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

[JimBollman]

Jeanne M wrote:

JimBollman wrote:
The previous owner of my camper built a pocket on the inside wall of the closet with three 1" X 1/2" strips (2 sides and a bottom) and a piece of mahogany board. Completely out of the way and it hold all the important manuals and charts I need to reference.

Jim...

Would it be possible for you to post of photo of this..?

Thanks.

Already in Winter storage and not accessible. Sorry if my description didn't make it clear. Think of a wooden box a little shorter than the hight of the papers/binder you want to store and a bit deeper than the thickness. Now replace one of the large flat sides with the inside wall of your closet and leave the top open to drop in the papers. When you need the papers, open the closet and reach to the side of the closet and there they are.

Wish I could draw.

Jim...

[WildPlumYonder]

John&Betty wrote:

Cruzette wrote:
Instead of a 3-ring binder, I bought an accordian style file folder and sorted brochures and product information alphabetically. It stays in the RV at all times.

We do this as well.

Yep, along with copies of the dogs' medical and vaccination records and Canine Good Citizen awards (one of the dogs - both rescues - is probably part pit bull of some sort). We also travel with a one-sheet-per-person medical statement with a medical summary and contact persons list. All in an accordian folder.

[John_Betty]

Cruzette wrote:
Instead of a 3-ring binder, I bought an accordian style file folder and sorted brochures and product information alphabetically. It stays in the RV at all times.

We do this as well.

[Jeanne_M]

JimBollman wrote:
The previous owner of my camper built a pocket on the inside wall of the closet with three 1" X 1/2" strips (2 sides and a bottom) and a piece of mahogany board. Completely out of the way and it hold all the important manuals and charts I need to reference.

Jim...

Would it be possible for you to post of photo of this..?

Thanks.

[JimBollman]

The previous owner of my camper built a pocket on the inside wall of the closet with three 1" X 1/2" strips (2 sides and a bottom) and a piece of mahogany board. Completely out of the way and it hold all the important manuals and charts I need to reference.

Jim...

[horseylady]

I am scanning almost all of my paperwork, contracts, insurance policy declarations, user guides, etc. into my laptop which goes on all trips with me. I also carry a very small scanner and a small printer. I would much rather do away with the paper and just print what I need. It takes quite a bit of time to do all the scanning but no more than filing things properly, and it makes it SO easy to find things in a hurry. I still do have the binder with all the motor home booklets in it as they would be too labor intensive to scan. Everything is backed up twice and regularly. Sure makes tax time easy, too.

[Tvov]

I just don't trust computers, and "digital storage". One power surge and it could be all gone. We keep owners manuals related to the TT in the bottom of one of the closets in the camper.

[Cruzette]

I agree with MrWizard, I'd rather have a hard copy. I have soooooooo many files saved and I have 3 computers and I some times forget where and what computer I saved a file.

Instead of a 3-ring binder, I bought an accordian style file folder and sorted brochures and product information alphabetically. It stays in the RV at all times.

[MrWizard]

I like computer and its.great for downloading, but nothing beats a piece of paper when your working on something, and need it on location under the hood or on the work bench, I will print out a page I can make notes or pencil in changes, pt# etc

[waddison]

I am in the middle of reading all these post. Great stuff. I noticed several post about a 3 ring binder to store manuals, registrations etc. I either download PDF versions of manuals or I scan and save as PDF files all information for my 5th wheel. I cn store them on the laptop and a thumb drive so I can always access them if I need to. My smartphone with a memory card also stores and displays PDF files.

[SageCrispin]

Units that put the whole RV on a UPS (such as HERE) are readily available, like the Prosine 2.0 While there seem to be plenty of these around, this particular unit is no longer manufactured, but there are plenty of others from this manufacturer and others. These units effectively put all the outlets (or whatever you have wired to it) on a "whole house" UPS. You do not put the big users, like the AC on it. Do a search here for the Prosine and you will find plenty of discussion including wiring how-to's.

Sage

[popeye59]

And solar panels, don't forget solar power

[MrWizard]

You can.get that functionally, but you do so by purchasing an "all electric" RV, that has lots of batteries and a pair of victron inverter units, that supply the house power from the BATTERY bank automatically encase of shore power failure

aboeck3 wrote:
Great idea about the UPS, is there a way to protect the whole system on one UPS unit? If so, where would it be placed.

I love this particualr thread, I have read all 194 pages and check every morning for additional comments - and I don't even have a MH yet!!!

[StarkNaked]

popeye59 wrote:

aboeck3 wrote:
Great idea about the UPS, is there a way to protect the whole system on one UPS unit? If so, where would it be placed.

I love this particualr thread, I have read all 194 pages and check every morning for additional comments - and I don't even have a MH yet!!!

You're obsessed :B

Aren't all Rv owners (and wanna be owners)!?!?!?!?!?

[portscanner]

aboeck3 wrote:
Great idea about the UPS, is there a way to protect the whole system on one UPS unit? If so, where would it be placed.

I love this particualr thread, I have read all 194 pages and check every morning for additional comments - and I don't even have a MH yet!!!

Depends on what you mean by "the whole system" If you mean your computer system - just get a ups from Office Depot and be done with it. If you are talking about the entire trailer (A/C, microwave, tv, computers, playstation, etc etc etc) well, um, that particular UPS would be more weight than you want to carry around. In fact about the only thing that can do that is called a generator.