What-all do you carry in the way of tools and such? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

davidh · RV-Dreams Family Member

What-all do you carry in the way of tools and such?

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi David,

Your going to want the normal hand tools you now use around the house for general repairs, with the exception of the wood working tools.

Actually the idea of the welding machine's not bad if you want to pick up some extra income on the road. There is need for welding services sometimes in the campgrounds. As an ex weldor, I keep that in mind for the day when I need some extra income.

Good luck,

Fred

Smokey-Bear · RV-Dreams Community Member

David,

I wish you luck on your soon to be new life Style.

It's not an easy question to answer... for what I'm able to work on is most likely different than others with far more talent and skills.

I started out with my wrenches and sockets, Torque wrench... couple pipe wrenches... a cordless drill... Hack saw... typical hand tools I was used to using.

After a few years on the road... I've reduced the hand tools some... I still keep a few simple wood tools... copeing saw, square and hammer, for a few simple projects I have worked on while traveling about.

Be sure you have a hydraulic jack that will lift high enough your RV... in my case I have blocks to support the jack... so I can lift the frame of the RV. I fear damaging or collapsing the tube of the axle... if I risk lifing under the thin axle tube.

Electrical tester comes in handy checking the campground power... Black tape, electrical wire ties, trusty Duct tape... I've even picked up a thermal sensor so I can read the temperature of the tires... when I stop for fuel... good way to discover tire trouble before a blow out.

Hope these idea's help...

-- Edited by Smokey-Bear at 15:11, 2008-11-09

davidh · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Luvglass and Smokey.
I pick up the trailor next Wednesday and will ask about lift height needed to determine what bottle jack I should get.
Thanks for all the input!
David.

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

DavidH,

As much as possible I try to buy good multi-purpose tools to keep in the RV. For example a leatherman tool is what I do most of the simple repairs with.

I purchased a Black & Decker battery powered tool set, in a small zippered bag it contains a drill, 6inch skill saw, vacuum, stud finder and reciprocating saw plus extra battery. I added a drill bit selection in a plastic case.

I recently added a dremel tool set to help with hobby stuff as well as repairs.

And I have a nice hand tool set from Craftsman in a black plastic case, it contains wrenches, sockets, socket wrenches, screw and nut driver bits.... it has sizes from 1/4 all the way up to 1 inch. The case is about 18 inches square and a couple of inches thick, everything has a place so I can keep things organized.

Of course a claw hammer, small sledge for driving stakes, couple of handsaws, several pliers & channel locks, and an assortment of screwdrivers. All of this fits in a small plastic toolbox. Along with a multi-meter and 12 volt tester for electrical work.

I do carry one or two 2000 watt Honda generators with parallel cables, for power when boondocking. If I need air conditioning, I carry two otherwise one will handle our needs.

Ann and Steve · RV-Dreams Family Member

While you're thinking about tools, think about spare parts. My "emergency kit" also contains an extra serpentine belt for the truck's engine, fuses, upper and lower radiator hoses (the pre-molded kind), headlamp/tail-lamp bulbs, and extra antifreeze. Speciality tools like a tire repair kit (plug style), a 12v air compressor, and a heavy duty lug wrench. Then, don't forget the spare parts for the trailer. Things like faucet gaskets, caulking, epoxy or glue, and something to fix leaks on rubber roofs (or whatever you have).

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

How about a pop-rivet tool and a shovel.
southwestjudy

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

David you need to think small and light--(shovel) miltary style that folds up, extension cord 30 amp 25 to 30 feet, 15 amp 100 ft. You may need to carry 3 sanitary hoses for hook ups, I wouldn't take a garden hose. Of course you will need several 2X 10 short planks to put your jacks down, the higher you build up the less you have to crank your jacks down. You may think about a dremel with several different attachements as opposed to a drill and a power screw driver. Your very limited on space and weight in the TT keep that in mind. Also you may have room in the back of the truck or van for somethings that you don't use very often. But even at that there 's just not much room.

Flyone

Sandra · RV-Dreams Family Member

You'll need a garden hose if your RV has the backflush system for the black tank. One other thing we carry is one of those strap wrenches. Some of those sewer covers are hard to twist off as you get older.

http://srmerrikinblog.blogspot.com

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would like to cover the "An Such" part of the question....

Two cases of Beer
An assortment of liquor
box of crackers
jar of peanuts

This is to bribe the next door neighbor to fix what ever is broken....He provides the tools... Or if you have a service policy you will have some snaks and refreshments while you wait on your repairs to be done.

