Tools & parts needed for long trip

[akmacs]

One thing I like to have on hand are fusees (road flares). They come in handy for dark road breakdowns and accidents. One labor day weekend I was coming back home in my motorhome and a jeep right ahead of me hit a moose on a 65 mph highway. It was pitch black and the moose was in the middle of the road. I went through more than hour's worth before the first responders (volunteer emt's) were on scene. I'm positive those flares prevented additional carnage that evening.

They are also great for starting fires when the wood is all wet and you don't feel like being a boy scout.

[dfandrews]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

I did and it came up with long bars of steel. Can't see needing that particular item for repairs! ...........

Try googling Flat Pry Bar. We use it for anything from retrieving pan lids from the campfire to pulling stakes to "encouraging" the hitch over that extra 1/4" to engage
the ball.

[StarvingHyena]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

Okay, planning an appx 2 month trip. I've got some tools already, such as the thingie for testing the lug nuts (okay, torque wrench for those that want to be more technical ) and some other basic tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers. And a big roll of duct tape.

Any suggestions on what else I'll need to take with me?

How about spare parts for whatever might go haywire on me that I'll need to figure out how to replace/fix after massive amounts of swearing happens.

But, seriously, what should I bring with me? I'm pretty well stocked for short trips, figuring if something really did go wrong, I'd be close enough to home where Dirk could fix it. That won't be the case on this trip.

Thanks!

Laura,
I think a attitude adjustment could help you. I think you have felt ok on short trips .... right?

Well... a long trip is nothing more than a series of short trips with pretty short intervals in between. You'll be fine.

Could have scanned this thread too quickly but don't think anyone suggested a cell phone. I teather my phone to both a tablet and notebook and Nothing like YouTube or the internet to research repairs or to order parts for your next stop.

I'm surprised that Jim B didn't suggest a wee dram or two of good Scotch to calm ones nerves until daylight. Things always look brighter in the daylight of the next morning.

Did anyone suggest a really good headlamp ... guesss I did scan the thread too quickly. Sorry!

Tom

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by StarvingHyena

Laura,
I think a attitude adjustment could help you. I think you have felt ok on short trips .... right?

Well... a long trip is nothing more than a series of short trips with pretty short intervals in between. You'll be fine.

Thanks. I do feel very confident in taking this trip. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing it. Or even planning it. I've driven cross country many times on my own over the years. Stayed in hotels or with friends as it was before we got the trailer. I feel just as confident in venturing out in my Cat House on Wheels.

I just figured there were a few more things I should be carrying with me and getting ready for this trip will ensure I have what all I'll need/want.

Yep, got a good headlamp. As well as some portable battery operated ones that are super bright. And flash! And I have flares.

I did start a thread in the Trip Planning section on suggested routes and stuff to see for my route. Titled "Seattle to Houston, etc." I'm hoping enough folks have traveled along my proposed route that they can give me some ideas. Also posted to the Fiberglass RV site, but haven't gotten any responses there.

Well, off to make reservations for the first part of my trip when I do have an exact time frame. After that, it'll be booking on the fly and seeing what casinos are around that allow RV parking overnight as I don't know how long I'll stay in each area I stop in.

[sunrisetrucker]

I'm not happy unless I have a spare set of bearings and seals.
But that's just me.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

After that, it'll be booking on the fly and seeing what casinos are around that allow RV parking overnight as I don't know how long I'll stay in each area I stop in.

Works for us, never booked a campground ever. We come, we go, no schedule for us. Casino camping can work really well although the trend seems to be that some are putting in paid RV sites. Then there are some like Rolling Hills Casino. Sometimes we mix it up with the trucks in the free area and sometimes we spring for what has to be the largest RV parking spots around. Each RV spot is like a small yard.

Ron

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by sunrisetrucker

I'm not happy unless I have a spare set of bearings and seals.
But that's just me.

Hope you also packed a little grease
I keep a small tupperware container of red n tacky. Holds 6 ounces so I am set. I used to keep it in the original tub until it ended up sideways and leaked. In tupperware it can even be upside down and it's fine.

[h2owmn]

oh, yeah, bearings. I do have that for my current trailer...was advised by a pal who was in the middle of nowhere...the garage could do the work but they had to wait for the parts. cheap insurance. I don't have flares but have some really old stands with reflectors that my dad gave me when he sold his truck. both are excellent additions!

