Cordless Impact Wrench Recommendations

[Portager]

A cordless impact wrench has be on my want list for awhile. So when I noticed an Amazon add for the DEWALT DCF813S2 12-Volt Max 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench Kit http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCF813...ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1318533299&sr=1-1 it peaked my interest. It comes with a carrying case and two batteries for $147. You can get a car charger http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCB119...ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1318532939&sr=1-1 for another $99 (not much of a discount there). Would this impact wrench be adequate for trail repairs or can somebody recommend a better cordless impact wrench?

 

[Ron46]

I like the snap on impact wrenches, they are the most reliable. I have dropped them in bulges on boats and had oil and anti freeze all over them and they still work

 

[08SolarFlareH3]

I only have experience with snap on cordless impacts. We have had several of them over the years that we use on service calls and never had one fail. They usually get traded in after a couple years but they get used almost daily.

 

[Kurt]

I use a similar dewalt but one item of concern is the 12 volt pack, mine are 18v and is interchangeable with a wider array of dewalt tools. The specs put it at 100 ft lbs roughly so that should be decent for most tasks except for wheel/frame/suspension work.

I have an 18v heavy impact [300 ft lbs 1/2"] but its big and bulky and a smaller impact model that uses a chuck adapter, the specs are similar to what you listed, and I used my little dewalt for taking off skid plates any all sorts of non frame/suspension work.

Dewalt, panasonic, Milwaukee and snap on make great electric wrenches, another option would be to get a electric ratchet wrench from Ingersoll Rand, they have a 14.4v series with decent torque and it would be easier to fit in hard to reach places than a gun style unit.

 

[Portager]

The Span-On cordless impact wrench looks like a very nice unit but the 3/8" wrench is $422 with a single battery http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=21565&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all versus $147 for the DeWalt with 2 batteries. The Snap-On torque rating is higher, but the weight is also double. The mobile charger is $154 vs $99 http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=19406&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all . So, is the Snap-On worth 131% more $$$ for home and trail use, where I won't be using it every day?

 

[08SolarFlareH3]

I wish I could comment if its worth the nearly 150% price increase Portager but I have never used the DeWalt. I will check with my carpenter buddy, he uses nothing but DeWalt tools. He does mainly carpentry but he does some work on old cars and tractors, so he might have one. I will check with him and see if I can get an honest review.

 

[TrailBreaker]

I have used DeWalt tools for a while now, and their quality has been much better than before. I would HIGHLY recommend their 36V Litium Ion line though. While a little more expencive, it is very much worth it. The 36V Impact makes short work of wheel lugs, CV axle nuts, ball joint castle nuts, body mount bolts, bumper bracket nuts, etc. And since it is Lithium batteries, it weighs the same as an 18v. I got a whole combo kit a few years back and it has run trouble free since new, never needed service and the batteries are still just as good as new.

 

[deserth3]

My son works for Dewalt. They had him go to a repair place and they showed him the difference between Dewalt interanal parts and other brands. He said Dewalt internals were alot better. The technician thought so too.

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

:agree: Dewalt has great tools! Sounds like a fair price for the wrench

Dewalt all the way!:thumbs:

 

[Bigunit]

After seeing JR3T's Milwaukee 18v lithium cordless impact handle every nut on the front end of his T in Moab, I was sold & went out and got what he had. This is a great impact wrench - perfect for the trails:

http://www.build.com/milwaukee-2662-22-18-volt-cordless-1-2-high-torque-impact-wrench-with-pin-detent-kit/p1099613?source=lcb_1099613&baid=497877390

 

[Scarsman]

I can't speak to the DeWalty impact tool, but I have a set of DeWalt 18V cordless tools I bought in 1998. 1/2" drill, recip-saw, circular saw, and work light. When I got them I was working construction building houses and cabins. I have used them in rain, snow, 100+ degrees and dust. The drill has been dropped off of roofs a couple times, knocked off of more than a few ladders/window ledges, and overall used hard. I have used them for drilling and cutting steel a lot too. I finaly had to get new batteries this spring, and the drill clutch is just now starting to slip under extreme torque.

I am fully sold on DeWalt cordless tools for life so far. They kick @ss!

 

[3Hummers]

I have the 18 volt DeWalt. Great unit. Lots of power and battery life.

