Having spent nearly 10 years living in and out of an RV, there’s one thing I know for certain: crap happens. You never know what project or repair is going to come up when you’re on the road. Whether you’re in the RV for just a weekend here and there, or full-timing it cross-country, you’ll need a stash of supplies and tools for quick fixes and even a few DIY repairs. Here’s a suggested list of tools to have on-hand, and don’t worry– these should all fit into a small toolbox without trouble.
- RTV silicone sealant
- Extra fuses
- Wood & self tapping screws
- Screw Drivers – Pack a multi-purpose driver that comes with an assortment of bits which include torx, hex, phillips, & regular
- Wrenches – A metric set that runs from 8 to 20 should see you through. You also consider standard sizes from ¼ to 1”
- Sockets – A small set that contains ¼ & 3/8 drive sizes will do
- Utility knife and extra blades
- Straight cutting tin snips – For cutting wire, heavy duty tarps, canvas, etc.
- Pliers – Needle nose and a set of locking pliers
- A saw – A few types of reciprocating saw blades & a folding holder/handle will allow you to cut wood, metal, and plastic
- A hammer
- Drill & Bits – A hand drill with a small set of bits is great for fastening items back together with screws or bolts. Don’t forget an extra battery, and the charger!
- Flashlight – Bring along an extra hands-free “head” light
- Extra washers, nuts, bolts
- A digital multi-meter –You’re bound to incur a loose connection or a split from mice sooner or later. This will help diagnose your issue quickly.
- Polarity Tester – This gadget works great for checking the “shore” power to see if it is wired correctly before you plug into it and fry something.
- Electrical tape
- Soldering iron – Great for reattaching wires
- A Fire Extinguisher – while not a tool, this is one item I can’t stress enough about having on hand
- Duct Tape (Prefer the 100 mph tape)
PS: If you’re the guy from site #32 on Stony Lake, I’d like my tin snips back. Please.
