What's in your toolbox?

[RedHorse1]

I'm putting together a toolbox that will stay in the TT. What is your recommendation? Are the nuts/bolts SAE or metric? Any special items?
Cheers,
T_

[Terry]

I don't normally like cheap tools, but I went to Harbor and got a small selection of both metric and SAE to keep on the camper. Got a couple of electrical tools as well. Just wanted a good variety of to keep with me for any occasion. The tool I end up using most is one of those screwdrivers that has a whole bunch of bits in the handle.

[phemens]

I keep a wrench, multibit screwdriver, duct tape, bag of various screws & nuts, spare T (to open front bunk on hybrid), teflon tape, work gloves and electrical tape. Not in the box but always on hand, air compressor, hacksaw, crank for slide, spare bulbs, spare fuses, hammer, velcro and spare bits for plumbing.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by tafische

snip........The tool I end up using most is one of those screwdrivers that has a whole bunch of bits in the handle.

X2

Plus I keep an assortment of those funny screws around as well

Bob

[RVhiker]

What everybody else said. Also, a volt/ohm meter that can read both DC and AC volts. A screw driver with the proper square head bit. A good flashlight. Some bailing wire (note: you can buy a whole roll of flexible steel wire for cheap at a lumber yard near where concrete reinforcement rods are sold). A knife. Hydraulic jack. A cross lug wrench. All the manuals for the equipment that came with your trailer.

[RedHorse1]

Excellent input folks! Thx Mucho!
Do you find many (any) torx screws?
I hadn't thought about teflon tape, bailing wire or hack saw. Good input.

Tafische, I've been prowling the isles at HF lately. A great souce for what I call "single use tools".

Phemens, what's a "spare T"? My bunks have latching levers.

Rustic, Wow, "funny screws". I could do 30 min on that alone :hihi:

Anybody, SAE or Metric?

Thanks all!

Side note: The bride and I will make our second outing the last week of Oct. The first was to pick up "Little Feather" in FL. We're headed to Durant OK for a few days to visit the Choctaw Nation and see the sights (OK, maybe a quick visit to the casino). The bride is a tribal member - I'm a mongrel and don't belong to anything but her.

[Terry]

Teflon tape is a must! Stops those leaky hose bibs.

You are right about HF - you just have to figure out what is good and what is junk. I have had bad luck with their assortment of things like screws - they are way too soft. But I have some of the hand tools (wire cutters, pliers, box wrenches, etc) and they have done ok. If I used them every day - no way - but an occasional use on the camper and they are fine.

In addition to tools - I also keep a few light bulbs (18 watt landscape lights from Lowes) #921, a spare 30 amp plug, assortment of fuses, heat shrink tubing, and some crimps.

[Seann45]

I have a fully stocked tool box in my TOW VEHICLE as it is always near when I am doing a job on the RV

[FPM III]

I didn't bother with spending a lot of money on a duplicate set of tools. I simply bought a large rubbermaid tub and store all the high-quality house tools that I would use when I RV in there. When I camp, I just load the tub on the truck. In the tub, I have:

• 1/2" Socket Set
• 3/8" & 1/4" Socket Set
• Cordless 3/8" Drill
• Pop Rivet Set
• Vice Grip Set
• SAE GearWrench Set
• Metric GearWrench Set
• Stubby SAE GearWrench Set
• Any Specialty Tools

In a 5 Gallon plastic bucket I have a hammer, hatchet, splitting wedge, Screwdriver and bits, folding shovel, raincoat, rope, etc. I also have a tools in a zipper case (screwdrivers, Channel Lock type & needle nose pliers, etc). And, I always bring my torque wrench.

Now, let me ask you: Would you buy all that stuff above just to have in your trailer for when you periodically go camping? Yeah, I thought so too.

Nearly everything I use for camping is in some kind of container. It makes it easer ans quicker to load/unload and as long as you're dilligent about putting back into the container whatever item(s) you were using, you're less likely to forget anything

[Quahog]

Add a roll of Gorilla tape... it's very versatile.

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

X2

Plus I keep an assortment of those funny screws around as well

Bob

Funny screws. These trailers are put together with `em. Square drive screws!





As for my tools I have a set of Craptsman sockets, 3 drive sizes, open end wrenches, screwdrivers, etc, so on.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Crabman

Funny screws. These trailers are put together with `em. Square drive screws!

....snip

Yep, that be them!

Bob

[RedHorse1]

You guys are right, those are funny little screws. Never gone looking for them, where'd you find new ones?

[FPM III]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Yep, that be them!


Bob

The "technical" name for those types of screws are Robertson and invented by a Canadian. Here's a link to their website for those who want to learn more.

Robertson Screw

[29BHS ECO]

Don't forget fuses for your tv & tt, they maybe a different style. Larry

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

snip..... where'd you find new ones?

I grabbed an assortment of them a number of years ago at one of the local Elkhart, IN., RV surplus stores when I was camping in the area.

As a matter fact, I was in the same area this past spring camping with some friends, and picked up a few more RV odds & ends here: http://bontragers.com/

Bob

[Topflight]

I use them all the time for many projects. You can get them at Home Deep Hole or any good hardware store.

[CampingGirl]

Originally Posted by FPM III

I didn't bother with spending a lot of money on a duplicate set of tools. I simply bought a large rubbermaid tub and store all the high-quality house tools that I would use when I RV in there. When I camp, I just load the tub on the truck. In the tub, I have:

• 1/2" Socket Set
• 3/8" & 1/4" Socket Set
• Cordless 3/8" Drill
• Pop Rivet Set
• Vice Grip Set
• SAE GearWrench Set
• Metric GearWrench Set
• Stubby SAE GearWrench Set
• Any Specialty Tools

In a 5 Gallon plastic bucket I have a hammer, hatchet, splitting wedge, Screwdriver and bits, folding shovel, raincoat, rope, etc. I also have a tools in a zipper case (screwdrivers, Channel Lock type & needle nose pliers, etc). And, I always bring my torque wrench.

Now, let me ask you: Would you buy all that stuff above just to have in your trailer for when you periodically go camping? Yeah, I thought so too.

Nearly everything I use for camping is in some kind of container. It makes it easer ans quicker to load/unload and as long as you're dilligent about putting back into the container whatever item(s) you were using, you're less likely to forget anything

I do the same thing. I have a box i take to and fro. No sense buying double, but I do have a few things I keep in the TT drawer that I bought extra (just in case i ever walk out the door and forget) and that would be my hammer, screwdrivers, and wrench.

[mcfarmall]

In my trade (machine repair journeyman) I can fix (not a butcher job either) nearly anything with the following:
8" adjustable
10" adjustable
10" Channellock pliers
Yellow handle Ideal T-Stripper
5 in 1 screwdriver
10 x 1/4" flat blade screwdriver
roll of 3M Super 33 tape
Metric Bondhus ball end allen wrench set
Inch Bondhus ball end allen wrench set

Add to that a 4 way lug wrench to fit the TT lugs and I'm good.

For the TT you could probably lose the Inch allens but you'd better keep the Metric ones for the quality import bicycles.