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It never fails. You’re trying to swap out a part held on by the four longest bolts in your car. You can’t spin them by hand and there’s so much stuff in the way, you can only get an eighth of a turn from your ratchet. This is where a battery-powered ratchet is a lifesaver. If you don’t own one, I’ve found some awesome cordless ratchet deals to help you out. And, don’t worry, I’ve thrown in some pneumatic options as well.
I have cordless ratchets made by DeWalt, Ryobi, and Ridged in my tool cabinet right now. I wrote a buyer’s guide a while ago and tested all of them. Hank has tested out a few as well, so we have hands-on experience with a lot of the ones below. If you don’t want to read the buyer’s guide, let me drop some spoilers.
First, if you’ve already committed to a particular tool brand, your best bet is to keep going. Having more than one battery standard is a pain. Not only because you’ve already invested in them, but having to keep multiple battery types charged is a headache. So unless you’re unhappy with your current system, stick with it. Second, the torque ratings on cordless ratchets vary quite a bit. Some of them deliver over 70 foot pounds of torque. I’ve been known to say “it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” Still, I think that much torque is a little bit of overkill. Also, after testing several of these, some of the highest torque models are trading torque for RPM in the gearing choice.
With that said, I know a lot of you will probably laugh at the idea of the Ryobi USB Lithium 3/8-inch ratchet kit with 2.0 Ah battery for $69.00. But given the number of bolts that go into plastic or aluminum on modern cars, this smaller low torque tool might save you from yourself. I also use mine for hobbies and around the house.
I have a DeWalt Atomic 20V MAX Cordless 3/8-Icnh Ratchet that’s at the other end of the spectrum. Like all of DeWalt’s stuff, it’s built great, feels nice to use and it’s powerful. And, I know some of you are still fans of air tools. I love air, but it just isn’t as convenient for those of us who aren’t wrenching all the time. When I was making money with my tools, I had some Ingersoll Rand pieces and they were great. This 105-D3 Mini Air Ratchet 3/8″ Drive for $114.99 will last forever, and you’ll never have to buy a battery pack for it.
More Cordless Ratchet Deals
DeWalt XTREME 12-volt Max Brushless 3/8-Inch Drive Cordless Ratchet for $159.00 with a free 5ah battery
Kobalt 24-volt Brushless 3/8-Inch Cordless Ratchet for $129 with free 2ah battery and charger
DeWalt ATOMIC 20V MAX Cordless 3/8-Inch Ratchet for $199.00 with Free XR 5ah Battery and Charger
Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless 1/4-Inch and 3/8-Inch Extended Reach Ratchets for $169.00
Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless 1/2-Inch Ratchet Kit with 2.0 Ah Battery and Charger for $169.00
Ryobi USB Lithium 3/8-Inch Ratchet Kit with 2.0 Ah Battery for $69.00
Ridgid 18V 1/4-Inch Ratchet With Two 4.0 Ah Batteries, Charger, and Bag for $278.00
Milwaukee 2456-20 M12 1/4-Inch Ratchet tool Only for $117.00
Ingersoll Rand 105-D3 Mini Air Ratchet 3/8-Inch Drive for $114.99
M7 Air Socket Wrench with 1/2-Inch Drive for $99.87
