We just bought a new rv, our third one we’ve owned over 20 years of camping now. But our rv sits on our private lake primarily. Our new rv is a couples camper & we plan on traveling around the US. Your on the road info is priceless. I went to an rv show this year at our convention center. Everyone on all the sales teams or rv dealers knew your name & of your videos. They all had great things to say about you and your information to rv buyers. ♥️
As a physician I can't agree more with the First Aid kit. I usually get a good one of those and a really nice fire extinguisher for newlyweds. It's something people don't tend to think about until it's too late.
I always jack from the axle under the leaf spring. Takes less height to get it off the ground. As for the stands that put the weight on one axle; they have multiple axles to handle the weight while in motion. If two axles can handle hitting a pot hole at 70 miles an hour then one can handle a tire change.
I had a bad tire while on vacation in Canada with some friends who also had a camper trailer. As I was getting the jack out, my friend said he had one of those ramps. It was so easy that I had the tire changed in less than 10 minutes. I immediately got one for myself. I can't imagine that I did any damage since it was up on the ramp for such a short period of time.
I carry extra flashlights, headlamps and batteries for problems at night or in dark places, a good tire gauge, a good compact compressor, some extra varied sized hose clamps, electrical wags, a water pressure regulator, a hose splitter, a box of disposable gloves, a 120 extension cord and perhaps most importantly for us height challenged folk is a folding step stool. This is in addition to the items in the video. I've used all of these and was glad to have them.
A few other items people should carry that can save a trip. A Pex tool and Pex clamps since most plumbing is Pex. A couple of worm drive clamps would also be good. Water heater thermal fuse. Fridge thermal fuse if equipped. Make sure you have a tire iron that fits your trailer lugs. Square head screw driver. A lot of trailer screws are square heads. Pipe thread tape. Some electrical connectors and a wire cutter/stripper. A lot of people like to carry a spare leaf spring. They aren’t expensive and if one of yours ever fails it’s not a hard install IF you have the part. WRT to using the ramps to lift a tire off the ground to change a flat. Yes your putting a lot of load on one axel but it’s a short duration and your not moving. The actual loads seen by your axels when moving and subjected to various road shocks are far greater than the static load of holding up one side of the trailer for a short period while you change a tire. Here’s in idea for Bish’s. Put together and sell an RV Emergency kit with the kinds of essentials that you might need as highlighted in the video and the comments.
great video! Couple things we also include (in addition to what you mention) Bring a tarp for emergency repair. Great for ground cover when laying on your back on the hot surface or dirt, can also be used to cover you / rv in case of emergency. We also have CB radio, just in case you cannot reach out on phone. Laser Thermometer to check AC unit, tires, axle,etc. Our $30 Harbor Freight toolkit has come in handy more times than I can remember!,. Also, we carry a tow strap along with a Kinetic Energy Strap in case need towing or extraction. various
Another thing to add to the roadside kit, carry a high visibility vest. Especially if you have to travel at night. It takes up very little space and makes you so much more visible when you are out on the side of the road.
I found to add reflective strips on the back bumper/bike rack/small storage rack so that it can be seen at night. It works, personal experience, kept a car from hitting me.
Great job Nerd. I’d also add backup cotter pins and trailer coupler pins. In April, we came back from a really remote campground - closest gas station 20/30 mins, closest Walmart 1 hr - along a winding mountain road which followed the river’s bends with spotty cell service. We didn’t have any problems but the experience directed our purchase of the pins - for just in case - it’s an easy fix for you (or for someone in need).
This is one of the first things I bought. Glad I did because my neighbor bought a used camper and met us up at a campsite. While I was helping him unhook I noticed he didn't have one for his coupler. Said it didn't come with one😅. I got one of the few I bought and gave it to him. Never pull trailer without one.
Long ago, we started leaving a bag in the car with warm clothes, hat, gloves, etc. Even in the shoulder seasons, it can get awfully cold at night. Bring enough for everyone to be warm enough, not just almost warm enough, all night long. You never know how long you might be stranded. And have all the sensible basics on hand, too. More flashlights than you think you need, and batteries for them. Great idea about fuses and basic tools. One year, in every driver's Christmas stocking we put in a sign that attaches to the side of the vehicle that said, "Help needed. Call police." I think that cuts down on the changes of a creepo stopping to "help" if the creep thinks the very next vehicle to stop to help is a police car.
Yeah I do that every winter in michigan. it SERIOUSLY saved my bacon once. Heavy snow showed up rather unexpectedly and I just couldn't get home, though I managed to get back to town about a half-mile from work. I had a full set of boots, overalls, hat, gloves, etc in the car. Slipped into the back seat, suited up, and trudged thru snow drifts to get to the store where I was able to get keys to one of our 4x4 F350 service trucks and get home
This might have been mentioned, but the best backup to a phone for emergency comms is a Garmin Inreach. It's a satellite based texting device that works on the Iridium satellite network. It isn't cheap, but if you hike much on your trips or are in remote places, it can save your life.
As for the phone, you can’t always depend on service, so having an emergency plan like yours is Brilliant! Really appreciate all of your practical advice!
First Aid Kit, Flash Light, Large Fire Extinguisher, Reflective Vest, Gloves, CB Radio, WeBoost, Bungee Cords, Cardboard “to slide under trailer“, Cordless Impact to remove Lug nuts.
Excellent video. During our 40+ years of camping we've seen many of these scenarios, and even well prepared folks sometimes have bad luck. Be prepared is a great motto.
2 things to add. 1 in the med kit. Benedryl it can save a life if someone is allergic and has no epi. 2 for communication if youre really getting out in the boonies some kind of sat communication. Like inreach or an actual sat phone.
A little late to the video here, but in terms of changing a flat tire, I once had two tires blow out at the same time, on opposite sides of the camper. My jack would not work and lift the camper. I ended up having to use wood pieces (used for stabilizing) and backed the camper onto the wood to raise the bad tires off the ground. I did one side at a time.
This is what we call life saver tips, because whatever the case can be, camping is full of surprises, and for me those surprises are what I seek to enjoy dealing with when I camp with my family or friends. Because I believe that the fun is always found when we deal with issues happily together. And those tips will definitely make fixing the problem easier and though provide happiness and joy along the process. Thank you very much again for shedding lights on the issue. Great valuable video as always.
Actually, with the number of RVers, brands like harbor freight could target a tool set towards RVers. A fire extinguisher and a first aid kit is a must for anyone on the road, As part-time HSE, I carry around a military medic specced IFAC and try to get a A TECC 2 - 3 day training at least every two years, ideally every year. Even though I hope I will never have to use it, statistically, traffic is one of the highest risk areas for injuries. Btw., with RVs, grills, stoves and kids, a burn treatment gel or dressing (like Waterjel) is highly recommended. Small tip from someone working in HV grid HSE, the big companies have to regularly replace their burn treatment sets, but trust me, from experience, the "expired" products are good for further 4-5 years. My employer actually gives the "expired" ones to first responders, they go through them like a knife through hot butter.