 

[twinmill28]

My wife bought me a Lithium-Ion 18V Ryobi. I'd been undecided on it for quite awhile as I really needed a drill more. This came with an adapter that lets you use hex type bits (screwdriver, drill) and while it seems like massive overkill for that, I've learned to control it and actually appreciate the flexibility.
The reason she got me the impact was for running the stabilizer jacks up and down on the travel trailer, which it handles impessively.
I've run it on a few lug nuts, but not sure that the battery can handle doing one complete tire on and off.
I also used it for running the lag bolts into the wall for hanging the HUMMER sign, and it came really close to giving me wood for how well it handled that task.
So I guess as always, it depends on what you're doing with the thing. Mine is obviously all-purpose and a luxury for working on the truck since I won't use it very often for that. Most definately a luxury for using it on the trailer jacks, life got a million times better and set-up time on the trailer has been reduced greatly. If you've ever set-up a travel trailer, you know how sweaty and pissed-off you can get very quickly trying to run those jacks down by hand.

 

[06 H3]

I dont have a cordless but in terms of quality I think dewalt is great! Granted Snap on tools are the superior but I cant justify the expense. If I was in the industry where I used them daily I would probably go snap on. There warranty is great but for us average joes that do some mods in the driveway or repairs on the trail I think dewalt is a great price and quality unit

 

[SolidusJ]

You don't need the mobile charger!!!!! Just pick something up that has the lighter jack that your not using cut it off and get quick discontent wire plugs and now you have a 2 in 1 system. Use heat shrink to make it look good .

 

[Ron B]

After seeing JR3T's Milwaukee 18v lithium cordless impact handle every nut on the front end of his T in Moab, I was sold & went out and got what he had. This is a great impact wrench - perfect for the trails:

http://www.build.com/milwaukee-2662-22-18-volt-cordless-1-2-high-torque-impact-wrench-with-pin-detent-kit/p1099613?source=lcb_1099613&baid=497877390

I have had the 28v version of this one for a few yrs and it is really sweet. Very hd.

 

[alrock]

Digging up a really, really old thread here.

Decided my Hitachi impact wasn't cutting it, especially as it couldn't break free some bolts that I would watch the Milwaukee and Dewalt easily break free. The Hitachi lists a higher torque value but it doesn't do it in real life. It's fine for many tasks, like rotating tires, but I think it's time to upgrade.

Instead, I'm going with this: Milwaukee 2763-22 though I just bought the bare tool, in part because the kit is out of stock. Besides more torque, this impact has a brushless motor so it may last a bit longer, or perform a bit better.

Guess the Hitachi will be on Craigslist soon.

 

[skeptic]

My two thoughts: 1) Cordless tools are really handy, but having several with incompatible batteries is not. Go with one where you will buy or already own other interchangeable tools. 2) Bring a breaker bar as well as an impact wrench. No worries about not being able to break a bolt free, but still have the speed and convenience of a cordless wrench.

 

[alrock]

My two thoughts: 1) Cordless tools are really handy, but having several with incompatible batteries is not. Go with one where you will buy or already own other interchangeable tools. 2) Bring a breaker bar as well as an impact wrench. No worries about not being able to break a bolt free, but still have the speed and convenience of a cordless wrench.

Two great suggestions! I went with Milwaukee as I've already started to go with other products of theirs, thus addressing #1. Breaker bar is tucked inside the back door.

 

[3Hummers]

My Ingersoll Rand cordless impact is awesome.

 

[Kyle]

i have a dewalt one i use from time to time. it sucks ass, it wont break anything free, i have to get out the breaker bar and then use the impact wrench.

 

[3Hummers]

I have a Dewalt also. It isn't half the impact wrench that the IR is.

 

[alrock]

Reloader has a 20V Dewalt that does well with all of the tasks that we throw at it. I might have bought that if I didn't already have some Milwaukee stuff accumulated.

 

[kflips]

i have a makita 18v cordless impact wrench

 

[Portager]

I have the DeWalt 20V max* and it works great. Never had a lugnut it couldn't break loose.

DeWalt sells two different torque levels in the 1/2" square drive. The 3,600 in*lb Impact Wrench (DCF889HL2) and the 4,800 in*lb high torque Impact Wrench (DCF889HM2). I got the high torque model and that seams to help a lot.

I went with DeWalt because I have a lot of other DeWalt 20V max* cordless tools and they all use common batteries.