Suggestions for a basic toolbox

Rosie Rabbit
Rosie Rabbit Forum Participant Posts: 85
edited July 2017 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

I was looking at my meagre collection of tools yesterday - screwdrivers, pliers and an adjustable wrench and got to wondering at what tools I should have in a basic caravan toolbox whilst travelling around.

 

Any suggestions from all your years of experience at what to include?

 

Linda xx

Comments

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited July 2017 #2

    Gaffer tape-it's a Godsend for a lot of applications smile 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #3

    Agree heartily on Gaffer Tape, the silver heavy duty stuff. Gets you out of all sorts of situations. We also carry some spare fuses, circlips to fit various pipe work, WD40, spare sink plug, some silicon sealant, a few screwdrivers and spanners, solely for keeping in van. Our van is old, we have replumbed it, fitted a new electric box, a new water heater, a new jockey wheel, and dealt with all sorts of awning malfunctions while away. Depends how handy you are at a bit of DIY. There's usually a decent tool,outlet not too far away! laughing

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited July 2017 #4

    Gaffer  tape  --  yes

    But  TDA's  last two  sentences  rule,  "Depends  how  handy  you  are  at  a  bit  of  D I Y.  There's  usually a  decent  tool  outlet  not  too  far  away"

    And  that  says  it  all  !! don't  waste  your  money  on  things  you  don't  know  how  to  use  !!  The  damage  you  can  do  out-weighs  the  inconvenience  you  might suffer.

  • Rosie Rabbit
    Rosie Rabbit Forum Participant Posts: 85
    edited July 2017 #5

    I always had my Dad for electrics so never had to think about it - but he did teach me how to wire a plug and how to wire a rocker switch as well and for my birthday one year he bought me a big Collins DIY Encyclopedia! I do miss him.

    I will only attempt something if I am sure I know what I am doing (except for previous escapade with the jockey wheel!)

    I watched a plumbing Youtube video over and over again before I plumbed in my washing machine and it worked!

    I have been known to go into a certain DIY superstore and gaze longingly at Bosch Cordless Tools. This caravan electrics stuff is a massive learning curve for me, but I'll persist and read and annoy the hell out of Maplins staff until I get it laughing

     

     

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #6

    Mayday and a good caravan engineersurprisedwink

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #7

    Modern vans are probably a lot more sophisticated than ours in truth, so possible more to go wrong, but both OH and I are not too bad at simple DIY. Good advice though, don't attempt anything you are not sure about. 

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited July 2017 #8

    A cheap multimeter

    spare fuses

    wire strippers / crimping tool 

    Junior hacksaw

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2017 #9

    A couple of bottles of cider ,just drink them while you wait for someone to fix the problem laughing

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2017 #10

    What ever you have in your tool kit,there will be something "missing"wink

  • mylo
    mylo Forum Participant Posts: 104
    edited July 2017 #11

    A tool kit is only as good as the person useing in

  • mylo
    mylo Forum Participant Posts: 104
    edited July 2017 #12

    Hi tool kit only as good as person useing it

  • ihatew0rk
    ihatew0rk Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited July 2017 #13

    Mole grips or similar would be my contribution & just bought a Leatherman Wave so will see how useful that proves 

  • Spriddler
    Spriddler Forum Participant Posts: 646
    500 Comments
    edited July 2017 #14

    Cable ties, you can't have too many cable ties, and if you don't have one that's long enough you can daisy-chain shorter ones together.

    Corkscrew.

  • artyboo
    artyboo Forum Participant Posts: 457
    edited July 2017 #15

    Heavy duty Velcro and a tube of 'no nails' glue 👍

  • Bob2112
    Bob2112 Forum Participant Posts: 276
    100 Comments
    edited July 2017 #16

    Gaffer tape and WD40 . One will fix it if it moves the other will move it if it's fixed.

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
    500 Comments
    edited July 2017 #17

    Do you carry a car tool kit?

    As others, gaffer tape - the best you can find, WD40 or similar, velcro strips - heavy duty is probably best. Then unless you have surplus tools at home which doesn't seem likely, I would buy as you need. I would check the van to see what type of screwdrivers/socket set you might require to ensure you can undo or tighten as required. Not only check the 'head' of any fixings, but also how much room you'll have to work on them.

    I carry a hammer [only used once and it really needs to go], a varied set of screw drivers of different lengths and heads, socket/spanner set [used most] including those star shaped thingies which can be very small, pliers, and an adjustable spanner which I use when changing the gas tanks. Most of these came in a 'car tool kit set' I bought many years ago. 

     

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