Top 10 Must-Have Tools for Roadside Service Trucks

For businesses that operate commercial fleets, a breakdown isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a direct threat to the bottom line. Vehicles sitting on the side of the road mean missed service calls, delayed deliveries, and blown deadlines. At the same time, passenger vehicles experience many of the same roadside issues, from flat tires to dead batteries, causing drivers increased stress and aggravation. 

As businesses and drivers alike look for faster, more convenient ways to get back on the road, a demand for mobile tire repair and roadside assistance services across the industry has spiked.

That demand was echoed throughout our conversations at SEMA, where mobile repair repeatedly surfaced as a key growth opportunity. Many of the shops we spoke with are already expanding into mobile tire repair services, while others are actively exploring it as a way to meet rising demand beyond the bay.

If you’re looking at getting into this business, your roadside service trucks will need to be properly stocked with essential equipment to handle the most common roadside calls efficiently and safely. Below, we break down the essential tools and supplies every mobile tire service truck should carry. 

10 Essential Tools and Supplies to Keep in Your Roadside Service Vehicle

1.     Wrench Sets for Mobile Tire Repair

Let’s start with the basics. The Ascot 313-09415 15-piece SAE wrench set and 313-09515 15-piece metric wrench set feature a comfortable I-beam handle design, are chrome plated for rust protection, and come in convenient storage pouches. Between the two, you’ll have the right size wrench to tackle just about any roadside tire repair call.

2.     Socket Sets

The 1” Drive 10-piece SAE and metric wheel service socket set from GP should have a place in the roadside repair kit for any mobile tire repair service that regularly works on truck wheels.

3.     Torque Tools

The Norbar 2100110 torque wrench (available in both 1” and ¾” sizes) has an easy-to-read scale which is shielded from dust, dirt, and spray, and has been improved with a new handle that gives the operator a more comfortable grip.  It can also be broken down into two parts and packed into a case for ease of transport. For stubborn wheel nuts, the AME 67300 Nut Buddy is the roadside repair technician’s best friend. With a 1-1/2” (38mm) and a 1-5/16” (33mm) socket and a rated torque output of 2,950ft-lbs, the Nut Buddy can handle the toughest jobs on commercial or agricultural vehicle wheels.

4.     Impact Wrench

With space in repair vehicles (and on roadsides) at a premium, technicians don’t need the hassle of dealing with pneumatic hoses, compressors, and torque sticks. That’s where the Milwaukee M18 Anvil Controlled Torque Impact Wrench comes in. It has four customizable modes and delivers up to 750 ft-lbs of fastening torque or up to 1,110 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque. It also features an LED light to illuminate the work area and Redlink Plus intelligence to prevent damage from overloading or overheating.

5.     Portable Tire Inflators

For quickly and easily filling up low tires, consider the RPG 477-11237 Digital Tire Inflator. It comes with a 6-foot hose and an easy-to-use clip-on chuck. It features a large, tilted LCD display with backlight and a multi-scale gauge, and can be set to automatically turn on upon air pressure sensing. It has a lightweight handle and trigger and a rubber protective sleeve, with wire sheathing on the flex area of the hose to prevent kicking.

6.     Bead Seater

The Gaither 3L Bead Bazooka is perfect for motorcyle, car, and light commercial vehicles. It's lightweight design and size make it a great option. You can even air this up with the Milwaukee inflator. 

7.     Tire Hammers

The Groz 10 Lb Bead Breaker Hammer is just the thing to separate tires from wheel rims quickly, helping your technicians finish calls faster and getting your clients back on the road faster. The handle is constructed with 6 spring steel bars that are locked into the rugged steel head with a steel locking plate, ensuring unmatched durability. The head will never become loose or dislodged. The ergonomic rubber grip handle absorbs vibration and reduces fatigue, making it easy to use the hammer comfortably even on a day full of service calls.

8.     Safety Gear

Any mobile repair service needs to make sure that their technicians have the right gear to stay safe while responding to breakdown calls on the side of busy roads. We recommend high visibility safety vests and a roadside safety kit with cones, reflectors, and LED lights, heavy-duty wheel chocks to prevent accidents during your maintenance activities, and portable inflation cages for commercial tires, which also come with in wide base option.

9.     Lighting

Service calls can come in at all hours. The Milwaukee M18 magnetic extendable boom light ensures that your technicians will always have enough light to get the job done. Two articulating arms and a strong magnetic base offer long reach and fast, secure adjustments. The battery lasts up to 12 hours on the lowest brightness setting or 4.5 hours on high. IP54 dust and water resistance, impact rated toughness, and corrosion resistance mean this light is made to last. Pair it with a rechargeable head light from RPG for close-up illumination under vehicles or inside engine bays.

10.  Jump Starters

Jump starts for passenger and light trucks can be handled faster and more safely if your technicians don’t need to worry about maneuvering their own vehicle into position. That makes a portable jump starter like the HOTSHOT by Milwaukee a must-have. The HOTSHOT offers reliable performance in temperatures from -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit and can be ready to jump in about a minute. It’s powered by the same M18 batteries as some of the other Milwaukee products featured in this list, reducing the number of different batteries you need to keep track of, and can provide up to 2000 amps of peak power and up to 70 jumps on a single battery.

Equip Your Mobile Tire Repair Business with Rubber Inc

Whether you’re launching a new mobile tire repair service or expanding your existing roadside operation, your roadside service trucks need reliable, professional-grade equipment. Rubber Inc supplies the tools and consumables trusted by tire shops nationwide. Contact us today to build the right mobile tire repair kit for your business.