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

[Okie_in_Wyoming]

PGR_Skye wrote:
I saw the idea of using the upside down flower pots for the solar lights, too, and plan to use it. I have a bunch of the solar lights I got on sale so that I could use them during power outages here at home and planned on stashing them in the motorhome when we go out. Just haven't been needing them yet. Excellent idea to pass on, The Dung Beetles.

I have thought about that too, but the holes in the bottoms of the flower pots are not big enough for my lights to down through. Other than drilling them out (which I cannot do) and ideas on how to get this to work for me?
Thanks, Okie

[PGR_Skye]

I saw the idea of using the upside down flower pots for the solar lights, too, and plan to use it. I have a bunch of the solar lights I got on sale so that I could use them during power outages here at home and planned on stashing them in the motorhome when we go out. Just haven't been needing them yet. Excellent idea to pass on, The Dung Beetles.

[Bobbo]

Just be sure to get the 600 ma batteries, not the monster 1500 to 2500 ma batteries. The solar panel on the light won't charge the big boys enough to work. They may even be marketed as "solar" rechargables.

[Just_Jeff]

Many of those solar yard lights like that have cheap AA batteries inside. When they stop holding their charge well, you can just replace the batteries with better rechargeables and they'll keep working, even better than when they were new.

[The_Dung_Beetle]

I don't know as this idea has been posted before, but I nabbed this off of Pinterest awhile back. Sooo fun and easy. I even read about bringing a couple solar lights into the house (from the yard) during a power outage.

I keep a couple extra solar cheapies in the camper just in case we need them.

[The_Dung_Beetle]

I live in W. WA and I have multiple umbrellas in the camper and both vehicles. It's not if you need them.. it's WHEN. Now we are learning about "windjammer" umbrellas. They have a double vented top to let high wind pass out the top. I'm hoping to find them on sale.

herbhofmann wrote:

Tvov wrote:
Umbrella's! Store a couple umbrella's in an out of the way spot in the camper. Really nice to have when a storm comes up and you forgot raingear. Just make sure you leave the umbrellas in the camper, so they are there for the next trip.

We live in Oregon, so forgetting raingear is like forgetting food (or a good porter/stout, or BOTH!)
Herb

[herbhofmann]

Tvov wrote:
Umbrella's! Store a couple umbrella's in an out of the way spot in the camper. Really nice to have when a storm comes up and you forgot raingear. Just make sure you leave the umbrellas in the camper, so they are there for the next trip.

We live in Oregon, so forgetting raingear is like forgetting food (or a good porter/stout, or BOTH!)
Herb

[stfnwuf]

Poppy & Nana wrote:

herbhofmann wrote:

Davehrn wrote:
picked up a firepit grill for cooking over open flames... as with most cheaper models didn't come with a cover. So I picked up an art portfolio case sized to carry 17 x 22 inch art... fit the 16 x 24 inch grill perfectly. total cost: 20 for the grill 11 for the portfolio case.

Just recently started reading this topic, that's why my response is over 2 years late! My DW made pouch/covers out of denim for our outdoor grills, cast iron griddle, ropes and tent stakes.
They've been a great way to keep the dirt out of our storage compartments.

Your wife is a smart women.....but I have to admit - so did I! Except, I used lined vinyl, much easier to clean!

I like the idea of using denim. I could use DH's old jeans.

[Poppy___Nana]

herbhofmann wrote:

Davehrn wrote:
picked up a firepit grill for cooking over open flames... as with most cheaper models didn't come with a cover. So I picked up an art portfolio case sized to carry 17 x 22 inch art... fit the 16 x 24 inch grill perfectly. total cost: 20 for the grill 11 for the portfolio case.

Just recently started reading this topic, that's why my response is over 2 years late! My DW made pouch/covers out of denim for our outdoor grills, cast iron griddle, ropes and tent stakes.
They've been a great way to keep the dirt out of our storage compartments.

Your wife is a smart women.....but I have to admit - so did I! Except, I used lined vinyl, much easier to clean!

