“Beautiful car. Where are you from?” the gas station attendant asked as I stepped out of my vintage Porsche. Oregon, still a full-service state, meant I had to show him the fuel filler location on my classic car. “LA,” I replied. “That’s a long way in an old car! Aren’t you worried about breaking down?” “Not really,” I said, with a touch of confidence, hoping karma wouldn’t challenge my statement the moment I turned the ignition.
The truth is, I had put considerable thought into potential issues that could arise during the trip. I had meticulously assembled a well-equipped tool kit, packed a few essential spare parts, and, importantly, this was a car I knew intimately. Like many vintage car enthusiasts, I handle a significant portion of my car’s maintenance myself, giving me a solid understanding of what might cause trouble.
You might own that pristine, factory-perfect tool set, nestled in its reproduction pouch, painstakingly collected from swap meets and eBay. It’s undoubtedly “trunk candy,” perfect for showcasing at local concours events or cars & coffee gatherings. However, the true essence of owning a vintage car lies in driving it, not just parking it for admiration.
While your classic car might not be your daily commuter or errand runner, it’s likely you take it to club meets a few hundred miles away. You seek out winding roads for spirited drives. Or, like me, you might envision an epic road trip, like cruising up Highway 1 from Los Angeles, California, to Portland, Oregon – a roughly 1000-mile (1600km) journey – hugging the scenic coastline for a week. Long drives in your vintage beauty offer a unique joy. The journey becomes more tangible, more engaging than in a modern family car, where windows are up, AC is blasting, and everyone is engrossed in their personal screens while speeding down the interstate, just a hair over the speed limit.
So, leave that factory-original tool kit in your garage. Instead, let’s focus on building a practical tool kit for your car trunk that’s geared for travel. We aim for a kit that’s effective without adding excessive weight or consuming valuable trunk space.
First, consider your planned journeys. Is it a short weekend trip, a few hours from home, covering a couple of hundred miles in total? Or are you embarking on a more ambitious, multi-day adventure spanning thousands of miles? The scope of your trip will influence the comprehensiveness of your ideal car trunk tool kit.
Screwdrivers. Yes, it seems obvious, but a couple of robust flathead and Phillips head screwdrivers are indispensable. They are perfect for tightening a loose fuel line hose clamp or adjusting various components. I also recommend including a small precision screwdriver set – the kind with interchangeable bits stored in the handle. You never know when you might need to fix your glasses or tackle a small interior trim piece.
1/4-inch drive sockets. This might seem unconventional, but a 1/4″ drive socket set is surprisingly versatile for many common roadside fixes, like battery terminals and smaller fasteners. They are compact and easy to pack. Crucially, include several extension bars of varying lengths. A flexible extension and a screwdriver-style handle are also invaluable additions. The flexible extension is particularly useful for reaching those awkwardly positioned hose clamps. Consider adding a selection of 1/4″ drive bits, including Torx, hex, and other specialized drives, to enhance the kit’s adaptability.
3/8-inch drive sockets. Along with a ratchet, include 3/8″ drive sockets tailored to specific fasteners on your car. Prioritize sockets for spark plugs and lug nuts. A deep socket for lug nuts and a spark plug socket are essential. Also include a 3/8″ to 1/4″ adapter and a couple of extensions. Before packing, test access to your car’s most challenging spark plug. If a universal joint is needed for removal, make sure to include one in your Tool Kit For Car Trunk.
Allen wrenches. A folding set of Allen wrenches is compact and covers most common sizes needed for various adjustments on classic cars.
Ignition wire pliers. These specialized pliers allow you to firmly grip the spark plug boot, not the wire itself, when disconnecting spark plug wires. This prevents damage to the wires by pulling the wire out of the connector, a common issue when using standard pliers.
Breaker bar. A 24-inch breaker bar, paired with the correct socket for your lug nuts, makes tire changes significantly easier. The added leverage is crucial for loosening stubborn lug nuts, especially after they’ve been tightened by a tire shop. Plus, a sturdy 24-inch bar can serve as a deterrent if needed!
Tire gauge. Another essential for any car trunk tool kit. Regularly checking tire pressure is crucial for safety and fuel efficiency. Consider adding a can of tire inflator like Fix-a-Flat or Slime for emergency flat tire repair. A small 12V portable air compressor is also a worthwhile addition, allowing you to inflate tires without relying on gas station air pumps.
Water pump pliers. I highly recommend 10-inch Knipex Cobra pliers. Their adjustable jaws offer exceptional grip for various tasks, from hose clamps to larger nuts and bolts. (They’re also surprisingly useful for adjusting shower heads in hotels if the water flow is blocked by mineral buildup!).
Needle-nose pliers. Electrician-style needle-nose pliers with a crimping function are particularly useful. If you already carry a Leatherman or similar multi-tool, it likely includes needle-nose pliers, covering this need.
Pliers or Vice Grips, or both. A set of Vice-Grip locking pliers is an invaluable addition to any tool kit for car trunk. They can act as a temporary clamp, wrench, or even pliers in a pinch, offering incredible versatility in roadside repair situations.
Wrenches. Select a few combination open-end/box-end wrenches in specific sizes relevant to your car. For European classic cars, odd sizes and 10mm are common. For Japanese cars, a 12mm wrench is often essential. You don’t need a full wrench set for a travel kit; focus on the sizes you know are used on your vehicle. To keep wrenches organized, use a simple method: take a 3-inch 1/4-20 bolt, a couple of fender washers, and a wing nut. Stack your box-end wrenches on the bolt, with a washer on each end, and secure them with the wing nut. This creates a compact and rattle-free wrench set.
Wiring repair tools and supplies. Always pack a sharp set of diagonal cutters and a small crimper/wire stripper tool. Include a selection of crimp connectors (various sizes and types) and a roll of high-quality electrical tape. A simple test light with a pointed probe and alligator clip is incredibly helpful for diagnosing electrical problems. It’s invaluable for tracing power issues and quickly checking for voltage at different points in the electrical system.
Utility knife. Modern folding utility knives are incredibly versatile. They are useful for trimming fuel lines, opening packaging, or even improvising a funnel from a plastic bottle if you need to add oil or water and want to minimize spills. Using a cut plastic bottle as a funnel is a space-saving trick, eliminating the need to carry a separate funnel in your tool kit for car trunk.
Jumper cables. Even if your car battery is relatively new, always carry jumper cables. They are essential for jump-starting your car if the battery dies. Furthermore, you might be able to help another motorist in need, potentially making a new friend in the process!
Gloves. Include a pair of mechanic’s gloves for general protection and a pair of sturdy leather work gloves for tougher tasks. Throw in a few pairs of disposable nitrile gloves for messy jobs like checking fluids.
Tool bag. Choose a compact and durable tool bag to organize your tool kit for car trunk. The goal is to keep it small and tailored to your car’s needs. Be creative with your bag selection. An army-navy surplus bag works well, or you might find a stylish vintage bag at a flea market – just maybe check its value before using it as a tool bag!
While it’s impossible to anticipate every possible roadside repair, this list provides a solid foundation for your travel tool kit for car trunk. Remember to consider any specialized tools specific to your car. Spare parts are another crucial aspect of roadside preparedness, which we’ll explore in a future article.
