A battery powered, variable speed, reversing drill with magnetized hex head bits, is the single most helpful tool there is for working on mobile homes. Nothing else comes close.
Why is that so? Mobile homes have hundreds of screws and they all tend to work loose over time. They also get rusty, fall out, and no longer hold well.
A battery powered drill is nice because you don’t have to fool around with the cord. You don’t get it wrapped around your feet or legs while you are up on the ladder working near the roof line or drip rail. If you buy it with two batteries you can probably work all day, because the first battery will have recharged before the second one runs down. However, it is better to have any drill then none at all, so if your budget won’t cover a cordless model, by all means get a corded one. It will have more torque (twist power) and do a good job, just a little less convenient to use.
Reversing is essential because you will be removing as many screws as you tighten. It is very handy to just push a button with your thumb or index finger to make the drill turn the other way.
You need a 3/8″ and a 5/16″ magnetized hex head bits. These two sizes will fit almost all screws in a mobile home. When the bits are magnetized it makes it easy to put a screw in the bit and reach over your head to drive it. You DO NOT want to be standing on the top rung of your ladder and using both hands to hold the drill and position the screw.
Power drills make starting screws easy, compared to starting them by hand. MUCH less wear and tear on your arms (no tennis elbow).
For older homes where many screws are loose, missing, and/or rusted, I would suggest replacing them with new screws. Take a couple of your old screws to a nuts/bolts/screws specialty place-NOT your local home improvement center. You will be able to buy a thousand new screws a little larger than the old ones very reasonably. That will be enough to replace all the old screws with ones that actually hold. The fresh galvanizing means you can paint your house without a rust problem. It will make a nice project for your new drill.
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