Tool Kit For RVs

[TR25]

Taken from a general list on another post in order to expand it a bit.

I have a small tool bag, like electricians use only 862 less pouches. As a former contractor, I can easily go overboard on tools, so it takes some thought to have as many "multi use" items as possible and still be practical.

[snipped]
Toolkit & Maintenance
A basic toolbox with electrical tape, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, super glue, self‑tapping screws, wire cutters, white lithium grease, a utility knife, and a Klein multimeter will cover 90% of roadside fixes. I also carry spare fuses and a roll of butyl tape for emergency roof patches.
[end snip]

Multimeter is essential. Mainly used to check if power is there, but also to check for continuity, which is what I've used mine for mostly. Good thing to learn.
A multi screw/nut driver set as pictured attached. You an have one handle and use all the 1/4" bits for different sized and lengths. And also you can use them in any impact/drill you have for the win. I have the klein 11 in 1 but that can be a bit bulky in the stem, so also have a matco 1/4 one for the various bits. For portable toolbox, it's the 1/4 one. If you include a 1/4" ratcheting wrench, you can use this with the bits and get into very small places. Just buy a quality ratchet wrench as you might only be able to move it a few clicks at a time.

Adjustable pliers: I have a small channel lock one and a larger knipex. The knipex can be used as a pipe wrench in a pinch.

A pill bottle with extra razer knife blades.

You?

 

[fishslayer]

And credit card for tow truck when you left out that 1 tool you need.

 

[BGMAC]

I do carry an assortment of tools, but there is one thing you always forget. When I had an axle seal leak in the middle of nowhere I had to travel 180 miles round trip to get one socket and a breaker bar $150, and some oil.

Note: take a look in your manuals on how to manually retract slide outs and carry those tools always.

 

[TR25]

And credit card for tow truck when you left out that 1 tool you need.

...with a lot of room on it.
Some people, when they have a faulty/broken rv, they have to bring it back to xyz/dealer in order for service work to be done.
It'd be interesting to know who foots that bill and if it's the customer, is it reimbursed or not.

 

[TR25]

I do carry an assortment of tools, but there is one thing you always forget. When I had an axle seal leak in the middle of nowhere I had to travel 180 miles round trip to get one socket and a breaker bar $150, and some oil.

Note: take a look in your manuals on how to manually retract slide outs and carry those tools always.

Good thing you caught that axle leak and wise to know about how to get the slidout back in w/o power. Same thing on outboard motors and I bet a lot of people don't have that big long screwdriver as they don't know.

 

[Dutch Star Don]

I've been RVing for 52 years. I carry a plastic Sears toolbox about 24" long 12" wide and tall. I squeeze pretty much everything I need in there. Make sure the majority of your nuts and bolts are SAE or Metric. I carry basic wrenches up to 3/4" and a crescent. Pliers, wire cutters, needle nose and one Vise Grip. Don't forget a soldering iron. I carry a small propane model works great. A 3/8" and 1/4" size socket set. Over the years, you may find a couple of specialized tools you may need, on my Newmar, I carry a 1.5" wrench and a 1.5" crows foot for the slide motors.

I carry a roll of Gorilla tape, a small tube of clear silicone, a two part epoxy kit and a collection of electrical connectors and lengths of wire.

A handy item that can be used for several things, is a creeper. They make cloth creeper that is a piece of material sewn in a 12' continuous loop by 24" wide. As you lay on it and push with your feet it rolls over itself. It's also good for just laying on the ground.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GSW652Q2?tag=rvf01-20

 

[House Husband]

I used to worry about not having the right tool for the job. Now I just google Home Depot & Lowes when I need a tool I don't have with me. Or maybe I'll barrow that special tool from a parts store. I.E. that special hub scocket.

 

[rjshiflet49]

And credit card for tow truck when you left out that 1 tool you need.

Well said.

I carry a few basic tools and a moderate sized socket and open-end wrench set, but find that Harbor Freight seems to be nearby wherever we camp, or Amazon has next day delivery. Yes, I realize we could break down during travel but you can't take an entire shop with you on the road.

I do the best to be prepared and for the most part it's served us well the 25 years we have been RVing.

 

[TR25]

I've been RVing for 52 years. I carry a plastic Sears toolbox about 24" long 12" wide and tall. I squeeze pretty much everything I need in there.

The older plastic sears toolboxes were great. Backed over mine once and tho it was harder to close, still worked...sort of. I like the fabric soft tool bags as you can stuff more intro them.....

You seem old school, so I understand. You might look at carrying some wago connectors with a variety of crimp on fittings. The wagos are approved for braided wire. They are also great for temp fixes. A small roll of wire can be handy too.

If you have pex in your unit, look into a the push on (shark bite type) fittings. If you have a crimper and cant fit it in (or don't want to), you can push on a sharkbite. There are valves w/sharkbites on them, so you can use one of those as a plug instead of using a crimp on plug.
When using push on fittings, don't forget to use the plastic insert w/pex. Don't need it for copper, but do for pex.
And push ons are only warranted for single use.....

Studies need to be done to see if that black gorilla tape can replace chain link fencing as it's that good.

 

[TR25]

I used to worry about not having the right tool for the job. Now I just google Home Depot & Lowes when I need a tool I don't have with me. Or maybe I'll barrow that special tool from a parts store. I.E. that special hub scocket.

Sometimes I need a specialized or quality tool that the big box stores won't have. Visited a relative and had to replace the clutch in a truck, and as the truck was rusted, I broke the box store type socket trying to break a bolt free.
No problem I was told, a mall with sears is nearby. So went there and got another socket. Used it and promptly broke it too.

This is why I switched to using impact sockets as thought they are less expensive, they are thicker so they won't break.
Sometimes inexpensive ratchet wrenches, the mechanism isn't very good and skips or takes too much room to activate.
So in some things, I buy quality and they last forever, never let me down. I can beat on a snap on ratchet and not worry about breaking it for example. The cheap impact sockets won't break.

Axle nuts are one thing I had to break down and buy as it was always "I can order that for you". Good if I'm in a place where I can wait it out. I also carried a small tube of red rtv.

 

[Vint]

Note: take a look in your manuals on how to manually retract slide outs and carry those tools always.

Many slide-out manuals instructions to manually retract a slide-out call for the use of a drill and socket to bring the slide in. I would highly recommend a 20V battery-powered drill on hand. For years, I carried a 1/4" electric drill with me until a couple of years ago, when a local hardware store had a sale on decent Black and Decker 20V drills for like $50. Not like my DeWalt at home, but great to have as a spare on board the RV.