How Many Tools to Carry?

[MSDeneen]

Being a guy with lots of tools, I am tempted to carry every tool I have, but I am resisting that temptation.



All my past experience with a variety of RVs (including AS) tells me that something breaks on nearly every trip. Sometimes it MUST be fixed to move on, sometimes it can wait until home base.



I'm going slim this time around. a few screwdrivers, three kinds of pliers, crescent wrench, short 5# hammer, vice grips, wire cutter and cordless drill.

Notably missing: wrenches, sockets and all that paraphenalia.



Too light?


Cheers,


Mark

[azflycaster]

I have a kit like this that stays in the trailer.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ece-64263.html

[JeffKim]

Good question, I have a similar problem.

My overweight tool bag has a lot of stuff I haven't used (not yet, but you know, just in case). I'd add a multimeter to your bare bones list. I have a rubber mallet too I think I'd keep and fuses (not sure that counts). I keep our wheel nut socket in there too and carry the torque wrench separately.

Otherwise, unless we're going into the wilderness that's why Harbor Freight was invented, so I could always get anything I needed there in a pinch.

[MSDeneen]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

I have a kit like this that stays in the trailer.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ece-64263.html

WOW! That's a great looking set for $39 bucks?? I like the idea that it all neatly stores in the case.



I'm thinking that is the way to go -- thanks for the tip!


Cheers,
Mark

[AlbertF]

Originally Posted by MSDeneen

I'm going slim this time around. a few screwdrivers, three kinds of pliers, crescent wrench, short 5# hammer, vice grips, wire cutter and cordless drill.

Notably missing: wrenches, sockets and all that paraphenalia.

Too light?

I have a nylon tool bag with most of these items. Wheel nut socket, extension, and socket wrench (no ratchet) and Vice Grips stay in the bag too, along with pop rivets, rivet tool, fuses, some basic electrical supplies, crimp tool, electrical tape.

Perhaps the oddest item I carry is a spool of black wire I bought nearly 20 years ago, figuring it would be useful in temporarily attaching something in an emergency.

I also carry a scan tool for the car, a unit that is programmed to read Volvo-specific codes. As the owner of older vehicles, I'm at the point where I won't travel without a scan tool in the car.

The torque wrench and other tools (and I have plenty) stay in the roller cabinet at home.

[kb0zke]

Mark, even if you take every tool you own, the time will come when you don't have the tool you need. That's life. <grin>


We're full-timers with a winter base. More than once we've needed something and then remember that we left it back in New Mexico. Moving to the Airstream has been a good opportunity for us to reduce what we carry, as everything had to be moved out of the previous trailer and whatever we wanted/needed in this one moved in. In the next week or two I'm going to go through all of the stuff in the back of the truck and see what can be left behind. We've got about a month before we take off for 6-8 months, so starting to get serious.

[field & stream]

Wow, this is one of the existential questions for a man! What is too few, and what is too many? It’s like how many stewed prunes should I eat?

Same answer. Make your best guess and see what happens.

[waninae39]

check all your system for what tools you need to bring
1st long trip, bring far too many tools

see what you end of up using or need to have
then pare down to the minimum and buy what your missing on the road

[MSDeneen]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

I have a kit like this that stays in the trailer.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ece-64263.html

I went and bought that set at HF. It's just so complete and tightly packed! A space savor for sure. Sure, the tools are on the cheap end - of course - but having every socket size, every open end wrench size and all the goodies in one neat pack has its own value.



I will add my electrician's pliers, adjustable pliers, voltmeter and some blades.



Great solution - thanks!


Cheers,
Mark

[Aerowood]

Throw in a roll of aluminum repair tape or 2 for taping up a broken window.

[Bill M.]

I have a lot of tools in my rig that I bought "on the road" at Ace hardwares around the country when I had a need. Now I often carry some PEX tools and an electrical kit and a battery drill and driver.

