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What’s in your motorhome toolkit?
This question has been
exercising one of us for some time.
The other member of the team
doesn’t really care what’s in there as long as there is a tool or spare for the
job in hand when the crisis arises! Her only other concern, and it is a major
one in fairness, is that her partner actually knows how to fix the problem. Carrying the tools is one thing, having the
knowledge to use them efficiently and to a successful conclusion is quite
another thing. Given she lives in a house where no shelf or picture is hung
straight and most DIY projects end up being ‘a few centimetres out’, her
concern is justified!
As newbies, our toolkit is
a work in progress. The only other major toolkit we have to cover all
situations is the one that resides in Arwen, our homebuilt 15’ sailing
yawl. Now this toolkit really is a work of art with tools and spares to cover
every possible eventuality, including being shipwrecked on a deserted island
somewhere around the South Devon and Cornwall coastline!
When assembling Bryony’s
toolkit, like, Arwen’s, weight is a considerable concern, for everything
carried eats into the payload available. So, we try to follow some basic rules,
for example, no unnecessary duplication of tools, carrying only tools that can
cover more than one eventuality and making sure we have a tool kit able to
cover everything from engine, water, heating and electrical systems to awning
and upholstery repairs.
So, here is our first effort
and, as always, we welcome comment, suggestions or tips.
Mechanical
o
Jack, towing and wheel changing
kit
o
Tyre pressure gauge and small
12v air compressor pump
o
Pliers – blunt nose
o
Tow strap – 4 tonnes
o
Two Milenco giant lattice mud
mats
o Adjustable socket and spanner set
Safety
o
Warning triangle x 2
o
2 hi viz vests kept in the driver’s
door storage pocket
o
First aid kit (expedition
style one)
o
Two fire extinguishers (one
large in cab, one medium in habitation unit)
o
Fire blanket in kitchen area
Electrical
o
Pliers – needle and cutting
o Cable ties – assorted sizes and colours
o
Multimeter
o
Spare fuses – several of each
size needed (standard and mini bladed)
o
Electrical tape
o
Lengths of electrical wire
o
Spare bulb kit
o
Spare batteries of various
sizes
o Electric plug fuses – various sizes
Water and heating
o
Mole grip and adjustable
medium sized wrench
o
Damp meter
o Thread seal tape, tube plumbers mastic and reel of mastic tape
o
Jubilee clip set of various
diameters
o
Spare hose and funnel
o
Box of Hozelock connectors of
various types and sizes
o Tube of sealant
o
Spare sink plugs
Everything else or general
o
Multi bit screw driver with
various sized Phillips and flat head bits
o
Hammer
o
Duct tape
o
Flash light and head torch
o
Allen key set
o
Swiss army knife (one of us
has never been anywhere without one since he was in the Cubs back in the late sixties!)
o
Gerber Multitool
o
Small spirit level
o
Utility knife and spare blade
o
Heavy duty work gloves
(plastic covered)
o
Superglue and Sugru
o
Ball of string
o
Spare stick on plastic hooks
o Old sail ties (great for tying things up neatly)
o
Some rags and cloths
o
WD40 and WD silicon spray cans
o
Awning repair tape – commonly
known as sail repair tape!
o
Glue gun and glue sticks
o
Selection of small sized
screws, bolts and nuts
o
Bungie cords – assorted sizes
o
Length of rope
o
Small sewing kit
At the moment all these items are scattered in various small boxes across Bryony’s lockers but one of the first things we do before our next trip is centralise everything either into one proper tool box to be stored in the external locker, or into one set of plastic tubs with lids to be stored within lockers inside.
If we go for the stored in the external
locker option, what would be best – a crate, a tool box or a soft canvas tool
bag? Or shouldn’t we worry about things like that? Or, perhaps a crate or soft
canvas tool bag would be better? What would you recommend, let us know?
In the meantime, whilst one
of us is positively salivating over the creation of a toolkit, the other one,
with the brains, knows that the most fundamentally important bits of our tool
kit are obviously a) plenty of data and a mobile signal to download ‘how to’
YouTube videos and b) the RAC card!
In the meantime, stay safe,
take care out there and have fun motorhoming.
Steve and Maggie
https://wherenexthun.blogspot.com/2020/10/welcome-to-our-blog.html and https://wherenexthun.blogspot.com/2020/11/who-are-main-characters-in-our-blog.html
PS – since posting this a number of
people have been in touch and have suggested the following be added to the list
above
o
Pipe connectors for the water
system – a few spares
o
Engine oil
o
Small ratchet straps
o
Spanners – open and ring
types
o
Kneeling mat
o
Tube of epoxy mix
From the Autosleepers Owners Forum came
additional suggestions
o
Length of paracord
o
Emery cloth and ball of steel
wool
o
Double sided sticky tape and
‘stretch and seal’ waterproof tape
PS - further updates from readers: tube of Sugru, selection of small nuts and bolts,
And a lovely quote from Paul
"Remember, if it moves when it shouldn't - Gaffa tape. If it won't move, when it should - WD40"
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Hi, we always look forward to hearing your comments, tips and thoughts. Drop us a line or two below. Take care now. Steve and Maggie