Maybe a road trip grab bag instead? 

I’m all for buying more tools, but cordless tools have a limited life.  I would hate to buy an affordable cordless tool and have the battery go flat after sitting in the trunk a couple years.  If you had a road trip bag you could keep 90% of the needed tools in it, and just toss in cordless tools as needed.  Kinda like when I go to the pick-n-pull wrecking yard.  I have a toolbox full of misfit stuff that goes to the junkyard.  Sometimes I toss in my good cordless tools depending on what I am doing.

I have a ryobi.   

I got it because I had other 18v stuff and I bought some new batteries on a sale and with that you got a free tool. So I got an impact.   It's ok, and all, probably a step above hercules, but nothing to write home about. 

The tool that IS great to have and keep in the car is their 18v air inflator.   They were one of the first ones to have a portable inflator and it's great!   Others seem to make one now.  All that line of tools use the same battery.

Impact or no impact… make sure you have tested your spare to be sure it fits over the bigger brakes

One thing about battery tools. Batteries die.

terry wrote:

You get what you pay for..  You dont usually see people who make a living using tools, buying cheap tools.  Myself, I used Milwaukee for several years and had good luck with them.  My friend who has ran a bodyshop for 45 years has basically quit using air tools and gone to Milwaukee cordless.  There are a few exceptions he still paints with air!!

I use all Milwaukee cordless tools for work, and I use many of them every day.  That said, if you plan to use something twice a year I don't see anything wrong with using a lower quality tool.  Especially if you aren't already married to a particular make's battery infrastructure.  Then there's always the buy once cry - once argument too.  I can say this: I've yet to have a Milwaukee battery fail.  Some of them are 15 years old at this point and still work like when they were new.  Definitely not cheap, but they do last.
 

TKOPerformance wrote:

Harbor Freight has the Hercules line, which consistently gets good reviews.  They appear to be a Milwaukee knockoff.  The batteries don't interchange though (I checked).  

Harbor Freight has 20 percent off sale today
 

I have had a Harbor Freight Earthquake for about 3 years, works good. Don't use it a lot, that is why I didn't spend big buck for a name brand. 

A scissor jack and star wrench are in my trunk.

Last year, I picked up a ratcheting and reversing 1/2” breaker bar for my work truck.

I may have to get one for the ‘65 trunk monkey. LOL

wsinsle wrote:

I have had a Harbor Freight Earthquake for about 3 years, works good. Don't use it a lot, that is why I didn't spend big buck for a name brand. 

I've had a 1/2" Earthquake chatter gun for several years now, and it works great. Also have an Earthquake 3/8" electric ratchet that is a good tool too. Harbor Freight is a good place to get quality stuff that may not stand day to day professional use, but with occasional DYI mechanic use, it will last quite a while. Biggest issue is battery life on all those rechargeable tools. 

You should also get an inverter (12VDC to 120VAC) that plugs into your cigarette lighter socket so you have a place to plug in the tool battery charger to charge the tool battery that's flat when you want to use it.