Lockout Tools

The six families of lockout tools in this category

In-the-door tools (slim jims)

Two standalone slim jims are listed. The SJ2 The Slim Jim is 24 in. long and 1 in. wide, made of stainless steel with rounded edges and notches cut to bind the vehicle's internal linkages. The SJPRO Slim Jim Pro is longer and narrower at 32 in. by 3/4 in., with a sawtooth profile that Access Tools describes as the preferred pattern for binding vertical linkages. Both are stainless, which the listings tie to firmness and corrosion resistance.

Slim jims also come bundled inside the complete sets, except the Truck Master Set, and those sets add the numbered "in-the-door" tools with the Tool-ID system: individual shaped steel tools identified by number (#23, #26, #35, #47 and so on) so you can pull the right profile for a given vehicle from the car opening manual. Access Tools notes on those listings that these in-the-door tools are no longer chrome and are currently stainless steel.

Long reach tools

These are the rods you feed through the gap at the top of the door to press an unlock button or pull a handle. This is where length is the whole decision, and the category covers 28 in. to 60 in.:

• Tiny Max (TM), 28 in. - the smallest and thinnest in the line. The listing calls it out for smaller vehicles, foreign imports and some pickup trucks, and specifically for square and rectangular vertical lock buttons that have only a small lip to grab.
• Little Max (LM), 36 in. - compact vehicles and compact sedans, with better leverage at the handle in tight spaces. Marked Special Order.
• Quick Max (QM), 52 in. - pre-bent at a fixed point so it works in most situations without reshaping. It appears in seven of the kits on this page, second only to the Flex Max, which appears in eight.
• Stiffy Max (SMSS), 52 in. - the same pre-bent geometry in stainless steel, which the listing says will never rust, with a clear coating instead of the opaque one. The One Hand Jack Set that ships this tool also calls it extra-stiff, and specifies it at 51 in.
• Big Max (BM), 58 in. - the longest pre-bent long reach tool in the category, for lockouts that need more reach or more leverage than a standard tool gives.
• BMW Long Reach Tool (BMWT), 60 in. - built specifically for the opening mechanism on BMW 3-series, 5-series and 1-series vehicles.
• Flex Max (FM), approximately 55 in. straightened - fully bendable and twistable, so it can be shaped to follow a door locking system that a rigid rod cannot reach. It also stores small because it does not have to stay straight.
• Snap N Lock (SNL) - a two-piece sectional tool with patented snap-and-lock joints and interchangeable tips, so it breaks down for storage instead of needing a long case.

Five of these - the Quick Max, Stiffy Max, Big Max, Little Max and Snap N Lock - carry the Store-N-Go handle, which holds spare rubber tips inside the grip. Replacement tips are sold separately as the Store-N-Go Handle Replacement Tips (SNG-TIPS) and the Power Grip Tip Set (PGTS). All the coated models list a scratch-proof coating to protect paint.

Snare tools

Snare tools do something a rod cannot: they lasso a vertical lock button or a door handle. The standard Button Master (RCBM) is the most flexible of the three, the Heavy Duty Button Master (RCBMHD) uses a thicker internal wire that is less likely to kink and curl plus a stronger tube, and the Stainless Steel Button Master (RCBMSS) uses a rust-resistant stainless tube under a clear coating. All three list a retractable loop with a grip cover and a length of approximately 38 in. when straightened. The Mega Master (RCMM) is the large-loop version, aimed at vehicles that unlock when the outside door handle is pulled, and long enough to reach across to the far side of the cabin.

Air wedges (Air Jack)

The air wedge is what creates the gap the long reach tool goes through. Every Access Tools air wedge in this category uses a ballistic nylon bladder rather than rubber (the listings make the point that rubber stretches and nylon does not) and a built-in stiffener so the wedge does not fold as you insert it. Four sizes exist, and the sizing is by vehicle:

• Mini Air Wedge (MAW) - the smallest, for places the larger wedges will not fit.
• Air Wedge (AW) - small to medium vehicles.
• Super Air Wedge (SAW) - medium vehicles through SUVs and trucks.
• Twin Air Wedge (TAW) - two bladders instead of one, so the spreading force lands on both the side and the top of the door frame instead of a single point. Listed as suitable for any size vehicle.

If you do not want to guess, the Air Jack Four Pack (AJFP) contains all four sizes.

Pry tools and wedges

The One Hand Jack (OHJ) is a pry-style tool with a rubber pivot that separates the door from the frame far enough to slide the air wedge in, sized for compact vehicles and sedans; the Super One Hand Jack (SOHJ) is the larger version for big sedans and SUVs. Both listings state the tool does not damage weather stripping. The Wedgee Wedge (WEDGEE) is a patented curved wedge that bypasses the window sash channel that blocks a straight wedge, and it ships with two Strip Savers. The Truck Wedge (TW) is a ribbed dual-purpose wedge, flat on one face and angled on the other. The Glassman Tool (GM2) is the one to note for frameless-window cars: it uses LEXAN sheets around a hard rubber wedge to spread pressure over a wider area and needs less insertion space, which reduces the chance of breaking glass. The Wonder Shield (WS) is a durable, flexible guard that keeps a long reach tool or wedge off the paint and weather stripping. The Wedge Pack (WP) bundles the Wedgee Wedge, Strip Savers, a heavy duty truck wedge and a classic double wedge.

