Tool Chest/Box

[MrSyx]

I need input on what tools I need in my tool chest/box. Metric, SAE or both,etc....about to buy our first Class A and hit the road full time. I was a mechanic along time ago and still have all my tools and plan on doing as much of the repairs as I can. My 5’ tall chest isn’t going to fit in the basement and I need to know how much to get rid of. I’m having another garage sale on Sat. and will be selling everything I don’t need. I have read elsewhere that I need a wrench/socket for every bolt (which is fine) but do I need both SAE and Metric? Also, that’s a lot of weight if I take enough tools for every possible problem.

Any and all thoughts will be greatly appreciated

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

I don't think it's practical to try to carry everything you may ever need. I take the basic hand tools and a small socket set with both metric and SAE of the most popular sizes. If I need anything I don't have I bet I can find someone on the CG that has it!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[Bahamaniac]

I carry from a 1/4" drive to 1 5/16" combination wrenches. If it can be fixed by the side of the road I have the tools.

[sdennislee]

I found maybe 80% of the screws inside my class A are Robertson so add a couple of those.

I fit all this in a single tote in the basement. I keep the multimeter, temp gun, screw drivers and pliers handy in the coach.

I have 1/4" and 3/8" drive sets SAE up to 15/16" water heater drain plug is 15/16".
Small set of combo wrenches
Vise grips
Pliers
Screwdrivers slotted, Phillips, Torx
Multi meter
infrared temp gun
cordless drill with drill index to 1/2"
Small nail set punch for the finish nails that work themselves out
Hammer for the nail set punch
2 pair of coveralls
Leather gloves
Safety glasses
Droplight
Mallet
Quick clamps
Tarp to lay on
Duct tape
Bailing wire
Zip ties
hacksaw
Wire cutters
Crimp ends for the wires you cut
electrical tape

I'm sure I'm leaving somethings out.

[sdennislee]

Shop towels
Waterless hand cleaner

[Algonquin]

Flat and round files. Soldering iron and various wire connectors. I have one of those kits that contains wrenches, socket sets, hex wrenches, etc., all in one handy box.

[biggcrisp]

Enough tools for retracting a slide, such as a Cordless drill to remove trim.

I have 2 compartments dedicated to tools.

[PKI]

Additions to above

Long socket breaker bar
Torque wrench
deep sockets
six point sockets
universals and extensions up to 12 in
drill driver socket adapters

Glue
rope - parachute cord - bright color better than dark

Drop light - consider a headlight type flashlight
flex camera with extensions for inspection of blind areas
pipe wrench or water pump pliers
strap wrench
Cheater bar/handle
Jack

wire strippers
various sizes of wire
heat shrink and heat gun
fuse puller and fuses
Soldering iron and solder

brass hammer or dead blow and don't forget a ball peen
straight edge, scale ..... micrometers or calipers maybe

axe - longer than shorter
shovel

Sealant
rivets, bolts and nuts, screws, washers
crack seal

Bailing wire? - alternative stainless steel mousing wire

Nitrile gloves - heavy weight (harbor freight)

yep - something probably left out

Selling the stuff you don't need ..... ??? Well, that is likely the air tools, but your preference is worth considering. I use them some. Bearing pullers and fixtures, maybe not, but a good driving punch and brass rod.

Tools are hard to leave behind. Have used a machinist tool box for years. Nice size to carry, but big stuff needs to go in rolls or bags.

Metric or SAE - both. Toad and RV to consider. Also a set of thread gages and a set of taps/dies is handy.

Happy trails. edit - heavy? MoHo weigh 30,000lbs. Tools are light in comparison.

[Finance]

Filter wrenches to fit oil and fuel filters.

I do my own maintenance at home, and I use the tools in the vehicle to do it all. If I'm lacking some tool and I need to fetch it from the garage, it stays in the vehicle's tool box.

The general purpose tools like wrenches and sockets live in the toad tool box. Don't need to carry duplicates; in our case the coach never travels without the toad, but the toad goes many places alone.

[MrSyx]

What amazing suggestions and advice from all that responded. I spend most of the day going through all my tools...sorting, pricing, crying etc...(hate giving up any of my tools) but the end result will be freedom on the road (and freedom from possessions). My Dad always told me that your possessions own you and not the other way around so try to keep them to a minimum. Wish I had taken his advice.
Thanks again everyone.

[harleyjt]

several sizes of nylon wire ties. I carry some 24" ones. Fuse assortment.
jt

[chunker]

I'm going to approach the tool issue by asking what repairs will you reasonably expect to do enroute? Take those tools that you would need for that. I'm not going to change a tire on my Itasca so I'm not taking a torque multiplier and 10' cheater bars. I carry a basic socket and combination set, drill driver and bits, multimeter, and some tapes. I also carry a credit card and road side service in my tool box. So far all those "tools" have served me well and I don't have an extra 1-2000# in the basement.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

I don't think it's practical to try to carry everything you may ever need. I take the basic hand tools and a small socket set with both metric and SAE of the most popular sizes. If I need anything I don't have I bet I can find someone on the CG that has it!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

I agree, if I need a tool not in my small toolbox, Autozone here I come, they loan tools for free.

[Teamfoxy]

Originally Posted by MrSyx

I need input on what tools I need in my tool chest/box. Metric, SAE or both,etc....about to buy our first Class A and hit the road full time. I was a mechanic along time ago and still have all my tools and plan on doing as much of the repairs as I can. My 5’ tall chest isn’t going to fit in the basement and I need to know how much to get rid of. I’m having another garage sale on Sat. and will be selling everything I don’t need. I have read elsewhere that I need a wrench/socket for every bolt (which is fine) but do I need both SAE and Metric? Also, that’s a lot of weight if I take enough tools for every possible problem.

Any and all thoughts will be greatly appreciated

I do all of my own maintenance & repairs and I do not have half of what some people are suggesting. I decided which storage locker to use for tools and bought a tote that fits in it. the tote and all tools weighs about 30 lbs. When I do a job, I make sure that the tools I needed to do that job are in the tote. At the end of our last 8000 mile trip I cleaned things I didn't need out of the tote.

Two things that I needed a lot were a cordless drill and a multi-meter.
I took and used:
1/4" and 3/8" drive socket set in both SAE and Metric sizes. I took a set of Metric combination wrenches in sizes 8mm to 25mm.
Needle nose pliers
pliers
large channel locks
small vice grips.
various phillips and slotted screwdrivers.
A set of hex drive bits for torx, square drive, star head, and other screws, along with a driver that fits them.
Wire cutters and terminal crimp.
Hack saw
Hammer
machinist square
center punch
metal file
tape measure
Tools and plugs to repair tires.
Over the summer I added:
Oil filter wrench.
A set of SAE flair nut wrenches
An offset screw driver that held the bits from my driver set.
OBD II scanner.

Some things done with the above tools:
Change Oil in Engine and generator. Replace air filters.
Replace fuel pump & filter in generator. Clean generator carburetor.
Trouble shoot fridge and replace the burner.
Trouble shoot furnace and replace the control board.
Trouble shoot and replace the battery isolator solenoid.

I would say look closely at your mechanical items and see what tools you will need to have to work on them. Download the service manuals for each of your appliances and have them on your computer (or tablet). If the wiring schematics for you coach are available, get them.