Too many tools saved the day

[perryg114]

I have been worried about my gas lines between the tanks and the regulator for a while now. I was planning on putting stainless steel back instead of the PEX like stuff that is on there now. They have copper rings on them just like PEX. I could smell gas so I started twisting on the loose joints and gas came out. I knew we would run out of gas pretty fast at this rate not to mention the fire hazard.

So I got out the PEX pliers and they were too big but I have another PEX tool that uses a vice grip to crimp the PEX rings. As luck would have it, the vice grip tool had a position that was just the right size. I am assuming it was 3/8". Well it fit the gas line crimps perfectly and no more leak. I tested with soap and water. No bubbles. This will get us past this trip.

This would have messed us up. No stove, not hot water and no fridge on the road.

Perry

[handn]

Just having the right tool means I will never have to fix it.
Last trip, I left my tool box at home. Of course my water heater started leaking and I had to buy a 7/8th inch wrench to fix it. Now I have two wrenches and am $14.00 poorer.

[dkottum]

I carry limited basic tools and the PEX crimping tool (used with vice grip) is one of them. Used it to crimp a PEX ring on the water system when it started to seep under high pressure, 2000 miles from home of course. The fitting was also in a tight spot so the little tool worked well.

[Drathaar]

My philosophy on tools is "If you use it once, it has paid for itself." Most of mine have earned their keep. Some through many generations.

[TinShack]

Originally Posted by Drathaar

My philosophy on tools is "If you use it once, it has paid for itself." Most of mine have earned their keep. Some through many generations.

I share this philosophy too. If I have to buy a tool to do it myself, it's still cheaper than having someone else do it. My wife shares this philosophy too....so I have lots of tools.

[samb]

I firmly believe that if you bring enough spare parts and tools to repair almost anything, that you will "scare" all those things into not breaking down...... most of the time.

Sam

[Dingo Girl]

Sam we share the same philosophy. ;-)

[Hikingsolo]

I would love to see a picture of "the PEX crimping tool (used with vice grip)". I'm not familiar with this tool, although I've used the big PEX crimps before.

[Landshark]

I have always complained about my husband's propensity to pack every tool known to mankind, but one cold rainy night in northern Idaho, it all paid off.

We had a flat on our truck--recently purchased from a friend--while towing our 31'. Of course we were on an interstate in the mountains and AAA told us sorry, but they had no one in our area. The spare tire was padlocked under the truck, and the friend hadn't given us the key, BUT we had a bolt cutter in the toolbox!

Put the spare on and it was flat, too, BUT we had an air compressor! We needed a generator to run the compressor, BUT that's OK, we carried one! The generator wouldn't start because it hadn't been used in ages, BUT we carried extra gas and starter stuff! So finally, soaked and shivering, around midnight we were able to limp off to the nearest town containing a tire shop, only because my husband carried(s) every tool known to mankind.

Vivian

PS We dropped AAA.

[NavyCorpsman]

The only people that don't need tools are the ones that don't have the hands to hold them or the brains to use them. Or vice versa.

[bobmiller1]

I sell tools and you can never have enough. Seems to me though, when we take the 390XL, different tools, 34' Classic S/O, different tools, 325LE, different tools....makes me crazy !!!

[cwf]

No such thing as "TOO MANY OF THE RIGHT TOOLS"... a lot to be said about "What is this tool?"

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by samb

I firmly believe that if you bring enough spare parts and tools to repair almost anything, that you will "scare" all those things into not breaking down...... most of the time.

Sam

yep ...+1

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, as someone who has many years as a mechanic at new car dealers and as a person who was a Mac Tools Distributor for close to decade, I have a similar but different view on this topic.

(1.) The one tool that you need, but don't have, is suddenly worth a lot more now.

(2.) You can bring everything but the kitchen sink with you, and the kitchen sink will break.

(3.) You can haul all the spare parts and tools that you have/own forever, but one piece of plastic can get anything fixed on the road.

I carry a pretty good selection of basic tools and a few spare parts with me, but for the most part, fuses for my tongue jack, a thermal cut-off for my water heater, and a Phillips screw driver have been the most commonly used items that I carry with me.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by Hikingsolo

I would love to see a picture of "the PEX crimping tool (used with vice grip)". I'm not familiar with this tool, although I've used the big PEX crimps before.

Portable Pex Tool