What do you take to the Pull Yard?

[rumblecloud]

The closest pull yard to me is about 40 miles. Normally, I would do an inventory search to see what's been dumped. They are good about posting one image the vehicle with year and engine size along with what row it's in. If I see something I'm interested in, I go for an in person look-see. I usually end up taking half my barn with me just in case.

So I'm curious what you folks take with you?
Thanks.

r

 

[racsan]

3/8 drive standard & metric set, a 6-in-one driver, putty knife (in case I see any cool emblems I want) wire cutters, crescent wrench, vise grips.
Have more tools in the truck but usually if its more than a 3/8 drive will handle (like a whole rear axle) I will just have the guys at the yard get it.

 

[Shran]

I have a dedicated junkyard tool bag - basically 3/8 socket set, pry bar, hammer, metric wrenches, vise grips, screwdrivers, trim removal tool, plus some specialty stuff like certain Torx bits and the Ford axle nut socket for our trucks.

A couple rags, plastic bags, rubber gloves, leather gloves are really nice to have too.

I don't carry many SAE tools with me, they are always in the truck, but I rarely need them... almost everything is metric so I try to keep the bag light.

 

[Curious Hound]

I have a large bag for junk yarding and I use the same bag for travel. Assorted 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" sockets, screwdrivers, Allen's, torx. Wrench roll with metric gear wrenches and some adjustable, pry bar, rags, whell bearing socket, hammer, rubber gloves, side cutters, aviation snips, utility knife, ????

 

[rumblecloud]

That's what I'm talkin' about!
Thanks. I've been think about adding a cut-off wheel and/or sawzall. Battery powered of course. I need to put together a dedicated bag as well. I'm light on metric stuff though.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Many of those places won't let you take in "sparky tools".

I always take my battery operated impact.

 

[ElectraRider]

thats a big 10-4 on tools that create sparks, at you pull and pay they check your bag before entering.

 

[Roert42]

Same here more or less.

I got a bag I uses as my mobile top box. 3/8th socket set, bunch of wrenches, pliers, cutters, hammer. Normally I take an electric impact, it’s heavy so I’ll leave it in the truck if I don’t think I’ll need it.

it’s funny to look at it and see what tools you can do 80% of your work with, and compare it to how many tools you have. I think about 70% of my tools are not needed and just helpful for that 20% of the time where they make the job easier.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Lot of yards around here don’t allow any cutting tools (torches, sawzall, grinder). That said, I’ll usually have something in the truck.

I‘ve changed up my tools a few times. Usually when I try to cheat and not take much, I need something from what I didn’t bring but if I bring everything then I don’t need it all. Working on building a set around a Milwaukee Packout system now. I got a Craftsman mechanics tool set on special around the holidays, it’s a drawered set for their version of the Packout and I attached it to plywood with Packout feet so it clips in. Going to build out a “smash and grab” bag too, something easy to carry when you’re doing a recon of the yard that just has some basics to grab easy stuff with. Leave the big set with the truck and just pull part or all as needed after recon work.

Definitely the Milwaukee impact goes with me. And I don’t want to forget side cutters again.

 

[Curious Hound]

it’s funny to look at it and see what tools you can do 80% of your work with, and compare it to how many tools you have. I

I agree. But some of my more complicated junk yard outings have been far from elegant and ended with damage to the car in the yard. That's not normally an option at home.

 

[racsan]

Can of wd-40 too, not so much for rusty stuff but to spray at the wasps I find.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

For recon I will grab my faithful $40 Stanley 1/4 and 3/8 drive socket set, phillips screwdriver and a crescent wrench. Never go anywhere with out my leatherman and penlight so they are a given too.

If I find something I like I will go back to the car and get my 24" craftsman carry box with all that and a hammer, pry bar, vice grips, 1/2" drive etc.

 

[superj]

i just put my stuff into a bucket with a piece of hose around the metal bar handle so it doesn't dig into my finger. ratcheting wrench sets in metric and sae, adjustable wrench, channel locks, wire cutters, multi tip screw driver, small multi tip set with driver, metric and sae basic socket sets, extendable handle 3/8 drive ratcheting breaker bar, magnet on a stick, and whatever that tool is called to pop out interior pieces without breaking them. also some rags and a pack of baby wipes.

than my son and i stop at bill millers on the way and get large sweet teas to keep us from being so thirsty

 

[Ranger850]

I used to try to carry everything. My yard has these little carts with wheels that help for carrying stuff. I'd load it with my Impact gun, all the bits, metric and standard sockets, extensions, ratchets, wire cutters, razor knife, Interior trim removal set, and literally anything I "thought" I would need. The last couple of times I went, I took a small bag with a few small hand tools, and a crescent wrench, vice grips, and 1/4 ratchet with a 10mm and 1/2. I left everything else in the truck and figured if I needed it, I would go back and get it or ask some one walking around if they have what I might need. I've loaned tools to guys before and always get them back. I also have left good hand tools in cars before too, because that's how I get to get new tools. lol

 

[Shran]

I don't carry anything I really care about to the junkyard. M18 impact is the only exception. Not because I am worried about theft but because it's almost always a mud fest or the weeds are 10 feet tall. So things tend to get really dirty or are easily lost. I just picked through the loose tool bins at pawn shops for a while and assembled a kit full of decent quality tools that were cheap enough to lose and not cry about.

Just need to know what you're buying I guess... I have had the $5 HF socket set and those Ultra Steel wrenches from walmart before and destroyed them at the junkyard in no time flat. Very frustrating when you wade through 1/4 mile of mud and weeds only to break the one tool you have to have.

I don't think any of our junkyards care about grinders etc. One place in particular lets you drive in. Another place let me torch out some leaf springs. They are aware that they will simply not sell certain things if they can't be cut out.