ESSENTIAL TOOLS
One of the many things touring teaches you is self-reliance, and the pandemic has reinforced this. Why rely on others when you can fix minor problems yourself?
There is a belief that motorhome owners couldn’t possibly fathom their ’van’s complexity without visiting a dealer or retailer. For some base vehicle electrical problems – and all safety-related matters of course – that is certainly true, but for some of the habitation equipment, this isn’t the case. Unlike cars, motorhomes are largely handbuilt by human beings. So if they can do it…
What you do need, though, is a reasonable set of tools covering the basic kit in your vehicle, and common sense. Certain things you definitely want to leave to the professionals, such as safety-related items (including gas leaks, base vehicle brakes and so on); but for anything not safety-critical – such as a broken window latch, a faulty light fitting, a toilet that won’t flush, or a bed mechanism that’s playing up – I believe it’s worth investigating yourself.
Not only will you save time and money, but the feeling of glory that comes with a successful fix can be addictive! Even if you don’t succeed, at least you’ll have a clearer understanding of how it works and be better able to brief the garage repairing it. (You should also keep in mind how any warranty might be affected, of course.)
Do your homework
Before you buy any tools or roll up your sleeves and
