With regard to batteries, there are a only a few test tools you need. A hydrometer (I prefer the glass tube type with the floating bulb over the plastic antifreeze tester type) and one of those $30 load testers that are everywhere these days. But usually, if the hydrometer reads OK, the battery is fine.
Check the strength of each cell with the hydrometer. If all are equal, and in the yellow or the green, you are good. If, any one cell is more than 20 points out from the rest, the battery is toast and will not give good service. Make an allowance if you just added a bunch of water and have not mixed it up with the acid. You can do this by pumping the hydrometer in and out a few times to mix the fluid.
If you have a dead battery, take some readings periodically while charging the battery. Same deal, as the cells come up they should not be more than 20 points apart from each other.
I also prefer slowly charging a battery, with less than 7 amps......2 amps is even better. A quick charge can really damage a battery if the temperatures are not controlled.
As for other battery tools, I have the old "exide" case type battery tool carrier, which is made of the bakelite material the battery cases were made out of. In it is a battery carrying strap, a battery brush, battery terminal spreader pliers, and the round nose battery pliers, and the battery post puller. The spreader pliers are especially great. They allow you to evenly spread the terminals so you can get them all the way onto the posts.
As well, the carrier has a bulb type syringe, like you use for basting turkeys (for putting water into the cells) and the hydrometer.
The battery carriers are hard to find here in the west, because they also had an area for water. Guys would leave the water in them and they would crack in the winter.
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