What Every Weekend Warrior Should Have in the Arsenal

The weekend is upon you. It’s a sunny Saturday morning, the birds are chirping and it’s time to crack into that project in the driveway. We all know most jobs take longer than planned. But nothing can turn that happiness sour like not having the right tools for the job. The weekend warrior may not have the endless supply available to them that a professional technician does, but it’s hardly money wasted when it’s money spent on tools.

The Basic Tools

To get started working on anything basic, hand tools are a must. Sure, MacGyver could do anything with a stick of gum and a paper clip, but having to resort to this level of trickery is definitely a bad idea under the hood. When we say basic hand tools, we are referring to box wrenches, pliers, ratchets, and hammers—that sort of thing. Think of the essentials.

Companies like Snap-on and Mac make some of the best tools on the market. So if budget isn’t an issue, stocking up on their product is a great idea. A typical weekend warrior probably isn’t looking to spend as much but still wants something reliable. In this case, you can call on names like Craftsman and Gear Wrench. Additionally, Performance Tool offers a full range of hand tools you can purchase at local auto parts stores, and they’re proven to stand up to the test of time.

In this article, the name Performance Tool is going to come up quite a bit. Why? Because take pride in targeting the demands of the weekend warrior. Heck, we even got to sit down and speak with their very own Chris Favro on the subject!

The Specialty Tools

I think we can agree that automotive work is a specialty. Because of that, there are some specialty tools worth having handy. Favro states “You should have a torque wrench, a creeper, an infrared thermometer, and a W2977.” Performance Tool part number W2977 is their diagnostic scan tool. “This specific item is where someone should start, and everyone should have one of these in their tool box.” Any vehicle sold in the US after the year 1996 will have an On Board Diagnostics, or OBDII, port built into the vehicle. Being able to tap into that system helps you quickly troubleshoot any issues the system is picking up.

With specialty tools for the weekend warrior in mind, Performance Tool offers some complete kit applications that can save tons of time. “A DIY-type person is most apt to work under the car, meaning brakes, ball joints, and anything down on the wheels,” shared Favro. For these jobs, Performance Tool offers anything from brake servicing kits, to ball joint presses, and everything in between. Sure, renting them from a local parts supplier is an option. However, these parts will continue to need servicing throughout the vehicle’s lifetime. Having the right kits on hand can save you time and even some money in the long run.

Life-Saving Tools for the Weekend Warrior

Weight management factors in to a lot of jobs as well. Most of the time, when you’re working on a vehicle, something heavy will need to be lifted. Having a good floor jack is an absolute must. And with a good jack comes a good set of jack stands and wheel chocks. When a vehicle is lifted, it might be tempting to work on it with the weight on the jack, but this is a deadly mistake. Performance Tool has many options available under this category and prides itself in testing each hydraulic component before it’s shipped off to ensure it’s up to standard. The same thing goes for their engine hoists, which will come in handy for those more serious jobs.

At the end of every project, all of the tools need to be cleaned up and returned to the tool box. Proper storage is a great way to improve workflow and save time during any job. Favro chimes in with the usefulness of Performance Tool’s tool box/creeper combination. “[Part number] W85025 is a must. It allows for you to do under-car work and store your tools right in the front of the seat itself … It’s the number one item for the weekend warrior.” Obviously, a good-sized tool chest is nice to have. But by combining an area to sit with tool storage, Performance Tool displayed a stroke of genius.

But let’s not forget about the most important tool for anyone to bring with them to the shop—their head. Weekend warrior projects tend to be subjected to short time frames, and it’s easy to want to start cutting corners. Don’t! Stay sharp and stay safe. This is something to take your time with and, above all, it’s something to enjoy.

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