Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos

[GizmosMom]

Another member suggested a new forum section with new products but it doesn't look like it will be feasible. So I thought I would post this here under General RVing Issues. If enough people post (even if you have mentioned it before in another post) we can keep it near the top?

Do you have a handy hint, a new product or an old product that makes your RVing or Camping much better?

(Sorry, no commercial advertising allowed)

I'll start:

Someone in the Camping Van posted a reference to using a Super-Chamois to wipe down their shower. I have been using an icky old thick sponge and I like the chamois idea so much more.

Now I want to hear what works for you

[Pangaea_Ron]

I created an opening in my screened roof vent. I wanted to mount my XM and GPS antennae on the roof so that they are temporary and they can be used elsewhere. Here's how.

I have a scrap of window/vent screen that I have mounted inside a 6" diameter metal embroidery hoop that will form a lid for the opening. Then I to cut a circular opening in the actual vent screen for a 5" diameter metal embroidery hoop. The hard part was bending the screen upwards inside the outer hoop and being able to fit the inner hoop inside the opening.

I have a 12" long section of galvanized 6" steel "C" stud adhered to the roof near the vent for the XM magnetic antenna. I can then move the lid to the side, reach through to opening to attach the antenna on the roof from the inside, and then move the lid over the opening.

[ak_traveler]

AtlantaGuy wrote:
What's all this talk about making things "sticky" and "making a bump?" I hear it referred to a lot but don't know what this means. Sorry for being clueless >>> but thanks too for an explanation.

AtlantaGuy,
Making a thread a "sticky" means that it will always be found at the very front of the forum so it is easily found. It will be one of the first threads listed.
Making a bump means that you reply to it with a simple period or the word bump or something just so it goes back up towards the front of the thread listings. Like this reply did!

[AtlantaGuy]

What's all this talk about making things "sticky" and "making a bump?" I hear it referred to a lot but don't know what this means. Sorry for being clueless >>> but thanks too for an explanation.

[hemlox]

KLO wrote:
I think "THEY" are trying to wait us out on making this a "sticky"!

If they were going to make it a sticky they would have done it already. It isn't going to happen.

[KLO]

I think "THEY" are trying to wait us out on making this a "sticky"!

[jiga20001]

My latest mod was to add an 8" POWERED BASS TUBE To my stereo system.
It fits in my cabinet under my tv so it is not visable.
I also tied my tv into my stereo.
With the added bass tube it sounds as good as any surround system I have heard.
Great for watching movies.

[jamesla]

A 303 tin can, corn & greenbean size, will fit nicely over the 5th wheel
pin. I painted the one I use florescent orange. If you rub against the can no greasy mess. Regards, Jim

[Rv-Bella]

Great hints and tips, seen and tried some, some I have never heard of before. The one tip I will add, have seen many tips on electrical. But have rarely had issues when I keep this hand out I was given years ago in mind. Have passed it along to many newbies as well as us oldtimers as a reminder. Also helps the kids start to understand what the rig can and can not handle.
Of course each and every appliance is different depending on manufacture.


Coffee pot 11-amps
crock pot 1.5-amps
Electric Frying pan 10-amps
Hair dryer 10-amps
Iron 10-amps
Toaster 10-amps
Microwave 12.5-amps
Refrigerator 4.0-amps
Tv 2-amps
curling iron 10-amps
computer 4.5-amps
Water heater (electric)12.5-amps
Just the converter alone with nothing in use is 1.5-amps

Another hint I learned from a fellow rv-er was to use a small piece of indoor/outdoor carpet to clean bugs off the front of the rig. It works, don't know why but it does. just cut a 4 inch by 4 inch or smaller square and scrub with it. He was a retired trucker and told me he had used it for years on his semi..


Oh and a little tip/precaution for those of you who use the sample pack, as well as anyone who leaves their skin care/hair care products in the rv. I use to work for a Hair care manufacture and we didn't recommend having your product introduced to so many temp changes, the product is designed for room temperature, not Hot and cold hot, cold. It could go rancid faster from the temp changes as well as just being old product. Plus sample packs and travel sizes are meant to be used within a few months. If you watch on your shampoo/skincare bottles you will find a expiration date. Fulltimers don't have an issue as most of the time their rigs are at about the same temp because they don't park it idle for months at a time and because they use their products daily, weekly and it get used up faster. Just a precaution! Rv-Bella

[bukhrn]

ro_sie wrote:
Gee, I have for several years now attached my remotes to a carefully determined place with Velcro. All it really takes after that is the person who uses it to put it back where it belongs. Now you can see, the watcher is the person who is really in charge of remotes lol. rose

What I see is, that you are driving me nuts with that bug in your signiture, I've beat the heck out of my monitor trying to kill it!!!:B

[ro_sie]

Gee, I have for several years now attached my remotes to a carefully determined place with Velcro. All it really takes after that is the person who uses it to put it back where it belongs. Now you can see, the watcher is the person who is really in charge of remotes lol. rose

[Mrs__Locknload]

We were always losing track of the bedroom TV remote. DH bought a cup holder that you hang on your car door. We hang it over the headboard and keep the remote there.

[fulldec]

We bought a "locker organizer" for school lockers and hang it on the end hoop that supports the bed tenting on our hybrid. Could do that on PUP, too. Would also be easy enough to velcro on the wall for bunks.

Now I have a place for my glasses, watch, small LED flashlight, etc.

I bought a little clock/thermometer to leave in there, so I can check time and temp (don't know why I need to know that in the middle of the night).

We leave it there and fold it up with the bed - EZ.

[RoadWarriors2]

Bump


We turned a small shelf upside down over bathroom faucets - Now everything is snug and can't fall off the shelf. Put same thing near bed.

[jiga20001]

My favorite mod I have done so far is also the easiest one I have done.
I cut the end off of the funnel that I use to fill my fresh water tank.
I cut it as far back as I could so it just barley fits in the opening, Thus making the smallest opening of the funnel much larger in diameter.
I can now dump a 5 gal bottle of water in my tank in less then 30 seconds.
This made filling up my tank much less of a chore.

[TheCarrs2]

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