I was discussing the joys of RV maintenance with a friend who is considering purchasing an RV when he asked, “what are the most common tools you need for general maintenance and repairs.” It’s a great question! And a pretty long answer – which I’ll spread out over two posts. These tools are for general RV maintenance and repair, not chassis issues like engines, brakes, and other mechanical systems. Those jobs require all sort of special tools and skills, and may be better left to professional mechanics. But if you want to tackle simple maintenance and repair jobs, and save yourself a ton of cash, these basic tools will get you started.
Multi-bit Screw Driver
As an RV owner you will spend a lot of time screwing around and/or getting screwed. So many screws! A simple set of standard screwdrivers will get you started, but you will quickly find that you will never be able to locate the one you need. Need a Phillips? You will find a drawer full of slotted screw drivers. Need a slotted screw driver? That same drawer will now be magically full of Phillips.
One way to get around this issue is to invest in a good multi-bit screw driver – a single tool that has multiple bits. As long as you can find this one tool, you should be able to fulfill all of your basic screwing needs. The reality is you will only need two bits for most of your RV projects – a #2 Phillips and a #2 square. The rest of the bits you can safety dump in the bin. Why a #2 square bit? That is one hell of a good question – for some reason they are very common in RVs, particularly for interior cabinetry, window trim, skylights, and such. No one really knows why they exist, but you will probably want a #2 square driver in your kit.
Volt Meter
All of the appliances and electronic gear in your RV uses electricity, and at some point, some, or all, of it will start acting up or just stop working all together. You will notice the lights are dim, or unusual humming sounds, or strange melty smells. To troubleshoot these electrical issues, you will want a good AC/DC volt meter.
The meter doesn’t have to be fancy. Just being able to measure AC and DC voltage will allow you to diagnose many problems and check your batteries. The next time I need to buy one I will probably upgrade to a clamp style that can also measure AC and DC current.
Wire Cutter/Stripper/Crimper
Once you have diagnosed your electrical issues the remedy will often require chomping into your electrical system to remove and replace the offending component. If you are “old school” you can do all of these tasks with a pocket knife and your teeth. If you value your dental health, you may want tools for cutting, stripping, and splicing wires. There are a variety of the multi-purpose tools that combine these features into one tool. Pro Tip: I highly recommend taking pictures of your wiring before chomping. You would think everything would be as simple as red-goes-to-red and black-goes-to-black, but that is often not the case.
Simple Socket/Wrench Set
A simple socket or wrench set will often come in handy, especially if you need to tear into one of your appliances. At a minimum you will want sockets and/or wrenches required to tighten your battery terminals.
Dremel Tool
One of my favorite and most used tools, whether for RV or home, is a Dremel rotary tool. You will often be purchasing items that will be advertised as “exact fit.” A Dremel tool with a cut-off wheel or abrasive bit can help quickly modify these items so they actually do fit. If I don’t have to break out the Dremel I don’t feel like I’ve really taken on a satisfactory project.
Flashlights
A few good sources of illumination are important. A traditional flashlight is a good starting point, but I would also recommend a headlamp and an area work light. It seems like many challenges happen after dark – perhaps because that’s when you go to turn on the lights and realize you don’t have lights anymore. And then there are the issues that require you to crawl up into the bowls of your rig to regions that haven’t seen daylight since the RV rolled off the assembly line. Having a few lighting options can make the job much easier.
Utility Knife
A simple utility knife is another basic essential. Among other uses, you will need to open the endless stream of Amazon boxes containing all of the items needed to maintain, repair, and upgrade your RV! Get your self one of the ones where you can easily replace the blades. While you are at it, get a big box of blades. You’ll need them.
There are still a few more tools you will want to have in your tool box, but this post is already getting a bit long. In Part 2 we’ll focus on must-have tools for the exterior of your RV.
Hozzászólások