Recommendation for a in vehicle Torque wrench?

[off-roader]

I currently own an inexpensive torque wrench. You know the $20 jobbies you can buy at any local auto parts place when they have those quickie sales.

I'm wondering if one of the Beam style torque wrenches would be any better? Here's an example of the kind I'm considering (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00944642000P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8)

I'm not interested in carrying a more expensive one (say... $100 or more) in my off road adventures especially when it will be bumped around in back for weeks on end when I go on my week long rock crawling trips.

TIA.:ylsmoke:

 

[1911]

You're going to be severely limited by your budget, there aren't any torque wrenches worth having new for less than $100 IMO. Maybe a Craftsman would be close, but they're cheaply-made any more and the plastic falls apart. You might try buying a used quality one on fleabay or something, but even used quality wrenches are usually more than $100.

Personally, I don't carry a torque wrench in my trail tools. With common sense and experience you can get close enough with conventional ratchets and wrenches for a trail repair. What is handy is a big breaker bar, to get hub and spindle nuts and etc. off and on.

 

[keezer37]

I think you're right on the money for emergent repairs. I wouldn't carry anything better on the road. As much as you might worry about torque values performing trail repairs.
As a matter of fact I still have one of those beam types, ten year old Craftsman at that. I'm thinking I can use my micrometer type to check it's accuracy.

 

[herm]

pawn shops are a great place to pick up tools like this. i have seen proto and mac torque wrenches for less than 100 bucks.

 

[alexrex20]

my arm is calibrated to +/- 10lb-ft of torque.