Josh, I do appreciate you, your knowledge and that you are so willing to share and help those of us who would not have thought of these "safety" tips! You are absolutely priceless and I'm grateful that Bish's RV gives you "free" reign to be up front and honest!!!
I think on a dual axle tire change it would be OK to drive up onto one of those ramps or multiple blocks of levelers. You’re just getting the tire off and back on and not doing any bouncing around. But I’ve been looking into getting the road side reflective triangles for my kids and myself. I think the safety vest someone mentioned earlier is a great idea as well. As far as tools go, I bought a $99 cobalt tool chest that I leave in the camper. If you don’t wanna spend that much then just go for the basic kit. Thanks a lot for this extra video for memorial day weekend, Josh. It’s going to really help a lot of people out.
About that phone... I live in the Colorado mountains. There are many roads around us where there is no cell service at all for forty miles or more. It is not always that go to "get out of jail free" card. Great video 👍 Hubby was a boy scout. He always brings too much 😅 Most of the time it's too much but there are times we have been very thankful for his preparedness!
Yeah depending on where you're going something like a sat-phone or starlink, etc I'm sure there's still some places with zero service of any kind, but the more prepared you are the less likely are you are to be stuck
Thanks Josh, some great tips. Most things I already carry but the safety reflectors , I’m going to definitely get some. We pull a Cougar 22MLS. Last year as we were packing up to leave camp I discovered that one of the trailer tires had gone flat. Apparently picked up a screw on the way to camp, slow leak thankfully no blow out. I was able to use the jack from my truck and a block of wood to lift the trailer and put the spare tire on. Excellent tip to keep your trailer attached to the tow vehicle 👍
I have used the "trailer aid" drive on jack a few times. It's never fun to be on the side of the highway changing a tire, and the ability to just drive right up on it instead of sitting there jacking the rig up is worth it. Both times I used it I was on the highway side of the rig which is always sketchy, so it was nice to get the old one off and new one on as quickly as possible. My previous rig had 700lb CCC, so after our stuff was probably at the limit and I did not bend an axle or sustain any damage due to the trailer aid.
@@JoshtheRVNerd Thanks for the great tips. I have camped with a mustang horse, I make sure to have a first aid kit for him also. Baby diaper and duct tape and JB Weld saved my boy when he split the hoof wide open. Baby diapers help with large wound coverage for a broken leg, human, which needed splint. Also a few extra days of food in case it floods or tornado
In the horse hauling world we have trailer aid. It is intended to drive the good tire up on ramp and this lifts trailer just enough to get bad tire changed. I used twice hauling horses and changed tires without unloading the horses. I have one of these in my truck to change my travel trailer tire if it ever happens. This is so much more stable than a jack in my opinion and also it doesn’t raise axle to high, just enough to get bad tire replaced. The first time this happened was in Utah desert and the trailer aid sunk some in sand. It has larger surface area on ground and can take the weight. I had two horses in horse trailer.
Something to go along with the reflectors is a safety vest when having to change a tire. When leaving your rv for a lengthy time cut the water off so if you have a leak it won’t damage anything. We use the ramp wedge to do maintenance on bearings and it works great.
Excellent video Uncle Josh. People need to think about what CAN happen along with what we think we know. Two things I've come across. First is fuses. YES, get a pack of fuses. They blow. The other is cell phone stuff. We ran into this. We have one "major" provider that had no service when we needed it. We have another provider that has unlimited hot spot that we use for the tv. When we couldn't call on our regular phones, the "tv" phone worked just fine. In that instance we were calling for roadside assistance. So, kind of a big deal.
And something my husband ALWAYS packs (not just camping) that comes in handy over and over again: a variety of bungees! We've made impromptu things you would never imagine and things you might think you have, like an awning, more times than I can count. For the ratchet strap, It would be a good idea to have a flattened cardboard box, a box you can empty, or if you have room, pool noodles that can be sliced, to put between the cinch and the corners (and anyplace you want to protect) of the RV.
Great Video Josh! Gets you to thinking. I had changed tires many times on 5th wheel and travel trailers by taking some of my leveling blocks and stacking them up about 6 inches height wise and driving the non flat tire on that side up onto it. It will raise the flat tire high enough to change it really fast. Just remember if you are using a lug wrench, to make sure to loosen the lugs nuts before you drive up onto it. Also make sure it did raise it high enough to get the good tire back on. With this method and a good impact I can change a tire on a trailer in less than 5 minutes Never had a bent axle from this as over the years have done this about 10 times.
I would also recommend an RV extension cord. I’ve been to many state parks where the electrical post is too far from where my trailer is parked for the built-in power cord to reach. This is usually a problem where two sites share the same post.
Josh, you do such a great job on all of your videos. Man, keep up the good work. I would say the only thing that you didnt mention was duck tape. Cant tell you how many times in my life that duck tape helped me limp in or gave me just enough time to fix something small.
Josh thank you for putting out such a great videos on RVs you don’t know how much you’ve helped us out here please don’t stop making these videos cause you do what you do so well bless you Josh
When I have to jack up my camper to remove a tire I prefer to put the jack up under the axle right behind the wheel. You have to put it right under the spring mount or you can damage your axle but it requires a lot less lift height then jacking up the frame and allowing the suspension to drop has to lift a lot higher to get the tire off the ground. Great video Josh!
It's nice to see how open you are about sourcing RV stuff. I just ran into a problem getting parts for my camper. The RV dealership asked if I bought my camper from them. I said no and at point they weren't really interested in helping me get the parts. It's amazing how much of this country doesn't have cell phone service. Thank you for your videos.
Don’t get me wrong - I’d love it if our team sold a few more parts. That’s how they make their money. But these types of videos are out there as a pure courtesy to folks whether you bought from us or not
Also a simple tire gauge, a good ole manual tire gauge. And a can of fix a flat for tire punctures. And pro tip, make sure your tow vehicle has a spare tire. Most manufacturers now are skipping them, and adding tire inflation kits. Also don't remove your trailers spare without replacing it.
Interesting feedback. Ty. I don’t see most mfgs skipping spares. In fact the last two years brands that did them as options seem to have mostly standardized them from my experience That tire gauge and patch advice is great
Hey Josh! We found on a previous rig that the lug size of the spare tire holder was different than the lug size on the actual tires. So, check this out before you are in dire need! We also always carry a spare 12v water pump. Really depend on that a lot! Also a trimming saw to help clear downed trees or trim low hanging limbs that may come down in a storm. Also some Eterna Bond tape or Flex Seal tape to repair roof snags and prevent leaks.
First aid kit is a great idea. But watch the expiration dates on the drugs or ointments in the kit. They are usually cheap enough that it doesn't take much to buy a new kit every other year or so. I spent the money and bought a really nice one in an great case. When those things expired, I bought a really cheap one and just put the new contents into the cool old case.
