I am addicted to tools. I can hardly pass by Home Depot, Lowes, Sears, Harbor Freight, Pep Boys and Grainger without stopping to buy something. Here are some of my favorites that I use on my Titan and why I like them. I encourage others to list the tools that they like to further my addition.
1.)
telescoping air compressor blow gun I absolutely love this tool that telescopes from 12" to 24". I use it at its shortest length to blow dust and debris from between the seats of my Titan so that I can get to it with my shop vac. Extended to the 24" length makes this tool perfect for blowing out , dirt, leaves, and other stuff from the bed of my Titan. I can just reach over the side of the bed to clean without having to climb into it. It's a great time saver.
2.)
Oil drip tray. This tray goes underneath your oil drain pan to keep any oil that misses the drain pan from getting on your driveway. If you have one of these you can remove the filter while the drain plug is still out. It's also a nice place to put your oily rags and tools while you are changing your oil. This puts an end to putting down newspaper that really didn't work that well anyway
3.)
Hitch ball wrench This specialized is tool made by Reese to remove the large nut that holds the ball to the receiver. This wrench has the two popular size box ends and has extra length to give you more leverage to tighten and loosen the nut. This is
way better than using a large adjustable wrench.
4.)
Ratcheting wrenches This is the most popular tool on the planet right now. These wrenches are lighter and more balanced than a socket wrench with a socket. They really speed up the work too. I spent $10.00 just to buy an extra one to keep in my side box to use on the drain plug.
5.)
Fluorescent trouble light At my age, I will probably be dead before the bulb burns out. I love these lights because they don't get hot. If you are working underneath your Titan or under the dash you can lay the light against your body to get the right light angle and it won't burn you. Also because there is no filament, you won't have to worry about the bulb going out when you drop it.
6.)
Flow Tool This plastic tool screws onto virtually any bottle to make pouring easy. It has a long, clear flexible tube allows you to work around obstructions and watch the rate of flow. I use it to add gear oil to the differential because the spare tire is in the way.
7.)
Loctite No matter what I do fasteners come loose. I like Loctite to end this problem and I don't have to search everywhere for the right size lock washer. For those of you that don't know there are several different Loctite formulas. One formula grips so hard that you have to use a heat gun to release the fastener.
8.)
Mechanic's gloves. These are great because you can work faster because you are not concerned about skinning your knuckles. They are absolutely a must for working around hot engine parts.
9.)
Small sturdy stepping stool Mine is plastic and is made by Rubbermaid. It is invaluable when washing your Titan. I sit on it to keep from straining my back when I am cleaning the wheels and tires. I stand on it to be able to reach the center of the windshield when I am cleaning it. Because it is made entirely of plastic, it doesn't matter if it gets soaked with water when washing your Titan.
10.)
Grit-Trap Bucket by Black Magic. This car wash bucket that I bought at Wal Mart is fantastic. It has a slotted false bottom that allows the grit in your wash bucket to go to the bottom and stay away from your wash tools. It also has two little shelves on the side of the bucket to put things you don't want to get wet.
These are a few that I can think of for now. I will add more as they come to mind.
11.)
Right angle grinder This air tool that costs between $50.00 and $100.00 comes in handy all the time. I use quick to change grinding pads with this tool to easily sharpen all sorts of tools like lawn mower blades, shovels, etc. You have much more control with this tool than a bench grinder and are able to sharpen things that are too hard for a bench grinder to do such as post hole digger blades. It will also grind down welds that are not smooth, grind the head off of stripped bolts and grind paint off of metal parts. A wide assortment of different kinds of pads are made for this tool. I have one that is a Scotch Brite pad that I use to clean the rack in the bar-b-que pit.
