By Cheri Sicard
Jared Gillis from All About RVs is back with another terrific video, this time addressing RV spare parts.
We all know we should carry spare parts like spare tires. But Jared says it’s important to keep some other RV spare parts on hand, as well, in order to ensure you never get stranded by the side of the road, or stuck somewhere far from home waiting on a spare part to arrive.
Jared prepared a list of the items he feels are most important to keep on hand and why. So what’s on Jared’s RV spare parts list? Let’s explore.
• A spare tire – It’s obvious, but you do want to make sure your spare is in useable condition.
• Fuses – For 12-volt power inside the RV. No fuse and you could get stuck without a much-needed appliance. Here are some standard RV fuses that will come in handy.
• Leaf springs, bearings, shackles, and bolts – These items can prevent you from getting stuck on the side of the road. Jared owns a 5th wheel and these are the items he has seen break and subsequently damage the suspension. You may not need to carry all these things all the time, but if you are headed for parts far and remote, you might want to give yourself some extra insurance and have them on hand, as they may be difficult to find or obtain on your travels.
• EternaBond® Tape and Alpha TPO Roof Sealant – These items can help in rain if your RV develops leaks.
• Electric connectors and crimp fittings – These can help if you have to adjust any electrical connections.
• Plumbing parts – Within this subcategory, Jared recommends carrying a crimp tool, PEX crimp clamps, PEX fittings, and a SharkBite™ cap.
Jared has a few other tips and items, so watch the video, make yourself an RV spare parts kit, and be ready for whatever the road throws at you.
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RVT1244
If you have an Atwood/Dometic water heater, carry two parts:
As there is always a concern about weight, leaf springs aren’t on my list for extra parts. I suppose you could also throw in an extra axle. AND, if such a part should break (aren’t most of us as RV Travel readers over 55) then who’s going to change the broken part. My days of changing shackles are far behind me.
I think this was more important in the days before Amazon. The thermal fuse can be bypassed without replacing it temporarily. In over 30 years on the road I’ve never replaced plumbing parts, but I’ve used Rescue tape once or twice.
Because we’ve been felled three times by a fried power inverter over the long years, I always carry a spare. Expensive, but a 15 minute repair can save a whole vacation in a remote location. I’m considering a spare water pump as well, as I’ve currently got a dead one – third in ten years.
I carry a spare macerator hose. For those times when you drive 300 miles not realizing it is hanging out of its compartment trying to escape.
Some one on this a few years ago, on this site said propane regulator. I thought when was the last time I had one fail while traveling. Never, well last spring had one fail on my 5th wheel coming back from Florida. It was 35 degrees outside, wind blowing, here we are with no furnace and no stove to cook dinner on. Stopped at Camping world, drove 40 miles, set up at campground, installed new regulator. Hoses had wrong fitting, looked locally couldn’t find right ones. drove 40 miles back to Camping World to get correct hoses. Every thing works.
Anyways, I carry a spare regulator with me now, that will work with the hoses I now have.
Silicon self sticking tape. Good for both plumbing and electrical failures.
My first two Bounders came with a mounted spare tire. My 2020 Pace Arrow diesel does not have a spare and there is no possible place to carry one. I don’t like that but in truth if I had one, I am not strong enough to lift it nor do I have the air tools required to remove and reinstall the large lug nuts.