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

[herbhofmann]

No new Handy Hints, Gadgets, Products & Gizmos?

[JimBollman]

Our new to us slide in camper has caused me to reset to zero and start over with mods. Many of the mods I had made on the old camper were repeated because they just work. One new mod is this company decided that the back porch light should be turned on and off inside the door. This doesn't help much with finding key holes but I'm leaving it for now and will try to remember to turn it on when we leave and know we will be back after dark. My mod on the old camper was to put a small battery operated LED light just inside the door that we could use if we needed to see to get in. Since I already had a switch and power by the door of the new camper I put a small down pointing led light on the side of the cabinet and wired it to be on when the outside light is on. Since they are both LED they pull almost no power and can be left on when needed. Used the same style light in the old camper down low under a cabinet edge to act as a floor light when all we needed was light to move around (pee light).

[ctpres]

Loose Screw?
Some fixtures, panels and parts have been removed and replaced so many times for service and mods that the screw holes are enlarged and screws won't tighten up any more. If it is just thin wall panel for example - most standard tricks such as tooth picks and golf tees won't work. The smallest plastic anchor I had was to big and would I would need to drill an even larger hole. IDEA - found small anchor that was three long tapered pieces held together with small molded links. I cut the links with razor blade giving me three long tapered wedges with flared head ie 1/3 smaller anchor. Pushed into hole, tapped with hammer and viola tight screw now.

[herbhofmann]

I'm a new member who just discovered this great thread. I'm currently on page 54 out of 305. When I find a post I like, I email the link to myself so I can place it in my TT folder for later reference. I can't think of any Gizmos or Gadgets at this time. Of course I my well have some that are obvious to ME but others haven't thought of. I'll ponder that on my outing this weekend!
Herb

[Stars101]

Well I am ashamed to admit but this just occurred to me-

When trying to save space in the garbage use an empty box as a small scrap can.

Ex: I made a cake and used the box on the counter as a scrap container and put the egg shells, banana peels, used paper towels, etc. inside the cake box. Worked out better than my usual routine of squashing everything flat and kept the trash bag cleaner.

[stfnwuf]

HappyTrailsRVing wrote:
Don't tell me we have covered all the hints and gadgets? I am always looking for new ideas, let's keep them coming in.

Done all I can do to the trailer we have now. When we get a new one (in a few years) I am sure there will be more ideas.

[moose888]

I use a good car wax to wax my shower walls this makes the water bead up and run off fast. The second thing that I did was to make covers for my head lights so the sun would not bleach out the plastic .

[HappyTrailsRVin]

Don't tell me we have covered all the hints and gadgets? I am always looking for new ideas, let's keep them coming in.

[stfnwuf]

MarshaNichols wrote:

wbwood wrote:

suerover wrote:
I needed a very specific sized little box to hold some meds in the bathroom cupboard. I couldn't find anything that would fit, but the bottom of a small milk carton was the perfect size. I cut off just what I needed, rinsed it out well and then wrapped it in duct tape to add a little handle. Goes in and out without a struggle.

We bought some of these at Target, but in a smaller size. They fit perfectly in our medicine cabinet on the shelves. Keep things from moving about during driving. Each one of us has our own boxes with our stuff in them and then a couple generic ones. They work great.

...then there is The Container Store!! If you have been to one, you understand! If you haven't...GO!!! 😉

We put two of these spice rack in our medicine chest to hold things such as Motrin, eye drops, etc.

[stfnwuf]

smitty2 wrote:
As for the cable tv hookup. Was tired of trying to get the cable on some of those connectors on the posts at most campgrounds. They are typically too verticals to the post and too close to get your fingers on them . I went to radio shack and found 90* elbow fittings that screw onto my cable and have a compression type fitting to slip onto the post connector. I put one on each end of my 25' cable and now it's very easy to connect. No more screwing around 🙂

I knew there was a reason I kept up with this thread. This very post. Thanks you.

[John_Betty]

smitty2 wrote:
As for the drawers opening during travel. When we installed our new bench seating with full length drawers we didn't realize, until we went on our first trip with them, that there was no mechanism in place to keep the drawers closed. So, both drawers were doing the dance down the road around turns. Solved that by getting the child safety catches for drawers. They are spring loaded and clasp when you close the drawer. A simple reach through the handle opening to release them is all that is needed. Now the drawers stay put.

We had that problem as well. I just made up a short bungee cord with 1 1/2" "S" hooks on either end, hooked it diagonally across the face of the drawers and voila, no more problems......

[smitty2]

As for the drawers opening during travel. When we installed our new bench seating with full length drawers we didn't realize, until we went on our first trip with them, that there was no mechanism in place to keep the drawers closed. So, both drawers were doing the dance down the road around turns. Solved that by getting the child safety catches for drawers. They are spring loaded and clasp when you close the drawer. A simple reach through the handle opening to release them is all that is needed. Now the drawers stay put.

[smitty2]

As for the cable tv hookup. Was tired of trying to get the cable on some of those connectors on the posts at most campgrounds. They are typically too verticals to the post and too close to get your fingers on them . I went to radio shack and found 90* elbow fittings that screw onto my cable and have a compression type fitting to slip onto the post connector. I put one on each end of my 25' cable and now it's very easy to connect. No more screwing around 🙂

[tomman58]

PGR_Skye wrote:
"It must work cause I have never seen a mouse drinking a Mojito"

Love it, GoldwingCapeCod!!

Good Idea for Mojito time, I just brought a bunch of mint home from up north. Bought a 1.5 liter of rum at Costco so am read to party. Oh rats it is only 9:30 AM haven't had breakfast yet...............

[PGR_Skye]

"It must work cause I have never seen a mouse drinking a Mojito"

Love it, GoldwingCapeCod!!