camping tips to make life easier on the road.

[2goofycampers]

The RV tech tips were so complicated, lets help eachother out with simple tips. To keep stuff from burning in camper ovens, put an air bake cookie sheet on the shelf over the flame, everything cooks evenly, No more burnt biscuits !

 

[2goofycampers]

I zip tied a 6 inch pv pipe to underneath the back tt bumper with ends on it for my fish poles. now they do not get tangled. and I have more room in the storage. it holds 4 poles. total cost $75.00.

 

[4mickey2]

i have heard that if you put broken pieces of a flea collar in outside compartments, it will keep spiders and bugs out..

 

[disney4dan]

Those ideas sound pretty good. I seem to recall someone suggesting Borax around the tires and tongue jack to keep ants out of the RV? Anyone tried this? Also - are ants a problem in the Fort?

 

[2goofycampers]

Out of countless times at the Ft. we only once had an ant problem. here is what we use. Terro liquid ant baits. no mess, easy, works well and you don't have to worry about people or pets walking thru it-- or licking it up. you can find it at Lowes.

 

[MadFF]

We don't do a lot of cooking in the oven, but when we do we always try to use a pizza stone or a stoneware baking dish. I think my wife got them from Pampered Chef, because we needed smaller than "normal" size and most cooking stores didn't have the size.

The RV tech tips were so complicated, lets help eachother out with simple tips. To keep stuff from burning in camper ovens, put an air bake cookie sheet on the shelf over the flame, everything cooks evenly, No more burnt biscuits !

 

[cyberdeb]

Those ideas sound pretty good. I seem to recall someone suggesting Borax around the tires and tongue jack to keep ants out of the RV? Anyone tried this? Also - are ants a problem in the Fort?

We had an ant problem on the way to the fort. We stopped for the night just below Jacksonville at a motel and parked the truck with our Pop Up at the back of the lot. Well the ants got into the truck via the wires connecting the pop up to truck. There was a huge trail of ants all through the truck/Van from the back door all the way up to just behind the drivers seat into the trash can where my mil left a bunch of food. What a mess! Dh had to find a car wash to vacuum them out. I was itching the rest of the drive.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I keep a good sized rubbermaid box that I have labled "Base camp supplies". In it, I've organized things we need for every trip (flashlights, matches, trash bags, etc.) Taped to the under side of the box I have a list of everything in the box and its location. This paper is in a plastic sleeve. When I run low of something, I write it on the plastic sleeve with dry erase marker. It took some time to put the box together, but it sure is convenient now!

 

[clkelley]

When I was strictly tent camping with the boys in Scouts, I got a bin for each of us and loaded everything in that bin needed for a weekend camping trip loaded in the bin in the order that it needed to be pulled out. I took the tent out of the bag.

On top was the flashlight or battery lantern, then groundcloth, then tent, then poles and stake bag, then rainfly, then inside groundcloth, then air mattress, then bedding. Also tucked in the large bin was a small plastic box with mess kit, bug stuff, sunscreen, personal first aid kit, emergency ponchos, toiletries, etc. Then obviously, if you loaded the bin back up as you packed up, everything should be in the bin in the same order.

That way for our camping trips all I had to do was put the three bins in the back of the truck and we each packed a small bag with clothes.

 

[auntie]

If you have a bike rack that attaches to the rear of the trailer or truck..(hitch mounted) it can double as a place to hang your beach or pool towels. The rack we have holds four bikes. When the bikes are removed at the campground, I've found that you can place thin pieces of PVC piping through the same location that grabs the bars on the bikes. Secure them the same way you would the bikes. Extending a couple of feet on each side. You can hang a towel or wet suit on either side..eight locations. They are out of the way, yet no clothes line(which some campgrounds prefer you don't hang) The thin pvc piping stores nicely in the rear bumper of the trailer.

 

[hoosiergirl]

PolynesianPixie, do you mind sharing what's on your list? That would be a great starting place for making my own!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

PolynesianPixie, do you mind sharing what's on your list? That would be a great starting place for making my own!

You bet! I have to get the box out of the pop-up, but just as soon as I do, I'll share!

 

[hoosiergirl]

You bet! I have to get the box out of the pop-up, but just as soon as I do, I'll share!

