Overlanding Tool Kit Essentials for Off-Grid Camper Vans

Whether you're driving on the America's highways or adventuring deep into deserts of Southern Utah, having the right tools with you can mean the difference between a small hiccup and an offroad recovery emergency.

What's In Your Onboard Overlanding Tool Kit?

Today, we're diving into something every overlander needs to think about: your onboard overlanding toolkit. At Off Highway Van, we've compiled two overlanding kits with tools that we won't leave home without when we hit the road.

Basic Overlanding Safety Kit Essentials

This basic safety kit includes everything that you should carry whether you're camping, road tripping, or even commuting.

What's In The Basic Kit?

1. 1/2" Drive Breaker Bar And Lug Nut Socket

   

   1. A flat tire is the most common issue you'll run into. Most factory tire irons are flimsy. This breaker bar gives you all the leverage you need to loosen the lug nuts on your van without having to fight them or turn into Popeye to get them loose after a long day offroad.

2. Tire Pressure Gauge + Compressor Adapter

   

   1. Air pressure is critical, especially if you're adjusting for offroad terrain. You'll want to drop PSI in youtr tires when you're on dirt or sand and air back up for pavement. This gauge and compressor attachment combo makes that process quick and easy.

3. Fuse Assortment Kit

   

   1. Electrical problems can seem intimidating and difficult to diagnose, however, most of the time, blown fuses are often the culprit and are very easy to replace on the fly. Carrying extra fuses ensures you wont lose your lights, fridge, or other electronics over a simple blown fuse.

4. 5-In-1 Screwdriver

   

   1. Compact, versatile, and can save you the hassle of carrying your entire toolkit on the road. Tightening a loose hinge, swapping a battery terminal, this little tool can handle it all.

5. Gorilla Tape

   

   1. The MaxGyver fix for just about anything. Cracked hose? Broken trim? Fabric patching? Taken care of (at least temporarily until your can repair it properly).

6. USB Lights

   

   1. These small but efficient lights can help you see in, under, and around your van when diagnosing and working on problems.

7. Extension Cord + Shore Power Adapter

   

   1. If you run out of battery, your lights, fridge, stove and shower will all cease functionality. This adapter and power cord allow you to hook up to campsite shore power, direct power from your home, or other power source to recharge your van's battery systems.

   
   

With these 7 tools in the basics kit, you should be able to tackle most basic fixes on your camper van and keep yourself on the road until you can permanently fix whatever issue has arisen.

The Off Highway Van Overlanding Tool Kit

This upgraded kit adds the extra recovery and offroading gear you're going to want to get off the beaten path.

If you're heading offroad or exploring more remote areas, this kit will provide everything you will need to truly be prepared.

1. Standard-Duty Tow Strap

   

   1. This tow strap is great for lighter recoveries, like pulling your friends out of the mud. Just make sure you know the weight of the vehicles you're recovering so you don't accidentally exceed the tow rope's capacity.

2. Extreme-Duty Kinetic Energy Rope

   

   1. This is the offroad recovery heavy hitter. This tow rope has a much higher weight capacity and, unlike a static strap, it stretches and uses stored energy to yank a stuck vehicle out of deep sand, snow, or mud without the harsh jolt you expect from a standard tow rope. If you mainly offroad, this rope should be an essential part of your recovery kit.

3. Soft Shackles

   

   1. The soft shackle is a modern, versatile replacement for metal shackles. It's lighter, safer, and they wont rattle around. This is the perfect way to attach tow straps and ropes to recovery points that may be difficult to access or impossible to connect to with a standard tow strap.

4. Hitch Receiver Shackle Mount

   

   1. This little tool turns your standard hitch into one of the strongest, most usable recovery points on your van. Combine this with your soft shackles and strap or rope and now you have a reliable, easy-to-access anchor point.

5. Hitch Lock

   

   1. This hitch lock keeps your mount secure and prevents theft of any hitch mounted accessories you may install on your van. Simple but smart. Just the way we like it.

6. Flat-Jack

   

   1. Flat-Jack is an inflatable jack that uses an air compressor (like our ARB Onboard Air Compressor) to lift the side of your rig. The wide footprint spreads out the weight and load so you can change a tire or even get yourself unstuck in soft, challenging terrain.

7. Mechanic's Gloves

   

   1. No matter how tough you think your hands are, recovery work is hard on them. Mechanic's Gloves are great at protecting you from sharp metal edges, hot exhaust systems, and general rough areas that aren't very fun to rub your hands across when you're already troubleshooting an issue with your van.

8. Leatherman Multi-Tool

   

   1. The 5 in 1 screwdriver got into the steroids. Pliers, blades, screwdrivers, bottle openers, files... everything you need from your toolkit all in one convenient package.

9. Headlamp

   

   1. If something goes wrong after the sun goes down, the last thing you want to be doing is working with one hand and trying to hold a flashlight with the other. Holding a flashlight in your teeth while changing a tire is possible, but it really adds insult to injury.

10. Folding Saw

    

    1. Trails get blocked all the time by downed trees, branches, and general shrubbery overgrowth. With this compact, folding saw, you can clear your own path instead of turning around

    
    

Confidence Inspiring By Design

The Overland Recovery Kit from Off Highway Van is designed to give you complete confidence when venturing into remote terrain. With tools ranging from light-duty essentials like the tow strap and multi-tool to heavy-duty gear like the kinetic energy rope and Flat-Jack, this kit ensures you’re prepared for everything from simple trail obstacles to serious recoveries. Soft shackles and a hitch receiver mount provide safe and reliable connection points, while the hitch lock keeps your gear secure.

Ready to Build Your Own Overlanding Van?

Ready to take your adventures further? At Off Highway Van, our team of experts is here to guide you through every step of your overlanding van build.

Whether you’re curious about layout options, off-grid power systems, or rugged accessories designed for the trail, we’ll help you create a van that’s built to match your lifestyle and your journeys. Contact us today to learn more and start planning the ultimate adventure vehicle.