Carrying cases

All four cases are luggage-quality nylon with heavy duty zippers and reinforced seams. Size is the decision: the Heavy Duty Grey Carrying Case (SCS) adds a spring hook that clips to the long reach tools, the SC1 is 30 in. long, the SCLONG Heavy Duty Long Case is 60 in. with a zipper pocket, an open pocket and full-length padding, and the MDSCM Mega Deluxe adds see-through industrial plastic pockets for organizing. This matters more than it sounds: a Big Max at 58 in. or a BMW tool at 60 in. will not go into a 30 in. case, so match the case to the longest rod you own.

Long reach and in-the-door tools compared

Kits: what actually changes between them

Sixteen multi-tool kits are listed in this category, and the twelve compared below fall into two philosophies. The Jack Sets are long-reach-first: a rod, a pry tool, an air wedge and a case. The Complete Sets are in-the-door-first: a numbered set of shaped steel tools plus the car opening manual that tells you which number fits which vehicle. Three of the Complete Sets state coverage for 1979-Present vehicles.

Nine kits also include a button strip tool for stubborn vertical lock buttons: the Fast Access Car Opening Set, the One Hand Jack Set and its Long Case version, the Super One Hand Jack Set, the Super Mega Jack Set, the Ultimate Long Reach Kit, the Value Complete Set, the Super Combo Complete Set and the Travel Lockout Kit. It is not an in-the-door tool: the in-the-door tools are the numbered steel profiles of the Tool-ID system.

Four more sit outside that grid. The Emergency Response Kit Long Case (ERKLC) is the same kit as the ERK but swaps the two-piece Snap-N-Lock for the one-piece Quick Max and upgrades the 30 in. case to the long case. The Stainless Steel One Hand Jack Set with Stiffy Max (OHJS4SS) runs the jack-set formula in stainless: a 51 in. Stiffy Max long reach, a One Hand Jack, an Air Wedge, a Super Strap Tool and a case. The One Hand Jack Set with Long Case (OHJS4LC) is the Quick Max jack set packed in a long case, and it is not currently available to order. The European Car Opening Set (ECOS, Special Order) is built around a Multi Tip Max long reach, Mega Master, Glassman wedge, Wonder Shield, Access Smart Light and a 48 in. case, for vehicles with European locking hardware.

What you need to work with these tools

There is no installation, no floor prep and no electrical service to plan for: everything here is hand tooling that lives in a bag. Two practical requirements do come out of the listings.

Storage length. Your longest rod sets your case. The 30 in. soft case will not carry a 52 in. Quick Max, a 58 in. Big Max or the 60 in. BMW tool at full length; those need the 60 in. Heavy Duty Long Case, and the BMW tool sits right at that case's stated length, so confirm on the listing. The Snap-N-Lock and the Flex Max are the two tools that dodge this problem, one by breaking into sections and the other by bending.

Light. Roadside and after-hours work is most of this trade. The Access Smart Light (ASL3) is a windshield-mounted 2000 lumen LED with a heavy duty suction cup, five modes (high, low, steady red, strobing red and S.O.S. red), a built-in lithium-ion battery charged over USB-C, and an adjustable hanger arm that doubles as a stand. It ships inside the Master Technician Set, the Ultimate Long Reach Kit and the European set, and is sold on its own.

The air wedge listings state that the wedges "inflate easily and quickly" but do not specify the inflation hardware, so check the individual model page if that detail matters to you. None of the 56 listings in this category declares a third-party certification such as ALI, OSHA, ETL or ASME; these are hand tools, not lifting or pressure equipment.

Where the listings disagree

Manufacturer copy in this line is old in places and a few figures conflict. Where that happens, treat the model name and the specifications block as authoritative over the marketing paragraph, and confirm before you order:

• The Mega Master is named as a 48 in. tool, while its feature list states approximately 68 in. when straightened. Go with the name and confirm the straightened figure on the product page.
• All three Button Master listings write the length with an inch mark and the word "feet" in the same line. The figure is 38.
• The Stainless One Hand Jack Set (OHJS4SS) describes its Stiffy Max as 51 in.; the Stiffy Max sold on its own is specified at 52 in.
• The Snap N Lock is named and sold as a 2-piece set, and the Emergency Response Kit Long Case listing also calls it the 2 Piece Snap-N-Lock, while the Snap N Lock's own paragraph itemizes a handle base, a pre-bent extension and a 90 degree hook tip. Confirm the piece count on the product page.
• The Quick Max and the Stiffy Max listings both use the same sentence to call themselves the most popular long reach tool, and the Big Max listing calls itself the best selling. Treat all three as marketing copy, not as a ranking.
• The Big Max listing calls itself the longest long reach tool on the market at 58 in., while the BMW Long Reach Tool in this same category is specified at 60 in. The Big Max is the longest general-purpose pre-bent tool; the BMW tool is longer but model-specific.
• The Super Air Wedge page carries a paragraph copied from the standard Air Wedge that calls it a tool for smaller vehicles, while its own specification list says medium size vehicles through SUVs and trucks. The specification list is the one to use.
• The Master Technician Set is described as a 9-piece kit but lists twelve items. The itemized list is the one to read.
• The Master Technician Set paragraph says it comes with the Air Jack air wedge, while its itemized list says Super Air Jack Air Wedge. The itemized list is the one to read.
• The One Hand Jack Set with Long Case - currently not available to order - mentions a 54 in. case, while the Heavy Duty Long Case it links to is specified at 60 in.
• The Easy Off Twist Socket Set ships five sockets (17, 19, 21, 23 and 26 mm), but individual replacement sockets are stocked only in 17, 19 and 21 mm. The 23 mm replacement is listed but not currently available to order, and there is no 26 mm replacement listing, so call 800-562-4791 if you need either.

