Tool list for MH

Gaylord Maxwell had a standard joke about tools that he used in his lectures at the Life On Wheels school he founded, to the effect that he never worried about carrying tools. Why? Because if something needed fixing while he was in a campground, he'd have tool-laden volunteers tripping all over themselves to help him, just to use the tools they had been packing around forever... :B

Gaylord died in 2008, unfortunately; he had the spark of life! Here's a link to a short video showing him at work, if you're interested: Gaylord's Lesson on Life.

We full-time and own our lot here in sunny St.Cloud and aside our lot we also have a cart and pontoon boat there and I do all my own repairs and maintenance, here's what I carry;

-Porter Cable 6 Gallon pancake compressor
-2000 psi electric power washer
-Honda 3000 generator
-Makita 10" miter saw
-Makita 7 1/4' circ. saw, recip. saw, jig saw, chordless drill, I/2 hammer drill, 1/4" router
-Work-mate folding tool bench
-20 ton bottle jack, 5 ton floor jack and jack stands (they all fit into a nice carry-case)
-full set of sockets both metric and standard, torque wrench, breaker-bar
-full set of wrenches, pliers,screwdrivers,ect.
-multi-meter and such
-worklight
-battery charger
-shovel,rake, garden hose
-plus a bunch of bits n' bobs
-Most importantly WD 40 and Duct-tape!

Having actually writing all that down I'm thinking,"wow, that's a lotta' stuff to shlep around but with my fiver and the rest I actually use all this stuff!


Red Green;
Remember, If it moves and it shouldn't, duck-tape,
if doesn't move and it should,WD40!!

beemerphile1 wrote:

schlep1967 wrote:

2cAmerica wrote:
In preparing for transition to FT, what tools would be appropriate to have in a tool kit?
Apology if I have overlooked a previous post. Safe journey out there.:h

The bigger question would be "What tools do you know how to use?"....

My thoughts also. One should take the tools they are capable of using. It's impossible to advise someone else on what they should take.

i could not agree more. I know people with tens of thousands of dollars worth of tool who couldn't change a light bulb without instructions and people who could fix a space shuttle with chewing gum and bailing wire. Be honest with yourself and decide what you have the ability and willingness to fix and that will tell you what tools to take.

schlep1967 wrote:

2cAmerica wrote:
In preparing for transition to FT, what tools would be appropriate to have in a tool kit?
Apology if I have overlooked a previous post. Safe journey out there.:h

The bigger question would be "What tools do you know how to use?"....

My thoughts also. One should take the tools they are capable of using. It's impossible to advise someone else on what they should take.

rockhillmanor wrote:
When I went full time I took everything but the kitchen sink regrading tools. I can fix anything so I brought everything with!

Only to find out that anything big that needs fixing? Have the RV Mobile Repair guy do it at the CG. He has all the tools and more important all the 'correct' parts to fix it right on board his truck. I wouldn't even pick up a hammer for the low rates these guys charge.

If you're new to an area how do you find an RV Mobile Repair guy? Like you I can repair most anything but I've learned over the years that just because you can doesn't mean you should. However, I've been disappointed so often by incompetent over-priced boobs that I tend to do most of my own repairs.

Steve

When I went full time I took everything but the kitchen sink regrading tools. I can fix anything so I brought everything with!

Only to find out that anything big that needs fixing? Have the RV Mobile Repair guy do it at the CG. He has all the tools and more important all the 'correct' parts to fix it right on board his truck. I wouldn't even pick up a hammer for the low rates these guys charge.

So I swear by RV Mobile Repair done at the CG site. I even have all my maintenance done by them. Imperative when you full time because you never have to leave your MH captive in a service center while you are sitting in a motel waiting for it.

Just sit back in you CG site and have a cold one in the lawn chair while he works on it. AND it is always done within a few hours not days! :W

After one year on the road I got rid of all copious amounts of tools and ended up with this scaled down version:

1. Screw gun w/box of bits and box of drills
2. Regular ole screw driver
3. Hammer
4. Robo grip pliers from Sears.
great for use on hose connections
5. Box of those stupid screws they use on everything on a MH
6. Roll of white duct tape.
Doesn't make your MH look red neck when you have to tape
something down until you can get to a CG to fix it.
7. Small box of Craftsman set of sockets.

2cAmerica wrote:
In preparing for transition to FT, what tools would be appropriate to have in a tool kit?
Apology if I have overlooked a previous post. Safe journey out there.:h

The bigger question would be "What tools do you know how to use?" There are many useful tools to have along but if you do not have the ability or knowledge to use them there is not much sense in carrying them. I bought a cheap tri-fold kit that has the basics. Pliers, screw drivers, assorted bits for in a driver type handle, wrenches, and small socket set, allen wrenches, etc. These will probably get me to the end of my abilities along the side of the road. After that the most important tool is a credit card.

Probably helpful.

tool list post in 5th wheels.