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

[gingerK]

WOW! What an awesome thread! Took me several weeks to get through all of it! So many great ideas that my head's spinning with what I want to do first! Here's some of what I use in my little TC:

Found an aluminum fold up table at my local Aldi food store that rolls up and stores in a bag like a bag chair. Cost me 20 bucks.

Got 2 of those plastic folding patio tables on clearance for 6 bucks online at CW. They fit nicely in the rear compartment.

Found a folding nylon bag type table at a garage sale for 2 bucks. New, never out of the bag!

My kitchen sink stopper wouldn't seal so the water kept running out. I had bought several dish pans to keep in the TC for various uses so I found one that fit perfectly in the sink and used it for dishes. Got them at the dollar store. I've since found a new stopper at Menard's (I'm a Menard's junkie--I'm always cruising their aisles for stuff that I can repurpose in my TC!).

Bought a bathroom caddy at WW to hold my kitchen scrubbing pads by the sink but because the suction cups wouldn't stick on the wood paneling next to the sink I took the suction cups off and hung it up with command hooks. I have a mirror that hangs on my truck tailgait (when the TC isn't on it) that helps me see the trailer hitch when hooking up my horse trailer. I was missing one of the suctions cups so I used one from the caddy-fit perfectly!

When I replaced my old non working refrig, I kept every useable part I could get out of it, including the shelves, freezer door, and the panel that fit the original door. I re-used the panel on the new frig;it came without one and I didn't feel like spending a lot just for a cover when I could make the old one fit and it already matched the interior of the TC. Since I never use the wardrobe for clothes, I used one of the interior shelves to make a shelf in the wardrobe-glued some pieces of wood up on either side and it fit perfectly on top. Perfect for paper products. If I want to put something in there that's taller than the shelf I can just remove it by simply lifting it out.

Since my TC is a pop up, I didn't want to add an awning to the top, but I do want some type of awning over the door. On another forum someone mentioned the awning from the Bus Depot. Looked like it would work, so I got one. Still trying to figure out how to attach it so I'll have to let you know whether it will work out or not. Nice thing about it is that it will also work on your car or truck or with an optional leg kit it can be a free standing awning. It actually fits in a bag the size of a bag chair!

Don't have a hot water heater so we picked up an electric tea kettle at a thrift store to heat water for those times when we have electric. I think it cost about $3. Otherwise we just use our regular tea kettle on the stove.

Somewhere I came across a large cutting board for filleting fish. It just happens to fit pretty good on top of the stove for extra counter space. We just lean it against the wall in back of the stove when we don't need it.

For hanging up jackets I found a nice over the door 2 hook rack to put up on the wardrobe door.

At a yard sale I found a 2 shelf rack that I cut into 2 smaller shelves. One I put up with wire ties by the kitchen for a spice rack. The other shelf I put up by the door for keys, small flashlight, etc. Cost me $1 and I got 2 shelves out of it.

In my first TC, the battery compartment had a hinged door that made getting the battery in and out easy. In my current one you have to get the battery in and out thru the portapotty compartment, what a pain! I moved the cushion over the area where the battery is located and found it was only a piece of plywood screwed in place. Had my DH unscrew it and found it would come out giving access to the battery compartment and water tank. Now it's a lot easier to get things in and out! I'll have him drill a finger hole to make it even easier to open.

I'm thrifty (OK I'm really cheap!)so I like to look around at what's on hand at home to use instead of buying if I can. For a grey water tank, I took a piece of old garden hose and cut it to the right length then cut a hole in the lid of an empty kitty litter bucket and ran the hose into it. Works pretty good and having a lid on it keeps it from getting nasty. When the bucket's empty, I just slide the hose down into the hole. The metal end keeps it from going all the way inside and I don't misplace the hose.

We don't usually camp where we don't have a shower but I do have one of those pop up shower tents (Sportsmen's Guide) and 2 solar showers. I haven't had occasion to use them yet but I got a really large( way taller than me and I'm 5'6") shepherd's hook at the dollar store on clearance ($2) and I'm going to have DH weld a large washer on it so I can run guy lines for added support and use it to hold the showers. I'll have to let you know how it works out.