HeyJosh ( our favorite RV nerd!!!!!)-- seasoned camper with a tool handy husband-- we were traveling to a destination that we camp once a year,several years in a row--and on the way to the camp ground and experienced a flat. Husband pulled the bottle jack out of its storage spot, and had the spare on in about twenty five minutes. Got to the destination and camped happily for seven days. On the way home from happily camping,experienced two more flats-- by the end of that trip, totally over flat tires. All of the suggested “emergency tools” are located somewhere in our well loved camper…….. Thanks for all the info you share with all of us…….stay Nerdy!!!!!! ( I would never leave home without tools,blade fuses,the boxy fuses that go to the air conditioner alternate,and that bottle jack. All of the first aid cremes,bandaids, everything from upset tummy to poison ivy remedies are in the med cabinet and freshened by date codes. I think of all that before we pull out.)❣️😊❣️😊❣️
A million thanks Josh, just getting ready to bring my new camper home this month. This is my first time owning a camper, so really appreciate this wonderfully useful and helpful information. You have helped me beyond words with all your shared knowledge to make the right decision for me. You ROCK!
starlink is Billy the Badass. I recommend that service for anyone that goes outside of cell service. We use it in a off road racing. Between 3 countries, we always have service. Not only use, but others can jump on it of close enough.
So appreciate the roadside item section! Yes, we have been on the highway changing a tire, dual tires not sure how to say that, SCARY! Move over to the other lane if possible people. The time stamps are nice. I generally watch the video twice so, if you don't have time or whatnot, no problem for me. I look forward to your videos. Thank you
Part of my tool kit includes an 18 volt impact gun with sockets that fit the truck and camper and a harbor freight 150 pound torque wrench and 4 way tire tool as a spare. They have already used them two times this year.
I also carry the Impact gun 20 V Dewalt. I only take the sizes that fit my pool vehicle in my trailer in my case. Last year when I went to Montana, I took in my kit as well, the tire plug kit and the plug-in to your lighter air pump. In that kit as well is roadside, Visability such as reflectors, old, fashion, flares, or the LED flashing lights.
One thing to consider: a pair of red flashing lights that could be affixed to the rear of your rig. My Dad had a '93 Four Winds class C that had the wrong fuse size labeled for the coach lights. Before diagnosing the mislabeling, we were left roadside with a trio of blown fuses for the coach lighting. A flashing red light was sufficient to warn traffic approaching from behind until we could get off the highway & get repaired. Another great Nerd topic, Josh, and safe travels to all!
@Josh the RV Nerd at Bish's RV I have the zoleo. It doesn't have a built in GPS. I decided I prefer my phone GPS and the larger screen. I also use OnX maps.
I put together a small kit for my camper to compliment the tool box I carry in my truck. Extra fuses, hitch pins, clips, gorilla, electrical and Teflon tape, a cheap multimeter, a ratchet with about 6-8 common sized sockets, a multi tool, screwdriver with bits, carabiners and a tube of super glue. These all fit in a small tool box. Most of the items I either had on hand or bought at Harbor Freight. I keep a first aid kit in the camper as well as in the truck. This stuff has come in handy more than once!
We had a blow out and had to use a red Andersen leveler / tire changer. With the blow out, all the weight was just on 1 axle anyway! SUPER SLOW AND CAREFUL and raised it BARELY enough to change the tire. It was quick and easy. Chocked up and attached to the truck, it was very stable. THANK THE LORD! the blow out was shoulder side and not traffic side!
We got a great little kit when we bought our trailer, we keep a little tool bag and goodies like batteries, bulbs, cables, etc. It has come in handy more than once. Love your site.
I have learned the international Indian smoke signal code when out of cell range. That being said another good video to help people with real life stuff that happens. Keep this kind of content coming. Thanks.
Wow congrats! Mind dropping me a quick review at g.page/r/CdPcitNVx2nDEAg/review if you have a moment? It'll cost you nothing and I'd sure appreciate it!
Add the right lug tools or socket set lug wrench to remove tires in a emergency. Like a battery Impact wrench 3/4 drive been there needed that plus a proper jack for your unit
I have an on board air compressor and carry a 12 ton bottle air over hydraulic jack. I also put a block of wood between the axle or frame and the jack. Only lift the tire enough to clear the ground.
I'm new to camping and my brother told me about you. I greatly appreciate everything I have learned from you. I finished a first aid kit for my German shepherd Ava. It goes everywhere Ava goes.
I have heavy duty crush proof plastic corner pieces to put under that strapping. So strap doesn't crush corner of the RV. also a piece of pvc or matt of some kind to go behind the ratchet. That could damage the RV when cranking on it.
Best First Aid kit- Refuge Medical Adventure kit or BearFAK they are the best...pricey but will keep you alive. Always have one. Add the boo boo kit if you have littles.
For a future RV'r , you are helping take any stress out of the experience for me. Great, great video. And the additional things other folks have added below is awesome too! Thanks Josh!
most of the things mentioned here i have carried some version of in my cars and trucks for decades, and have used them on many occasions while out camping or even just day trips in the desert... especially jacks, they are good for more than just changing tires, be surprised how something as simple as being able to jack a tire off the ground, put a rock under it, put tire back down on the rock, can make the difference between continuing on your way or having to wait for someone to pull you out of whatever you stuck in... same for battery packs you can jump car from, saved by that quite a few times too. all good advice.
Josh..Thanks for advice..few things I never thought of. I 'm going to keep this to go over😮 Lily ps appreciate your videos. You're so thorough unlike others I've seen..🎉
I've used the ramp wedge. They seem to work well for us tandem axle people. They only lift the second wheel about 2-3" off the ground, just enough to get a tire off. In fact, I just used mine in April to repack my bearings. The point about the weight loading certainly isn't missed. I'm going to have to noodle on that one for a bit.
I am all for the ramp wedge. In the unlikely situation you damage an axle by using it, there is no doubt it is a darn lot cheaper and less complex to fix than what you would face when tweaking your frame by putting a bottle jack in the wrong place …
I always lift under the axle close to the bad tire, it takes the least amount of force and keeps the trailer level and safe. You have to lift the frame really high to unload the suspension and raise tire off the ground. Old, lazy mechanic 😉
Great tip for jack positioning. Always have a pair of radios in the camper too. Really useful for emergencies. Love the Spare fuse tip. Not sure why there isn't a spare fuse holder built into those boxes but I would take several spares and a piece of tape and tape my spares to the flip down panel cover. You can go through several of those when you are troubleshooting.
You asked about the drive-on trailer lift in this video. I have used one and keep it with me on every trip. When I used mine, there was no real good spot to place a jack. The ground was soft-ish and the drive on lift worked very well. Thanks for ALL of the videos you make. They're very informative and a lot of fun to watch. Keep up the good work.
