There are several lists and articles covering what you should carry in your bag for a photoshoot, but they mostly cover items for yourself, models, and a few small accessories for your camera. One thing I haven't noticed in many of them is items or even a kit covering your equipment and the screws you made need. Jay P. Morgan with The Slanted Lens shares his two camera equipment emergency kit cases that he stored in his truck for shoots.
Morgan shows us what is all included inside the cases, with various size 1/4"-20 screws for various applications. Not only different lengths, but some with different head types as well. Some can be tightened by hand or others with a flat screwdriver or Allen wrench that is in the kit. This size screw is pretty universal for most tripods and camera accessories, so having an abundance of screws is not a bad idea. I have come across a few instances where the bolt was missing from a camera crane or even the tripod screw, and if I had this kit it wouldn’t have been a problem.
The second cases included additional tools to make the 1/4"-20 screw fit, either by making the hole or even re-threading the screw. With this kit, there shouldn’t be an instance where you can’t make your equipment bolt back together for the shoot if a piece is missing. Morgan has used this kit a few times and I know I could have used this before as well. Hopefully this equipment emergency kit saves some of you in your future shoots.
What are some other essentials you should carry or have available in your ride, especially for your equipment?
No 3/8", 5/8", or metric? Amateur. ;)
If those are the sizes you use for your equipment, by all means pack them in your case.
To add to what Jay stated, be sure to have various sized washers, both flat and toothed lock styles. And BE CAREFUL! Many tripods and overseas (outside the USA) equipment, many threads are metric.
Agreed, whatever sizes your equipment uses pack the case with those.