By Bob Difley
From many years of RVing I have discovered that if you don’t follow the rule “if you bring something aboard, something has to leave” then soonor later you will either be way overloaded or will be looking for a new –and larger–rig.
Your RV, if you hadn’t noticed lately, is limited in carrying and storage capacity. You have to make decisions of what you will carry and what you will eliminate when something new comes aboard. And when you will get rid of something if you haven’t used it in a while–like a year or more.
Which brings me to my “things that I have had for more than a year but which will NOT go” list. I know that someday I will need these “things” when boondocking, which will justify the time I have carried them, mostly unused, hidden deep in a locker somewhere.
- Folding shovel. Folds into a compact shape. Can also be used as a hammer, pick, scoop, scraper, and along with a bucket often required by the forest service (FS) during dry seasons if you are boondocking and plan to build a campfire. Available at my Amazon aStore and at outdoor and Army surplus stores.
- Bucket, plastic or canvas collapsible. Also required by FS (see above), for putting out campfires. Myriad other uses: carrying water, collecting kindling, as a step stool (not canvas one), emptying a bucket of gray water–never black water–to dump on a thirsty plant when you accidentally fill your holding tank and are miles from a dump station.
- Hand tree or lopping saw for cutting pesky branches that thwack against the rig in a wind or threaten to take off the air conditioner or roof vent. Also can cut firewood.
- Heavy rubber mat or traction pads. Mainly for putting under wheel if stuck in soft desert sand or on a muddy forest road. Will lay flat on the bottom of a locker.
- Foil backed reflective radiant barrier. You can buy this in hardware or building materials stores. Use on super hot days on windows getting direct sun to reduce inside temperature. Also to reflect hot direct sun from outside of refrigerator to help in cooling.
- Latex surgeon’s gloves (package). There will come a time when there is some yucky job you need to handle and you don’t want to touch, such as replacing a dump valve or a toilet, handling anything bloody, or fighting zombies.
- Several other useful but often forgotten items like duct tape, bailing wire, plastic wire ties, jumper cables, paper face masks, mouse traps, ant stakes, adequate first aid kit–things that when you need them you need them now and don’t have time to search for the nearest store.
You will find that most experienced boondockers, based on personal experiences, will have their own list of emergency items. You hope you will never need yours, but you know you will someday.
Check out my website for more RVing tips and destinations and my ebooks, BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands, Snowbird Guide to Boondocking in the Southwestern Deserts, and 111 Ways to Get the Biggest Bang out of your RV Lifestyle Dollar.
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Lavar
Now I know who the braniy one is, Ill keep looking for your posts.
hockeyfan
Good to see vice grips and hammer mentioned, I find having a set of batteries – AA, AAA , 9 volt and D for flashights are needed. Small flashlights with led lighting are handy as they take little room and can be useful in almost all situations.
I also have a shake light in case the flashlight cannot be found , the shake light hangs on a hook right by the door . It is not good for sustained use but if you need a little light for a quick look around they are very handy.
Barney
I pack a good multimeter with clamp-on DC ammeter. The DC ammeter is great for checking the brake controller. A PIR thermometer is great for verifying that all trailer brakes are working.
Two or three small or medium vicegrips are nice. I got into some high sidewinds that pulled the metal skirting off the screws on the bottom of the frame. I was able to clamp the skin down until I got to a campground and could make repairs.
A torque wrench is good insurance to make sure lug nuts are properly torqued on both the camper and the tow vehicle.
GK
One thing I didn’t see was a hammer. Sure, the shovel works for most things, but a hammer is sometimes the right tool for the job. I would also have locking pliers like ViceGrips. Good for twisting and even as a rudimentary clamp for holding things in place. Perhaps a small selection of bolts, screws and nails.
I should stop now, before I add in a compressor, air tools and a lathe :-). I guess I’ll leave the CNC machine at home.
Ron L.
