Hints, Tips and Great Ideas

Gerty Dancer · Guru

RE: Hints, Tips and Great Ideas

Cruising Granny · Guru

I carry hand sanitiser, rubber gloves and cotton gloves for fuelling up. I also carry hand cream and baby wipes to freshen up for times when I can't get to a roadhouse shower when I'm on the job.

goinsoon · Guru

mmmm! I just carry spare dunny paper for u kno wot

Gerty Dancer · Guru

And I hope you dont leave it lying around in the bush GS! Hope you also carry a spade?

goinsoon · Guru

Proud to say, we have never left toilet paper above ground.

In fact when we are camping with a fire we always put the toilet paper in a brown paper bag and burn it, we only bury when we cannot burn.

beiffe · Guru

A tip with you fire extinguisher is that it must be disturbed at regular intervals. If it is hung in the normal frame and left for when you need it it will not work.
I consider a good method of storage is to set the frame LEVEL and then every Monday twist it 60 degrees. This means every 6 weeks you have rotated your extinguisher 360 degrees. As you travel it will shake the powder loose from where it was the previous week to a new spot. This will then keep the powder loose and ready for use. To test get your extinguisher and give it a shake and see if you can feel the powder move. If not it will not work when needed, so shake till it does move or perhaps spend a few bucks and get a new one.

For the awning if you remove the top bolt and at a eye you can then use that to tie down the awning when camped.

if there is room above your door and below the awning when the awning is up you can affix stainless wire between the two legs with a trun buckle and you have a permanent clothes line. When you pull the awning out you have your line.

A tarp can be suspended from the end of your awning for a security screen when showering out side in free camp if the road or other campers are near.

A garden pressure spray makes a great shower. heat some water and then pump up the sprayer and you ahve a good shower , even with a tap. Take off the nossel if you prefer.

That should do for a while

Regards
Brian

Firefly · Guru

When in the warmer areas we like to go for a swim but sometimes the walk can be rather long. So to save having to carry too much gear, we take a camera which has a backpack style carry bag and room enough in the top pocket for drinks, sunscreen etc, Towels take up so much space so we bought the chamois type. They fold down to nothing in the bag.

Those style of towels, when purchased from sports stores and camping stores are quite expensive so one day when I was in one of the cheapie shops, I noticed some in the pet section.

I grabbed a pink one and a blue one and they have been brilliant and only cost about $5. They do have a little paw print on them but what the heck. smile

We also use poppers for a drink when we get to the swimming hole and freeze them so when we are ready to sip, its cold and keeps a sandwich at an edible temperature to boot.

Geoff n Jen · Senior Member

Everyone probably already does this, but I like a real glass for my wine So popping one that fits (the wine tasting style glass is perfect) in a neoprene stubby cooler keeps it from breaking even if it bounces around.

Lynjeff · Veteran Member

We use 'tiffins' ( Indian lunch box ) to take our picnics or lunch when hiking, kayaking etc,, They are made of stainless steel so can also be used to cook in, and our larger one has plates in between each compartment. We find them more durable than plastic containers.

Boroma577 · Guru

We've had canvas covers made to protect the awning arms from stone chips when traveling.

It also prevents the awning from unravelling during transit.

Geoff n Jen · Senior Member

You have sooo many great ideas smile

Dougwe · Chief one feather

The Martha Gardner of the caravan world

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Geoff n Jen wrote:
Everyone probably already does this, but I like a real glass for my wine So popping one that fits (the wine tasting style glass is perfect) in a neoprene stubby cooler keeps it from breaking even if it bounces around.

You ar SO RIGHT.... real wine glass and real coffee cup !! I fit mine inside stubby coolers.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I use an insulated stainless steel cup for wine, keeps it cool in the hot weather (when I'm drinking slowly) and no problems with breakage, plus the wine tastes as good as if in a proper glass.

Boroma577 · Guru

Rip and Rosie wrote:
You ar SO RIGHT.... real wine glass and real coffee cup !! I fit mine inside stubby coolers.

My crystal wine glasses live in their original box. The 'real' cups and crockery in general, live in the overhead cupboards and when we are about to travel I put the loose cushions from the lounge in to prevent them moving about.

So far so good, no breakages.

03_troopy · Guru

Lynjeff wrote:
We use 'tiffins' ( Indian lunch box ) to take our picnics or lunch when hiking, kayaking etc,, They are made of stainless steel so can also be used to cook in, and our larger one has plates in between each compartment. We find them more durable than plastic containers.

My grandad was born in Madras and often talked about dabbas (tiffin box or lunch box) and dabba wallahs, the man that delivered your tiffin or lunch by one of these. Or he might ask Nan "where's tiffin mummy?" It used to crack us up when we were kids. He still had an Indian accent when we lived with him in Queensland back in about 1968 for a while.

Beth54 · Guru

My sister and hubby use pewter for their wine. Found them in an op shop.