Thanks nerd! We just spent more money on Amazon because of this video. You certainly added some great ideas that we didn’t think of that we need on the road!
I have and have had to use a floor jack on the side of the highway in Wyoming. Man o man! Reflectors, vest and lift the axle at the spring perch. Lifting right at the point the spring is pushing down will do no harm and not have a jack hyper extended to get to the frame. Watch any tire shop, they lift the axles and stand the frame. I have an aluminum floor jack from the tool store, and it has been worth every penny I spent on it. they are light and break down for storage. Nerd on Josh! love your vid.'s!!!
I had a chance to use the trailer aid flat tire ramp. I did crack each lug nut loose before I rolled her up. I was then able to quickly loosen each by hand. Then I hand tightened everything and rolled it off. Only then did I properly tighten everything up. It worked like a charm. Then I spent the next 2 hours thinking about the merits of having two spare tires 😀
Good info especially about flats. I had one on my last trip TPMS saved the day as I did not feel anything different with my double axle. But over a minute I lost 40 lbs of air on a drivers side tire. TPMS let me know. If not I would have driven on it till it disintegrated and damaged the RV. You also need a breaker bar to get those lugs loose. You need to do that before you lift it. You will need a torque wrench to set the proper ft lbs on the lugs before driving off. Trailer lugs are not something you want coming off because you put them on too loose.
Thanks for the links those are a huge help. One of those satellite garmin gadgets could be another option too for cell service. This video was very helpful.
I’ve heard some good things here in the comments on those Garmin satellite things. If I were in the middle of nowhere, then they seem like a really good idea
I carry the Trailer Aid ramp for tire changes. I had 3 blowouts on one trip (not at the same time), and the ramp worked great. I was able to get a tire changed in ten minutes without having to mess with a jack, and the RV suffered no ill effects.
Josh, Thanks for the videos about oops camping & things you really need to have. I have most but not all of these things. You may be a salesman but you give real time advice that people should pay attention to.
40 years ago as a child witnessed an RV fire in opposing traffic on a divided highway. The RV was smoking, and some flames. It was parked on in the side of the road, with the family a safe distance watching it burn. They had a truck attached to the back, and kept hoping and praying they would think to detach the truck before it caught fire as well! It was about 40 miles to the next exit and we stopped to call emergency services. It was about another 20 miles down the road a fire truck was running lights and sirens in the direction of the RV. Moral of this story is "have an evacuation plan" Run fire drills. Not only for internal fires, but for forest fires. How quick can you get that RV MOVING?
Josh, loved this little video. ❤ Whatever can happen, when you are prepared for it, it makes it a bit smoother. (Just like my Eagle Scout husband!!) You're the best!!
As a long time RV traveler in New Zealand I have four things I would like to throw in < first one being knowledge about both your RV and towing vehicle if you have one number two docking and undocking system that you use have a check list ! next one is planning your trip your find out a head of time which services are available to you on the way to your destination should you need them little research before you leave is never a bad idea finally travel buddies if you meet with people heading the same way share information and develop a check point system where you can meet up and share stories and just make sure everyone's accounted for and safe.
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We just bought a new rv, our third one we’ve owned over 20 years of camping now. But our rv sits on our private lake primarily. Our new rv is a couples camper & we plan on traveling around the US. Your on the road info is priceless. I went to an rv show this year at our convention center. Everyone on all the sales teams or rv dealers knew your name & of your videos. They all had great things to say about you and your information to rv buyers. ♥️
Wow ty for sharing! An rv rep in Canada sent me a pic of a dealer up there playing my videos in their units lol
As a physician I can't agree more with the First Aid kit. I usually get a good one of those and a really nice fire extinguisher for newlyweds. It's something people don't tend to think about until it's too late.
That's a great idea! I love giving unusual and truly helpful gifts.
Wow... as I get older .. Those are perfect gifts!!!
A fire extinguisher for newly weds. Seems about right. 👩❤👨❤🔥❤🔥🔥🛌 🧯
This is now my go-to gift!
Such a good idea
This is genius. 🎉
I always jack from the axle under the leaf spring. Takes less height to get it off the ground.
As for the stands that put the weight on one axle; they have multiple axles to handle the weight while in motion. If two axles can handle hitting a pot hole at 70 miles an hour then one can handle a tire change.
Josh, i think a whole video on how to jack up your camper would be very helpful. Show us, we are visual learners....
That’s a fair idea. TY
I had a bad tire while on vacation in Canada with some friends who also had a camper trailer. As I was getting the jack out, my friend said he had one of those ramps. It was so easy that I had the tire changed in less than 10 minutes. I immediately got one for myself. I can't imagine that I did any damage since it was up on the ramp for such a short period of time.
This is great. I am seeing almost 100% positive feedback for them
I carry extra flashlights, headlamps and batteries for problems at night or in dark places, a good tire gauge, a good compact compressor, some extra varied sized hose clamps, electrical wags, a water pressure regulator, a hose splitter, a box of disposable gloves, a 120 extension cord and perhaps most importantly for us height challenged folk is a folding step stool. This is in addition to the items in the video. I've used all of these and was glad to have them.
Awesome Ty
Josh, you are absofreakinglutely priceless. Thank you so very much for all that you do for all of us.
Wow, TY :)
A few other items people should carry that can save a trip.
A Pex tool and Pex clamps since most plumbing is Pex. A couple of worm drive clamps would also be good.
Water heater thermal fuse. Fridge thermal fuse if equipped.
Make sure you have a tire iron that fits your trailer lugs.
Square head screw driver. A lot of trailer screws are square heads.
Pipe thread tape.
Some electrical connectors and a wire cutter/stripper.
A lot of people like to carry a spare leaf spring. They aren’t expensive and if one of yours ever fails it’s not a hard install IF you have the part.
WRT to using the ramps to lift a tire off the ground to change a flat. Yes your putting a lot of load on one axel but it’s a short duration and your not moving. The actual loads seen by your axels when moving and subjected to various road shocks are far greater than the static load of holding up one side of the trailer for a short period while you change a tire.
Here’s in idea for Bish’s. Put together and sell an RV Emergency kit with the kinds of essentials that you might need as highlighted in the video and the comments.
That’s a solid idea. Ty
great video! Couple things we also include (in addition to what you mention) Bring a tarp for emergency repair. Great for ground cover when laying on your back on the hot surface or dirt, can also be used to cover you / rv in case of emergency. We also have CB radio, just in case you cannot reach out on phone. Laser Thermometer to check AC unit, tires, axle,etc. Our $30 Harbor Freight toolkit has come in handy more times than I can remember!,. Also, we carry a tow strap along with a Kinetic Energy Strap in case need towing or extraction.
various
Man this is great stuff. Thank you!
Another thing to add to the roadside kit, carry a high visibility vest. Especially if you have to travel at night. It takes up very little space and makes you so much more visible when you are out on the side of the road.
