New MH Equipment List

[Drummer Mike]

Originally Posted by msi1953

That is awesome. You should start a business. I would hire you to set up mine

As I wuz sayin'! Inspirational! I see this as a real project in the making for my new rig. Fire Up's layout of tools & necessities has given me pause to really think things out. We've only a limited amount of space to work with...and who wants to be rummaging through bins of 'stuff' to find what you need when you need it? Not me anyway! When I borrowed a friend's motorhome last year I was constantly 'foraging' for things in the basement...NOT fun!

[Mr_D]

Right now I've got most of my roll around tool box in a bay since I do my own work if at all possible. But, if we ever get to go full time I'll have to cut back as RV parks usually won't let you wrench on the rig (oil/filter changes, trans fluid/filters etc). At home it's no problem and the tools are right there. I carry ¾" drive sockets, and adapters which I'm sure I could do without. Thinking that through now as I know I can get rid of most of it.
After 55+ years of RV'ing I've pretty much got everything (and more) that we need!

[FIRE UP]

Again, I certainly thank all of you for the nice compliments. The trick to doing this kind of work is, PLANNING. Even if you're new at RVing, sit down for a while and think things out. I'm as guilty as anyone in RVing in storing and carrying too much JUNK. It's all this "what if" stuff that can get you overloaded and over crowded way too many times and all too often.

So, you sit down, staring at your open compartment doors, and, have some of your stuff that you ABSOLUTELY must have and, some stuff that would BE NICE to have. As you can see in some of my pics, I've fabricated shelving/racks for semi-continuously used items/fluids/sprays etc. The tool box has quite a bit of tools in it from our by-gone Jeeping days from all over the planet.

Much of how each person can layout and organize their individual coaches depends highly on the size, layout, and amount of compartment storage availability. Another important point is, your ability to be handy with mounting clips, brackets, hangers, captures, and more. As you see in my slide-out compartment with the hedge trimmers, shovel, fishing gear, window cleaning scrubber/squeegee, and more, I utilized pretty close to maximum wall space for all that stuff. While some of it is rarely used, it does not take up valuable space.

If any of you are thinking of doing things like mine, I would suggest you take some cardboard and cut it to the size of a wall, back wall, side wall etc. of the compartment you're working on and, layout whatever tools, racks, shelves, etc. on that cardboard. Move things around, adjust, get rid of some, add some etc. until you have it the way you want it.

Then, the next thing is acquiring the correct type/style mounting brackets/clips/hangers etc. That can be frustrating. Much of the clips etc. at places like Home Depot and Lowes are JUNK. I used the same style of clips and clamps we used on our fire trucks. Many of those are sold on line at McMaster Carr, Graingers, and other industrial tool/equipment suppliers.

Once you get one done, then move on to another one. And, no one says you have to do it all in one day, week, month. Take your time, reason things out.

As stated in the beginning of this post, it's VERY EASY to overload yourself with too much "What if" junk. You'd be amaze at how little you ACTUALLY NEED.
Scott

P.S. Don, I really like those yellow parts bins. They keep tons of little nuts/bolts/hose clamps/wiring stuff/fittings etc. all well organized. But, there's no way I could stand mine up like yours. It would be my luck that at the end of a days drive, I'd open that compartment and, all that stuff would be all over the floor. Mine is just like yours but, sits on the floor.
Scott