Pantry space is at a minimum and I don't like having tubs of canned goods taking up space in the living area so I store my canned goods in plastic shoe boxes with lids and small, lidded plastic storage boxes that I can fit into the access hatches to the truck bed. I usually store gallons of drinking water in there first and it can be hard to get them out if they are all the way in the back. I'm going to make a hook out of a wire coat hanger straightened out with the hook on the end to grab the handles and drag them forward.

We like to have our campfires and we found we could really use something to move the logs around but we didn't have any tools. My friend found us a set of fireplace tools at a garage sale for a few bucks. They were just what we needed and don't take up too much space.

When my best friend and I go camping, one of us sleeps on the dinette which isn't the most comfy bed. I bought a foam waffle type pad which isn't bad but still not as comfortable as I want. So I bought a 3 1/2 in. memory foam pad( from WW) to go on top of the cushions. Hopefully this will make it much better for longer stays.

We didn't have a lot of light over the sink, so I bought one of those tap lights that you can stick on with sticky tape. Haven't had a chance to really see if it works or not since I just added it right before I put the TC in storage so again, will have to let you know.

I have a few other mods that I plan on implementing next spring, specifically one for storing the shepherd's hook and 2 metal tiki torches under the wall of the camper with broom holders and a solar powered motion light outside the door so we don't have to leave the porch light on all night. I will have to see how it goes and keep you posted.

[stfnwuf]

I put 3 Command Hooks on the inside of my wardrobe door. They are now easy to get to and do not get tangled.

[byways]

craftyfox wrote:

Merrykalia wrote:
Dung Beetles, I made mine. I purchased a piece of the woven cloth at Walmart that was 6' wide and 18' long. I bought grommets and placed them every 2 feet on the top and 4 of them on the bottom. I use my light hooks on my awning to hold the top and I put stakes in the ground and stretch it out at the bottom and use the "balled" bungee cords to hook to the stakes.

It is the same material that is used in the purchased ones, but they only had one color, tan.

I used probably the same cloth (called shade cloth at local hardware store) and made outside covers for the windows on our 5th wheel. Hemmed pieces cut to size (1" hem), attached 1/4" elastic loops and used Command Hooks to hang them with. We lose a hook now and then but some have been on almost 2 years. Hooks are easily replaced and I didn't have to drill any holes in the RV. They really cut down the inside temp...we do remove them when traveling.

Brilliant idea! Love it! Thanks. Byways.

[kelly94942]

Macman83 wrote:
We use these to shop with and to load and unload the 5er. They are really sturdy, and the fit in the storage well.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000E1VTZ/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I do have a couple of those baskets, and I agree, they are great!

For the majority of my loading and unloading, I use the LARGE blue shopping bags that you can purchase at the checkout line at Ikea. They are 59 cents each and hold a ton! I have never had one (or a handle) break and I load them full of stuff. I mostly use them to bring all of the fresh linens to the camper and then dirty laundry back to the house, but I use them for food items, outdoor things, my griddle, and everything else you could possibly think of. I always have one staged and ready at the house - if I think of something (or see something or buy something) that needs to go to the RV, I just drop it in the bag and I know it's ready to go for the next trip.

Ikea also sells a zippered version for $2.99 - these are sold in the main part of the store, if I recall correctly they are in the laundry department. I have a couple of these as well, I don't like them quite as well because they are smaller, but if you need a zipper they are a good option! They can be carried as a backpack as well.

No, I don't work for Ikea. 😉

[kelly94942]

The Dung Beetles wrote:
I recently picked up a card of 3 headlamps at Costco for a very fair price. We always have a few spares rolling around the house. You just NEEEEVER know when you're gonna need one.