That's a great point. TY
Oh my gosh, this is an absolutely great idea.
Great idea! Have a couple hanging in the garage, will grab them.
I like to play fogger... No thanks
Brilliantly! I already wear one in our motorcycle, and I know my hubby has one. I’ll have him add that to our kit!
I found to add reflective strips on the back bumper/bike rack/small storage rack so that it can be seen at night. It works, personal experience, kept a car from hitting me.
Sometimes it doesn't take much to avoid something major. That's a smart idea
Great job Nerd. I’d also add backup cotter pins and trailer coupler pins.
In April, we came back from a really remote campground - closest gas station 20/30 mins, closest Walmart 1 hr - along a winding mountain road which followed the river’s bends with spotty cell service. We didn’t have any problems but the experience directed our purchase of the pins - for just in case - it’s an easy fix for you (or for someone in need).
GREAT suggestion. TY
This is one of the first things I bought. Glad I did because my neighbor bought a used camper and met us up at a campsite. While I was helping him unhook I noticed he didn't have one for his coupler. Said it didn't come with one😅. I got one of the few I bought and gave it to him. Never pull trailer without one.
Long ago, we started leaving a bag in the car with warm clothes, hat, gloves, etc. Even in the shoulder seasons, it can get awfully cold at night. Bring enough for everyone to be warm enough, not just almost warm enough, all night long. You never know how long you might be stranded. And have all the sensible basics on hand, too. More flashlights than you think you need, and batteries for them. Great idea about fuses and basic tools. One year, in every driver's Christmas stocking we put in a sign that attaches to the side of the vehicle that said, "Help needed. Call police." I think that cuts down on the changes of a creepo stopping to "help" if the creep thinks the very next vehicle to stop to help is a police car.
Yeah I do that every winter in michigan. it SERIOUSLY saved my bacon once. Heavy snow showed up rather unexpectedly and I just couldn't get home, though I managed to get back to town about a half-mile from work.
I had a full set of boots, overalls, hat, gloves, etc in the car. Slipped into the back seat, suited up, and trudged thru snow drifts to get to the store where I was able to get keys to one of our 4x4 F350 service trucks and get home
Great tip!
Thanks, Josh. I would include a head lamp. If it is dark, it frees up both hands to get to work.
A Flashlight of some variety is a great idea always. Or several. And batteries. Or a hand-crank light
Yup, usb rechargable headlamps are game changers.
Also, most headlamps also have red or white emergency flashing mode if needed
Uncle Josh the hardest dang thing about those band aids is getting those suckers opened and applied lol. Thank you for your videos You help us a lot.
Man. facts
A standalone/portable winch can be very helpful if you camp in rougher places.
💯
This might have been mentioned, but the best backup to a phone for emergency comms is a Garmin Inreach. It's a satellite based texting device that works on the Iridium satellite network. It isn't cheap, but if you hike much on your trips or are in remote places, it can save your life.
Ty for this
Great starter list. I also carry wheel chocks in my trucks toolbox because you never know if a problem is going to happen on an incline.
As for the phone, you can’t always depend on service, so having an emergency plan like yours is Brilliant! Really appreciate all of your practical advice!
First Aid Kit, Flash Light, Large Fire Extinguisher, Reflective Vest, Gloves, CB Radio, WeBoost, Bungee Cords, Cardboard “to slide under trailer“, Cordless Impact to remove Lug nuts.
Good ideas!
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. As always, thank you for all you put in.
Exactly my sentiment. Thank you!
Zip ties/ tie straps in different sizes are lifesavers. Also if possible try to limp to an offramp or gore point to change a flat.
Smart!!!
Excellent video. During our 40+ years of camping we've seen many of these scenarios, and even well prepared folks sometimes have bad luck. Be prepared is a great motto.
Thanks for sharing! Anything I missed you’d suggest?
2 things to add. 1 in the med kit. Benedryl it can save a life if someone is allergic and has no epi. 2 for communication if youre really getting out in the boonies some kind of sat communication. Like inreach or an actual sat phone.
A little late to the video here, but in terms of changing a flat tire, I once had two tires blow out at the same time, on opposite sides of the camper. My jack would not work and lift the camper. I ended up having to use wood pieces (used for stabilizing) and backed the camper onto the wood to raise the bad tires off the ground. I did one side at a time.
Never too late. Great input. TY
This is what we call life saver tips, because whatever the case can be, camping is full of surprises, and for me those surprises are what I seek to enjoy dealing with when I camp with my family or friends. Because I believe that the fun is always found when we deal with issues happily together. And those tips will definitely make fixing the problem easier and though provide happiness and joy along the process. Thank you very much again for shedding lights on the issue. Great valuable video as always.
Agreed. Nothing calms the emotions more than having the tools, parts, and knowledge to get out of a jam.
TY for watching. I hope nobody NEEDS anything I mention in this video, but best to be prepared
Josh , just thanks
Everyone this is for you
Great job.
I would add a lug wrench for your trailer. Most have different lug nuts than your tow vehicle
Good call
Actually, with the number of RVers, brands like harbor freight could target a tool set towards RVers. A fire extinguisher and a first aid kit is a must for anyone on the road, As part-time HSE, I carry around a military medic specced IFAC and try to get a A TECC 2 - 3 day training at least every two years, ideally every year. Even though I hope I will never have to use it, statistically, traffic is one of the highest risk areas for injuries. Btw., with RVs, grills, stoves and kids, a burn treatment gel or dressing (like Waterjel) is highly recommended. Small tip from someone working in HV grid HSE, the big companies have to regularly replace their burn treatment sets, but trust me, from experience, the "expired" products are good for further 4-5 years. My employer actually gives the "expired" ones to first responders, they go through them like a knife through hot butter.
I'd almost be surprised if they DIDN'T have something like that. It's kind of a brilliant idea
Josh, I do appreciate you, your knowledge and that you are so willing to share and help those of us who would not have thought of these "safety" tips! You are absolutely priceless and I'm grateful that Bish's RV gives you "free" reign to be up front and honest!!!
It's majorly encouraged as well. It's a really nice environment to be in
I think on a dual axle tire change it would be OK to drive up onto one of those ramps or multiple blocks of levelers. You’re just getting the tire off and back on and not doing any bouncing around. But I’ve been looking into getting the road side reflective triangles for my kids and myself. I think the safety vest someone mentioned earlier is a great idea as well. As far as tools go, I bought a $99 cobalt tool chest that I leave in the camper. If you don’t wanna spend that much then just go for the basic kit. Thanks a lot for this extra video for memorial day weekend, Josh. It’s going to really help a lot of people out.
Yeah you dont have to spend a LOT on a basic set of tools you can just keep in the camper
About that phone... I live in the Colorado mountains. There are many roads around us where there is no cell service at all for forty miles or more. It is not always that go to "get out of jail free" card. Great video 👍 Hubby was a boy scout. He always brings too much 😅 Most of the time it's too much but there are times we have been very thankful for his preparedness!
