Every car guy or girl wants to have an amazing garage. Its their safe place, their sanctuary, their oasis. We are no exception. Over the years, I have come across some must have tools, or products that are needed in everyones garage or shop. Without further ado, let's get started.
A creeper is a obviously a must have when working on any car. The great thing about this creeper is it is a two in one combo. This 36" creeper will lay flat to to easily skate around under the car, or fold up to sit on, to work on wheels, or brakes. Its a handy solution.
If you have been following me for a while you know I was previously an FAA certified jet engine mechanic, so this is right in my wheel house. The original Grypmat was designed by an F-16 aircraft mechanic, and was featured on the hit show Shark Tank. This flexible tool mat bends over curves, and won't slide around. If you keep losing that 10mm socket, this is a great tool to have.
So simple you wonder why didn't I think of that. These nylon storage straps are great for a lot of different things. As the picture shows, its a fantastic way to wrap up and store your extension cords out of the way, but they can be used for so much more. Hang your drill, saw, hoses or anything else you want out of the way. These bad boys can hold up to 50lbs each! They are too cheap not to have around.
Continuing with extension cords, because honestly, you can never have enough, these extension cord reels should be almost number one on your list. Sick of winding up your extension cords? Sick of having them just lay on the ground? This heavy duty extension cord reel mounts directly to the wall, swivels, and features a lighted triple socket. Don't even think about it, this is needed in your shop.
I think I have 3 or 4 of these now. Wheels and tires can take up a lot of valuable floor space, so anything you can do to get things into the air is a good idea. If you have a couple cars, or a few sets of wheels and tires for the track, then this is the product for you. These heavy duty Hyloft wheel racks are adjustable from 36" to 48" and can easily fold up flat to the wall when not in use. They can hold up to 300 lbs so plenty of strength for 4 wheels and tires. My only recommendation is to replace the lag bolts that are provided and get some grade 8 ones from your local hardware store before installing.
Its summer time, and summer time is hot. We started using these small x blower fans about 5 years ago and never turned back. These little guys can blow some MAJOR air. The best part is they are small, light, and because of the x shape, can be tilted to various angles depending where you are working in the shop. They also feature a 10amp outlet on them which is great to have around. This model features 3 fan speeds as well. Don't sweat another minute in the shop, and pick one of these up. You won't regret it.
Bench vises are an absolutely must in the garage. Easily hold just about anything while cutting, grinding, filing, hammering, you name it. The problem is, not all vises are equal, and it is hard to find one at a great price that won't crack in half when you're hammering. Yost vises have been around since 1908 and this model has a 5 star rating on Amazon. It swivels 360 degrees and has a large 6.5" jaw width. If you're looking for a budget friendly vise that can still take the abuse, look no further. Also if you have a prime account, this heavy bad boy will ship free!
Surprisingly, these came to market not that long ago and what a game changer they are. There never seems to be enough light under the hood, and these cordless LED underhood work lights are the ticket. No more trying to hold your flashlight in your mouth because you don't have a third hand. These LED lights are super bright at 1200 Lumens and feature a battery that will last 3 hours on high and 6 hours on low. The have a non marring adjustable clamping feature that can be adjusted from 47" to 76" to fit any hood. Its a little more pricey than some of the items on the list, but well worth it in my opinion.
You spend all that time and money working on your car, you have to make sure it looks the part as well. This chemical guys wash kit is the ultimate starter kit in our opinion and at a fantastic price. The kits includes:
TORQ Professional Foam Cannon Max Foam 8
Heavy Duty Detailing Bucket
Cyclone Dirt Trap
Diablo Gel Wheel & Rim Cleaner (16 oz)
Butter Wet Wax (16 oz)
Silk Shine Sprayable Dressing (16 oz)
Speed Wipe Quick Detailer (16 oz)
Wheel and Rim Flagged Tip Brush
Easy Grip Soft Hex-Logic Applicator Pad
Glass and Window Waffle Weave Towel, Red 24" x 16"
Workhorse Blue Professional Grade Microfiber Towel, 16" x 16" (Windows), 3 Pack
Signature Series Glass Cleaner (16 oz)
Chenille Microfiber Premium Scratch-Free Wash Mitt (Green)
Honeydew Snow Foam Auto Wash Cleanser (16 oz)
Pretty much everything you need. This would make a great gift, or treat yourself.
You have all these great tools for the garage, now its time to dress it up! If you're a BMW fan, this Powered By BMW Motorsport is one of the coolest things to hang on the wall. It comes in at a massive 2 foot wide and 8 foot long! It is made of a durable polyester fabric and features double stitched, heavy duty brass grommets. Show your BMW pride with this great banner at a bargain price.
Well that about sums up part one of our must have garage items from amazon. Do you have a favorite item you want to let us know about? Email your suggestions to us at info@racegerman.com
Thank you for the support!