camping tips to make life easier on the road.

[PolynesianPixie]

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

Thanks!

I haven't been able to get in the pop-up yet. I went down there and it is locked up tight. The keys are not in their useual place, so I'll have to check with DH to find out where he lost..er, I mean put them.

I'll do my best from memory, but I may come back and edit later:

The box is around the 35 gallon size. I labeled 7 or so 2 gallon zip lock bags with #s 1-7. For things I need to get to quickly, I have self-stick velcro to hold them onto the sides of the bin (flashlight, lighter, bottle opener).

The list goes something like this:

Bag # 1- batteries

Bag #2- trash bags, zip lock baggies, foil, coffee filters

Bag #3-table cloth, holders for table cloth, napkins, paper towels

Bag #4-toilet paper, shampoo, soap, comb

Bag #5-playing cards, extra flashlight, extra lighter

Bag #6-dish soap, sponges

Bag #7-candle, matches

I'm sure I'm leaving some things out. But this gives you an idea for now.

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

Another idea for keeping away ants.... Put a couple drops of dish soap in water, get it "soapy" and spread around camp. Great non-toxic remedy. Also, charcoal will help keep spiders away. Easy ways to help with the bugs & things you would normally take with you anyway to go camping.

 

[zezima]

Hey is anyone wondering a quick way to make fire??

Zezima

 

[2goofycampers]

ball up 10 or so pieces of newspaper, make a pile, put small sticks tee pee style in a circle around newspaper, add bigger sticks around that, add a dash of charcoal fluid to paper, carefully light. nice burning, tall, quick fire.

 

[disney4dan]

I saw another thread somewhere (probably RV.net) about how to start a fire. Quickly got to the point where everyone was talking about blowtorches and flamethrowers or something.

One thing I remember learning for a compact fire starter that is supposed to work OK in the rain is cotton balls covered in petroleum jelly or wax. Pine cones work great too!

 

[kc5grw]

A great fire starter that we've made in Scouts is to take newspaper strips about 2 - 3 inches wide. Roll 'em up, then tie a cotton string around the roll leaving the string a couple of inches long. Dip the rolls into melted paraffin for a bit and let the wax soak in. Take 'em out, let 'em dry. They make great fire starters.

 

[Lil Connor]

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

I'll have to agree, Pixie you are very striking!

 

[LONE-STAR]

When we want a fire at the beach we just get drift wood and use it. But its generally to wet to get burning. So the trick I have found is just keep a small bag of instalight char coal it lights easy and makes coals hot enough to burn anything.

 

[Sinclare]

Hey is anyone wondering a quick way to make fire??

Zezima

Invite over Maleficent?

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I'll have to agree, Pixie you are very striking!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Invite over Maleficent?

 

[2goofycampers]

to clean off black streaks cheaply and effectively go to Dollar Tree store and in the cleaning section buy a bottle of AWESOME. on awnings use AWESOME and MAGIC ERASER. this combo also works great on your gutters at home. these are 2 of my can't live without products.

 

[HappyCamper87]

I could use some tips for bedding.

I have been shopping on line for RV accessories and they have those specialty sheets made for RVs has anyone used them and are the worth the $?

I'm just using spares from the house for now but it is a new trailer and I want to keep it in good shape. And sleep is important to me.

Any tips in this area would be appreciated.

 

[LarryJ]

I could use some tips for bedding.

I have been shopping on line for RV accessories and they have those specialty sheets made for RVs has anyone used them and are the worth the $?

I'm just using spares from the house for now but it is a new trailer and I want to keep it in good shape. And sleep is important to me.

Any tips in this area would be appreciated.

We've been using spares in the TT for the last 26 years with no problems. Just remember you are camping and not living in luxury in your stick home. Compromises are a fact of life. Enjoy the experience and don't sweat the small unimportant stuff.

Larry

 

[Brer Bear]

I could use some tips for bedding.

I have been shopping on line for RV accessories and they have those specialty sheets made for RVs has anyone used them and are the worth the $?

I'm just using spares from the house for now but it is a new trailer and I want to keep it in good shape. And sleep is important to me.

Any tips in this area would be appreciated.

We just use spares also. My two boys use sleeping bags as it is easy to make up and tear down quickly. The travasak's look nice, but no way I'm going to pay those prices!

 

[Brer Bear]

ball up 10 or so pieces of newspaper, make a pile, put small sticks tee pee style in a circle around newspaper, add bigger sticks around that, add a dash of charcoal fluid to paper, carefully light. nice burning, tall, quick fire.

The hand sanitizer that should be in everyone's packing list is 90% alcohol. Squirt some of that on wet wood, light and stand back!!! I don't think most folks know how flammable it is. Don't EVER sanitize your hands and then light a smoke!

 

[MadFF]

With any fire starting, have good kindling. Preferably dry, thin sticks of wood (pine works great, like leftover building lumber). You can take one of your logs and split that up into thin pieces of kindling wood. If the kindling is damp, try to split it even thinner.

We usually use the teepee method. It's all about having good kindling!

 

[2goofycampers]

I could use some tips for bedding.

I have been shopping on line for RV accessories and they have those specialty sheets made for RVs has anyone used them and are the worth the $?

I'm just using spares from the house for now but it is a new trailer and I want to keep it in good shape. And sleep is important to me.

Any tips in this area would be appreciated.

I have always bought my bedding at Wal-Mart, it fits camper mattresses well enough. if not you can add your own elastic strapping.

 

[HappyCamper87]

We've been using spares in the TT for the last 26 years with no problems. Just remember you are camping and not living in luxury in your stick home. Compromises are a fact of life. Enjoy the experience and don't sweat the small unimportant stuff.

Larry

Well said. Spares and Wal-Mart it is. I do tend to over-plan, over-think things sometimes.

Any other maintenance/care tips?

 

[2goofycampers]

Well said. Spares and Wal-Mart it is. I do tend to over-plan, over-think things sometimes.

Any other maintenance/care tips?

when washing the walls of the camper our dealer told us to NEVER pressure wash, just use a regular hose so as not to damage or shorten the life of the stickers. do not use soap specifically meant to remove grease such as dish soap on your rubber roof. rubber is oil based you want to clean it not take the oil out and prematurely make it dry and crack.