Must Have tools for your Camper to Save the Day
The 18 items you need in your travel trailer tool kit:
Torque Wrench
The wheels on your trailer should be torqued every time you go on a trip. I always leave my torque wrench in my trailer tool kit just in case I have a flat or need to re torque. The lug nut wrench that came with the trailer is so weak it could not take a screw off a pair of glasses. I only carry the socket sizes I need for the lug nuts on the trailer, the vehicle, as well as any large nuts on the hitching equipment.
Pliers
Pliers will always be a necessity in any tool kit. They are handy if you need to strip wire, loosen a nut, pull on a wire, tighten a pipe, etc… Make sure to have a few types at in your arsenal.
Drill with bits
We use our drill to lower our scissor jacks, but it is also handy if there is any work to be done requiring a lot of twisting of a screwdriver or if you need to drill a hole. I keep a Makita 12v drill and impact driver on board with an assortment of bits. The Makita has recently skyrocketed in price and is not a good deal, but this DeWalt 20v drill and impact driver is top notch and has great reviews for a great price.
Socket and Basic Tool Set
Sockets kits are great to keep in your RV tool kit. You will find the use for many socket sizes around your tow vehicle as well as all around and under your trailer. This Crescent 170 piece tool set should keep you busy through all items that pop up with your trailer.
Screw drivers
I keep my Klein 11 in 1 as the only screwdriver on board. I also have one in my tow vehicle in case I need two to get on the other side of a nut. The screwdriver will be used from your electrical system to cabinets.
Multimeter
A multimeter will come in handy if you have any 12 volt or 120 volt electrical issues you need to troubleshoot. It determine if you are getting power to a device or not. I recently used mine to determine one of my four slide motors was not getting power before I decided to take it apart. I found that one of the terminals had come off of the controller, which saved me the labor from manually pushing out the slide and having to readjust the slide alignment.
Wire
In case you do find a bad circuit during your troubleshooting with your multimeter, you can recreate the damaged circuit on the spot.
Fuses
Extra fuses in your RV tool kit can be a savior if you are in the middle of the woods camping. Keep the appropriate sizes to replace any that blow while you are on your trip. This easy and cheap insurance.
Tape
Tape can work wonders with fixing items on the fly. Keep some duct tape as well as roof sealant tape for those emergency situations when you hit a branch and make a cut in your rubber roof.
Hatchet
You should have one of these anyways to chop your firewood, but if you don’t, here is an expensive Granfors Bruks Small Forrest Axe that I use, as well as a Fiskars X7 hatchet which is a bit less expensive. These can also take place of a hammer on your trek in the woods.
Leather gloves
If you do have to change a tire or work around sharp aluminum on your trailer, your hands will be protected with leather gloves.
Scissors
Heavy duty scissors will be used around the RV for many items, these don’t need too much explanation. These can also be used to open all of those pesky plastic security packages from Costco.
Tape measure
Usually I will measure for clearances before I park in a space, or make sure my slide out is far enough from a tree. Our favorite is the basic 25′ tape measure which holds up nicely.
Trailer Jack
Most trailers come with a spare tire for peace of mind while you are out on a trip, but do you have a way to jack your trailer up to change that tire? You can get a bottle jack, or use an Anderson Rapid Jack on your dual axle. Make sure not to utilize your stabilization jacks as they are not meant to jack the whole trailer and you will damage them.
Calking Gun and Sealant
A calking gun with sealant can save the day in a rain storm. Dicor self leveling lap sealant is the top choice when it comes to roof and joint repairs. Dicor is also the product of choice to seal around new roof vents or solar installations.
Knife
It is handy to have a knife around if you need to cut a package or rope. I have an EDC Buck knife I keep with me as well as larger duty knives for camping. A few Morakniv knives around the trailer are very handy and a good bang for the buck.
Conclusion
These are not all of the items I keep in my tool kit, nor all the items you should keep either. I summed up the large necessary items. Take a walk around your trailer and assess what can and will go wrong and what tools you will need to fix it on the fly as to not ruin your trip. Your RV tool kit will vary depending on your length of trip, proximity to stores, and available space.
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