🚙 Explore My Tow Vehicle Essentials

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Your tow vehicle is just as important as your Casita. A few well-chosen accessories can make towing safer, camping easier, and unexpected situations a lot less stressful.

Most of the gear in my tow vehicle isn’t there because I expect something to go wrong—it’s there just in case it does. Hopefully you’ll never need most of these items, but if you do, they can turn what might have been a ruined camping trip into a minor inconvenience.

Let’s take a look…

🛡️ Safety & Emergency

🔋 NOCO Boost Plus Jump Starter

It’s almost inevitable. At some point you’ll accidentally leave an interior light on while packing or unpacking your tow vehicle.

There’s nothing worse than waking up to a beautiful morning, ready for a day of adventure, only to turn the key and discover your tow vehicle has a dead battery.

For years I carried a set of jumper cables. They were bulky, difficult to roll back up, and you still had to hope another camper was willing—and available—to give you a jump.

Then I bought a NOCO Boost Plus.

Problem solved.

It takes up very little room, stays in my 4Runner all the time, and gives me the confidence that I can get back on the road without depending on anyone else. It’s one of those tools I hope I never need, but I’m always glad it’s there.

💡 Road Ready Tip: I make it a habit to recharge my NOCO every few months, even if I haven’t used it. That way it’s always ready when I need it. As an added bonus, it also doubles as a USB power bank for charging your phone or other small electronics during an emergency.

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🛞 Tire Plug Repair Kit

Fortunately, I’ve only had to use my tire plug kit once—but when I needed it, I was sure glad I had it.

I was fishing at Lake Isabelle, Colorado, when a rainstorm rolled in. After packing up my gear and hiking back to my 4Runner, I discovered the left front tire was completely flat.

Luckily, I found the nail without even taking the wheel off. I plugged the tire right there in the parking lot and was back on the road in no time.

The nearest service station was probably 30 miles away, so what could have turned into a long, frustrating day became a minor inconvenience instead.

💡 Road Ready Tip: I always carry a pair of needle-nose pliers with my tire plug kit. They’re invaluable for pulling out nails or screws before installing the plug. And if you’ve never used a plug kit before, spend a few minutes watching a couple of videos or practicing at home. It’s a simple skill that can save a camping trip.

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💨 VIAIR 88P Portable Air Compressor

If you ever have to plug a tire like I did at Lake Isabelle, you’re going to need a way to air it back up.

After plugging my tire, all I had was a cheap portable air compressor. It took what seemed like forever to inflate the tire. The compressor became so hot that it shut itself down several times, forcing me to sit in the rain and wait for it to cool off before I could continue.

That was the last time I trusted a bargain air compressor.

I replaced it with a VIAIR 88P Portable Air Compressor, and I’ve never looked back. It inflates tires much faster, runs more reliably, and gives me the confidence that if I ever need it again, I won’t be stranded waiting on an overheated compressor.

💡 Road Ready Tip: If you’re carrying a tire plug kit, you should also carry a quality air compressor. The two go hand in hand. A tire plug won’t do you much good if you don’t have a dependable way to inflate the tire afterward.

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🔦 Rechargeable LED Flashlight

Working on a vehicle after dark is hard enough. A dependable flashlight makes the job safer, easier, and a lot less frustrating.

A bright, rechargeable flashlight is one of those items I hope I never have to use in an emergency, but I’m always glad it’s riding in my 4Runner. Whether you’re checking under the hood, changing a tire, or making a repair on the side of the road, good lighting makes the job safer and a whole lot easier.

💡 Road Ready Tip: Whenever you’re stopped on the shoulder of a road, your safety comes first. I recommend carrying a set of DOT-approved reflective warning triangles and placing them behind your vehicle to alert approaching traffic before you begin working. A good flashlight helps you see what you’re doing, while the warning triangles help other drivers see you.

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🩹 BAND-AID® Brand First Aid Kit

One thing that often gets overlooked is carrying a good first aid kit.