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by wetzk

Hope you also packed a little grease
I keep a small tupperware container of red n tacky. Holds 6 ounces so I am set. I used to keep it in the original tub until it ended up sideways and leaked. In tupperware it can even be upside down and it's fine.

Some plastics will become soft from petroleum products. I remember back in the 70's during the gas crunch, people lining up on the odd/even days to purchase gas. Some put extra gas in plastic trash cans after filling up their tanks and by the time they got home the plastic had been dissolved by the gasoline. They had a mess in their car to clean up.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Some plastics will become soft from petroleum products. I remember back in the 70's during the gas crunch, people lining up on the odd/even days to purchase gas. Some put extra gas in plastic trash cans after filling up their tanks and by the time they got home the plastic had been dissolved by the gasoline. They had a mess in their car to clean up.

That's why I use Tupperware, I do not know what they make those bowls from but it does not even get stained by the grease. The tub that the grease came in was also plastic but the lid does not seal well so it will leave a sticky oil mess if laid on its side in a hot compartment.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by wetzk

Hope you also packed a little grease
I keep a small tupperware container of red n tacky. Holds 6 ounces so I am set. I used to keep it in the original tub until it ended up sideways and leaked. In tupperware it can even be upside down and it's fine.

I also carry a spare set of bearings and a seal but no grease because I have already packed the bearings and slathered a good amount of grease on the outside. I will say, however, that in 40 some years of towing I have never (as he knocks on wood) had a bearing fail on the road. It is my opinion, maybe wrong, that if they are properly maintained bearings have a very long service life.
Back to the OP’s original question, I carry an assortment of tools and repair parts but you cannot account for every contingency. So a MasterCard or Visa an essential item to have in ones possession.

[santacruzer]

I've carried a spare water pump for some time now, and have been glad for it with my past two trailers. Also some spare lengths of hosing and hose clamps. Another handy gadget is a "Water Thief". Some campgrounds have hose bibs without threads, this little item solves the problem.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

I also carry a spare set of bearings and a seal but no grease because I have already packed the bearings and slathered a good amount of grease on the outside. I will say, however, that in 40 some years of towing I have never (as he knocks on wood) had a bearing fail on the road. It is my opinion, maybe wrong, that if they are properly maintained bearings have a very long service life.
Back to the OP’s original question, I carry an assortment of tools and repair parts but you cannot account for every contingency. So a MasterCard or Visa an essential item to have in ones possession.

Here is a spindle from a 2 year old Forest River trailer that was sold to us and supposedly had the bearings and brakes serviced before we took delivery. At least they charged me for servicing them. I was going to replace the axle then got mad at the dealer who was blowing us off so took them to court when we found even more damage. And won, they had to buy it back. Not going to say dealers name but they are up on I-4 just outside of Tampa and are one of the big boys.
We found a lot more than the jury rigged axle, the side of the trailer had been replaced,it let in water when driven on the highway and the rubber roof ballooned along that side. So when taken in to another place to see about repairs because the original dealer was saying we were too picky we were told, the original owner apparently had it overheat and blowout the tire which wiped out the side and whoever did the repairs did a lousy job. But none of this was told to us who bought a 2 year old trailer with a warranty that the dealer was refusing to honor.
I pulled the wheel as I noticed it was considerably hotter than the other side and was shocked to see the damage.

[David Todtman]

Originally Posted by wetzk

I pulled the wheel as I noticed it was considerably hotter than the other side and was shocked to see the damage.

Yikes! Too often, the profit motive impels businesses to sell crap and even dangerous products without regard to the consequences to the end user.

[wetzk]

Originally Posted by David Todtman

Yikes! Too often, the profit motive impels businesses to sell crap and even dangerous products without regard to the consequences to the end user.

