This is absolutely fantastic...we don't even have the 303 yet & now I already have 10+ projects to prepare for! Really, this is incredibly helpful. Thanks so much for taking the time to post this Rob.

That strange star-shaped socket that looks like Torx is called a double square socket. As discovered, a #2 Roberston fits.

Recently Home Depot had a deal going on tools and the deal on a pair of batteries & charger was pretty good all by itself - but then I got to choose a tool to go with the batteries for no extra cost and I chose the inflator thinking it might come in handy on a road trip. Actually wound up using it the first time while setting up the TPMS on the trailer tires - despite having 2 very good quality tire pressure gauges wasn't getting the tire pressure on the 4 tires to match on the TPMS. Grabbed the inflator, input the pressure I wanted, then let a little out of each tire to have them just below the desired psi, then ran the inflator on the tires and installed the TPMS - all 4 tires match with the same psi!
The brand I've used for years is Makita (have one drill that's close to 35 years old so have been impressed with how they hold up) - and the model is the Makita DMP180ZX 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Inflator.
Has adapters for inflating sports balls for grandkids, and other inflatable items, clips on the valve stem with no issues, digital readout so you set the tire pressure you want and it will automatically stop when the pressure is reached and will go up to 120 psi. Relatively quiet compared to my pancake air compressor which I'd been thinking of carrying with us on our upcoming trip - but takes up a lot less space and doesn't add much weight.
Assuming other brands will have similar features?

Anyway, it's my new favorite tool!
Very much like that I can air up a tire wherever we happen to be if the need arises.
Chris

I hear ya. We only just got the 303 home before snow time. So it's too cold out there to do any projects now, but I already have a list and am buying tools and material. Might not have time to go camping next year.....

TheNescios
Thanks for the tip on the inflator. All my cordless tools are Makita 18V (probably 20+ tools . . . have been using these for years) . . . I can see an addition coming to my collection .

Rob

TheNescios
Hi Chris,

Based on your description, I have acquired a Makita 18V inflator. (Merry Christmas to me ) Definitely a quality tool (as are all Makita tools . . . particularly their 18V collection). I have not exercised this thing fully yet, but the specs are 5 minutes on and 5 minutes cool down. It works exactly as you describe.

Thanks for the tip!
Rob

Being an electrician I really appreciate the quality of Fluke meters. That being said, IMO, they are way too expensive for the average RV diy project. With an RV you are really just looking for power or lack thereof. There are lots of cheaper meters that can tell you whether you have power or not.
I have five Fluke meters, but it's for my career in computer control. If I was just buying for RV work, it would be a $50 meter.

Rob, I'm glad the information was useful!
I didn't know these things existed but it seems like all the major brands have them - not sure if I just didn't notice them or if they're a new product?
We're getting ready for a 1600 mile trip Jan 01 and I really like that I can make sure we have the right pressure no matter where we are in our journey - no need to find a place with air or drag a compressor out and plug it in.
Good trip is much like a good building - if the foundation (in this case the tires) is in good shape, then the rest has a decent chance of doing well - bad foundation and it really doesn't matter what you stack on top.
Hope you and everyone reading this have a good Christmas!
Chris

Scott,
100% agree with what you've said, Fluke meters are absolutely the best meters - but more than most of us need.
I actually have a Fluke that I've had for close to 35 years that still performs as well as anything I could purchase new today - have had it since my days as a marine engineer on ships & tugs working with multiple generators & large switchboards. No way could I justify purchasing such a meter today and realistically, why would I need to monitor whether my power was 59.2 or 60.3 cycles in an RV?
Earlier this year I gifted it to my brother in law who works on AC units and transitioned to a more basic multi-meter - it's all I'll need and it's something he can & does use many of the features quite often - not to mention he's a great guy who'd never purchase something this nice for himself.
Hope you and everyone reading this have a good Christmas!
Chris

Each to their own. I bought the Fluke 381 especially for its removable display feature. I can clamp the meter somewhere easily-accessible (usually in the battery compartment) and then take the display somewhere else where I activate circuits and observe the result there.

I too have great experience with Fluke. I have a Fluke 289 multimeter that's survived nearly 20 years in often-rugged conditions and has never hiccupped, and a couple of other great Fluke tools. During that period I've bought three other small simple multimeters for $25-$50 (for setting up portable antennas) because they were small and light and I needed only continuity and resistance measurement. The first two failed, the third hasn't seen much use yet.

I became uncompromising in purchasing tools after compromising a few times to save money in buying a tool and then spending more money to get the right tool. Each to their own, right?

For sure. It's a great meter. I'm not faulting you for buying that meter. But very few people on an RV forum will know how to make use of it's abilities.

Yeah I keep a fluke 115 in the RV as a compromise. It's held up very well and is a fluke like I'm used to but no clamp features, and is more affordable than the 87 I carry for work. For clamp work I carry a cheap DC clamp meter I found on Amazon.

I just bought the Ryobi inflator, what a handy little tool. Topped off my air bags on the PU in 4 minutes. No more dragging out the big compressor!

One of the following is useful for tracing and testing continuity / shorts on coaxial cables in the trailer.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-To...-101/302793719

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-C...Meter/50278121

Other than what everyone has mentioned, this mini clamp meter is nice to have and not expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1