Recommendations for essential tools

[Sparkle]

Gorilla tape. It saved me on the road when a rock hit the front window on my Basecamp and shattered it. They didn't offer the window covers then.
Also, Ryobi makes a tire inflator that i carry for low tires.

[Hermes]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

When you think of all the frustration and grief you have lived with over the decades with Phillips screws and drivers (which should be thrown in the dustbin of history), all because Henry Ford wanted the exclusivity of the canadian invented Robertson screw with its square socket screw head (Mr. Robertson refused to sell the rights to Mr. Ford). What a missed opportunity!

[M. Smith]

Spare fuses - all sizes, flashlight and batteries, good screwdrivers and pliers.

[pontzdav]

Don’t forget the 6 ft. Lightweight step ladder, the 8 ton hydraulic bottle jack, the giant socket needed to remove the never lube brake drums, oh, and the special tool needed to remove the snap ring, a few assorted wire nuts, drill bits, a bucket, a bug sponge, one of those lights that mount to your head, extra hose gaskets, battery charger for your battery powered tools, caulking gun and tube of caulk, distilled water for the batteries, a one gallon gas can in case you need to refill the little generator, 9 x 12 camping carpet, 4 lawn chairs, . . .

[switters]

Ha ha, yes, it's easy to go overboard. But I think that I have a pretty reasonable kit assembled now.

[nryn]

When I was setting up for the first time, I was preparing for a pretty long trip through remote areas. So I tried to focus on critical systems—what would I absolutely need to fix in order to get me somewhere where I could have something fixed? Then I picked tools that could do more than one thing if necessary.

My toolkit ended up pretty small. It fits in a small standard stackable toolbox that I keep in the truck, then I have another small shoebox sized one for inside the trailer. I did bring another large cargo box of spare parts and larger tools (e.g. rivet gun), but easily 75% of those stay at home now.

I brought tools that let me easily:

• Change a tire
• Service the hitch or related gear
• Fix electrical problems
• Tighten loose things (or loosen tight things) inside and outside the trailer (E.g. drawer pulls, cabinet hinges, etc.)

Other than specific-size sockets for things like lug nuts or anything that needs to be done quickly, none of the tools were specialized tools. The largest tools I carry are the air compressor (easily fits under the rear seat in the truck), the cordless drill, a set of quick-grip clamps (useful for more than just fixing things), a handsaw, and the breaker bar. Everything else is pretty standard issue. Small collection of screws and a good selection of adhesives (tape, glue, etc.). Biggest fix I had to do on a trip: reinstall the galley sink and fix the counter (which required a trip to the hardware store anyway). I’d like to think that that was an exception to the normal situation, but even that required only a few tools.

I’d only go the “bring more” if I found myself in really remote areas again—which won’t be for a while I think.

[stevejones]

Lots of good ideas in this thread. The problem always is how to carry it all, along with all the other stuff you have to carry. You may carry a lot of tools you never use, but the tool you need the most is the one you need but don't have. As some have said elsewhere, there is always a Walmart, but the stuff at Walmart is crap and a limited selection. Think about what kinds of things you will actually do yourself, rather than have someone else do for you. How likely is it you will use a particular tool? Can you plan not to carry a particular tool and buy it if you need it?

As you travel you will fine tune your collection of what you carry with you based on what you actually use (or might use) based on how handy you are and what kinds of things you are comfortable with doing yourself.

A great write up on what to carry and how to carry it was posted by Jim Beaubeaux on his Living In Beauty blog. Worth a look:

https://livinginbeauty.net/2020/04/21/beast/

Steve

[SPARKLE19]

Originally Posted by BillfromWI

If your socket set is 12 point you should have a 6 point 3/4 inch deep socket for the lug nuts. Or the Harbor Freight flip set if you want to use your wrenches on you tow vehicle.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=flip%20socket

Make sure the OD of any socket you purchase for the wheel nuts will allow access. I have had to try several before finding correct for application.

[HikinMike]

I saw someone mention rivet gun and rivets and I am familair with aluminum rivets, what is an olympic rivet?

[LilPeanut]

Olympic rivets are the kind used to replace the buck rivets on the outside skin when they inevitably pop loose (and you find them when you are washing the camper). The inside regular/normal rivets leave a small hole where the post breaks off. Olympic rivets leave a stub/spike sticking out of the rivet head - no home for water to get in. You have to clip and then shave off the spike with a rivet shaver that is like a concave drill bet fixed in a drill. Then they look almost exactly like a buck rivet (but you can still usually see where the post was)

On the back, the olympic rivets have a 3 legged star pattern rather than a mushroom.

Get some. They are cheap. Then get a shaver. It is expensive. More expensive than a rivet gun and much much harder to find.

[Hermes]

Originally Posted by LilPeanut

Then get a shaver. It is expensive. More expensive than a rivet gun and much much harder to find.

If you don't have that many to shave, then a Dremel can be used with good results. It takes a bit more time than the shaver (used in the aircraft industry).