Yeah depending on where you're going something like a sat-phone or starlink, etc
I'm sure there's still some places with zero service of any kind, but the more prepared you are the less likely are you are to be stuck
Hey Josh, I would LOVE to see a video comparing getting a truck and trailer vs a motorhome, and things that someone may not know is a part of that
I did something like that YEARS ago here ruclips.net/video/5r7qjq3KF1w/видео.html
It's due for an update
As a relative newbie with a pretty decent sized rig, this was very helpful. The fuses are something I hadn’t thought of.
Read through the comments. Some folks have offered some really good ideas I think.
Thanks Josh, some great tips. Most things I already carry but the safety reflectors , I’m going to definitely get some. We pull a Cougar 22MLS. Last year as we were packing up to leave camp I discovered that one of the trailer tires had gone flat. Apparently picked up a screw on the way to camp, slow leak thankfully no blow out. I was able to use the jack from my truck and a block of wood to lift the trailer and put the spare tire on. Excellent tip to keep your trailer attached to the tow vehicle 👍
Glad you were able to get thru that. Experience is a valuable teacher!
I have used the "trailer aid" drive on jack a few times. It's never fun to be on the side of the highway changing a tire, and the ability to just drive right up on it instead of sitting there jacking the rig up is worth it. Both times I used it I was on the highway side of the rig which is always sketchy, so it was nice to get the old one off and new one on as quickly as possible. My previous rig had 700lb CCC, so after our stuff was probably at the limit and I did not bend an axle or sustain any damage due to the trailer aid.
TY. Helpful feedback.
@@JoshtheRVNerd Thanks for the great tips. I have camped with a mustang horse, I make sure to have a first aid kit for him also. Baby diaper and duct tape and JB Weld saved my boy when he split the hoof wide open. Baby diapers help with large wound coverage for a broken leg, human, which needed splint. Also a few extra days of food in case it floods or tornado
In the horse hauling world we have trailer aid. It is intended to drive the good tire up on ramp and this lifts trailer just enough to get bad tire changed. I used twice hauling horses and changed tires without unloading the horses. I have one of these in my truck to change my travel trailer tire if it ever happens. This is so much more stable than a jack in my opinion and also it doesn’t raise axle to high, just enough to get bad tire replaced. The first time this happened was in Utah desert and the trailer aid sunk some in sand. It has larger surface area on ground and can take the weight. I had two horses in horse trailer.
Something to go along with the reflectors is a safety vest when having to change a tire. When leaving your rv for a lengthy time cut the water off so if you have a leak it won’t damage anything. We use the ramp wedge to do maintenance on bearings and it works great.
Yeah a few others mentioned a High Vis vest and i think that’s REALLY smart for a bunch of reasons.
Excellent video Uncle Josh. People need to think about what CAN happen along with what we think we know. Two things I've come across. First is fuses. YES, get a pack of fuses. They blow. The other is cell phone stuff. We ran into this. We have one "major" provider that had no service when we needed it. We have another provider that has unlimited hot spot that we use for the tv. When we couldn't call on our regular phones, the "tv" phone worked just fine. In that instance we were calling for roadside assistance. So, kind of a big deal.
Yeah especially handy to have a backup "communication outlet" when you're traveling thru the more sparsely populated areas
As a first time camper owner, I have found all these videos very helpful.
Great to hear!
@@JoshtheRVNerd can you recommend a bottle jack that can jack up a Coleman lantern LT R17. It weighs just under 3000 lbs. Thanks.
And something my husband ALWAYS packs (not just camping) that comes in handy over and over again: a variety of bungees! We've made impromptu things you would never imagine and things you might think you have, like an awning, more times than I can count.
For the ratchet strap, It would be a good idea to have a flattened cardboard box, a box you can empty, or if you have room, pool noodles that can be sliced, to put between the cinch and the corners (and anyplace you want to protect) of the RV.
Those things are handy!
Great Video Josh! Gets you to thinking.
I had changed tires many times on 5th wheel and travel trailers by taking some of my leveling blocks and stacking them up about 6 inches height wise and driving the non flat tire on that side up onto it. It will raise the flat tire high enough to change it really fast. Just remember if you are using a lug wrench, to make sure to loosen the lugs nuts before you drive up onto it. Also make sure it did raise it high enough to get the good tire back on. With this method and a good impact I can change a tire on a trailer in less than 5 minutes Never had a bent axle from this as over the years have done this about 10 times.
this is exactly the kind of insight i was hoping to get. THANK YOU
This is one I watched twice. shark bite pipe plugs. and multi-meter. Great info on the jacking up the camper. DUCT TAPE!!!!
You're not the first to mention duct tape. Great point
I would also recommend an RV extension cord. I’ve been to many state parks where the electrical post is too far from where my trailer is parked for the built-in power cord to reach. This is usually a problem where two sites share the same post.
Oh for sure. I think extra hoses/cables/connectors are always a good idea
Josh, you do such a great job on all of your videos. Man, keep up the good work. I would say the only thing that you didnt mention was duck tape. Cant tell you how many times in my life that duck tape helped me limp in or gave me just enough time to fix something small.
Remember, duct tape and chicken wire can fix almost every thing...
True.. ironically it's good for everything EXCEPT the hot air ducts for which it was originally designed lol
Josh thank you for putting out such a great videos on RVs you don’t know how much you’ve helped us out here please don’t stop making these videos cause you do what you do so well bless you Josh
Buddy it's my pleasure! Mind dropping me a quick review at g.page/r/CdPcitNVx2nDEAg/review in return for the helping hand?
When I have to jack up my camper to remove a tire I prefer to put the jack up under the axle right behind the wheel. You have to put it right under the spring mount or you can damage your axle but it requires a lot less lift height then jacking up the frame and allowing the suspension to drop has to lift a lot higher to get the tire off the ground. Great video Josh!
TY Michael
It's nice to see how open you are about sourcing RV stuff. I just ran into a problem getting parts for my camper. The RV dealership asked if I bought my camper from them. I said no and at point they weren't really interested in helping me get the parts. It's amazing how much of this country doesn't have cell phone service. Thank you for your videos.
Don’t get me wrong - I’d love it if our team sold a few more parts. That’s how they make their money. But these types of videos are out there as a pure courtesy to folks whether you bought from us or not
Also a simple tire gauge, a good ole manual tire gauge. And a can of fix a flat for tire punctures.
And pro tip, make sure your tow vehicle has a spare tire. Most manufacturers now are skipping them, and adding tire inflation kits. Also don't remove your trailers spare without replacing it.
Interesting feedback. Ty. I don’t see most mfgs skipping spares. In fact the last two years brands that did them as options seem to have mostly standardized them from my experience
That tire gauge and patch advice is great
Thank you for putting this list together!