Related tools in this category

Two product families here are not lockout tools at all but sit with them because the same technician carries them. The Easy Off Twist Socket Set (EO) removes locked or damaged lug nuts without the key, using a grip design that bites nuts a threaded or wedge socket cannot, and works on a breaker bar, socket wrench or tire iron. Wheel Bullets (WB6, six-pack; WB24, twenty-four-pack) are anodized aluminum guide pins with knurled handles for European vehicles - and some American ones - that use bolts rather than studs, so the wheel hangs on the hub while you line up the bolt holes. They come in 14 x 1.5 (black), 14 x 1.25 (blue) and 12 x 1.5 (red), and you need two per wheel; the 24-pack gives eight of each size, enough for a four-wheel service.

Frequently asked questions

Will a slim jim open a modern car?

Not reliably. A slim jim works by binding the mechanical linkage inside the door, and many vehicles built since the mid-1990s shield that linkage or move it out of reach. That is why the sets here pair the slim jim with a long reach tool and an air wedge: the wedge opens a gap at the top of the door frame, and the rod reaches the button or handle directly. If you only ever open one type of vehicle you know well, a standalone SJ2 or SJPRO may be enough; if you open whatever arrives, buy a kit.

Which long reach tool should I start with?

The 52 in. Quick Max is the default and appears in seven of the kits on this page: the One Hand Jack Set, the One Hand Jack Set with Long Case, the Super One Hand Jack Set, the Super Mega Jack Set, the Twin Air Jack Set, the Emergency Response Kit Long Case and the Ultimate Long Reach Kit. Move up to the 58 in. Big Max when a lockout needs more reach or more leverage than a standard long reach tool gives; move down to the 36 in. Little Max or 28 in. Tiny Max if you mostly see compacts and imports, where a long rod costs you leverage in a tight cabin. Choose the Stiffy Max over the Quick Max when you want stainless steel that will not rust in the same 52 in. geometry.

What size air wedge do I need?

Match it to the door frame, not to the car's badge. The standard Air Wedge covers small and medium vehicles, the Super Air Wedge steps up to medium vehicles through SUVs and trucks, the Mini fits where nothing else will, and the Twin spreads force across two points on a stiff frame so no single spot on the door takes all the load. If you cover a mixed fleet, the Air Jack Four Pack removes the decision.

What is the difference between the three Button Masters?

They do the same job, which is looping and lifting a vertical lock button. The standard RCBM is the most flexible and versatile, the RCBMHD uses a thicker internal wire and a stronger tube so it resists kinking and curling, and the RCBMSS uses a stainless steel tube under a clear coating so it will not rust. Pick by how hard your kit gets treated.

Which complete set covers the most vehicles?

The Super Combo Complete Set, with 23 numbered in-the-door tools and the car opening manual for autos and heavy trucks, plus the Glassman for frameless windows and the Mega Deluxe case with see-through pockets. The Value Complete Set drops to 12 in-the-door tools and a 30 in. case, and the Travel Lockout Kit down to 7 as a compact backup. For semis and big rigs, the Truck Master Set is the specific answer: 14 in-the-door tools weighted toward the #101-#132 truck profiles, both a Super and a Mini Starter air wedge, and the truck opening manual.

Do these tools damage the vehicle?

The line is built around not doing so, and the listings are specific about how: ballistic nylon bladders with internal stiffeners instead of stretching rubber, rubber pivots on the pry tools so the pry point is cushioned, scratch-proof coatings on the long reach rods, LEXAN sheeting on the Glassman for frameless glass, and the Wonder Shield and Strip Savers to keep hardware off paint and weather stripping. Technique still matters, which is why most kits ship with printed instructions. The Jack Sets, the Emergency Response kits, the Master Technician Set, the Fast Access set, the Ultimate Long Reach Kit and the European set add the instructional DVD; the Value Complete Set, Travel Lockout Kit and Super Combo Complete Set ship the Quick Car Opening Instructional Manual without a DVD, and the Truck Master Set ships the Updated Domestic and Import Truck Opening Manual only.

Not sure which kit fits the work you actually do? Call JMC at 800-562-4791 and we will match the tools to the vehicles you open.