do basic maintenance on my truck,car,boats,yard equipment and off road vehicles,so my main shop has all my sae and the shop where i keep my orv's and the snow blower has all my metric tools.it's still a royal pain trying to work on something and having to go into the other shop for a tool but i'm not keeping 2 sets in both shops.i'm getting to the point where i'm considering putting a second compresser up in the orv shop.i already have 2 sets of battery impacts,drills,impact sockets.it's ridiculous how many tools i've aquired.just convert to metric ffs.

GTyankee said:

With our Rams, you almost need a set of plastic Trim Tools
They are handy for door panels & radiator cover

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I have a couple of those, a long one make a good weed killers as well. At one time I had 5 or 6 sets of quality wrench sets, proto where the main set, Dad gave me a large set of Craftsman tools about 65 yrs ago, most of those are still good, no metric of course.
My last big tractor was German, so everything metric on that and some real large sizes.

Dad bought a new dodge 1/2 in the 1980's, one time he had a leak, so tried to take the wheel off. did not happen, so 3/4 air impact , broke 2 or 3 studs.
I put a 250 lb snapon tork and it was higher.
Took it back to the dealer as still near new, they ended up putting new hubs on that. Great truck , but if it had a flat on the highway, no way you could change the tire.

BTW , no matter how little you may use them, do not buy made in china cheap tools, though they do make good ones as well, but they are not the crap at discount stores. Most of my user wrenches are box end wrenches.

Everything I have done on my 2021 has been metric.

The post picked my attention as all our cars are BMWs and we have plenty of metric tools (working on our cars on almost everything we need). Now thinking of buying a RAM (towing a boat with an X5 is not a perfect solution) and happy to see that metric tools will still be in use!

And what we carry in the cars: a tire inflator (usually cordless), tire repair kit (safes your time as you can be back on the road in 15 min), jack, a few sockets (+extensions), 3/8 & 1/2 ratchets, a jump starter (HF), a few hose clamps, zip ties, gloves, pliers, a few screwdrivers, flashlight, knife(s), matches (fire starters) (maybe forgot something). It's a standard equipment and we use a small (12") HF bag to store them.

I think the answer to this story is: If you are planning to work on most
anything, you need to have a complete set of SAE and metric tools.
I can tell some on here, by even asking the question, may be way over
their heads..........