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Lugnuts should be torqued to spec and for that you don't need superhuman strength. I always told shops if I got a flat and couldn't get my lugnuts off because they used an impact gun without checking it, they were coming to rescue me. That said, I carry a large breaker bar with a socket and usually change my own tires anyway.
Should be and what's done are 2 different things. Many people have zero interest in being able to do anything with their lug nuts or their car. I'm in that camp! And I grew up working at my dad's garage. I still have no interest in working on vehicle and he hates working on new vehicles. I have 2 he absolutely won't touch anything under the hood. He says to bring them both to the dealer so they don't get screwed up.
I have three large storage tubs of tools in my car for emergencies, although I admit I am kind of obsessive:
floor jack
jack stands
3/4" AB plywood board in case I have to roll the jack on dirt ground
set of sockets/ratchets/extensions/adapters/spinners
1/2" drive torque wrench (clickable)
set of wrenches
set of bit drives with full set of Torx and Allen/hex bits
screw drivers
hammer to pound on a broken starter (if it breaks)
mechanics wire
duct tape
extra sets of lights (headlights, parking lights, turn signals, backup lights, tail lights, brake lights, high beams, license plate lights, etc.)
spare fuses
multiple pliers
wet wipes
napkins
tire chains
chain tighteners
compact spare tire ready to go in the passenger compartment (as opposed to under car and hard to detach)
4 wheel chocks
8 pairs of scissors
machete
pocket knives
back-up foldable maps
back-up phone book
back-up shoes
windex, rags
4 manual can openers
plastic silverware
whistle
umbrellas
13 qts. oil
3 gallons pre-mixed dealer super long-life coolant
2 gallons distilled water
brake fluid
PS fluid
ATF fluid
windshield wiper fluid
emergency urine bottle
2 air compressors for low air in tires (although I use nitrogen)
2 tire repair kits
6 flares
heavy-duty DOT-rated 45 mph wind reflective triangles
emergency light which plugs into power adapter
1/2" drive 12 volt impact wrench you plug into power adapter
1/2" drive battery operated (attached) impact wrench
5 emergency flashlights
spare batteries for those flash lights
rain poncho
fire extinguisher
jumper cables
rug to put down in case I have to keel in mud
mechanics gloves, 2 pair
sandwich bread plastic wrappers and rubber bands
snow shovel
3 snow scrapers at various doors (since my passenger door was frozen shut one time)
empty 2 gallon gas can
funnels
5 gallon bucket
metal bat/baton
toilet paper
plastic Walmart bags
spare serpentine belt
emergency food and 4 gallons water
flint fire starter
compass
hunting knife
bolt cutters
spare clothes
clear nail polish
tire valve core remover,
4 tire air pressure gauges
tread-depth gauge
rock salt compound in gallon container,
traction mats
4 comforters
1 blanket
12 pillows
2 tarps
bottle of 20 bungee cords
red tape for lenses
steering wheel club
brake club
If I ever have to rent a car, it is hard, since I need to fit 3 large storage tubs of tools into the rented car. I also have to do a walk thru of the rented car check the fluids, tire pressure, lights, location of spare, battery, etc. It is time consuming. When I owned two cars it was hard, since I had to have two sets of everything above, more or less. (They wouldn't give me an extra parking sticker at school though so I could drive each car in alternatively, unless I paid them $500 for a second permit for the semester.)
Writing this has made me want to go to the store to shop for more emergency supplies. You can buy lots of good stuff at Walmart, especially if they have an area for automotive clearance. I got my DOT wind-rated reflective triangles for like $10 when they normally sold for $45.
How do you fit in the vehicle? This is beyond overkill. 3 ice scrapers. 4 tore gauges. 12 pillows. 4 comforters. Nail polish? 5 flashlights. 13 quarts of oil. 4 manual can openers? 8 pairs of scissors? Seriously? I don't know anyone who has 4 can openers in their house!
This sounds like a prepper list not stuff to keep in your car. If you're driving a vehicle that needs this much to keep it going, might be time to think of a new vehicle.
I have three large storage tubs of tools in my car for emergencies, although I admit I am kind of obsessive:
floor jack
jack stands
3/4" AB plywood board in case I have to roll the jack on dirt ground
set of sockets/ratchets/extensions/adapters/spinners
1/2" drive torque wrench (clickable)
set of wrenches
set of bit drives with full set of Torx and Allen/hex bits
screw drivers
hammer to pound on a broken starter (if it breaks)
mechanics wire
duct tape
extra sets of lights (headlights, parking lights, turn signals, backup lights, tail lights, brake lights, high beams, license plate lights, etc.)
spare fuses
multiple pliers
wet wipes
napkins
tire chains
chain tighteners
compact spare tire ready to go in the passenger compartment (as opposed to under car and hard to detach)
4 wheel chocks
8 pairs of scissors
machete
pocket knives
back-up foldable maps
back-up phone book
back-up shoes
windex, rags
4 manual can openers
plastic silverware
whistle
umbrellas
13 qts. oil
3 gallons pre-mixed dealer super long-life coolant
2 gallons distilled water
brake fluid
PS fluid
ATF fluid
windshield wiper fluid
emergency urine bottle
2 air compressors for low air in tires (although I use nitrogen)
2 tire repair kits
6 flares
heavy-duty DOT-rated 45 mph wind reflective triangles
emergency light which plugs into power adapter
1/2" drive 12 volt impact wrench you plug into power adapter
1/2" drive battery operated (attached) impact wrench
5 emergency flashlights
spare batteries for those flash lights
rain poncho
fire extinguisher
jumper cables
rug to put down in case I have to keel in mud
mechanics gloves, 2 pair
sandwich bread plastic wrappers and rubber bands
snow shovel
3 snow scrapers at various doors (since my passenger door was frozen shut one time)
empty 2 gallon gas can
funnels
5 gallon bucket
metal bat/baton
toilet paper
plastic Walmart bags
spare serpentine belt
emergency food and 4 gallons water
flint fire starter
compass
hunting knife
bolt cutters
spare clothes
clear nail polish
tire valve core remover,
4 tire air pressure gauges
tread-depth gauge
rock salt compound in gallon container,
traction mats
4 comforters
1 blanket
12 pillows
2 tarps
bottle of 20 bungee cords
red tape for lenses
steering wheel club
brake club
If I ever have to rent a car, it is hard, since I need to fit 3 large storage tubs of tools into the rented car. I also have to do a walk thru of the rented car check the fluids, tire pressure, lights, location of spare, battery, etc. It is time consuming. When I owned two cars it was hard, since I had to have two sets of everything above, more or less. (They wouldn't give me an extra parking sticker at school though so I could drive each car in alternatively, unless I paid them $500 for a second permit for the semester.)
Writing this has made me want to go to the store to shop for more emergency supplies. You can buy lots of good stuff at Walmart, especially if they have an area for automotive clearance. I got my DOT wind-rated reflective triangles for like $10 when they normally sold for $45.
Actually all kidding aside it's a great list, as looking through it there are few things I might consider adding to my "small in car stash".
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