What happened here was the owner had a severe failure that did a lot of damage and took it someplace that did a git er home repair. They then had someone repair the side and quickly traded it in. We were shown it and looked it over. It looked clean and looking underneath and on top and inside it looked fine. The sides looked clean and it showed no obvious damage. We were told ( or course) the original owner traded towards a Class A and this was one of the cleaner trades they had seen in awhile.
So we decided it looked good and asked that they service the brakes and bearings before we picked it up. We had paperwork showing they did do that and a 1 year warranty so thought we were set.
We noticed after one trip during heavy rain we had water inside and I had noticed the roof appeared to bulge when we were at highway speed. I was told caulking is my responsibility and if the roof is not leaking to cut slits in it, apply adhesive roll it down and put a piece of eternabond on it. Again my responsibility.
After trip to a nearby park I noticed the passenger side wheel was hot. So I called and they said maybe the adjustment was off and to check the brake first. If not that than I could bring it back up and they would check the bearing adjustment..So I jacked it up and checked and the brake was fine. Hmm I said and decided to pull the wheel and brake drum. And saw this. I contacted them sent them pictures and was told no way was that on their trailer. So I greased it up good and reassembled it and had a local rv repair place look it over. That was when I found this had been welded and filed back into shape as a git er home repair. The side had been replaced and was not done correctly and the reason the roof was ballooning along the side was due to the side repair. I contacted them and told them I wanted to give them the trailer we had owned for 5 weeks back and was told no and they were trying to tell me I must have damaged the spindle and was trying to get them to cover it. So I took them to court. I thought about just dumping it and taking the loss but decided no I wanted the money back from them. And I'm glad I did it, they tried to force me into arbitration which was not in the contract, then offered another used trailer and I told them it would be a cold day in hell before I would ever own anything with their sticker on it. And won, it was not a huge loss for them. But I did enjoy watching them load it onto a flatbed and haul it off after giving me a check.
And that is why I will have an expert look over a trailer if I ever decide to buy used again.

But to get bacik to the original question, gaffer tape or no residue duck tape, a small compressor and tire gauge. Extra medications,
one set of bearings and a bearing repair kit. So someone else can fix it for you if ever needed. A roll of wire. various sizes of tie wraps . Assorted fuses are among the stuff I carry as well as way to many tools.

[drjenk]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

This is my regular list. It's probably more basic than a lot of people carry.
duct tape
8"crescent wrench
Phillips and regular screwdriver, 2 sizes of each.
channel locks
needle nose pliers
zip ties
razor knife
multitool
a small level
hammer
hacksaw
electric adapters
mini pry bar
electrical tape
extra fuses
garden gloves
utility scissors
a plastic poncho for wearing or lying on to fix something underneath
wd40
measuring tape
reflective tape
a couple sizes bungy cords
a length of lightweight cord
a master lock and cable
drill, charger, and a few bits
large flashlight

Hi,
What are the values of the spare fuses we should have spare for a 5.0 TA? Are they mini or micro fuses? Thanks

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

This is what I know it as too. I keep a small roll in my electrical box for work, but never thought to bring it along when camping. When I was in the power industry we used tons of it doing terminations on high voltage underground lines. Always covered it with a quality electrical tape when exposed to sunlight.

I keep a roll of cambric, 130C, and super 33 in my toolbag. I can do just about any termination with these.

I still cringe when I think about the terminations that I had to take apart where cambric wasn't used. The 130C had bonded to every screw thread and wire in the termination making it almost impossible to get apart.

Oh, 130C with cambric as the second layer then 33 on top will patch most busted hoses.

[Moaboy]

Over many years, I have found a very strict correlation: the more tools I take the less trouble I have. I only have problems when I get cocky and skimp on taking a tool chest or two. I think the house ghosts watch, so I take my tools to keep them away, not that I am superstitious or anything...

[StarvingHyena]

Originally Posted by sunrisetrucker

I'm not happy unless I have a spare set of bearings and seals.
But that's just me.

Thanks for the reminder .... I'll be looking for a complete bearing set. Should I not be able to install perhaps it would be very handy to hand a set over to a remote mechanic who could.

Tools to do repairs can add up to a lot of weight very quickly .... generally spare parts are lighter.

That said, I store my trailer nearly 1000 miles from my wood working shop. I have lots of wooden mods to do and my frustration level is pretty high. What would take me a weekend in my shop takes a month on the road. That is until I figure out how to pack a 16" thickness planer, 8" long bed edge jointer, 36" wide belt sander and a 12" table saw on board my 17....

Tom

I too am interested in Laura's request for stop overs and interesting places along her route.

[Bill and Earline]

A couple more small tools that I didn't see mentioned:

a square drive bit/screwdriver, since so much of the trailers are put together with that type of screw. ETI gave us a tool at the rally one year, with several bits that included the square drive.

a set of Allen keys with one to fit the water pump, if it acts up. It's pretty small like 1/8 inch but not sure.