profdant139
Jun 03, 2014Explorer II
Ridiculously simple mods -- let's see 'em!
Most of the modifications posted on this forum are technically challenging -- but this is a thread for the exact opposite. What are your simplest, cheapest mods?
Here are two of mine. First, the door of our trailer has a translucent panel (not really a window) that lets in a lot of light. I rigged up a "blackout curtain" that goes over the translucent window -- it's just a double-thickness hefty bag, reinforced with duct tape on the edges, with zip tie rings in the top two corners. The rings then go over cup hooks above the door frame. It sounds like a joke, but it works very well and is easy to store, and it has lasted for about 500 nights of camping.
This is a shot of the “curtain” when deployed:
And here is a close-up of the cuphooks, screwed right into the paneling:
(Note that there is a little tension on the zip ties, so that the "curtain" does not sag.)
My second offering is my patented freezer-door-holder-opener. On our fridge, there are two strong springs that close the freezer door. That’s great, but there are times when DW needs that door open for a moment, as when she is putting an ice tray full of water into the freezer -- a chore best done with two hands.
So she suggested a wooden chopstick as a prop -- it worked! I added short pieces of clear plastic tubing on each end, to avoid scratching the plastic liner of the fridge (and for better friction than the wooden chopstick provided). Here is the magic chopstick when deployed:
And here it is in my hand, so that you can appreciate the subtle complexity of this device:
OK, now it’s your turn!!
Here are two of mine. First, the door of our trailer has a translucent panel (not really a window) that lets in a lot of light. I rigged up a "blackout curtain" that goes over the translucent window -- it's just a double-thickness hefty bag, reinforced with duct tape on the edges, with zip tie rings in the top two corners. The rings then go over cup hooks above the door frame. It sounds like a joke, but it works very well and is easy to store, and it has lasted for about 500 nights of camping.
This is a shot of the “curtain” when deployed:
And here is a close-up of the cuphooks, screwed right into the paneling:
(Note that there is a little tension on the zip ties, so that the "curtain" does not sag.)
My second offering is my patented freezer-door-holder-opener. On our fridge, there are two strong springs that close the freezer door. That’s great, but there are times when DW needs that door open for a moment, as when she is putting an ice tray full of water into the freezer -- a chore best done with two hands.
So she suggested a wooden chopstick as a prop -- it worked! I added short pieces of clear plastic tubing on each end, to avoid scratching the plastic liner of the fridge (and for better friction than the wooden chopstick provided). Here is the magic chopstick when deployed:
And here it is in my hand, so that you can appreciate the subtle complexity of this device:
OK, now it’s your turn!!