These are going to be on sale for $7.99 for 3 at Costco beginning this Thursday. They are on page 9 of the latest Costco coupon book (10/3 - 10/27)

Coupon book link

Edited to add: when items are on sale/coupon at Costco, they are very good about making sure there is plenty of stock. So it is very very likely that your Costco will have these! They may be somewhere unexpected (near the front entrance, on a display somewhere, etc.) but if you can't find them, just ask!

[JimBollman]

Decided I needed a few more Mods to add to what I posted on previous page.

My old camper had an off switch for the battery as part of the converter, didn't think I would miss it but there is enough low current draw items that if I don't drive the truck for a couple of weeks I could see the loss on the battery charge. I was also monitoring the battery with one of those plug in the 12 volt adapter meters and discovered it was very unreliable for actual battery voltage compared to my regular hand held meter. So I installed the following in the panel at the front of the camper, battery is on the other side of panel with the water tank.




Straight forward installation as you would expect accept I bought a switch that will allow two batteries and I only have one (may add another in the future). Not liking to have a switch not fully used, I wired it backwards so if it is in battery 2 position only the meter was attached to the battery probably not to useful but this means if I use the Battery 1&2 position I have the meter on and the camper powered and in the Battery 1 position the camper is powered and no meter. Not sure yet if I want the meter on all the time, 10 ma draw plus more things glowing in the night and I didn't have to add a switch for the meter.

I got the switch and meter off eBay. Switch is the most common one I saw listed. The meter was a real find, much smaller and easier to mount than most. Mounts through 1 1/8" hole with a large nut on the back, very thin. Here is a link to the fellows store, lots of interesting stuff.

The other mod is pretty specific to my needs. A couple of times a year I need to haul some long poles for a special setup (not important to the mod). The old camper I tied them to the fold up jacks, new camper no fold up jacks. I added a couple of strap brackets to the underside of the overhang. I use 1/4-20 oval headed bolts instead of the wood screws that came with them for more strength. Now I can strap the pipes up under the edge and let them extend beyond the back of the camper a foot or so with a couple of flat tie straps.




Couldn't take pictures of the last mod it is back in a cabinet where you can't see. I like having all the manuals and papers for the camper with me in case I need to do repairs on the road. They are usually in the way so I always try to find an out of the way place to store them. In this camper I had a cubby hole that had the camper framing exposed so I took a piece of elastic and put an electrical crimp on eye on both ends one small one large. Screwed the small eye to the far end of the framing and then put a screw on the next vertical frame member with a head small enough for the large eye to go over (don't screw in all the way in). I put the manuals in a large envelope and stuck it vertical between the framing members and pulled the elastic across it and over the screw to hold it in place. Completely out of the way but always along if I need it.

No more mods planned for now but have a 5 day off grid trip planned shortly, we will see what is missing then. :B

[tvman44]

You will be amazed how well they work. 🙂

[The_Dung_Beetle]

Okie in Wyoming wrote:

The Dung Beetles wrote:

Okie in Wyoming wrote:

tvman44 wrote:
Harbor Freight has some http://www.harborfreight.com/finished-size-mesh-tarp-60576.html that are reasonably priced and work real well attached to the awning to provide shade under the awning. I carry 2 if we do not have shade I hang one on the awning roller and it lowers the temp under the awning drastically. The other I attach to the slide awning if that is in full sun and it helps a lot. 🙂

That is exactly where I got ours! Has the grommets already done and it was inexpensive. I think I got ours for under $25. Works very well.

Like it even MORE!! On the "we need" list for sure...

Thanks again...
.

When I got ours, the only color you could get was black. But it is easy to see through and there is no distortion in colors when you look through. I got one that is too wide but we can wrap it around the side for sun block at the end of the awning if we need to. If not, we just gather it like a curtain.
Although with the strong winds in Wyoming, we rarely get to use our awning, or the shade. But when we do get to use them, this combo is great.
Keep us posted (with pictures if you can) of your choice and how it works for you.
Okie

Okie...
Will do! We are going to wrap things up for the winter. I need to give the inside a good cleaning, and we will start planning our trips for next summer right after Christmas. We could have used that shade cloth SEVERAL TIMES last summer! Thanks again!
.