When you’re camping, it’s easy to get a small cut, scrape, splinter, or burn while cooking, hiking, setting up camp, or working around your trailer. Having a first aid kit close by means you can take care of those minor injuries quickly and get back to enjoying your trip.

This BAND-AID® Brand First Aid Kit is the one I keep in my Casita closet, where it’s easy to grab whenever it’s needed.

💡 Road Ready Tip: Take a few minutes at the beginning of each camping season to check your first aid kit. Replace anything you’ve used, and make sure medications, antiseptic wipes, and ointments haven’t expired.

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🛠️ My Recommended Towing Gear

These are the towing accessories I use every time I hook up my Casita. Rather than repeating everything here, I’ve covered how to use each of these items in detail in my Safe Towing Guide.

If you’re new to towing, I highly recommend reading my guide first. 🟢 Explore My Safe Towing Guide →

• Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Brake Controller — The brake controller I’ve trusted for years. Since it’s becoming difficult to find, I recommend the REDARC Tow-Pro Elite if you’re buying a new brake controller today.
• Wheel Chocks — Always chock the trailer before unhitching or leveling.
• Torque Wrench — I recheck my lug nut torque before every trip and after any wheel service.
• Hitch Lock — Added security whenever the trailer is parked or stored.

🔒 Trailer Coupler Latch Lock

The last thing you want is for your trailer coupler latch to accidentally open while you’re traveling—or for someone to tamper with it while you’re parked at a campground, restaurant, or grocery store.

A simple coupler latch lock keeps the latch securely closed and adds an extra layer of security whenever your Casita is hitched to your tow vehicle. It’s inexpensive, takes only seconds to install, and gives me one less thing to worry about on the road.

💡 Road Ready Tip: I install my latch lock every time I hitch up. While it’s not a substitute for properly coupling your trailer and using your safety chains, it provides extra peace of mind and helps discourage tampering when you’re away from your vehicle.

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🚙 CURT Extended Hitch Mount

In my Safe Towing Guide, I talk about how important it is to tow your Casita level.

My stock Toyota 4Runner had two problems with the factory hitch setup. The ball mount wasn’t high enough, causing the front of my Casita to ride low, and it wasn’t long enough for me to fully open the rear liftgate without it hitting the trailer jack.

I solved both problems with a CURT extended hitch mount. By flipping the mount to provide a 2-inch rise, my Casita now tows level, and the extra length gives me enough clearance to fully open the liftgate while hitched.

💡 Road Ready Tip: If you tow with a stock SUV and have trouble getting your trailer level or can’t fully open your rear hatch while hitched, an extended hitch mount with the proper rise or drop may solve both problems. Just be sure to choose one that’s rated for your trailer’s weight and tongue weight.

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🧰 Tools & Maintenance

🧰 Basic Tool Kit

Every traveler should carry a basic tool kit.

I don’t care how well prepared you think you are—every camping trip seems to present something that needs a little attention. It might be tightening a loose screw, adjusting a cabinet latch, fixing a lawn chair, or making a quick repair around the campsite.

A basic tool kit has saved me countless trips to the campground store or nearby hardware store. It’s one of those things I hope I don’t need often, but I’m always glad it’s riding along.

💡 Road Ready Tip: You don’t need a giant mechanic’s toolbox. A compact tool kit with the basics—screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench, sockets, Allen wrenches, utility knife, and a few zip ties—will handle most camping repairs.

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🔌 Digital Multimeter

Another tool I wouldn’t leave home without is a digital multimeter.

Whether you’re troubleshooting a power issue in your Casita or diagnosing a problem with your 4Runner, a multimeter can quickly help you determine whether you have power where you should—or where you shouldn’t.

This may be one of the most valuable tools you can carry. It has the potential to keep your Casita out of the repair shop and help you solve simple electrical problems right at the campsite.

💡 Road Ready Tip: If you’ve never used a multimeter before, don’t let it intimidate you. It’s much easier to learn than most people think. There are countless YouTube videos that teach the basics, and once you understand how to check voltage and continuity, you’ll wonder how you ever camped without one.

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