My pleasure! hope it helps some folks
Hey Josh! We found on a previous rig that the lug size of the spare tire holder was different than the lug size on the actual tires. So, check this out before you are in dire need! We also always carry a spare 12v water pump. Really depend on that a lot! Also a trimming saw to help clear downed trees or trim low hanging limbs that may come down in a storm. Also some Eterna Bond tape or Flex Seal tape to repair roof snags and prevent leaks.
oh man.. that's crazy. Never would've thought
First aid kit is a great idea. But watch the expiration dates on the drugs or ointments in the kit. They are usually cheap enough that it doesn't take much to buy a new kit every other year or so. I spent the money and bought a really nice one in an great case. When those things expired, I bought a really cheap one and just put the new contents into the cool old case.
Ooh good point!
HeyJosh ( our favorite RV nerd!!!!!)-- seasoned camper with a tool handy husband-- we were traveling to a destination that we camp once a year,several years in a row--and on the way to the camp ground and experienced a flat. Husband pulled the bottle jack out of its storage spot, and had the spare on in about twenty five minutes. Got to the destination and camped happily for seven days. On the way home from happily camping,experienced two more flats-- by the end of that trip, totally over flat tires. All of the suggested “emergency tools” are located somewhere in our well loved camper…….. Thanks for all the info you share with all of us…….stay Nerdy!!!!!! ( I would never leave home without tools,blade fuses,the boxy fuses that go to the air conditioner alternate,and that bottle jack. All of the first aid cremes,bandaids, everything from upset tummy to poison ivy remedies are in the med cabinet and freshened by date codes. I think of all that before we pull out.)❣️😊❣️😊❣️
Sounds like he’s a handy fella!
Wow! Thank you Nerd! And all the comments gave even more ! Thanks everyone! Starting my Amazon shopping now.
Yeah big thanks to the audience on this one!
A million thanks Josh, just getting ready to bring my new camper home this month. This is my first time owning a camper, so really appreciate this wonderfully useful and helpful information. You have helped me beyond words with all your shared knowledge to make the right decision for me. You ROCK!
Glad I could help!
starlink is Billy the Badass. I recommend that service for anyone that goes outside of cell service. We use it in a off road racing. Between 3 countries, we always have service. Not only use, but others can jump on it of close enough.
Ty!!
So appreciate the roadside item section! Yes, we have been on the highway changing a tire, dual tires not sure how to say that, SCARY! Move over to the other lane if possible people.
The time stamps are nice. I generally watch the video twice so, if you don't have time or whatnot, no problem for me.
I look forward to your videos. Thank you
Our pleasure!
Part of my tool kit includes an 18 volt impact gun with sockets that fit the truck and camper and a harbor freight 150 pound torque wrench and 4 way tire tool as a spare. They have already used them two times this year.
I've yet to go on a camping trip where I or someone in our little family caravan didn't use a power drill for SOMETHING
I also carry the
Impact gun 20 V Dewalt. I only take the sizes that fit my pool vehicle in my trailer in my case. Last year when I went to Montana, I took in my kit as well, the tire plug kit and the plug-in to your lighter air pump. In that kit as well is roadside, Visability such as reflectors, old, fashion, flares, or the LED flashing lights.
Geez, I should’ve proofread my voice recognition on the last one!!!
One thing to consider: a pair of red flashing lights that could be affixed to the rear of your rig. My Dad had a '93 Four Winds class C that had the wrong fuse size labeled for the coach lights. Before diagnosing the mislabeling, we were left roadside with a trio of blown fuses for the coach lighting. A flashing red light was sufficient to warn traffic approaching from behind until we could get off the highway & get repaired. Another great Nerd topic, Josh, and safe travels to all!
Not a terrible idea
Most headlamps have the red flashing feature
Satellite communicator, such as a zoleo or garmin inreach, works great for those out of cell service areas!
I'm hearing good things about those Garmins. TY
@Josh the RV Nerd at Bish's RV I have the zoleo. It doesn't have a built in GPS. I decided I prefer my phone GPS and the larger screen. I also use OnX maps.
I put together a small kit for my camper to compliment the tool box I carry in my truck. Extra fuses, hitch pins, clips, gorilla, electrical and Teflon tape, a cheap multimeter, a ratchet with about 6-8 common sized sockets, a multi tool, screwdriver with bits, carabiners and a tube of super glue. These all fit in a small tool box. Most of the items I either had on hand or bought at Harbor Freight. I keep a first aid kit in the camper as well as in the truck. This stuff has come in handy more than once!
Smart. Smart stuff. Ty
We had a blow out and had to use a red Andersen leveler / tire changer. With the blow out, all the weight was just on 1 axle anyway! SUPER SLOW AND CAREFUL and raised it BARELY enough to change the tire. It was quick and easy. Chocked up and attached to the truck, it was very stable. THANK THE LORD! the blow out was shoulder side and not traffic side!
That’s awesome and good to know. Thank you.
Zip Ties
Duct Tape
Bailing Wire
Heavy Duty Trash Bags
Trucker Bungie Cords
Good tips. Everyone should be “Prepper” minded. I don’t RV but I carry two spare tires for my cargo trailer. I wish campers had two spares as well.
We got a great little kit when we bought our trailer, we keep a little tool bag and goodies like batteries, bulbs, cables, etc. It has come in handy more than once. Love your site.
Yeah they’re not expensive and SUPER handy
I have learned the international Indian smoke signal code when out of cell range. That being said another good video to help people with real life stuff that happens. Keep this kind of content coming. Thanks.
So many great tips, Josh! We've been watching you for years and finally bought a Class A. Thanks!
Wow congrats! Mind dropping me a quick review at g.page/r/CdPcitNVx2nDEAg/review if you have a moment? It'll cost you nothing and I'd sure appreciate it!
Add the right lug tools or socket set lug wrench to remove tires in a emergency. Like a battery Impact wrench 3/4 drive been there needed that plus a proper jack for your unit
Good call
I have an on board air compressor and carry a 12 ton bottle air over hydraulic jack. I also put a block of wood between the axle or frame and the jack. Only lift the tire enough to clear the ground.
I'm new to camping and my brother told me about you. I greatly appreciate everything I have learned from you. I finished a first aid kit for my German shepherd Ava. It goes everywhere Ava goes.
I have heavy duty crush proof plastic corner pieces to put under that strapping. So strap doesn't crush corner of the RV. also a piece of pvc or matt of some kind to go behind the ratchet. That could damage the RV when cranking on it.
Best First Aid kit- Refuge Medical Adventure kit or BearFAK they are the best...pricey but will keep you alive. Always have one. Add the boo boo kit if you have littles.
Ty for the insight
@@JoshtheRVNerd Just got back from a beach RV trip...I forgot my jack and should have watched your video earlier....good ol Maypops strike again!
Ur awesome Josh the RV Nerd...so helpful n knowledgeable. Appreciate all the info brotha.
