What's in your tool box?

[mrwacky]

We've been packing for a few days as we get ready to head north and away from the summer heat here in Nevada. Every year I scrounge around and put together some tools I figure I'll need in case something needs repaired. If it is a nasty job or one I'm too lazy to tackle we visit a repair facility. And then more often than I would like, I have to visit Home Depot or another store for a tool that I don't have with me. Even though I have the same tool at home. We have been rving for over 40 years but not for the extended trips we now take. We will be gone this time for about three and a half months, so it is important I get this right. I'm just tired of dragging tools around i nerve ruse and then dragging home tools i bought on the road but had at home. If you get my drift.

So...what do you guys carry in your tool box? Maybe I can learn something.

[mr__ed]

mobilcastle wrote:

mr. ed wrote:
One tool that some folks may not consider is a tire valve stem removal tool. It's a good idea to check your valve stems for tightness occasionally because if one loosens you'll have a slow leak and gradual reduction in air pressure. I've had this happen before, thinking it was an object stuck in the tire but it turned out to be a loose valve stem.

I carry the same tool when on my bicycle so when I get a flat I can completely remove the valve and inject "green slime" into the tire to seal the flat. It's a little tool but so handy when needed.

Good tip-i carry one but never think about checking my stems to see if they are tight. I also carry a tire plug kit, however I will start to have my tires patched from the inside like I used to when I go out fulltime.

I should make it clear it's not the stem that's being tightened but the little valve inside the stem. It's just easier to call it a valve stem tightener/removal tool. 🙂

[sk734]

mr. ed wrote:
One tool that some folks may not consider is a tire valve stem removal tool. It's a good idea to check your valve stems for tightness occasionally because if one loosens you'll have a slow leak and gradual reduction in air pressure. I've had this happen before, thinking it was an object stuck in the tire but it turned out to be a loose valve stem.

I carry the same tool when on my bicycle so when I get a flat I can completely remove the valve and inject "green slime" into the tire to seal the flat. It's a little tool but so handy when needed.

Good tip-i carry one but never think about checking my stems to see if they are tight. I also carry a tire plug kit, however I will start to have my tires patched from the inside like I used to when I go out fulltime.

[mr__ed]

One tool that some folks may not consider is a tire valve stem removal tool. It's a good idea to check your valve stems for tightness occasionally because if one loosens you'll have a slow leak and gradual reduction in air pressure. I've had this happen before, thinking it was an object stuck in the tire but it turned out to be a loose valve stem.

I carry the same tool when on my bicycle so when I get a flat I can completely remove the valve and inject "green slime" into the tire to seal the flat. It's a little tool but so handy when needed.

[N-Trouble]

Instead of carrying a bunch of different screwdrivers just pick up a Klein 11 in 1.

My box - Tow strap, diesel fuel filter, jumper cables, flashlight, duct tape, flares, bottle jack, tire iron, 80-peice tool set, quart of oil, small grease gun, zip ties, can of tire sealant

[TakingThe5th]

korbe wrote:
My tools at home do not come with me while campin'. Those tools you buy at Home Depot would now stay in the rv.

When I work on the 5er or the truck I work out of one toolbox and that toolbox stays in the 5er or the truck. I buy good combo-type tools when possible to keep the weight down. For instance, I'll buy two screwdrivers that each have the correct assortment of bits built in, then I don't need to carry a complete set of screwdrivers. I buy two of these because enough jobs require two different screwdrivers, so I keep bit-swapping to a minimum.

Hope that helps.

[nremtp143]

I've always been a 'tool freak'. When we started camping, I bought tools to keep in the camper at all times. Most of what you see in that list is there, to which I added a 12 ton bottle jack, 150 psi compressor(Craftsman)50 feet of air hose,(I have an onboard generator by the way), set of Harbor Freight impact sockets(metric and SAE),good rivet gun with various sized rivets, fuses, 12volt electrical wire and assortment of connectors, multimeter, set of wrenches, 25 ft of 12/3 wire, shark bite connectors, 8 ft piece of pex pipe, ladder, spare bulbs for lights, extra 15&20 amp breaker(most home improvement stores don't carry the ones RVs have), assortment of pliers, screwdrivers and such. All this doesn't take up that much room and the heaviest things I have are the compressor and bottle jack. In one 5 day camping trip with 6 other campers, I used just about everything I listed besides the pex and sharkbites. So I stay prepared. A little overkill maybe. But I'd rather spend the time repairing the problem, than waste time trying to run down the tools for the job and then repairing the problem. I guess 29 years in public safety has gotten to me.:)

[magonzo]

Aside from the typical tools, I made sure I had the correct tire iron and jack to change a tire (just in case).

[sk734]

n7bsn wrote:

Trackrig wrote:
Put together a seperate tool kit that just stays in the RV or the truck. It's simpler, saves time, and you don't forget to pack or go find something in the garage before you leave.

Bill

What Bill said... the RV tool's don't have to be Snap-On, Harbor Freight can work just fine. I found I didn't have a really LARGE wrench, so I dropped by HF and bought one. Last trip we used it has a hammer too boot.

I carry a fairly complete set of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, wood-saw, mini-hack-saw, box of assorted nuts/bolts/screws, some electrical tools (a free DMM from HF), fuses, light-bulbs, one drill/driver (which also runs the stab-jacks up/down).

In addition to these I carry an electric impact wrench,volt meter,grease gun,torque wrench,1/4,3/8,1/2 socket sets,wire repair items,cable repair items,battery jumper,drill driver,heat gun,hydraulic jack,pex repair items,misc plumbing items,wd40,blaster,silicone spray and sealant,eternabond tape,1 quart truck oil,fuel filter,Amp meter,compressor and best of all DUCK TAPE-I like to be ready if I break down.

[Wheel_Estate]

rattleNsmoke wrote:
Carry a credit card and cell phone.

yep ...carry tools ...you might have to use them !!

[rattleNsmoke]

Carry a credit card and cell phone.

[n7bsn]

Trackrig wrote:
Put together a seperate tool kit that just stays in the RV or the truck. It's simpler, saves time, and you don't forget to pack or go find something in the garage before you leave.

Bill

What Bill said... the RV tool's don't have to be Snap-On, Harbor Freight can work just fine. I found I didn't have a really LARGE wrench, so I dropped by HF and bought one. Last trip we used it has a hammer too boot.

I carry a fairly complete set of wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, wood-saw, mini-hack-saw, box of assorted nuts/bolts/screws, some electrical tools (a free DMM from HF), fuses, light-bulbs, one drill/driver (which also runs the stab-jacks up/down).

[broark01]

All my tools stay in my truck and my truck stays with me.

[Fiver_Driver1]

I carry a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench and suitable size sockets for the 5er and pickup. Also I carry a 2" aluminum pipe, 20 inches long as a cheater in case I need to change a wheel on the pickup.

[K_Charles]

When I worked I drove about 1500 miles a month and didn't take tools with me and didn't brake down. That was stop and go trafic, when I go 1000 miles with the TT it is easy on everything. If I didn't brake down going to work I don't think I will brake down on a vacation. That said I do have a small maybe 50 piece home tool set (not pink) and a few bolbs and fuses that stay in the TT.