Having the right items in a caravan tool kit can really make a difference to your touring experience. After all, a quick fix when required – and when suitable – can save you from having to cut your holiday short.
However, we’ll all be aware of the various caravan weights we need to take into account when choosing the items to take on tour, with the payload at the forefront of many a caravanner’s mind. This is something that will particularly apply to those who have smaller tourers. You’ll subsequently want to make sure the accessories you are loading a caravan with are actually worth the money and the space they are going to be taking up.
To give you a helping hand, I’m sharing the products that I think are actually worth having in your caravan tool kit.
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What to pack in the best caravan tool kit
Screwdriver sets
Adjustable spanners
Multimeter
Duct tape, cable ties
Self-amalgamating silicone tape
Tyre sealant
Fire Safety Sticks
Solar panels
Items to have in your caravan tool kit
A screwdriver set
Screwdrivers are a caravan essential for any touring tool kit, coming in handy for a wide range of tasks. The majority of socket sets come with a screwdriver handle and a number of bits, but a standalone set can also be a worthwhile buy. After all, they can be used for a variety of uses and are not too pricey either.

One brand I like is Wera, who provide quality and longevity at a reasonable price. The laser-tipped sets are the ones to opt for, coming with tiny grooves cut into the tips for easy gripping of the fixing – they won’t easily cam out either. You can buy a set of six Wera Kraftform Plus screwdrivers from Screwfix for £30 – and it includes a smart holder too.
Adjustable spanners
The adjustable spanner is another caravan tool kit essential, one that you will find can do a huge number of jobs around your tourer – for instance, undoing the (reverse thread) nut on your propane gas bottle.
Now I know they generally have a reputation for spinning on fixings – however, this is something you’d only really see with a cheap, unbranded option. As a rule, if the jaw wobbles, don’t buy it.

In contrast, high-quality, branded adjustable options will work superbly, saving you from needing a bulky and heavy set of spanners.
I’d recommend brands such as Bahco, Stanley and Wera, with the Bahco 8072 10-inch adjustable a particular favourite of mine. I like how it offers excellent value, precise jaws and the ability to tackle 0mm to 30mm fixings.
Multimeter
I’d consider a multimeter to be a crucial electrical diagnostic tool, yet it’s also one that the majority of caravanners overlook.
These can be used to check the voltage of the best caravan leisure battery, as well as fuses, relays, wiring and the various other 12V gadgets you have in your van.
With one, for instance, you can check the current that flows between the solar panel and the battery, as well as identify whether the lighting is working as it should.
I’d always advise opting for a digital option from a brand such as Machine Mart, Halfords, Lidl or Aldi.

Even if you have a control panel that shows the voltage, it’s still worth having a multimeter. This is because you need to be able to measure the battery voltage accurately, and basic control panels, which only feature a green, amber and red LED are not going to provide the accuracy you require.
A reading of 12.9V means a leisure battery is fully charged – in contrast, 12V means it is flat. With 0.9V representing the difference between a full and flat battery, the need for precision becomes apparent.
A multimeter also has a use in your caravan tow car – should you find a warning light on the dashboard, you can begin by checking the battery voltage. If you have a concern about it, you will have to load test it and have the alternator output verified. It is only after doing this and clearing the fault codes to see if any reappear that the dashboard warning lights can be trusted. In short, this is the most useful tool to have in your tool kit when faced with electrical problems.
Duct tape, cable ties
Duct tape is another key component caravan tool kit, offering a wide range of uses, from patching damaged paintwork to providing temporary fixes for a broken hinge. Or perhaps you have a rip in the awning that, with a bit of duct tape, you can quickly mend.

Use the same criteria here that you would if looking for an adjustable spanner – don’t buy a cheap and unbranded product. You’ll find it works less effectively and the adhesive will go off if you find you’re not using it for months at a time.
I’d recommend a brand such as 3M or even Lidl, and if you need to pick from duct or gaffer tape, opt for duct tape as its adhesive is stronger.
Cable ties are another highly versatile tool kit product you’ll want to pack – these have a wide range of uses, such as letting you set up a temporary washing line or secure some loose trim.
I particularly like the reusable nylon cable ties sold at Lidl.

