How do lug your tools around the bone yard?

[Shran]

Watch your local pawn shops for Packout stuff. I see it pretty regularly and the beat up stuff is priced pretty fair.... I figure a junkyard box will get beat up anyway and if it looks like crap, it's less likely to get stolen.

 

[jballard81]

Watch your local pawn shops for Packout stuff. I see it pretty regularly and the beat up stuff is priced pretty fair.... I figure a junkyard box will get beat up anyway and if it looks like crap, it's less likely to get stolen.

Excellent idea! thank you!

 

[DeeRanger]

I've been trying to find one of these, (self-powered wheelbarrow ?) to help me move things around, but I can't find one anywhere, I guess everyone's sold out ?

 

[97RangerXLT]

I feel your pain on the weight... and up until the last time that I went, I could not even get a wheelbarrrow.

But my yard bag is a Harbor Freight toolbag (less than $20) with a cheapo Great Neck socket set (3/8) both SAE and Metric witha few extra extensions just in case, a few different size screw drivers both phillips and regular, T20 and T25 torx, slipjoint, regular, and needlenose pliers, wire cutters, 1/2" breaker bar with an 8 inch extension and 19mm and 13/16" socket for wheel removal, a set of magnetic screw driver bits and handle, and cheap HF combination wrench set. for most jobs, this will get me by, but lately I have also added a Dana 35 Manual Hub socket just in case I come across a Ranger/ B series with the hubs. other than that, if I think I need a special part with specialized tools, I will add those as needed for the trip.

AJ

 

[Curious Hound]

My junk yard tools are currently in tool rolls that each have about 5 pockets. It works OK. Not too heavy. Not too bulky. They also get thrown in the trucks for trips. At the yard, I immediately pick up a wheel barrow as my rolling workshop.

 

[2drxploder]

Wheelbarrow

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So, I’ve experimented with toolboxes and bags for years. Now my main junkyard set is a Packout set with a Packout “milk crate” and I have a Craftsman mechanic set I bought on sale around Christmas one year that I fitted with feet to hook into Packout stuff. Loaded up, it’s stupid heavy to drag around a yard though. Plus there’s very few relatively level yards around here.

That all said, it’s still one of the better solutions I’ve come up with. The thin top box I call my primary junkyard box. It’s got all the random tools that I find super useful in and out of the junkyard. I want to put together what one of my friends calls a “smash and grab” bag, which is just a small tool bag loaded with like a 1/4” ratchet set and some small tools for taking when you’re scouting the yard so if you see something smaller while scouting you can just grab it quick and move on, then come back for the big stuff later.

The nice things about the Packout set is that I don’t have to drag the full set out unless I’m doing a serious junkyard excursion and most of the yards here let you come and go so it doesn’t matter if the set sits in the truck and I just swap out bits as I need them. Plus they are lockable and waterproof, so good for when I have like the F-150. I can put them in the bed and loop a cable through with a few padlocks and it’s enough to keep honest people honest.

Most yards around here don’t have carts or wheelbarrows. One yard provides them free and the other that has them charges you like $10 for using one. I’ve taken my own wheelbarrow for a few yards before. Kicked around the idea of trying to build something that is powered for it, but I’m not sure how many yards would let me get away with that. Really kinda miss my college days where I was friends with the owner of a yard near college and could just drive my truck in the yard. Also was allowed to use their shop and lift when they didn’t need the space. That made everything super convenient. Wheel into the yard, drive around till I found what I wanted, drop the tailgate and go to work. If I needed a wrecker or torch, I just found one of the yard guys. Doesn’t get much nicer. Pity I don’t have that advantage anymore.

 

[bobbywalter]

depends on goal.


leatherman.....


up to a

hand truck to wheel barrow.

 

[bobbywalter]

i have the horrible fright fold up hand truck that is supposedly good to 150 pounds..... but....no. maybe 90.

 

[Lefty]

Tool loadout depends on the target, I just use their carts. Try to find a good one that doesn't have flat tires and/or a bent axle so the tire rubs on the cart and away I go.

Me too, ecept they supply us with wheel barrows. I saw a friend in the southwest driving out to find their Ranger in a golf cart.