Great idea to carry hose pinchers, and also a couple of 3 inch 1/2" copper
pipes with clamps for bypassing failed valves.   Here is the "professional"
tool:
http://www.amazon.com/KD-Tools-Radiator-Pinch-Off-Pliers/dp/B000O3NACS   I
own two that I purchased for work on my '84 years ago.  These are one of my
most used specialty tools since modern (crap) plastic connectors/valves/etc.
on all of my cars have failed at some point, and some repeatedly.  Maybe
I'll get a couple more!

Stuart
Never met a tool I didn't like

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
JRodgers
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2012 1:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Cool Tools for Vanagons

TOOL ASSESSMENT:

I've been having coolant/heater issues lately - need to replace the rear
heater valve in 'ol Blue and an inside front heater cutoff valve under the
dash of ol' Red. I can't turn off the heat on ol' Red and I was fretting
over how to best pinch off the hoses to prevent leaking while the valves
were installed. I needed to shut off the coolant to ol' Reds front heater
until I could get to the job, because in this summer heat in Alabam it was
cooking my feet, even with the AC running full bore.
In ol' Blue every time I started the engine the coolant just poured out of
the rear valve.

I went to HF and was just poking around, when in the brake service section I
spotted the perfect tool(s). It was a set of four clamps made for the job.
They are comprised of an "L" shaped bolt with the tip turned up, just like
on the capital "L" here, ?The long side was threaded and a threaded knob
mounted on it. There was a nice piece of stamped steel (to give rigidity)
that connected across from the tip to the bolt. These clamps were absolutely
perfect to do the job of clamping off the the hoses. No hassling to find two
pair of vice grips and a couple of strips of wood to serve as a clamp. No
plastic scissors type clamps that don't clamp evenly. Just slip these in
place, tightened the handle, and voila - no coolant flow.

After my experience with them, I would recommend them as regular tools to be
taken on any trip. As many hoses as the Vanagon has, you never know when you
might need one of these. The set of four was $10.

There are four clamps in the set, and they are different sizes. AT $10 it
might be worthwhile to get and keep two sets, so you have a pair of each
size. These are not big and bulky, and take little room in the tool box.

Regards,

John Rodgers