[Okie_in_Wyoming]

The Dung Beetles wrote:

Okie in Wyoming wrote:

tvman44 wrote:
Harbor Freight has some http://www.harborfreight.com/finished-size-mesh-tarp-60576.html that are reasonably priced and work real well attached to the awning to provide shade under the awning. I carry 2 if we do not have shade I hang one on the awning roller and it lowers the temp under the awning drastically. The other I attach to the slide awning if that is in full sun and it helps a lot. 🙂

That is exactly where I got ours! Has the grommets already done and it was inexpensive. I think I got ours for under $25. Works very well.

Like it even MORE!! On the "we need" list for sure...

Thanks again...
.

When I got ours, the only color you could get was black. But it is easy to see through and there is no distortion in colors when you look through. I got one that is too wide but we can wrap it around the side for sun block at the end of the awning if we need to. If not, we just gather it like a curtain.
Although with the strong winds in Wyoming, we rarely get to use our awning, or the shade. But when we do get to use them, this combo is great.
Keep us posted (with pictures if you can) of your choice and how it works for you.
Okie

[The_Dung_Beetle]

Okie in Wyoming wrote:

tvman44 wrote:
Harbor Freight has some http://www.harborfreight.com/finished-size-mesh-tarp-60576.html that are reasonably priced and work real well attached to the awning to provide shade under the awning. I carry 2 if we do not have shade I hang one on the awning roller and it lowers the temp under the awning drastically. The other I attach to the slide awning if that is in full sun and it helps a lot. 🙂

That is exactly where I got ours! Has the grommets already done and it was inexpensive. I think I got ours for under $25. Works very well.

Like it even MORE!! On the "we need" list for sure...

Thanks again...
.

[Okie_in_Wyoming]

tvman44 wrote:
Harbor Freight has some http://www.harborfreight.com/finished-size-mesh-tarp-60576.html that are reasonably priced and work real well attached to the awning to provide shade under the awning. I carry 2 if we do not have shade I hang one on the awning roller and it lowers the temp under the awning drastically. The other I attach to the slide awning if that is in full sun and it helps a lot. 🙂

That is exactly where I got ours! Has the grommets already done and it was inexpensive. I think I got ours for under $25. Works very well.

[The_Dung_Beetle]

Thank you thank you everyone!

Who woulda thunk it? I'd still LOVE to see a photo, but I think I understand what you're saying.

What a great idea!! I'm for sure going to look into this next summer.

Like the premade tarp set up (thanks for the link). I might have to own that to stretch over the dog's exercise pens that we put up. One dog loves the sun .. our black dog hates the sun...lol Guess she feels like a solar panel.

🙂
.
.

[xxjanaleexx]

Home Depot carries shade cloth..have been using mine for ten years..better yet, I made one for our back deck..attached all sides permanently eight years ago--still looks like new. Keeps the cat in and bugs out! Still have several feet stashed for "just in case..." lol!

[craftyfox]

Merrykalia wrote:
Dung Beetles, I made mine. I purchased a piece of the woven cloth at Walmart that was 6' wide and 18' long. I bought grommets and placed them every 2 feet on the top and 4 of them on the bottom. I use my light hooks on my awning to hold the top and I put stakes in the ground and stretch it out at the bottom and use the "balled" bungee cords to hook to the stakes.

It is the same material that is used in the purchased ones, but they only had one color, tan.

I used probably the same cloth (called shade cloth at local hardware store) and made outside covers for the windows on our 5th wheel. Hemmed pieces cut to size (1" hem), attached 1/4" elastic loops and used Command Hooks to hang them with. We lose a hook now and then but some have been on almost 2 years. Hooks are easily replaced and I didn't have to drill any holes in the RV. They really cut down the inside temp...we do remove them when traveling.

[Bobbo]

Clicky that works for tvman44's post.