Self-amalgamating silicone tape
This is a more specialised option which you’ll most likely have to order online. However, it’s highly useful. It’s basically a silicone tape which is waterproof and can stick to itself, so if you find you suddenly have a leak in your caravan’s water system or your tow car’s cooling system, it will come into its own.
To use, just wrap it around the split pipe and let it get to work. It’s even safe to use on the car’s coolant hoses (but not the exhaust pipe), and hot water system hoses in your tourer, as it is resistant to temperatures of up to around 260°C.

I’m going to emphasise that this will just be a temporary fix – you’d still need to get the water system pipes repaired when you’re back. However, it can keep your van functioning and means you don’t have to end the trip early.
There are a number of brands sold on Amazon, with prices beginning from £12 a roll. It’s also worth knowing self-amalgamating silicone tape can be known as self-fusing sometimes too.
Tyre sealant
I’d always advise taking a spare wheel with you (or, at the minimum, a tyre if payload issues are a factor), but investing in a can of tyre sealant is also a worthwhile move.
They come in a range of styles, including aerosols, combined compressors and sealant kits. These will be a temporary solution to a small, pin-hole sized puncture, caused by something such as a nail, a screw or a thorn, and will allow you to reach a tyre centre for a more permanent repair.

It also has a range of other uses that aren’t related to caravans – in the past, I’ve used it on bicycle tyres (do make sure the valve fits though), scooters and motorbikes.
My final word. I’ve had a source say they don’t use it due to the fear of extra clean-up costs at a tyre centre, but if you need to use it, use it.
Fire Safety Sticks
Thankfully, a caravan fire is something that only happens rarely. However, it’s better to be prepared, and as a result, it’s worth having more than a small dry-powder fire extinguisher to use, should the worst happen.
These not only have a limited discharge time but are also messy to clean up – essentially, something to avoid.

The main clubs recommend aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) extinguishers, but these can be big and bulky by the time you’re looking at an option which is two litres or more.
This is where the Fire Safety Stick comes in – this is a new type of chemical fire extinguisher, suitable for use on most types of caravan fire, such as wood, textiles, inflammable liquids, butane, electrical, fat fires and propane.
In the case of a fire, getting everybody safely out is going to be the number one priority, particularly if it involves gases or flammable liquids, before deciding if the fire can be tackled. This is why it’s advisable to keep your extinguisher near the door of your tourer.
With a discharge time of at least 50 seconds (three times that seen in the majority of AFFF extinguishers), a Fire Safety Stick provides a compact yet efficient method of dealing with fire.
Solar panels
A low voltage can kill your leisure battery, and the inability to have it on charge during the winter lay-up is certain to shorten its life. A lead acid battery is not suited to running low, in comparison to the lithium ferrous phosphate type, which is more tolerant of lower voltages. However, no matter which type you go for, they will have a longer life if they are topped up.
During the winter months, a good option is to plug it into a mains hook-up so the charging systems within your caravan are able to keep the battery topped up. You’ll find many of the best caravans nowadays are designed for this, but if you’ve got an older tourer, you can take a look in your owner’s manual.

Should you find you don’t have access to mains hook-up, a solar panel can be added to ensure it stays charged up. After checking what your payload can take, we’d advise getting the biggest panel your roof can take to ensure the reduced daylight doesn’t take a toll. This should be sufficient for the battery during the winter months, but we would also say check it’s got the right capacity for staying on top of slow drains, which can come from aftermarket caravan trackers or alarms.
If you’re using a cover on your caravan, make sure it has a clear panel on the roof too, otherwise the solar panel will not be able to work.
When choosing one, make sure you get it from a trusted UK supplier and use it with a regulator and a fuse. Don’t let the price be your sole deciding factor and don’t let it be shipped from overseas, as many fail to meet UK and European regulations.
Having a good solar panel equips you for being self-sufficient during the summer months, and can run a fridge for long periods, as well as producing decent amounts of current.
The verdict on caravan tool kits
Making sure you’ve invested in some of the items we’ve listed here can make a big difference to your experience on the road. These are the type of items you never know you will need until you happen to need them, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind to know they’re there, should you need them.
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