[herbhofmann]

Davehrn wrote:
picked up a firepit grill for cooking over open flames... as with most cheaper models didn't come with a cover. So I picked up an art portfolio case sized to carry 17 x 22 inch art... fit the 16 x 24 inch grill perfectly. total cost: 20 for the grill 11 for the portfolio case.

Just recently started reading this topic, that's why my response is over 2 years late! My DW made pouch/covers out of denim for our outdoor grills, cast iron griddle, ropes and tent stakes.
They've been a great way to keep the dirt out of our storage compartments.

[AJMom]

We're VERY new and will be purchasing our first RV next weekend, and this thread has been extremely useful (and I'm only halfway through it!). One of the best things I've found for keeping my family organized is a FREE combination website/smartphone app called Cozi Family Organizer. Start at the Cozi.com webpage and create an account with one email address and password for the family, then install the apps onto smartphones from iTunes or the Google PlayStore and synch with the website using the family email and password. You can upgrade to the a paid version, but the free one works very well for what we need. I think it will be VERY useful for keeping track of RV stuff.

Some of the things I love about it:
You can set up appointments with reminders sent to your phones as far in advance as you want (membership expiration dates, oil changes, maintenance work, reminders for next season, etc).
Create shopping lists for multiple categories/stores (I just added one for the RV with some of the great ideas from this thread.)
Create multiple To Do lists (just made a new one for the RV) and send them to family members' phones whenever you need to.
If a family member does not have a smartphone, their reminders will still come as a text message.
Calendar is color-coded for each family member, so my DH and kids can see at a glance if they have something scheduled.
There's a Journal where you can enter photos and write about the family's adventures.
And a LOT more...

Thanks for all the great ideas, and I hope this one helps someone!

[loulou57]

Coffee filters.......we don't drink coffee but I made reusable, washable filters for my friends. Use a disposable filter for the pattern.
Make sure your material is 100% cotton not an acrylic/polyester blend. Just rinse them out and they dry in a jiffy.

Drawers......We have a breakfast bar in our trailer as well as the reg table. Doors open and there were little pull out "flimsy" drawers. Leaving the doors in place my hubby made new drawers that open with a touch, no need for handles. He also put full extension slides so now I have lots of newly useable space. He also replaced others in the trailer and made use of all wasted space.

We never knew where to put in he broom. We bought some of those stick on hooks. Buy the good ones. They hold well and now have them to hang everything from my hubby's hat, jackets and towels in the bathroom.

[PGR_Skye]

DW just replaced the old TV in our motorhome with a larger flat screen and we can adjust the new one according to where we're sitting in the living room. He was talking about replacing the old one in the bedroom with a new flat screen one, but I'd just as soon replace it with the one in my computer room at home when we decide to take a trip.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

herbhofmann wrote:
No new Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos?

Yikes! - guess patience is *not* a virtue, LOL!
........the post previous to yours was only two days prior!!.:R

Read through the thread (again, if you already have) - maybe the previous gadgets, gizmos, & hints - will generate some new ideas for *YOU* to post..:C..:C

But.....since you asked - -
How about a *really* BIG screen TV for your RV?
Consider a projector for your RV viewing of all types of media.
TV, movies, computer monitor, etc. - Picture size is no object!
They've come a long way!
Nice solution if you haven't replaced your old CRT with a flat screen yet.

Even if you have upgraded, it's a great addition for inside or outside.
For under $400. you can look at everything you do now - even 3D.
Example: Read the reviews on Amazon for the View Sonic PJD5134.
BTW - They're correct. It's not High Def, but you'll never know it.

Bonus: Theft prevention. *Very*, very easy to take it home when (if) you keep your RV in a storage facility..:C

~

[HappyTrailsRVin]

We have a free standing dinning table with storage under it. There was nothing but wall space on both sides. Got 2 wood medicine cabinets, turned them upside down and mounted next to table. We now have two shelves behind doors where we keep our can goods and two shelves on top. Added a lot of extra space for us.