[majorairhead]

Ha! I haul all sorts of stuff. Wrenches, screwdrivers, electrical tape, hammers, saws, fiskars axe, machete, hacksaw, crowbar, breaker bar, two torque wrenches, grease, rubber mallet, pipe wrench, several types of pliers, complete socket set, dewalt cordless driver, rivet gun with all sorts of rivets, bottle jack, heavy duty jumper cables, 12 volt trickle charger, two first aid kits, gloves, florescent orange vest, duct tape, shovel, various knives, wheel/tire covers, hitch lock(s), spare parts for hitch, several water heater nylon plugs, spare fridge handle(s), two bicycles, camp chairs, metal detector, a couple furniture pads, numerous bungee cords, 3m double sided tape, dielectric grease, propane, generator(s), dehumidifier, bolt cutters, deep dish impact socket set, level, all sorts of sewer hose and related hookup parts, waste water hose, brass water pressure valve, brass water elbow, several funnels, extension cord, 3 or 4 water hoses, various sized 2x6 or 2x8 pieces of lumber, both 12v and manual air pumps, anderson levelers, two extra wheel chocks, a couple airstream mats, infrared thermometer, assorted screws, nuts, bolts, wire, cable ties, sandpaper, various drill bits and driver bits, lots of rope, towels and rags, digital multimeter, bug spray, lithium grease, silicone spray, 3 in 1 oil, waxes and polishes, several power adapters to handle 50, 30, 15 amp hookups, rv antifreeze, x-chocks, to mention a few items, PLUS, spare parts like city water inlet, water heater electronics, limit switches, various fuses, could probably round up some dowel rod, camp tables, grill, heavy duty folding ladder to access roof, small step ladder, tow hitch ball socket, assorted adapters, 12 volt blower w/charger and two batteries, etc. etc. etc.

I say take all you can, especially if you travel far and wide

[rideair]

All depends on what you’re towing and what you’re towing it with.

Years ago Hunt J. And I would laugh at who was carrying around the most crap since he was pulling a 1962 GT with a 1955 GMC Jimmy, I on the other hand pulling a 1966 Safari with a 1968 International Travelall.

The one time the starter failed, it was one of the few parts I didn’t have, had alternator, fuel pump, carb kit, hoses, belts, etc.. but no starter. Lucky for me a buddy found the only one in Richmond, VA and brought it up to the rally.

Enjoy

[WhereStream]

The OP's list seems on the light side to me.

I carry a small tool box that has some essentials and a few replacement parts (fuses, a water-heater plug screw, etc.).

The other tools I might need I keep stored ... at Lowe's.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If you look at the "nuts and bolts" associated with most hitches .... yikes. Not only are they bigger than the typical "set" will cover. They also require a lot of torque (so a long bar) to deal with them. Will you need to deal with a hitch issue? .... maybe ...

If you change a tire on the trailer, the very strong recommendation from AS is that you torque the bolts and then check them multiple times down the road. A torque wrench to do this and the appropriate socket should be part of the tool kit.

Does your TV tire lug wrench fit the lugs on the trailer tires? Mine doesn't. Same issue with the jack.

Wheel getting hot / making weird noises? What tools do you need to pull things apart and take out all those broken pieces that used to be a brake?

Is Duct Tape a tool? It certainly sits in my tool box. Actually there's also a rolll of Gaffer Tape as well (same idea, *very* different adhesive). Both get used a lot.

Wandering down another rabbit hole: Are electrical "tools" part of this list or do they go on a different list? There certainly are things there you should have along.

Yet another rabbit hole: Spare parts are not typically called tools. They do relate to the tools you carry and there's a lot to discus there as well.

Yes, this could go in a *lot* of directions.

Bob

[MSDeneen]

Originally Posted by majorairhead

Ha! I haul all sorts of stuff. Wrenches, screwdrivers, electrical tape, hammers, saws, fiskars axe, machete, hacksaw, crowbar, breaker bar, two torque wrenches, grease, rubber mallet, pipe wrench, several types of pliers, complete socket set, dewalt cordless driver, rivet gun with all sorts of rivets, bottle jack, heavy duty jumper cables, 12 volt trickle charger, two first aid kits, gloves, florescent orange vest, duct tape, shovel, various knives, wheel/tire covers, hitch lock(s), spare parts for hitch, several water heater nylon plugs, spare fridge handle(s), two bicycles, camp chairs, metal detector, a couple furniture pads, numerous bungee cords, 3m double sided tape, dielectric grease, propane, generator(s), dehumidifier, bolt cutters, deep dish impact socket set, level, all sorts of sewer hose and related hookup parts, waste water hose, brass water pressure valve, brass water elbow, several funnels, extension cord, 3 or 4 water hoses, various sized 2x6 or 2x8 pieces of lumber, both 12v and manual air pumps, anderson levelers, two extra wheel chocks, a couple airstream mats, infrared thermometer, assorted screws, nuts, bolts, wire, cable ties, sandpaper, various drill bits and driver bits, lots of rope, towels and rags, digital multimeter, bug spray, lithium grease, silicone spray, 3 in 1 oil, waxes and polishes, several power adapters to handle 50, 30, 15 amp hookups, rv antifreeze, x-chocks, to mention a few items, PLUS, spare parts like city water inlet, water heater electronics, limit switches, various fuses, could probably round up some dowel rod, camp tables, grill, heavy duty folding ladder to access roof, small step ladder, tow hitch ball socket, assorted adapters, 12 volt blower w/charger and two batteries, etc. etc. etc.

