Tool hording vs need in the tear

[Shadow Catcher]

The teardrop tool box conundrum.
I will fully admit I tend to grossly over pack tools to take and not only do they get disorganized in the tool bag but I am sure there are way to many things I really don't need, I think
The month long trip to California this summer came shortly after we got Compass Rose came back from repair/reconstruction after the accident and all of the electrical, solar controller, inverter, battery, battery monitoring wires had to be re done. On top of this I added the gas point and shower point re did the propane tank support and piping. This was completed, more or less, a couple of days before we left and I basically threw a bunch of tools into a soft tool bag and one basket of electrical fuses, wires, adapters, wall warts, bare power pole connectors with a small torch for soldering, shrink wrap tubing, duct tape and a VOM to troubleshoot electrical stuff that did not work. AND a number of things did not

Lesson learned make sure the battery in your VOM is good, or they don't work, I did replace the VOM which did work once I replaced the 9V battery with a new DC clamp meter from Sears recently.

Tools taken that were used, the 100 piece security bit set (I have a couple of security screws and this also has square and star drivers) seven blade trailer connector tester (helped one individual find the problem with his lights were the terrible patch job he did on the trailer plug not the TV wiring which was fine. Wire cutters, used a number of times once to make up a new coax cable so we could hook up the television at the KOA's (the one I had was too short). Open ended wrenches used to tighten leaking gas line fittings. Hose clamps used on the PCV hose in the Subaru that the transmission repair place forgot to put back after also doing some engine work, (synthetic oil stinks distinctively).
A 1/4 socket set and extension substituted for a nut driver set when I had to loosen the propane tank holder. Chanel locks got used a couple of times for trying to tighten the water hose so it would not leak (it did even after replacing gaskets in Nevada), replace the hose fittings with good quality fittings out in California, problem cured.
Use the 1/2 torque wrench to check the lug nuts a couple of times TV and trailer. (had a rear wheel pass me in San Diego from our Baja bug long ago). So what to leave home, nope, I think I will add a pass through wrench set> I do have to find some way to organize this mess

[Roly Nelson]

Hey, Shadow Catcher, if you came, or plan to come to So Calif again, I have all of the tools you need to make repairs to get you back home. It kind of upsets me that you were out here, and didn't even look me up, since all visitors to my driveway are always expected to take me out for a wondreful prime rib dinner. Wow, you have more tools in your kit, than I have in my whole workshop.
Roly ~~

[Shadow Catcher]

Roly once Nancy retires we plan on doing a trip to the South West during winter/early spring and will make it out as far a San Diego.
This summer Nancy was still very unsure of the whole process of traveling long distance with the teardrop and we had family things to attend to in the bay area and Sonora. She was expecting to spend only three weeks and I had smiled and expected four, which is what it turned out to be.

[bonnie]

When I went to pick up BUB, I carried about 1/2 my tool collection, which isn't saying much. I didn't notice any duct tape or electrical tape in your list. They are *tools* after all. I've been trying to decide if I want a special tool kit for the camper, or if I will have to remember to pack the tool kits. Probably the latter. Still learning though, as tents don't take as many tools. If you have used rivets at all the rivet gun should go with, too.

[Verna]

When I made the under bed storage, I knew I would be reserving a section for tools. VOM, electrical repair kit and black tape, duck tape, hammer, various screwdrivers, pry bar, wrench for the 2" ball (can be used for other things also), various wood screws, various stove bolts of different sizes, channel locks, crescent wrench, 1/4" socket set, set of wrenches, drill bits with a manual drill, screwdriver bit set including all those rarely used bits, sidecuts (diagonal cutters to those not from a telephone company background!), long nose pliers, and a few of the little bags of silica gel.

All of this fits in a space of 3.5" deep, 23" x 28" area. Why that size? I divided the floor space by two (hence 23") in width. Then I decided I would need cross support where I would get into the TD and it would also be where I would have my behind when sitting, hence 28" from the front. (Measurements are rounded off because I forget the 3/8", 5/16", etc., from when I was building the under floor storage!!)

I keep my spare batteries in an overhead compartment--hopefully a spare for every size I use!!

While I don't normally take a cordless drill, I probably would take one on an extended trip.