Glad to help
The ramp type we use on our gooseneck horse trailer for flats with no problem…
Ty. Good to know
All great advice! Thanks again Josh!
I like to thank you for your onisty and how you represent everything truthfully just thank you
For a future RV'r , you are helping take any stress out of the experience for me. Great, great video. And the additional things other folks have added below is awesome too! Thanks Josh!
Our pleasure!
most of the things mentioned here i have carried some version of in my cars and trucks for decades, and have used them on many occasions while out camping or even just day trips in the desert... especially jacks, they are good for more than just changing tires, be surprised how something as simple as being able to jack a tire off the ground, put a rock under it, put tire back down on the rock, can make the difference between continuing on your way or having to wait for someone to pull you out of whatever you stuck in... same for battery packs you can jump car from, saved by that quite a few times too. all good advice.
Yeah I actually keep one of those jump packs in the hatchback of my car all the time. Twice it's been handy!
Josh..Thanks for advice..few things I never thought of. I 'm going to keep this to go over😮 Lily ps appreciate your videos. You're so thorough unlike others I've seen..🎉
I try Lily. Thx for your continued visits and support!
I've used the ramp wedge. They seem to work well for us tandem axle people. They only lift the second wheel about 2-3" off the ground, just enough to get a tire off. In fact, I just used mine in April to repack my bearings. The point about the weight loading certainly isn't missed. I'm going to have to noodle on that one for a bit.
I am all for the ramp wedge. In the unlikely situation you damage an axle by using it, there is no doubt it is a darn lot cheaper and less complex to fix than what you would face when tweaking your frame by putting a bottle jack in the wrong place …
Ty so much. The input I’m hearing from people who have actually used them is very confidence inspiring and helpful
I always lift under the axle close to the bad tire, it takes the least amount of force and keeps the trailer level and safe. You have to lift the frame really high to unload the suspension and raise tire off the ground. Old, lazy mechanic 😉
I would add a folding shovel
I could see that being a good idea. TY
Great tip for jack positioning. Always have a pair of radios in the camper too. Really useful for emergencies. Love the Spare fuse tip. Not sure why there isn't a spare fuse holder built into those boxes but I would take several spares and a piece of tape and tape my spares to the flip down panel cover. You can go through several of those when you are troubleshooting.
Smart!
You asked about the drive-on trailer lift in this video. I have used one and keep it with me on every trip. When I used mine, there was no real good spot to place a jack. The ground was soft-ish and the drive on lift worked very well. Thanks for ALL of the videos you make. They're very informative and a lot of fun to watch. Keep up the good work.
I've seen similar feedback and it seems like those are REALLY highly regarded
TY so much for this feedback
Thanks nerd! We just spent more money on Amazon because of this video.
You certainly added some great ideas that we didn’t think of that we need on the road!
lol I'm still waiting on that thank you note from Bezos
Once again …. Thank you Josh!
I have and have had to use a floor jack on the side of the highway in Wyoming. Man o man! Reflectors, vest and lift the axle at the spring perch. Lifting right at the point the spring is pushing down will do no harm and not have a jack hyper extended to get to the frame. Watch any tire shop, they lift the axles and stand the frame. I have an aluminum floor jack from the tool store, and it has been worth every penny I spent on it. they are light and break down for storage. Nerd on Josh! love your vid.'s!!!
TY Ted. Glad you had the safety equipment to go with it
I had a chance to use the trailer aid flat tire ramp. I did crack each lug nut loose before I rolled her up. I was then able to quickly loosen each by hand. Then I hand tightened everything and rolled it off. Only then did I properly tighten everything up.
It worked like a charm.
Then I spent the next 2 hours thinking about the merits of having two spare tires 😀
Sounds like it’s a winner
Always appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge with us Josh. Great tips! Thank you! 😊
I hope they help a few folks!
Thanks, appreciate the information.
My pleasure, Bob!
Good info especially about flats. I had one on my last trip TPMS saved the day as I did not feel anything different with my double axle. But over a minute I lost 40 lbs of air on a drivers side tire. TPMS let me know. If not I would have driven on it till it disintegrated and damaged the RV. You also need a breaker bar to get those lugs loose. You need to do that before you lift it. You will need a torque wrench to set the proper ft lbs on the lugs before driving off. Trailer lugs are not something you want coming off because you put them on too loose.
Yeah I have a little older car and am getting a TPMS slapped onto it so I can feel more confidently while driving between our stores
Thanks for the links those are a huge help. One of those satellite garmin gadgets could be another option too for cell service. This video was very helpful.
I’ve heard some good things here in the comments on those Garmin satellite things. If I were in the middle of nowhere, then they seem like a really good idea
I carry the Trailer Aid ramp for tire changes. I had 3 blowouts on one trip (not at the same time), and the ramp worked great. I was able to get a tire changed in ten minutes without having to mess with a jack, and the RV suffered no ill effects.
Ty - this is great feedback
Great tips Josh, thank you sir for caring.
We try. TY :)
NOCO portable chargers are great. Greatly appreciate your tips
TY! I've seen quite a few people using those Noco units
Josh, Thanks for the videos about oops camping & things you really need to have. I have most but not all of these things. You may be a salesman but you give real time advice that people should pay attention to.
I'm not technically in sales but obviously you don't have to squint too hard to see i'm VERY sales-adjacent
I would recommend having a spare set of keys for the cab and the coach in a hiding spot just in case a key or two get lost/damaged.
Smart!
40 years ago as a child witnessed an RV fire in opposing traffic on a divided highway.
The RV was smoking, and some flames. It was parked on in the side of the road, with the family a safe distance watching it burn. They had a truck attached to the back, and kept hoping and praying they would think to detach the truck before it caught fire as well!
It was about 40 miles to the next exit and we stopped to call emergency services. It was about another 20 miles down the road a fire truck was running lights and sirens in the direction of the RV.
Moral of this story is "have an evacuation plan" Run fire drills.
Not only for internal fires, but for forest fires. How quick can you get that RV MOVING?
I'm diggin your videos so far Josh. First time travel trailer owner. 8 yr old Panther 16' bunkhouse. I have a lot to learn. Keep up the good work!
Thanks 👍
Josh, loved this little video. ❤ Whatever can happen, when you are prepared for it, it makes it a bit smoother. (Just like my Eagle Scout husband!!)
You're the best!!
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!
Wow! Great info! Thank you and for the many comments that are extremely helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
As a long time RV traveler in New Zealand I have four things I would like to throw in < first one being knowledge about both your RV and towing vehicle if you have one number two docking and undocking system that you use have a check list ! next one is planning your trip your find out a head of time which services are available to you on the way to your destination should you need them little research before you leave is never a bad idea finally travel buddies if you meet with people heading the same way share information and develop a check point system where you can meet up and share stories and just make sure everyone's accounted for and safe.
Great input. Ty