I like a proper mug for my tea,,love bone china, so I've been trying to find a Corelle mug, the old type,,,the new ones aren't as good,,,in an op shop. No luck so far, but I'll keep looking.

03_troopy · Guru

goinsoon wrote:
Proud to say, we have never left toilet paper above ground.
In fact when we are camping with a fire we always put the toilet paper in a brown paper bag and burn it, we only bury when we cannot burn.

Setting fire to toilet paper can be hazardous. If you don't believe me you can ask a couple of my mates from the RAAF who used to perform a strange dance on the roof of a toilet block in a certain street in Singapore back in the late 70's to 80's.

Boroma577 · Guru

Can you guys please move your chat to the other thread?

We are trying to keep this one relative to the topic so it will be easier for members to find the info.

Here is the other chat one. http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t46497120/re-banter-on-hints-tips-and-great-ideas/

Thanks.

-- Edited by Boroma577 on Friday 2nd of December 2011 10:03:53 PM

grumpy-j · Senior Member

Our van is set up with LED & Fluro lighting which is energy efficient when free camping.

As our tug is not fitted with a duel battery system & we only free camp for short periods usually overnight or 1-2 days, I didn't want to invest in solar or purchasing a generator so I made up a 12v lead that fits my Jump Start Heavy Duty Battery.

This lead is fitted with both a anderson and a female 7 pin plug (back to back). This gives us flexability to extend power for lighting and 12v Tv or short time running of the fridge on 12v (eg - while having lunch at roadside stops without running the ute battery down).

Havn't had to use it much but works fine.

Cheers,

John

-- Edited by grumpy-j on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 02:08:19 PM

-- Edited by grumpy-j on Saturday 3rd of December 2011 10:08:06 PM

shazartist · Senior Member

Beth54 wrote:
"I've been trying to find a Corelle mug, the old type,,,the new ones aren't as good"
I am with you beth, I purchased a whole lot of corelle for our boat 18 years ago...I just unpacked it and put it in Oly, I could not get over how superior the quality was to the stuff they are selling now, and I like it just as much as a normal cup, it is actually smoother and finer than cheaper china.
Ikea has the best none slip plastic to line your shelves with, comes in clear and grey....it is not porous and really does work.
cheers Sharon

Boroma577 · Guru

If you are camping/traveling etc in the summer months this is a must have.

Get yourself one of these Fly Traps and make sure you place it down wind and the smellier it gets the more flies it attracts.

No need to load up with another sachet of the bait, just top the original one up. It will last quite some time depending on how long it takes to fill.

Have attached a pic..it is a bit gross but you can see it definitely does work.

rvtraveller2 · Senior Member

Boroma577 wrote:

If you are camping/traveling etc in the summer months this is a must have.
Get yourself one of these Fly Traps and make sure you place it down wind and the smellier it gets the more flies it attracts.
No need to load up with another sachet of the bait, just top the original one up. It will last quite some time depending on how long it takes to fill.
Have attached a pic..it is a bit gross but you can see it definitely does work.

Yes they are very good does not take long for the pests to find there way to there death,just need ten of them here in the west around the van.Yeah they are gross but a good fly is a dead one.

Boroma577 · Guru

I have 3 sets of these Magic Lock bag sealers; bought them from a camping show in Brissy last year.

I use them all the time and very strongly recommend if you see them anywhere....grab them. They don't take up much room either.

I found a link on the web to show you: http://www.idemo.com.au/shop/Magic-Lock-Bag-Sealers.html

Geoff n Jen · Senior Member

Got em love em, have you seen the silicone lids that fit everything and can be used as pot holders and heat mats etc. same people sold them at Eumundi Markets the lid comes in 3 sizes is flat and you just sit it on top of your say salad bowl and give it a tap and it's sealed, place on top of dishes in the microwave (but don't tap n seal). They sit flat in the draw and have many uses, really great Idea.

Boroma577 · Guru

Geoff n Jen wrote:
Got em love em, have you seen the silicone lids that fit everything and can be used as pot holders and heat mats etc. same people sold them at Eumundi Markets the lid comes in 3 sizes is flat and you just sit it on top of your say salad bowl and give it a tap and it's sealed, place on top of dishes in the microwave (but don't tap n seal). They sit flat in the draw and have many uses, really great Idea.

Yes I have but did not get them as they are too big for the fridge in the van. I got 2 sets of the other ones you use in place of glad wrap.

goinsoon · Guru

AWNING

rvtraveller2 · Senior Member

RE: Hints, Tips and Great Ideas

grumpy-j · Senior Member

When I go bush I always take my Handy-Wash bucket.

Dirty cloths can be put in the Handy-Wash bucket with water & detergent and the lid sealed by pressing the centre to form a vacuum to prevent the lid coming off during travel. The motion during travelling washes the cloths.

When arriving at your destination its a quick couple of plunges with the other lid and the cloths are ready for rinsing and hanging out to dry.

We also use a pegless cloths line that fits across the awning.