I say take all you can, especially if you travel far and wide

OMG! Fantastic. I hope I'm parked next to you if something breaks!


I can see myself getting toward that point as time goes on.



Cheers!
Mark

[Ray Eklund]

After three Airstreams, each new off the lot... First Seasons for each... the most used was a battery power drill, Philips head bit, Lath Screws. Cabinets and interior Pop Rivet fixes.

Keep It Simple... Tool assortment on the road.

Check 'large nuts' on Hitch and Trailer at home and then leave those tools in the garage. Lock washers are very good at doing their job.

It is the FIRST SEASON of your 'Under Warranty' Airstream... tools needed on the road. I call it... Factory Tweaking Tools.

Craftsman set in a plastic sleeve slide in: Seven Nut Driver set, 3/16" to 1/2" (7 to the set). Sears Craftsman #9-4196 (today ID ?) 3/8 and 7/16 have the most use.

A set of Drill Bits are very handy at time. Weigh nothing, but worth a lot if something needs to be drilled out to repair with a nut or screw.

An assortment of straight edge screw drivers... small... medium and one long handled for prying and using as a lever to install a Lath Screw.

An assortment of threaded bolts, washers and nuts. (Some hardware stores sell them as kits for very little cost.)

A ratchet with a set of sockets that go from small to larger... but only sized for what you need. Smaller are better. Large sockets are specific to Hitch Bolts and Lug Nut sizes. Now you may need US and Metric... but only certain sizes sold individually at Home Depot and Lowes.

A hammer. As you travel and have a need for a tool... stop at a hardware shop and get what you... NEED. Most sets have tools you will never use.

Pliers are always handy. Small, Medium and Large.

I have been carrying enough tools... now... as we go further to Off the Grid Campsites. A few for catastrophic tool needed repairs that I recognize are repairable, myself.

I have not needed anything our of the ordinary, now, for Ten Years.

I am tempted to cut back... but... when without cell service and in remote areas... flagging down someone. asking to borrow a specific tool in their vehicle... may never happen.

Common Advice: Carry "ONLY the tools you will need".

I still carry a variety of tools I have not needed, except at home snugging up hardware at home. On the Road... needing one threaded nut... is a problem.

If you have had a Season needing small snugging up a nut or screw... or nothing... back off on the heavy equipment. You... could... be safe.

Don't carry tools to rebuild your Tow Vehicle's Engine? Good, not needed. Same with other specialized tools.

Same idea with our Airstreams. Minor tweaks yes. Catastrophic Axles Falling Off...? Doubtful.

Electronics and Battery issues... do not strand you along a dirt road. A flat tire will be no fun... but not catastrophic.

Before you begin to imagine WHAT COULD GO WRONG... tow your Airstream around your home town for ten miles. No Problem? Go for it. Most issues start out with a squeak you will hear... before it needs repair or replacement.

Most Used Tool for Off the Grid: Long handle loppers to cut small branches in your way. Two Shovels. A "His and Hers". Digging holes, Filling holes and removing obstacles where you want to set Camp... like boulders. Smothering fire pit charcoal when leaving camp.

[G8trwood]

Plier sets
Socket set
Wrenches to fit hitch and suspension
Extra 10mm socket for when one evaporates
Hammer
Pry bar
Assorted electrical tools and crimpers, meter
Torque wrench
Impact and other cordless
Screwdrivers
Allen and torx
Kitchen sink

[PatLee]

If you come up short with a tool you need, and you're in a CG, just ask around. I guarantee you will find someone who will loan it to you.

[Shiny16]

Chanel locks, screwdriver, and duct tape.