Thanks! BTW, I noticed you changed the pictures in your signature. What a sweet family!

 

[chief19spixi]

Ahh as I sit here and think of the many tips I could possibly offer one main tip comes to mind!! HELP YOUR SPOUSE..SIG OTHER ECT ECT

I have seen many times while out camping.. the guy/gal gets out several times to make sure that he or she is not going to hit anyone or anything with their rig or whatever it may be and then once its all properly parked they begin to do the set up while their sig other is still sitting in the car/truck not moving a inch! Then when they finally get out they begin to complain about how things are set up, parked ect ect!!

I LOVE to help park the beast and I LOVE to set up! DH and I work very well when it comes to parking, set up and tear down! BUT only if I get to use the Drill to put the jacks down!! If I don't get to do it there will be war!!

<-------DH

 

[DavidH]

chief19spixi - I agree, but only if your spouse WANTS help. My DW (who I love dearly) just gets in the way when she tries to help - arms at side "that way" or out of sight mumbling something about a tree. I still love her dearly!!!!

I can back up by myself and really enjoy the "process" of setting up. When she really wants to help, I stand her where I want the back corner of the camper to end up and tell her to yell if I'm about to hit her
Last summer, they all decided to help set up I finally sent them ALL to the store to get me some ice cream.


My tip: I've developed a grocery/pantry list for the meals MY family will eat while camping. The list is everything from salt/pepper to the stuff for smores. Before each trip, I check off what's in the house, use the rest for a shopping list and then make sure it all goes into the camper. Hungry campers are not happy campers!!!

Have fun,
David

 

[MadFF]

If you have kids, and are not planning on staying long enough to use laundry machines (weekend camping), keep one set of clean clothes for each kid in a separate area. This is for when you leave, so that you know your kids will have a clean set of clothes for the trip home. We used to keep a set of kids clothes in "Mom and Dad's" shelves.

When we first started camping, more than once when we were about to leave for home, a couple wet, mud covered kids went to jump in the truck for the 3 hour ride home...

 

[Sinclare]

One thing we have done is to use large plastic tubs with locking lids (not actual locks just comes over the top) for all our clothes and gear. It's much more practical than suitcases for camping and waterproof in case of leaks.

This year though I plan on trying a different approach for clothes. I'm going to get the plastic storage "drawers" from walmart. That way we can seperate the clothes into drawers to make things easier to find. I figure 2 of the 5 drawer "towers" from Walmart will store the same amount as one of the big storage tubs in about the same space.

Either way you end up with a nice compact, leak resistant, and durable storage medium for tenting. It also packs well in the bed of a truck. Here is an example of how it looks after I get it packed up each year; I like to put a tarp and net over it for additional protection on the way down: (that look on his face is the packing up to go home look Gotta say I always feel the same way)

 

[Kimbere]

We pack everything we need for any camping trip, all in the camper. No luggage or bags, except for the beach bag I keep in the camper all the time. I love being able to load all of our clothes into their respective spots, put the food in the fridge and cupboard and be done!!

 

[2goofycampers]

we bought an electric roasting pan [also doubles as crock pot] from Sam's club, it's huge. you can cook a complete dinner for your family in it or a 22 lb turkey. we put in on the picnic table outside. no smelling up the camper with the corned beef and cabbage, and I am not using our Lp gas. this would be great for tent campers too.

 

[clkelley]

One thing we have done is to use large plastic tubs with locking lids (not actual locks just comes over the top) for all our clothes and gear. It's much more practical than suitcases for camping and waterproof in case of leaks.

This year though I plan on trying a different approach for clothes. I'm going to get the plastic storage "drawers" from walmart. That way we can seperate the clothes into drawers to make things easier to find. I figure 2 of the 5 drawer "towers" from Walmart will store the same amount as one of the big storage tubs in about the same space.

Either way you end up with a nice compact, leak resistant, and durable storage medium for tenting. It also packs well in the bed of a truck. Here is an example of how it looks after I get it packed up each year; I like to put a tarp and net over it for additional protection on the way down: (that look on his face is the packing up to go home look Gotta say I always feel the same way)

I've used the plastic drawer thing for awhile now. It sure beats digging through a bin, bag, or footlocker. I also have a portable clothes hanging rod.