Mar 3

Mar 3 Top 6 Must Have Tools For Your RV

When embarking on an RV trip, there are all kinds of things that can happen, from blown fuses to leaky radiators to loose cabinet handles. Having an RV is like having a boat; you quickly learn to be a mechanic on the go! Knowing this, you want to be prepared with your tools, but sometimes it's not feasible to bring everything from home. So here are the top 6 tools we use the most frequently on the road and frankly couldn't survive without!

1. Leatherman Multitool: This is literally my go-to tool! It's amazing. There are so many tools built into one handy, easy to carry device including a knife, a couple of saws, a file, pliers, bit drivers, a can opener, and more. This tool has taken care of most of the repairs I've had to do in the RV. I also always make sure I bring my Leatherman on hikes, just in case we get stuck and we have to build a shelter, or make spears for hunting, or for cutting my arm off if it gets trapped under a boulder like Aron Ralston! Hopefully not, but its always good to be prepared.

2. Drill and Assorted Bits: We picked up a simple, cheap plug-in electric drill instead of one that is rechargeable since we don’t always have the electrical power available (or the time) to charge up the batteries. We brought a kit with all sorts of drill bits to tackle whatever comes at us. I have done so many projects with my drill, I’m glad I brought it. From installing solar panels and a new TV mount to hanging photos in the RV, I've been happy to have the electric drill.

3. Super glue: Super glue is so versatile. It is one of those small items we could easily forget when we were packing, but once on the road and we opened the awning on our RV and saw a small torn seam, or we noticed a cable holder that has fallen off the wall, we went reaching for the super glue. I like the gel super glue because it is easier to get it exactly where it is needed.

4. Headlamp: Sure, a headlamp is useful for hiking at night, but when you are working in darker spaces at any time of day, it is often helpful to have light right where you need it, especially when you don’t have a free hand to hold a flashlight. My headlamp has great battery life and is compact while still being powerful. Hunting for leaks under a sink or hunting for a trail on a predawn hike are both much easier when you have a good headlamp!

5. Husky Microdriver Set: I bought this microdriver set years ago for a specific project where I needed to remove a screw in a tight spot that I couldn’t reach with a regular screwdriver. I thought it would be useful for that specific project, but I couldn't ever anticipate how much I use it in the RV! I have pretty big hands, so having a tool that can reach into small spaces to get to screws has been super helpful and save me tons of money.

6. VHB Tape: I had never heard of this magic tape by 3M before becoming an RV owner. Now that I know about it, we use it for all kinds of applications, from attaching our solar panels to the roof to attaching the mount for our new shower head to hanging gold mason jars on the thin fiberboard walls. VHB stands for “very high bond”. In certain uses, it is capable of bonding two surfaces with such strength that it can replace a weld! It is easy to apply, and it definitely lives up to its name. It is so handy that we keep it around for future projects.

Let us know what you think about this list and if there are any tools you can't live without in your RV!