Jim G on February 16th, 2011 5:31 pm said:
As the Sgt. used to say on Hill Street Blues, “Stay Safe Out There”.
No disrespect Jim, but I think the actual saying by Sgt. Phil (Freemason) Esterhaus was: “Let’s be careful out there”.
I agree with others, good starting list. I find myself bring much more than I’ll ever need, but always amazes me when I do need/use something that I brought and thought I’d never use. Most used item in my collection is the multimeter. For that reason, I always carry two of them. Next is my small cordless screwdriver with the multi-bits.
Ron
Fred Brandeberry
Hi Guys & Gals:
10-4 on the harbor Freight, many wonderful tools, Multimeter, infrared thermometers, vinyl gloves, etc.
Happy camping,
Fred b.
Geoffrey Pruett
You missed the electrical side, a meter and some crimp connectors can allow the trip to continue without a large repair bill. The 2nd level Harbor Freight meter is overkill for most repair projects and including a set of clip leads less than $10 and an assorted crimp connector kit is usually in the same range. The cheap connector kits often have a flat plate crimper with an iffy wire cutter, one with rounded fatter handles will keep “arthur” at bay when needed. If you tow or have an older “C” these are worth every cubic inch and ounce they take. The youngest rig we have owned is our current one at 12 years and because of budget the trips to the shop have been for tires and welding only. Happy uncluttered camping!
Don H
‘PackRats’ have nothing to fear. Just have to figure out where to put all that stuff. Then pare down the food, water ect.
Brett Heenan
Bob,
That’s about a concise and practical ‘carry list’ that I have seen. The only thing you didn’t mention was a credit card.
Fair winds,
Ford Marshall
In speaking to over load. My experience last summer with experiencing in a broken rear axle to 1978 20 foot Winnebago Class mtd on 1977 Doge 1 ton chassis. Due metal fatique from age and having the fresh water tank located at the rear became too much after 33 years of use especially the last 5 years. It took 8 weeks to locate replacement parts as to heavier duty axle and new differential And a pair of heavier duty specially built rear springs. The new springs lifted the rear end and gave better control to the RV.
It has took 5 seasons to completely restore this amazing unit inside and all running gear. (The orgrinal own left the RV to sit w/o moving–a no,no a word to the wise) However, this allowed my son, lady friend & I to make impovements inside (laminat flooring, new upholstery & curtains) and outside with the addition of a solar panel/deep cycle btys; LED clearance lights and LED inside lights. The Dodge 360 was completely service with new exterior parts And the two barrel carb with a four barrel card. It has been a love affair to allow me to dry camp in the great outdoors of Alberta and BC National & Provincial Parks.
I have found that there are many 1970’s C class RV still allowing the adventurer to enjoy North America’s finest.
Johnny Powell
Please be warned and aware that numerous people are highly allergic to latex. I would advise that the kit have vinyl gloves instead of latex. better to be safe than sorry.
Jim G
As I have come to expect, Bob provides the right blend of insight and information which makes this subject matter readable while avoiding the typical bullet point cliches. That said, I have only one comment, which for most of us may be trivial so PLEASE do not interpret this as a criticism whatsoever.
That said, I certainly understand the need and value of disposable gloves which can be a very useful item to include, for a wide variety of uses. Unfortunately, over the past several years, more and more average folks have developed an allergy to latex. While I could fill a few pages with the reasons, suffice to say that latex can cause mild skin rashes for some but for others who come into contact with latex gloves, the results can be life threatening, essentially anaphylatic shock akin to a bee sting. Many people who are allergic to latex in gloves do not even know they have this allergy, until it is too late. So the bottom line suggestion would be to have an ample supply of NON-latex gloves on hand (no pun intended). Generally the purple colored gloves that we see EMS workers using on TV are latex free and have an equivalent strength to latex.
Okay, now time to step off the soapbox.
As the Sgt. used to say on Hill Street Blues, “Stay Safe Out There”.