I’ve always used an old skool tire iron when doing trailer maintenance, but I’ve decided I want to have a cordless impact drill. Since I won’t be using it much, I don’t want to spend the $ on a $250+ name brand. Amazon has a crap ton of generic brands for around $100. Does anyone have a cheaper brand they can recommend? I hesitate to buy any generic power tool but might make an exception. Thanks
Any other tools that you have batteries for? The replacement batteries are what cost so much money. I tend to stick to the same brand tools so that they all use the same batteries. Might think about that. If not, I can’t help with the off brands. Sorry
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Have you tried checking Facebook marketplace? It’s got a ton of great priced tools and shop equipment around me at least. May be able to get a good price on a name brand.
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Since Ryobi came out with their lithium-powered tools several years ago I’ve been using them and have no complaints. Lawnmower, hedge trimmer, blower, drills (several), impact wrench, grinders (several), hot glue gun, trim saw, jig saw, air compressor, and probably several other tools out in the shed. I was pretty underwhelmed by their old blue tools, but the new stuff is solid. And it’s reasonably priced. A friend of mine uses their chain saw; its power really surprised me.
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Thanks all
I’m 100% DEWALT…I have several batteries and when you buy just the tool itself, it’s reasonable.
DC
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Get on the Zoro website and mailing list. Wait for 20% off and get the good stuff…Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee. Makita is at the top for me.
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I second the opinion that you should go with whatever brand you already have. Batteries cost as much or more than the tools. Even if you don’t use the impact very much, the extra battery will pay dividends in your other tools. I’m assuming you were already leaning this direction, but make sure you go with the 1/2” drive. I have the 1/2 and 1/4 in Ridgid brand. The 1/4 drive is for fasteners. It has way less torque than the 1/2 drive.
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Just FYI, Black and Decker owns Dewalt and Craftsman and I watched a video where someone took both impacts apart and all the main components were the same. I have a Craftsman “high” torque model, I already had a bunch of Craftsman battery operated tools. A friend bought a high torque impact from Harbor Freight and he is happy with it.
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Just food for thought - but unless this is specifically going to be used for travel, I would stay away from battery powered altogether. By the time you need to replace the batteries, they will have changed the design six times and you’ll have to replace the entire thing. I’m so done with 'cordless" tools and all the BS that goes with them that an extension cord is looking very attractive these days!
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I’ve been using rigid battery tools for 25 years and have always felt they were a good buy. No doubt Milwaukee is probably the best but bang for buck my money is on rigid.
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I think it’s a smart move to switch to an impact wrench. I also went with DeWalt because I have several batteries and the impact wrench did not cost much at all. Night and day when you’re on the side of the road at 4:30 in the morning. Not long ago I was on the side of the road for less than 10 minutes from pulling over to driving off because I brought the impact wrench.
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I second Makita. I’ve been using their tools for 20 years. My vatos at work drag them across a form-deck by their chords all day and they still manage to work. Don’t by generic, Amazon BS. You’ll buy it two or three times when you should have spent the money on a quality tool once.
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Not sure what the cost is compared to the name brand stuff but the half inch Hercules impact from harbor freight is pretty solid. My brother got one for working on his racecar so he doesn’t have to drag a air compressor to the racetrack. He’s had it for 2 or 3 years and is still using the original batteries that came with it. When I was scouting for deer season last month my ball joint broke way up at the end of a trail. He met me out there and we replaced the 25 year old ball joint assembly with it. Lug nuts shouldn’t be a problem.
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I went Dewalt for whatever reason about 12 years ago…Makita is best in class as well, just depends where you start.
Wait for the sales at Home Cheap and buy a couple of extra batteries., for whatever make or model…
I have:
Drills
Impact wrench that lives in the truck
Grinder for metal that lives in the truck
A air compressor that lives in the truck
a 6" circ saw
a lamp for at night
and probably some other stuff I can’t remember, all running off the same battery system.
Just keep’m charged and you are good to go.
Makita, Milwaukee, Dewalt…top of the line…
Ryobi and others are useful if you only use them once in a while…
Harbor freight…I don’t have any experience but, good to hear..
DC
I use and abuse my rigid stuff daily commercially, I’ll never buy another Dewalt product again after having a 7” variable speed sander/polisher that only got used for polishing work get outlived by a $100 Bauer/Harbor freight equivalent by 5x’s that was used for grinding fiberglass and abused. In fact, I have went mostly to the Bauer/Harbor Freight stuff for most of my dirty work due to getting tired of the $300,$400,$500 sanders/grinders going up in smoke anyway.
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good to know…I forgot about them…I don’t use mine commercially, mostly just home DIY and Boat DIY stuff…so far, no issues, and Home Depot is only 1 mile away 
I did forget one item, a dewalt buffer on the 20V Lithium…nice to have as well.
Sounds like you have your tools dialed in…
DC
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I wouldn’t say that lol. But in my line of work I need “bang for buck” tools and not necessarily “the best”. This crap eats them all up eventually so it’s a case of if I can but a $100 tool that performs as well as the $300 tool and it lasts just as long I have to go with it or I’ll need to do a price increase lol. The one cool thing rigid does is their lifetime service agreement that includes the batteries. One just has to remember to register the tools when they buy them.
Makita 18v 1/2” impact wrench. GREAT tool. You don’t need to but I break the bolt with a breaker bar then use the wrench for speed. I wasn’t paying attention once when I hit the trigger, nearly broke my wrist.
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Consider a corded, I bought a corded from HF 10 years ago, decent power, more than the small cordless. Only thing is you need electric.