camping tips to make life easier on the road.

[bord1niowa]

For Pop ups, I saw a picture someplace of a nice setup I am going to try. They had put chains hanging down from the underside of the end bed and atached them to a wire rack shelf at a height that can accommodate whichever size storage tub to go onto it with a lid. Keeps it out of the rain and it can be adjusted close enough to keep the lid on and away from varmints. Things can be kept there instead of inside the pop up, yet off the ground and looks much neater too. The only thing I have to figure out yet is how to hang the chains so that when attached they won't be poking through to the bed...OUCH! Anybody have any ideas on that?

 

[2goofycampers]

you can also hang up a key ring holder right by the door and so the wall doesn't get scratched put a small piece of plexi behind it.

 

[clkelley]

I bought one of those real estate lockbox things to keep my camper keys in and hang them outside the camper. That way I don't have to keep up with them when going to the parks or wandering the campground. Also, when both hubby and I are camping, we don't have to have two sets of keys with us.

 

[lisa8200]

This will only apply to some but, when we camp somewhere that we are using the TV without cable, I hang the truck keys from the antenae handle. This ensures that we have a complete camper and TV reception on the next trip..

 

[my3princes]

I bought one of those real estate lockbox things to keep my camper keys in and hang them outside the camper. That way I don't have to keep up with them when going to the parks or wandering the campground. Also, when both hubby and I are camping, we don't have to have two sets of keys with us.

That is a terrific idea. where did you find such a box?

Thanks
Deb

 

[clkelley]

Found IT on eBay, Get it??

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-3-Let...ryZ67029QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Boomer1]

We bought the sheet set from Camping World for our short queen bed in our TT. I really like that it helps keep your feet from sticking out of the bottom of the bed. For the bunks I bought the twin fitted sheets at WalMart. They were really cheap. The kids then use a sleeping bag or comforter. I also use a comforter for our bed in the trailer and pack away the sham and blanket set that came with the trailer; then when it's time to sell or trade in the trailer I put the originals back on. Because they are new it really makes the trailer look good. Keep the tips coming.

 

[jimlin]

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 r ound pizza stone from Walmarts fits our oven in the ck19 travel star.

Jim

 

[HappyCamper87]

We bought the sheet set from Camping World for our short queen bed in our TT. I really like that it helps keep your feet from sticking out of the bottom of the bed. For the bunks I bought the twin fitted sheets at WalMart. They were really cheap. The kids then use a sleeping bag or comforter. I also use a comforter for our bed in the trailer and pack away the sham and blanket set that came with the trailer; then when it's time to sell or trade in the trailer I put the originals back on. Because they are new it really makes the trailer look good. Keep the tips coming.

Thanks for sharing Boomer1. That is a really good idea about putting away the comforters that came with the camper. We have extras in the house that are more comfortable anyway.

 

[2goofycampers]

Carol you are so organized, I love it since I am a little OCD myself.

 

[clkelley]

Carol you are so organized, I love it since I am a little OCD myself.

OCD.....,, me OCD???, whatever gave you that idea. Well I'm off to go organize something

 

[rjan67]

I have a pizza stone that fits on our Q bbq and I use it for chicken strips, pizza, fish, french fries etc. I use this when I don't want the oven on!

 

[2goofycampers]

OCD.....,, me OCD???, whatever gave you that idea. Well I'm off to go organize something

OOPS !!! maybe I worded that wrong.... your organized........ I'm OCD..... sorry

 

[2goofycampers]

We always pack a "Tire Plug Kit" and a xtra large can of "Fix-A-Flat" under the truck seat in case of a surprise flat. Yes, it has happened to us and it will get you to the nearest station to service your tire properly.

 

[2goofycampers]

over CABINET door hooks are great for towels and pot holders. available at BED BATH and BEYOND.

 

[MadFF]

DAnother tip we got from fellow campers was to get one of the giant (5 gallon) Igloo water coolers to keep outside the trailer. In advance of our trip we freeze a gallon jug with whatever drink mix we plan to have (lemonade, or Kool-Aid) and it keeps the whole batch cold all weekend. Keeps the kids from running in and out of the trailer all day, and less waste than using bottles, cans or juice boxes.

We do that when we tent camp. I have a 5 gallon Rubbermaid water cooler -- I fill it with ice (I have access to a commercial ice maker, or you can buy one or two bags of ice), and then fill it with water. Even in the middle of August, there will still be ice in it after 3 days. You have to be aware of people undoing the top to get ice for drinks -- nothing like ruining your thirst for water when you see people dipping dirty hands in it!

Mostly now we use a Brita water filter jug and keep it in the refrig when we use the TT.

One time when camping I noticed the water cooler was only half full, but we had only been at the campsite for a few hours. Then I realized that the kids had been using it to fill water pistols!

 

[disney4dan]

After spending the better part of Sunday using the snowblower to clear a path to the TT so that I could pull it out of the back yard (Oh yes, cabin fever has most definitely set in - "Heeere's Johnny" ), I remembered one of the handy little gadgets I found on the internet.

For those who tow a TT and are familiar with the potential problem of improperly distributing the weight and running the risk of uncontrollable trailer sway, there is an inexpensive and small scale that can be used to measure the weight at your trailer hitch (cost less than $150 with shipping) and stores easily in trailer. It's a small hydraulic bottle (smaller than the wide travel mugs at the resorts) that converts the pressure on a scale to weight in pounds. It's amazing how easy it is to use and get you that peace of mind to know that you don't have too much weight behind the axle and not enough on the trailer hitch.

I don't want to risk getting in trouble for posting a link, so if you want more information, you can PM me on this one (I do not have any connection to the company).

PS - my obscure cabin fever reference in the first para. is a quote from Jack Nicholson in "The Shining"

 

[terri01p]

We do that when we tent camp. I have a 5 gallon Rubbermaid water cooler -- I fill it with ice (I have access to a commercial ice maker, or you can buy one or two bags of ice), and then fill it with water. Even in the middle of August, there will still be ice in it after 3 days. You have to be aware of people undoing the top to get ice for drinks -- nothing like ruining your thirst for water when you see people dipping dirty hands in it!

Mostly now we use a Brita water filter jug and keep it in the refrig when we use the TT.

One time when camping I noticed the water cooler was only half full, but we had only been at the campsite for a few hours. Then I realized that the kids had been using it to fill water pistols!

This is a good ideal, we go though water like crazy, and it drives me nuts all the running in an out. Where can you get the rubbermaid cooler at ?

 

[JCJRSmith]

This is a good ideal, we go though water like crazy, and it drives me nuts all the running in an out. Where can you get the rubbermaid cooler at ?

I would bet you can find them at Wal Mart/KMart/Target.

 

[MadFF]

I would bet you can find them at Wal Mart/KMart/Target.

Yep... Rubbermaid, Igloo, they're all the same. These are the water coolers you see at construction sites... so if you can't find them easily, try contractor supply type store also.

This is from Walmart, and is actually a little smaller than mine, but you get the general idea:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7999982