[Shadow Catcher]

Yes I do carry a couple of rolls of duct tape but my experience, I know heretical, is that duct tape holds almost as long as you need it to, and some times not that long. I do carry wire ties in various strengths and lengths and my experience is that they do hold as long as you need them to as long as you use the right size(s). I also carry a bungee cord set with attachable ends and adapters. These have been used on all the trips we have made, additional support for tent poles, holding the galley hatch closed when we found the latch would work itself open. Nylon cord as in awning guy lines (glow in the dark or reflective) and useful for hanging laundry.
I carry a MAHA battery charger and all of our flashlights controllers etc, use Ni-MH batteries (except for the VOM)

[Vedette]

Holy Cow!
I guess I just never think about working while on holidays, so I wasn't planning on taking anything except a piece of nylon rope.
We went on a 6000 mile + trip this past summer that covered 1 Province and 12 States in our 1946 Studebaker, with only a screw driver and a pair of pliers. Both of which I didn't even know I had with me until we had a pin hole leak in our heater hose. So they did come in handy and made the repair an easy 5 minute job.
Guess it was a good thing nothing else went wrong with the old Stude! But what can go wrong when you are on a paved hyway going 80 mph in a straight line for most of the day. Did I mention I have not carried a spare tire or a jack since 1968?????????
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[mechmagcn]

Wow! the extent of my toolkit for the 15K trip I took to AK this spring consisted of a set of combo end wrenches, flat and phillips screwdrivers, a pair of vise grips and a 12'' cresent wrench. A roll of duct tape, one of electrical tape and a few wire ties rounded it all off.
These tools took my 53 F100 and homebuilt teardrop all the way I prefer to know my vehicles intimately and make sure any problems are addressed before leaving home

[pete42]

I've been camping since 1964, In that time I have found the one and only tool you will ever need...................


Is the one you left at home...

[Shadow Catcher]

One of the problems with having a shall we say 'feature rich" teardrop that was on for all intents and purposes a "maiden voyage" after repairs, was the expectation that not every thing would work as it should out of the box. Some things were along the line of a lose connection or the factory (how cheaply can we make this) hose end on the water hose.

[NathanL]

Truck I pull with has a toolbox so I'm never far from whatever I need. Other than the trailer completely burning down I think I would be equipped to handle it. From a entire set of hand tools to a bearing puller I keep on hand for all my trailers just in case. If you pull trailers enough something will break down. Besides my teardrop I normally pull equipment trailers, RV trailers, cargo trailer full of my R/C planes, and a couple of boats.

Living and working in the sticks I also carry enough in the toolbox to survive a few days (and have had to use it a few times). Stuff like a small camp stove, a lantern, sleeping bag, shovel and axe (for digging out and cutting logs to put under the truck) and a box of MRE's that get rotated around. So even without the teardrop I'm ready to camp

[Bogo]

I have a few travel tool bags. They also serve as a field repair tool kits for the farm. Well, except for the 3/4" and 1" wrench sets I need for the farm. They don't travel. I put all the tools into bags so they can sit on the floor in the back seat.

I have my travel wrench sets split into metric and english because when I take one of the Toyotas on a trip I only need the metric tools.

I have a generic electrical repair bag that has just about everything needed for patching a car or trailer electrical system. Seeing I no longer have a vehicle with Lucas electrics in it, I leave the bottle of replacement smoke at home.

I also have a generic tire repair kit. Everything you might need to dismount, patch and remount a tire. This includes a jack type bead breaker, and rim sealant. The kit also has the rope type patches for the quick fix.

[campmaster-k]

Tools for me just make the trip better because then I am not worried all the time. When I dont bring the tools its all I think about. I bring lots.

[Verna]

Tools for me just make the trip better because then I am not worried all the time. When I dont bring the tools its all I think about. I bring lots.

Kirk, that's why I decided to keep some tools in the under bed storage area. If I have them, maybe I won't need them

[Kody]

When we were living in the US, I kept some special equipment in the wagon at the start of the first snowfall. I loaded the car with an axe, my super bowie knife and Arkansas oilstone, First aid kit, 200 feet of very strong rope, 50 yards of strong twine, a quality shovel, extra blankets, waterproof matches, tinder and 4 gallons of water. With this equipment I could survive any serious problem that came our way. Here in Aust. I would take the axe, bowie knife, two rifles and ammo, a GPS, a sat phone if I could afford it, a PC laptop, first aid kit, rope, twine,shovel and a lot more water. This is just the survival gear. For tools I would take, full spanner set, bearing puller or equivalent, grease, hammer, alloy drift, at least a dozen 2.5 welding rods and w/helmet,welding leads which also serve as jumper leads, my wallaby jack, Tire repair kit & WD 40, the standard and useless car jack (but it does work), 12" square jack plate, tow strap and recovery gear and some other small things that are needed. If you have two heavy duty batteries with you, you can use them to weld with, no problem. However, here in the great land Down Under, the most important thing to have is lots and lots of water.
Just for starters.

Kody