Speedy

macattack · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ditto on what Speedy adds, and also don't forget a roll of summer sausage and a jar of pickled eggs. JMO

Mac

dream reachers · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is important to know the weight capacity of your trailer and don't exceed it . Tools can add a lot of weight .

blijil · RV-Dreams Family Member

What do you need and what can you afford to carry is the question. We find the need for more tools than we thought we would need and we find we can't afford the weight of what we would like to take with us so we have downsized to what we need frequently and plan to beg, borrow, or ... rent what we don't have when we need it. It has worked out so far and we have exchanged some needs for others as time goes by. Whatever you do don't overload your rig or you will need more tools than you have for sure.

Safe Travels,
Larry and Jacki

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

A TT isn’t going to have much room for storage of a lot of tools. It also isn’t going to need much in the way of repairs. It is impossible to guess “what if’s” when it comes to tools. I’d spend some time in and outside of your rig trying to figure out what I might need to fix this and that. Worst case is that you might have to buy something when on the road. You could borrow from a fellow RVer. Here’s my list:

1- Philips and regular head screw drivers plus a short Phillips head screw driver.

2- Volt meter.

3- One large and one smaller crescent wrench.

4- Set of open and closed end (one each side) wrenches.

5- Wire strippers and pair of dikes.

6- Needle nose, regular, and goose neck pliers.

7- Tape measure

8- Electrical and duct tape

9- Cable ties

10- Carpet knife

11- Regular and tack hammer.

12 – Small level

13- Set of nut drivers

14- Electric reversible, variable speed drill with set of bits and sockets. A cordless is nice, but it cost lotsa

$$ to get one that has the torque of an electric drill.

15- Extension chord.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Let me add something from a past experience. If you are going to have a generator, look to see what tools you would need to change spark plugs, etc.

Several years ago, we went into the mountains of Colorado from where we live in central Oklahoma. The higher elevations was a major change in air/fuel mixture and the spark plug failed due to fouling.

In the process of getting new plugs to change out, I found that the tools I had weren't sufficient to reach into the generator to the spark plug. Then I found I needed a socket universal adapter to allow me to work at an odd angle. I ended up putting on a number of miles on the vehicle because no one auto parts place I looked into had all that I needed.

So, point is to also look at any additional items you have that need maintenance and make sure you have what is needed to maintain those items as well.

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

Reorganized my tool boxes today and trashed some flotsam and jetsam and set aside some things for the moving sale.

What I ended up with is basically what TXRVr listed. Now just need to pick up some duct tape and an extra bottle of anitfreeze and I think I am good. Well, at least to start with. I realize things may be jettisoned or added but it's a start.

Cool, another thing crossed off the list! biggrin

heyduke · RV-Dreams Family Member

ahhhh something to look forward to... flotsnam and jettison ...

sonicsix · RV-Dreams Family Member

The tool you need will be the one you forgot to bring. :) Here's what we carry with us... it allows us to be able to fix most things.

http://rvroadtrip.us/library/tools.asp

-- Edited by sonicsix on Saturday 24th of April 2010 08:47:13 AM

Dan and Gail · RV-Dreams Family Member

Since Dan was in new home construction for forty years, and he likes doing volunteer construction & maintenance at state parks, COE parks, he carries a variety of his favorite construction grade tools; saws, nail guns, a small industrial compressor, drop cords, and other smaller stuff. He feels more comfortable using his own equipment and many times, the park just doesn't have the equipment to do the job efficiently. He is a real innovator when it comes to making do with what's available, but having his own tools really helps. We really "lightened our load" of other things, so he has one full pass-thru in the basement of the motorhome.

He designed and built a 18ft bridge with sides at the place we just left in Florida, and used all of his own tools. He also designed a gazebo, but the owner decided against building it.

When we first started talking about full timing, we knew he would take many of his tools with him; so we planned accordingly. Of course, not everyone needs construction grade tools to do repairs on their rig. But it does help to think about what you plan to do with your time, and we sure wouldn't want to purchase those tools again.

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

A couple things you might consider.

2 Flashlights 1 for tow vehicle and 1 for house.
Spare Batteries
One of those LED type lights that clip to a ball-cap for hands free are pretty handy.
A latter is almost a must, 4ft are nice 6ft would be better.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

When i hit the road full time i will seriously consider this, G

http://www.mobile-shop.com/

Mr Geek · RV-Dreams Community Member

I heard a great answer at a rally once. The guy said his toolbox contents were a checkbook and a pen.

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mr Geek wrote:

I heard a great answer at a rally once. The guy said his toolbox contents were a checkbook and a pen.

Just a shot in the dark, was their rig a PROVOST or at least in that category?

-- Edited by 2fortheroad on Monday 26th of April 2010 04:46:42 PM

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not necessarily. We have friends in a Montana who is totally averse to anything mechanical and that is his tool box also. He said it was the same as in his S&B, when it broke, call a repairman

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry!! I should not have made such a comment!

Regardless of our situation, we all make choises.