Building a Travel DIY Toolkit for Motorhome Touring

We all know that space is at a premium when motorhome touring and travelling in a caravan or campervan, and it’s preferable to travel as lightly as possible. Tools can be some of the items it’s tempting to leave at home as they’re bulky and heavy, but is this really such a great idea? Having a basic toolkit could come in very useful if there’s a mechanical issue with the engine, or something which needs fixed within the motorhome. The trick is knowing what to pack, and what is best left in the garage.

Container

Whatever type of tool kit you decide you’re going to need, you’ll also need something to keep it in. Heavy metal toolboxes might not be the most practical choice for motorhome touring, so look for either a plastic or aluminium box which is light and portable. It should be big enough to fit everything inside, but small enough to be stored easily in the cupboards.

Basic Tools

There are a few basic tools which no travel toolkit should be without. These include:

• Spanners – you don’t need every size of spanner on the market, but make sure you have one which will fit everything which is easily accessible on the engine or chassis.
• Socket set – rather than packing a set of sockets in every shape and size, invest in a socket set with a single handle and removable heads which will safe space but be just as useful.
• Pliers – it’s best to have two sets of pliers; a long-nosed set for intricate work, and a standard pair of square nosed pliers.
• Consumables – The things which are most likely to need replaced on your motorhome are little things like bulbs, wiperblades and spark plugs in petrol engines. Having a supply of the basics means you do minor repairs right away rather than having to waste time searching around for a garage.
• Screwdrivers – these aren’t as essential for engine repairs, but will come in handy if you need to do minor DIY jobs in the interior. Make sure you have both flatheaded and Phillips screwdrivers in your kit.
• WD40 – this wonder fluid is useful in a whole host of situations. It stops things squeaking and rubbing and keeps everything lubricated.
• Duct tape – a simple roll of tape will often be enough to do a minor repair until you have time to address the matter properly, or get to a garage.
• Pressure gauge – this tiny piece of kit is essential to make sure your tyres are running at the right pressure.

Learning To Use It

There’s no point going out and investing money in buying tools if you have no idea about how to use them. Think about enrolling on a basic car maintenance or DIY course which will teach you the basics of looking after your motorhome. In an emergency, and if you have an internet connection, take a look on sites like YouTube which contain millions of “how to” videos walking you step by step through changing a headlamp bulb or replacing your fan belt.