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You wouldn’t believe how much easier DIY projects can be with a tiny ratchet by your side.

If you’ve spent any time working in a tight engine bay, you’ve probably come across a nut or bolt that’s just too difficult to get a ratchet onto. Whether you can’t get an angle with any leverage or there’s not enough room to fit the ratchet itself, it’s a frustrating roadblock, one I’ve come across dozens of times throughout my DIY career. That’s why now, I keep a stubby ratchet in my toolbox at all times.

Stubby ratchets are, as you’ve probably guessed by the name, ratchet tools with very short handles. Usually found in 1/4- or 3/8-inch drive due to their size, stubby ratchets can be a godsend in situations where a normal ratchet or wrench won’t fit. Nuts or bolts found deep within most engine bays can’t be loosened or tightened with a normal ratchet, but oftentimes, it’s possible to get a stubby ratchet in there to get the job done. This is doubly true for newer cars with tight engine bays and bundles of wires and hoses in the way.

Stubby ratchets have helped me dozens of times while working on my project cars. They were especially helpful for tackling jobs on the cars with bigger engines, such as my V-10-powered M5 or my V-12-powered 8-Series. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to break a nut or bolt loose without even being able to see it, much less get a normal ratchet onto it. It’s these instances where stubby ratchets come in handy.

Of course, because stubby ratchets have such short handles, you can never exert the same amount of force on a nut or bolt as you would with a normally sized ratchet. There’s a lower ceiling for how much torque you can put on whatever you’re tightening or loosening. So we’d advise only using a stubby ratchet if you have to.

On the plus side, stubby ratchets are compact enough to keep just about anywhere, including a glovebox or even your pocket. So they’re easy to have around in case you’re in a pinch. I always keep one in my car in case I need it.

Because stubby ratchets aren’t exactly specialized tools—they’re just short ratchets, after all—they’re not terribly expensive. Gearwrench sells a basic 90-tooth 3/8-inch drive model on Amazon for just $38.10. If you want even more versatility, Gearwrench also offers a version with a flexible head, yours for just $41.99. Looking for something under $20? Amazon carries a budget-friendly stubby ratchet from Ares that you can pick up for $16.42.