Someday I hope to have a house with a driveway and a garage! In that garage I will have a place to store my tools for working on the Jeep. Heck, hopefully the garage will be heated so I can work on my Jeep in winter. In the meantime, I'll park on the curb outside my apartment, and work on the Jeep when I'm visiting friends or family. I have even rotated the tires in the remote lot at work .

Anyway, over the years I picked up a few necessary tools from the local Auto Parts shop (which shall remain unnamed, but you know the kind of place I mean). I have a basic tool kit with a set of ratchets and wrenches, a torque wrench, a grease gun, etc. I have used them now long enough to know they aren't going to last.

So, my question to all of you, is: What brand of tools do you recommend-- for overall quality and a lifetime of wrenching on the Jeep? I'm interested to hear your opinion on Craftsman tools, but also any other good brands you think would be worth looking at and investing in. Thanks!

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2008 Liberty Sport 4x4 Automatic

Jeepin By Al 4" Lift Kit
BFG KO2’s 245/75R16
Full MOPAR skid plates
Rock Lizard Skink Super Sliders
AtTheHelm Front Recovery System & Roof Rack
M116A3 Trailer build thread: viewtopic.php?f=72&t=77997

Everything but the 84 tooth rachets (I have one, and it's really nice, USA made) from Craftsman are China made...not worth it, IMO since they're still charging USA made prices.

If you're in the midwest, Menards has the Masterforce brand that's USA made and very reasonably priced. Usually a bit less than Craftsman. Lifetime warranty.

Of course, you could try SK or Snapon. Challagener/Proto is great too. Got a lot of that brand, haven't broke anything yet.

I know just about every handtool has a lifetime warranty, but that doesn't mean anything when it breaks mid job and have to figure out how to get it replaced. Easier to just go with quality.

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05 KJ Limited 4x4 in Light Khaki: Detours USA Backbone, Warn M8000, Huskyliners, RockLizard Super Skink sliders, OME/Bilstein Lift, JBA UCA's, 245/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers
07 LR3 SE V8
1996 XJ Country
2015 KL Limited

I have a lot of craftsmen tools in my shop..I agree that they aren't as good as they used to be though..


33 gallon air compressor I got on black friday one year..


My bench grinder is a skil I believe from Lowe's but it does the job for me..



I'm still pretty young, but I started out working outside on a cement slab that used to be a garage when I lived with my parents. Then I moved out with my now wife and rented a house that had a 1 car non heated garage that when it would rain really hard it would flood inside a little bit About a year ago my wife and I bought our first house and I now work out of a oversize 2 car garage that is heated..makes it nice to work in and party in, when its cold outside..



jeeper 'yep I'm a picture whore' 4life

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2004- Jeep Liberty
2016- Jeep Wrangler unlimited
1981- Jeep CJ-5
1977- Jeep CJ-5

Here is my break down.....................


Wrenches = only Snapon Flank Drive wrenches,very expensive but worth it and will outlast your Jeep and most likely you.

Ratchets = Snapon's 80 tooth or Matco's 88 tooth,again worth every penny,more so in tight spots.

Sockets = HF Pittsburg impact sockets for impacts,any for chrome as there all equally junk.

Air tools = Ingersoll Rand,there titanium line

Cordless tools = Makita for there 1/4" brushless impacts,Snapon for there 1/2" impact(no lithium ion batteries).

Screw drivers and such = have had the best luck with Craftsman Pro Series screw drivers,Cornwell for Torx bits.

Granted I use my tools to make my living.

I second most of TJKJ's choices.

Matco's 88 tooth ratchets are to only ones I use any more along.


Also gotta give props to Knipex for almost all of their pliers.

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2008 KK Liberty Sport NIGHT OPS EDITION + GILLS
OEM & Custom Skids - Factory Tow Package - Rock Lizard Skink Super Sliders
Prototype JBA 4 Inch Lift - JBA UCA's - Flowmaster Super 44 OR - Whacked Resonator
Jet Stage 2 - RL Gecko Basket Rack - Custom Winch Bumper - Recon 10.5K Winch

Yeah those Matco 88's are very nice but I'm having big issues with there 3/8" drive version and my Matco guy is dumb founded as they keep locking up(one my 6th in less then a year).The 1/4" drive and 1/2" drives have been flawless but I'm sticking with my Snapon 80's for 3/8" drive which get used in place of my 1/2" drives in all cases besides the extreme ones.


Yeah and forgot about knipex,great pliers,and there prices have come down some.Those newer Gearwrench double jointed pliers are pretty good also for those tight spots that need a extra long reach.

Big orange Cornwell box and not a single Cornwell tool on the list shame on you Troy.

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My CRD Build Thread
Soon to Come:more lights

Hey I got plenty of Cornwell tools but after all was said and done that box cost me $3800($12,000 box).

Ah ok the real question is which came first the orange box or the orange jeep?

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My CRD Build Thread
Soon to Come:more lights

The Jeep.