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

[PGR_Skye]

After all this time and all the posts, I hate to see this thread go down the drain. Would dearly love to see this get to 5,000 eventually or become a sticky.

Anyway, this has probably been mentioned before, but I'm going to resurrected it. On our last trip, I took along a meyer lemon tree (very short) with one fruit ripening and I didn't want to miss it since we'd be gone for three months, so took it along. While out, I picked up another meyer lemon tree and a couple of herb plants. Going into the shower while travelling was out of the question, so I took one of our empty storage tubs to put them in while on the road and the tub sat in the back of the Jeep. When we settled down at a campsite, I could easily take my plants out and stow the empty tub back in the underbelly of the motorhome. At first DH wasn't fond of it, he didn't particularly like me having the plants, but even he found out it wasn't a bother.

[EMD360]

gingerK wrote:
Has anyone ever used the Hot Spot Notebook Charcoal Grill? I'm thinking of getting one for my TC. Apparently, they fold up quite small. Some of the reviews are good, some say it's flimsy. I'd like to hear from someone who has actually used one before I buy.

We have one! I love it for small campfires in areas that do not have fire pits. We have also used it for charcoal. It is thin sheet metal in an X formation with an ash grill and a top grill. But it does fold up small, is lightweight, and I keep it in the original box under the kitchen sink.

[Wrace]

MobileBasset wrote:

And the perfect organizer for the corner bed. Once you are all cozy in there you don't want to have to get out unnecessarily. I got this from BedPockets.com

That looks very handy, how did you mount it? Did the lower leg of the L actually slide under the paneling?

Or maybe a clamp like this for each leg screwed into the panelling?


Thanks

[Wrace]

westend wrote:
My contribution to mankind:
The horse bit TP holder---

Now that is very well done! Is the rope for us old people who may need assistance getting up off the pot, or is it to flush the toilet. 🙂

[legolas]

amandasgramma wrote:

chezmoose wrote:
I can't take credit for this idea, but do plan to give it a try...

Last year while camping with friends, they used two square buckets (similar to kitty litter buckets) to secure their awning. They filled the buckets with water and attached ropes (or bungees?) connecting the awning to the bucket handles. The buckets weigh very little to transport and can double as water dishes for the dogs if you leave the lids open!

This is a good idea for small winds, but we were in the Hell's Canyon and our friends had their awning out when a HUGE wind blew up. They had the awning tied down with the screwy kind of things that are to hold big dogs on a chain and they had 5 gallon buckets full of the biggest rocks they could find to fit. The wind hit and the awning was toast......

I have seen several awning tragedies....as a result my awning policy has 2 parts Part 1- Daytime, awning out when I am present; Part 2- Nighttime, awning out when I am present and awning in when I go to bed.....way better safe than sorry. Besides why have the awning out if you aren't actually using it?

[BigRabbitMan]

westend wrote:
My contribution to mankind:

The horse bit TP holder---

Very good! I like.

[beemerphile1]

Playtime II wrote:
Pins and TP. Sounds like too much potential for a painfull oops...

You have a point there! :B

[westend]

My contribution to mankind:

The horse bit TP holder---

[Handbasket]

Playtime II wrote:
Pins and TP. Sounds like too much potential for a painfull oops. Flatting the TP roll sounds less dangerous.

I never knew it could be so complicated, pins and needles and flaps, oh my.. ;).

The Tiger came with a toilet paper holder, and I added a similar paper towel holder. They swing like a trapeze, pivoted from the wall, so the roll is always held by gravity against the wall. They're made of white plastic, but otherwise similar to this on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AOK8SE/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
I'm sure no one has a stiffer riding RV than the little Tiger, but I've never had even so much as one square of TP unroll going down the road.


Jim, "I'm not hard of hearing. I'm hard of listening."

[MobileBasset]

Bathroom organizers that are safe during travel. I use two of these, one for inside the shower stuff and one for outside stuff. They are from Camping World.




And the perfect organizer for the corner bed. Once you are all cozy in there you don't want to have to get out unnecessarily. I got this from BedPockets.com

[stfnwuf]

chezmoose wrote:

amandasgramma wrote:
We had something similar (towel rack) over our shower door and never had a problem. If you're worried about the glass considering shampoos, etc are heavier, then why not, before traveling, lay a towel over the door, then the rack....would buffer it. 🙂

You may have a point there! That is a really good idea...

We have an over-the-door towel rack and shower caddy. I use the non-skid shelf liner behind the towel rack and one behind the caddy. Works great.

[Pangaea_Ron]

My TP holder has a metal flap that does not allow for it to rotate.

[Playtime_II]

Pins and TP. Sounds like too much potential for a painfull oops. Flatting the TP roll sounds less dangerous.

[Okie_in_Wyoming]

Jeanne M wrote:

amandasgramma wrote:

CarpFishermanAndWife wrote:
After reading the whole forum, I told hubby alot of people were trying to figure out how to keep their toilet rolls from unrolling during driving. He asked "why not just take the roll off the roller?" I never thought about the obvious - duh! 😉

🙂 you're married to a genius!!!!! We take our paper towels off the roll.....a LOT easier than worrying about bungee cords, etc.

In our first RV we used a straight pin with a ball head - stuck one in TP roll and one in paper towel roll. Worked like a charm. In the new RV the TP roll is on a post and stands on end. No problem with unrolling now and the paper towel hold is now a 'ratchet' type and doesn't unroll either.

I use the straight pin too! Works like a charm!

[Jeanne_M]

amandasgramma wrote:

CarpFishermanAndWife wrote:
After reading the whole forum, I told hubby alot of people were trying to figure out how to keep their toilet rolls from unrolling during driving. He asked "why not just take the roll off the roller?" I never thought about the obvious - duh! 😉

🙂 you're married to a genius!!!!! We take our paper towels off the roll.....a LOT easier than worrying about bungee cords, etc.

In our first RV we used a straight pin with a ball head - stuck one in TP roll and one in paper towel roll. Worked like a charm. In the new RV the TP roll is on a post and stands on end. No problem with unrolling now and the paper towel hold is now a 'ratchet' type and doesn't unroll either.