Simple camping tips & ideas.
Submitted: Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 09:49
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Member - Lionel A (WA)
Camping has always been a passion of
mine for years. Give me a little dome tent over a 5 star hotel any day. I've always travelled light and kept the equipment simple. [ the
kitchen sink stays at
home ].
Sometimes I come across other campers that have or do things that, to me, are so obviously clever I kick myself for not thinking of it myself. eg:
A bloke had the bottom of a plastic milk crate cut out and a domestic
toilet seat attached. Just found a private little place dug his hole and contemplated his navel for a while. [ simple and comfortable ].
Another bloke I saw had a 20ltr metal drum of water sitting next to the fire. Me figured a good precaution in case the fire gets away. Nope! hot water on hand for washing up etc. [ simple ]. Just thinking of the times I've boiled a billy with gas while theres a fire right next to me, [ dipstick ]!!!!!!
Just wondering if others have or have come across clever little ideas that are so uncomplicated and seem to sit below the radar.
Lionel.
Reply By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 17:44
Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 17:44
Hi there Lionel, the only problem with keeping the drum on the fire is you waste alot of water with evaporation. This is fine if you have a river, stream, etc where water is always available but if relying on the water you take with you then you will run out quick. My wife and I just use the billy full of water boil it up then pour into a 15L bucket and fill the rest with cold water works out just the right temp for both of us and this will also be enough water for the two of us. We use to use the milkcrate set up but in the end wife decided on the porta loo which I must admit is great if she needs to tinkle through the night as she doesnt wake me up to go with her while she finds a spot, she just wips out the camper door into the
toilet tent while I'm still snoring brillant. I had a little bracket made up just inside the rear door on the hilux with a soap on tap set up, no mess. We use the little batterys for the shower instead of having to move the car to the right spot etc I just clip the pos/neg on to the battery inside the shower tent then wack on the invertor if need to recharge but normally these battery will last me over a week running the shower (primus). All the little tips help here and there and can some times save us with extra luggage. Now that we have the prado will have to work out what goes where Was ok with the lux and canopy fill her up of we went. Have to invest in a fridge slide and stuff now as just use to whack fridge on back
seat of hilux whack the seatbelt around it as the lux was too ohigh to have in rear tray had to climb up all the time was a killer on the knees, at least with the prado open rear door slide out the fridge nice height. Regards Steve M
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Reply By: Jimbo - Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 20:30
Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 20:30
A few of my simple tips to make camping comfortable.
A caravan with aircon
Breadmaker
80 L fridge/freezer and the fridge in the van of course
Generator to run the aircon, bread maker, charge the aux battery, hairdryer etc.
Porta Dunny
Coleman hot water service
Coleman
camp chairs (they're like armchairs)
Chivas Regal or The Glenlivet, depends what is on special
Solar Panel
Two aux batteries, one in the van and one in the car
A good quality fluoro light
And, and, and lots more.
The whole lot takes less time to set up than a tent.
I once read somewhere, "any mug can be uncomfortable in the bush".
I'm no mug LOL.
AnswerID:
228184
Follow Up By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 10:25
Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 10:25
"I once read somewhere, "any mug can be uncomfortable in the bush". "
That would be my signature line - and it is a genuine quote from a old fencing contractor I met the
Miles campground in Queensland at 4:00am. It was a freezing night and I had been driven out of my tent by the cold and was walking around to warm up. He was down in the creek bed next a blazing fire and invited me down for a cuppa. We spent the next 2 hours yarning (
well him talking and me listening!)
It was all time
well spent.
Cheers
Pete
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 21:25
Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 21:25
Very good Pete, now I know where I saw it.
If camping is uncomfortable,
well, why would you do it?
The concept of suffering whilst on holiday is not appealing to me, or more importantly 'er indoors.
ATB,
Jim.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Glenn (VIC) - Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 at 12:12
Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 at 12:12
You forgot to add Aldi beer mate....hahahaha
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Reply By: Scrubcat - Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 21:51
Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 21:51
I have used mike`s method, but now find it easier to take some pieces of rubber car tyre inner tube about 100 mm x 100mm ( any size you like) for lighting the fire when the wood etc. is wet, it will burn hot and will light even after being dipped in water.
I also take a small bucket (4 gal paint tin with lid ) of lime , just spread a small amount in the
toilet hole after use and it stops all smell ,flies, etc. and the hole lasts much longer.
Scrubcat.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 09:50
Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 09:50
If you're heading into desert country, can I offer some water saving tips:
#1 Have a 500ml spray bottle handy - use it for cleaning cups, morning tea and lunch stuff, and giving the face a spray. Cleans up with almost no water.
#2 Handwashing - we use "Aqium" antibacterial handcleaner - its 66% Alcohol, so don't drink it :-)) Its simply a gel that cleans your hands and then evaporates away so you don't need water. Its used in all the hospitals these days, and you can buy it from the chemist. Lasts a long time.
#3 Showers - Buy a 4litre Hills garden sprayer from Bunnings ($17) and cut the metal wand to a shorter length. Fill it up with warm water (usually one billy of hot and two of cold), pump up the pressure and we usually need 1.5 to 2 litres of water for a normal shower. The wand has a nice trigger so you only use minimum water.
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