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09-09-2019, 02:45 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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Minimalist Tool Box
Before you scold me I have searched on what to stock in a trailer tool box. Most of what I found recommended emptying out the shop. My shop is well equipped, but unfortunately most of it is metric (Porsches for 30+ years). Even the pliers are metric. So I actually may have to buy some SAE tools for the trailer tool box.
I’ve had my trailer for 7 years now and other than rivets and Phillips head screws I’m not all that familiar with the most commonly used fasteners, clamps, plugs, etc. What would you stock in a minimalist trailer tool box? Enough so you could MacGyver if need be.
Thanks,
John
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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09-09-2019, 03:02 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
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Minimalism is overrated, especially when you don’t have the tool you need.
Mike
__________________
2015 27ft FC FB
WBCCI #3960
2019 F150 ecoboost
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09-09-2019, 04:16 PM
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#3
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Wheels Itch)(Must Travel
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
- east coastal area -
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 683
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[QUOTE
What would you stock in a minimalist trailer tool box? Enough so you could MacGyver if need be.
Thanks,
John[/QUOTE]
At least:
folding pocket knife
Folding saw
Multi-tool
Various size bungee cords
Various size zip ties
Strong duct tape
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09-09-2019, 04:19 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1977 23' Safari
Niagara on the Lake
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 984
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Think through and maybe even act out whatever common repairs you may do on the road. Whatever tools you would need keep them on the trailer.
__________________
1977 Safari Land Yacht
2005 Toyota Tundra SR5
2022 Toyota 4Runner SR5
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09-09-2019, 04:22 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caffeinated
Minimalism is overrated, especially when you don’t have the tool you need.
Mike
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Raining there in Portland Mike?
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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09-09-2019, 05:03 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Walnut Creek
, California
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,952
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Minimal - get one of the plastic boxed socket sets that includes Allen wrenches, multiple screw driver tips and a universal handle. Add a Crescent, water pump pliers, a multimeter, a wiring kit with a lug tool, dikes, small hatchet, torque wrench, 24 inch 1/2" breaker bar, strap wrench, bottle jack, a tire pressure gage and a flashlight. . Pat
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09-09-2019, 05:04 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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Thanks Pat.
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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09-09-2019, 05:14 PM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Little rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 68
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I learned at the international rally that Airstream uses size 8 wood screws in almost all applications. I carry assorted lengths
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09-09-2019, 05:43 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2012 Avenue Coach
Corpus Christi
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,719
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WD-40 and Duct tape.
If it won't move and it should, use the WD-40.
If it moves and it shouldn't, use the Duct tape.
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09-09-2019, 07:19 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John&Vicki
Raining there in Portland Mike?
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I’m not sure as we are have been on the road for two weeks and are currently in Hannibal MO on our way to the Bourbon and Beyond caravan in Kentucky. It’s hotter than heck here by the way.
I probably over carry tools, but as you never know what is going to break, a set of 1/2 inch sockets and a breaker bar, a 3/4 inch socket set, and a 1/4 inch set.(The latter I quite like for effecting small repairs on the inside of the trailer.)
Vise grips, channel locks, a couple of different size adjustable wrenches, zip ties, a torq wrench, Viair portable air compressor, a dewalt battery drill/driver, assorted manual screw drivers, needle nose pliers, wire strippers, spray silicon, spray white lithium grease, mini grease gun for the Blu Ox....most of the time one won’t need this, but when you do...
Mike
__________________
2015 27ft FC FB
WBCCI #3960
2019 F150 ecoboost
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09-09-2019, 07:26 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1969 18' Caravel
Greenville
, whereEverIroam
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,412
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After scouring the interpipes, I believe I have found what is, in fact, the smallest, lightest, most versatile emergency tool box available for Airstreams:
Funny, yes, but true!
Somehow, I sense this is not the answer you're looking for. Yes you could go for one of those multi-tool gadgets that will (almost, but not quite) work in any situation, but will defiantly drive you insane using it like:
or
But I would not recommend it. Everyone will be able to share stories of a situation where having (or not having) just the right simple but obscure thing at hand saved (or would have) the day.
I can easily see how this thread could quickly devolve into survivalists' contest about who can relax the most because they are totally prepared to stave off the zombie apocolypse bound to occur at midnight in the depths of nuclear winter.
Sufice to say, you'll need a bigger TV to haul the tool box you'll end up with.
P.S. I thought the whole point of getting an Airstream was to have an excuse to buy more tools!
