A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

As I read about the issues we have with our rigs, I am curious as to the tools you all carry with you. This is really a question for full timers or long term travelers since we have the storage and weight issues without the convenience of leaving lots of additional tools at home.

I have a tool bag with a normal assortment of screwdrivers, hammer, tape measure, pliers, wrenches, duct tape, gorilla glue. But when I wanted to clean my hot water heater, I could not loosen the bolt to drain the tank. The previous owner had mangled the head. I saw on youtube that a socket wrench (?) was needed. Do I buy just one to fit this bolt or a set? While my gennie was being repaired, I had the guys replace this bolt to make it easier for me. Any other tools that you found crucial?

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Joan, I have a socket for the anode rode on my HW tank (I THINK it's 11/16" (eleven sixteenths) - I remember that cuz when a guy on another forum posted the size,
I read it as 1 1/16" (one and one sixteenth - WRONG!).

Anyway, once I found the right size, I put a big permanent market X on it and keep it in my traveling tool box.

Don't forget the RoboGrips! I love those things.
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Joan,

I'm glad you started this post regarding tools. I could really use this help since I am a full timer and travel alone. I always thought I was pretty savvy about fixing things and taking care of maintenance issues myself but I'm wondering if there are maintenance issues I should be doing on a regular basis like draining the water heater. I was not aware I needed to do that until my water heater started smoking a couple of days ago. Today I am taking it to Camping World to see what is wrong but maybe I should be taking care of this myself since it sounds like it could just need cleaning or draining or both. I did take the cover off and look at it. That's all I did however as I had no idea how to take it apart. I guess I need to read my manuals more often....ugh. Better yet...I could go on You Tube probably and see how to do it.

Thanks Mitch....I will be picking up some Robo Grips today as I can think of many times I needed a tool like that. I will be looking here for more suggestions regarding what should be kept on board. I pretty much just have the basic tools

Judy

I swear I posted this earlier but guess it went to never never land instead.

Although I haven't used this gadget yet, if it works it will be wonderful as I am not strong enough to unfasten my new sewer hoses. I have a very short one that came with the RV so bought a new one and if I have to use it the fittings are really tight.
You can see it here, very inexpensive.

http://www.amazon.com/JR-Products-4154- ... ose+wrench

I have a canvas tool bag from Sears I keep stuff in. Other than a bunch of screwdrivers and a hammer, my most useful tools are two adjustable pliers I use to loosen and tighten my water hoses because I don't have enough hand strength. http://www.lowes.com/pd_36605-16878-53960_4294778737__?productId=3067203&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_price%7C0%26page%3D1&facetInfo= It takes two because sometimes I need one on each end of something.

Nutcracker makes a good screw top loosener in the kitchen also.

One thing I still need to get is the right wrench to take my water filter off. They sold me one but it was the wrong one and I had to pay someone to change it the other day. This time I will try it out in the parking lot before driving off.

I've actually gotten rid of most of the tools I started with - have a very basic group of more specialized ones for the rv.

I still have one hammer, a pair of regular pliers plus my two robo grips. The wrench for my anode rod. The connector to my hose to put in the water heater to flush it out. The square driver along with my all-in-one screwdriver (that didn't have the much needed rv square driver).

Then some things like duct tape, etc.

Anything more than the real basics, I simply go borrow ... no need to have everything.

There is a tire tool stored with my spare tire. I found out recently that it fits the bolts holding the spare tire on but does not fit the lug nuts holding the wheels on. Why would they do something like that? Not that I could change a tire. The bracket holding one of the valve extenders broke and I needed a tire tool to change it. Need to find out what size I need and get a tire tool.

Martha

Along with things mentioned, I have

a large and a small screwdriver with interchangeable heads. Neither are quality, but LeRoy will use these instead of digging out any of his or my good ones.

a socket for the oil plug on my generator

For trailer or 5th wheel, a torque wrench with socket to fit lug nuts (with camper I no longer have to have that)

I asked the same question a few months ago, so there's another thread people might want to read.