KIT SPECIAL

A well-planned toolkit makes you more self-reliant on tour and saves precious holiday time. But what are the key items to pack? Here’s the lowdown

ONE OF THE many things that touring helps to teach you is self-reliance, and Covid-19 has certainly reinforced this. Why rely on others when you can fix minor problems yourself?

There is a belief that owners couldn’t possibly fathom their van’s complexity without visiting a dealer or retailer. For some electrical problems – and all safety-related matters, of course – that is true, but for certain equipment, it isn’t the case. Unlike cars, caravans are largely handbuilt by human beings. So if they can do it…

What you do need, though, is a set of tools covering the basic kit in your unit, and some common sense.

Certain things need to be left to the professionals, such as safety-related items (gas systems and so on), but for anything not safety-critical, such as broken window latches, faulty lights or a toilet that won’t flush, it’s worth investigating yourself.

Not only will you save time and money, but the feeling of glory that comes with a fix can be addictive! Even if you don’t succeed, at least you will 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.)

Do your homework

Before you buy any tools or roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, do some homework. Start with owner’s manuals and product information booklets – for fuse locations, technical specifications and all sorts of procedures.

Look for videos about similar faults and ask questions on forums you trust. The latter can point you in the right direction and give you alternative ideas on how to tackle the task.