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09-09-2019, 09:28 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Pop rivet gun and assorted rivets
PEX clamp tool and clamps plus a few metal PEX fittings
Duct and electrical tape
Grease gun
Multimeter
Crimp lug tool
Fuses and crimp lugs
Socket wrenches in 3/8 drive and selected 1/2 sizes
Torque wrench that can handle up to the max torque you might need. For me, 250 ft-pounds for the ProPride hitch parts.
Assorted pliers
If all else fails, a widely accepted credit card with a high limit.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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10-21-2019, 07:36 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Boise
, Idaho
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 78
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You might add a tire plug kit and small air compressor.
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10-21-2019, 09:39 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2007 27' Safari FB SE
NW Oregon in a nice spot
, Oregon
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 879
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In addition to the above, the ability to find an Ace Hardware to get the wrenches you have at home but need to buy again for the fix.
All okay - any good project needs a new tool.
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10-21-2019, 09:45 PM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Box Elder
, South Dakota
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 178
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What I have used in the last week: pliers, Phillips screwdriver, wrenches, measuring tape, drill and bits, hack saw. And scissors.
You'd want more than this, but not less.
__________________
2019 Flying Cloud 27fb twin
Full-timing with one husband, one cat.
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10-22-2019, 07:36 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Walnut Creek
, California
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,952
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On the road, I used the cell phone, a 24" level, a Philips head screw driver, a set of bent needle nose pliers, the 24" breaker bar and 1" socket, the torque wrench and lug socket, the grease gun, the x-chock ratchet wrench, the laser temperature measurement gun, the tire pressure gage, the jumper battery pack air compressor, two flashlights, some disposable gloves and rags/paper towels.
What I carried was three tool bags (hitch parts/tools, large wrenches/hack saw, small screw drivers/pliers/file ... ), a boxed socket set, a hatchet, four small tool boxes (wrenches, hardware, electrical tools/parts, and rivet tools/parts), a bag of misc lubricants and a shovel.
We all cope with fixing stuff by using what we have or can get from a local source. Each time I come up short, that missing part gets added to a small hardware box.
Good luck with your trip. . Pat
Edit - after every trip, I make a plan to reduce the tool load on the next trip. Experience to date is utter failure. Convinced that the best tool is a completed todo list that includes all the preventive maintenance projects the coach needed to successfully make the trip.
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10-22-2019, 10:21 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
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Having been on the road for almost two months, and traveling from Portland OR to Kentucky and back to currently Indio CA, (I borrowed the rivet gun And rivets from another well prepared club member on the carravan) And had to use some Locktite blue on the little screw that holds the hook on the curbside awning As it was coming off. I didn’t even know that could happen until another member was fixing his, then I checked mine and found out it was close to going walk about. I also found one of the wood screws on the floor of the trailer, but have not found where it came from. Hopefully when I get home next week and take all the stuff out of the trailer I’ll be able to replace it. So a pop rivet gun is on the list for next summer, along with all the other stuff.
Mike
__________________
2015 27ft FC FB
WBCCI #3960
2019 F150 ecoboost
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10-23-2019, 11:35 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Currently Looking...
Jupiter
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,062
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WISS 10-1/2" Compound Action Long Cut Aviation Snips... $22
https://www.amazon.com/M300-MultiMas.../dp/B00002N5LD
A no-argument tool for cutting anything... sheet metal (low carbon rolled steel up to 20 gauge), plastics, vinyl, carpet, gutters, cardboard, paper, screen, wire mesh, hose, wallpaper, cloth, rope, cable... blown out tire shreds, shredded bellywrap & segments, snack package wrappers...
Hold out for the WISS brand name, no clones. I was given a pair in 1976 first day on the job and they cut like new.
The linked pair is the W300N, there is a W300 that is parkerized black finish instead of bright shear pieces... It is the 'Long Nose' style that makes them exceptionally good at EVERYTHING.
__________________
The days are short and the night is long and the stars go tumbling by.. . ~Airstream~
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10-23-2019, 01:00 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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Not many tools live in the trailer. I keep:
bottle jack, lug wrench, awning wrench, wood blocks, screwdriver with changeable tips, torpedo level, pliers, vice grips, needle nose, wire cutter, multi-meter, 120v receptacle plug tester. (I carry an extensive quantity of replacement parts, but I do not consider these tools/part of my tool box)
The tools that live in my tow vehicle are quite extensive. (weighs close to 100 lbs)
Every tool that I think I could need to repair plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems. And: lug for tire repair. Air compressor. Battery powered tools & Lights. Torque wrench & socket for wheel lugs.
__________________
Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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10-23-2019, 01:04 PM
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#20
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skyguyscott
Yes you could go for one of those multi-tool gadgets that will (almost, but not quite) work in any situation, but will defiantly drive you insane
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A multi-tool is never the BEST tool for any job, but it certainly beats having NO tool at all!
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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