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

[alliemac9]

Thanks for the tip on mint! We recently had a mouse issue in the house, so it's good to have another trick up my sleeve. And I wonder if mint is invasive in CO conditions? I would LOVE to have something to invade the natural areas of my property...currently, the things that are taking over are all sharp (yucca) or have thorns (thistle, etc.). Mint sounds like a great invasive from my perspective - soft and useful if needed!

[PGR_Skye]

I have three types of mint plants, but because they are so invasive, they are grown in large pots, tomman58. Prefer to buy the oil due to the convenience. I stopped at a health store yesterday evening and bought some peppermint oil. Yes, wny_pat, it will go on cotton balls and placed in the basement.

[tomman58]

PGR_Skye wrote:
On second thought, I think I'll just buy some mint oil to dab around the basement.

Mint is a weed in In. look for it this summer , highly invasive

[wny_pat1]

PGR_Skye wrote:
On second thought, I think I'll just buy some mint oil to dab around the basement.

mint oil on cotton balls!

[PGR_Skye]

On second thought, I think I'll just buy some mint oil to dab around the basement.

[PGR_Skye]

Was reading through my Carrots Love Tomatoes book for companion planting for my garden and it states that mint is a great mouse repellent. Am getting ready to try it in the basement of our motorhome because the mice have decided that they sort of like it there. Just bought 3 mint plants a day or two before I read this and might have to buy a couple more and rooting those for more and more plants. I'll see what works best - leaves, an infusion sprayed around it or ?.

[BigRabbitMan]

Tvov wrote:
Those propane tankless water heaters need a certain minimum water pressure don't they? Obviously you had no problem with your water pump. I am curious because a friend with a hunting cabin tried one of those heaters, but it didn't work because his gravity-fed water system didn't have enough water pressure.

lIt's not the pressure that they require, it is the flow rate. They need a certain flow rate to ensure that they do not overheat the water and cause scalding or steam generation. Would not be very good!

[Tvov]

Those propane tankless water heaters need a certain minimum water pressure don't they? Obviously you had no problem with your water pump. I am curious because a friend with a hunting cabin tried one of those heaters, but it didn't work because his gravity-fed water system didn't have enough water pressure.

[ddndoug]

RaenMark wrote:
82Jayman, sounds like an awesome idea and a great fix to a tired rig. Love to see some pictures of your heater and installation.

X2


Doug

[RaenMark]

82Jayman, sounds like an awesome idea and a great fix to a tired rig. Love to see some pictures of your heater and installation.

[82Jayman]

We bought an older model travel trailer that need some fixin up. We painted the entire inside, installed new oak plywood countertop, reupholstered all cushions, walpapered back-splash, and put down antique peel-n-stick laminate. Water heater did not work, and we were not going to buy new for $600. We bought EZ101 portable, propane tankless water heater ($125). This is meant for camping and remote type locations. I routed water lines from old water heater to access hatch and mounted through it using 3.5" pvc 1/2" thread piping and then back into camper. The tank is small and very light (17"x11"x4" @ ~ 8lbs). It hangs outside on a stand I custom built and hooks up to LPG using standard regulator. It gives you on-demand hot water. Works great. Never run out of hot water as long as you have LPG. No pilot lights. Igniter works on two D-cell batteries and will start as soon as you turn on hot water. When you shut hot water off, the heater shuts off. It's extremely quiet. Can mount inside if you run venting.

[Eastwacamper]

Here's a site. https://www.oxygenics.ca/

[grannie14]

I just thought of something that we added to our 5r that I really like and have not yet seen mentioned (although I have only read about 30 of the 296 pages). We installed an Oxigenics shower head. It uses less water but really feels like our home shower. I love it. And I noticed the newer ones now have a "Smartpause" shut off valve which ours doesn't have.

[no2tracks]

I use Dawn dishwashing soap in the pump bottles. A squirt or 2 for the dishes or a partial squirt for the hands/face.

[dcmac214]

LuckeyUs wrote:

We've got 2 types of liquid hand soap dispensers in the house, the plain liquid soap and "frog farts" bubbly soap.

I just have to ask, What the heck is frog farts bubbly soap?

That's the brand name, refillable pump hand soap dispenser DW got for the Gkids a few years ago. When you pump it the soap comes out in bubbles instead of a stream or droplets. We especially like it for the Gkids because they use waaaay too much of the 'regular' liquid dispenser soap.