Good Camping Ideas
Submitted: Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 16:22
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Member - Oldbaz. NSW.
Now & then some good ideas come up re camping.. one that was on this
forum was using a 5 L pressure garden sprayer as a shower. Now that appears good to me, I will get one & try it out.
Another idea is the use of solar garden lights when camping.
particularly suitable for kids & olds looking to go the loo & not
tripping over tent ropes & stuff. If suspended give adequate light
to
cook & socialise by. Recharge in daylight in the usual way. Good
stuff me thinks. One I'm not so sure of is the aluminium Bush
Kettle..requires leaves,twigs, newspaper or other combustible.
Problem...it costs $150 !!. What is wrong with a $20 Butane
single burner stove. They're quick, very portable in a case, & give
heat instantly. In fact I no longer bother taking the old primus
stove & gas bottle camping, preferring to use 2 of the above.
I'm sure many of you have useful camping ideas that make life on
the road simpler, quicker, & more fun...your turn....oldbaz.
Reply By: whyallacookie - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 16:27
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 16:27
For lighting we use the cheap $10 fluro from a discount variety store and a gell cell (7amp/h ?)
Works a treat as we only
camp 1 or 2 days in the same spot.
We like our $20 cooker too, only reason we usually use the 2 burner now is if it is cold (heats up much quicker)
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Reply By: jackablue - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 16:35
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 16:35
I have the garden spray setup works a treat. I also have two single burner stoves.(but not for the cold as they don't work.)I tend to have all sorts of set ups from small tent to large tent to camper trailer and mix and match to suit the trip.
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Reply By: Moose - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:09
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:09
G'day Oldbaz
As far as I can see many so called clever ideas just mean more crap to cart around. I carry too much as it is. :-)
I doubt anyone has any unique camping tips but here's a few possibly useful ones:
* Use a stainless steel coffee plunger - unbreakable and the coffee tastes a lot better than instant.
* You mentioned tripping over guy ropes - use light coloured ones - they are easier to see in the dark.
* A mat at the tent/camper/caravan door saves getting a heap of unwanted dirt etc inside.
*
Check the ground carefully before pegging out the tent/camper - those bloody horrible jumping/bull/green ant nests are sneaky buggers that only materialise when it's too late.
* Look up too for potentially dangerous dead timber.
Cheers from the Moose
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Follow Up By: Member - MUZBRY (VIC) - Saturday, Feb 02, 2008 at 12:15
Saturday, Feb 02, 2008 at 12:15
gDAY OLD bAZ
We to had a problem at Hatah national park last year when it was a bit late . I boiled the billy and poured it down the ant hole, only one ant made it's presents felt after that.
Muzbry
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Reply By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:15
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:15
I know this has been done before but heating up the garlic bread under the bonnet (the w/worths special wrapped in foil) on the way to your next stop aways works a treat.
I also find it useful to carry a wife with me to do those little things like set up
camp etc.....just kidding babe - could be in trouble now :-(
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Follow Up By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 18:39
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 18:39
Is that where I'm going wrong........... I haven't got one of those, what did u call the thing "a wife"
I can't stand the 3 minutes it takes for me to set up
camp. LOL
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Follow Up By: Member - jjt98 (QLD) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 19:26
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 19:26
You can pick them up in most
places but they can be expensive ;-)
By the way, love your signature, it's spot on.
Cheers
Jason
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Follow Up By: Member - extfilm (NSW) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 21:59
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 21:59
Ahhhh thats why I've not heard of them........ They must be out of my price range
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Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:32
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:32
Just remembered another time & energy saving tip for soft floor C/t like
mine. Dont bother pegging down. Those with legs in the corners perform perfectly without staking to the ground. Watched many spend up to 20 min banging pegs in, & when asked why...says to in the book was the usual reply. As bride & I
slept on the floor there was no way it was going to go anywhere.
cheers...oldbaz.
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:49
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 17:49
Oldbaz,
The Aussie Bush Kettle, I have had one for a dogs age, best thing since sliced bread.
Boils water in 2 minutes, I have used the twigs and gum leaves and it gives off a very bush aroma.
I mostly use a bit of metho in a small tray. Burns quick and clean, and if you can't wait for the billy to boil a quick sip of the metho and after a while you forget why you wanted hot water in the first place.
Wayne
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Reply By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 20:48
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 20:48
If you carry a means of extinguishing spinafex fires eg a garden spray or old water fire extinguisher add a bit of washing detergent to the water it will make the water go further. The detergent is a surfactant and that is what we in the BFB use when fighting fires.
Use an old wAshing up detergent bottle with either diluted hand wash or detergent for or washing lunch time dishes. It's amazing how far 500ml of water will go.
If you have a rear mounted spare wheel carrier tape a bottle of lotion to it. Great for when you have to wash your hands.
Camp ovens make excellent storage areas for veggies, (when in the car that is).
Talc is an excellent repellent for ants when sprinkled around your tent or van stabilisers.
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Reply By: obee - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 21:18
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 21:18
best shower for me was and is a half a bucket of water. no hoses no motors no taps. just soap and a piece of plastic to stand on.
owen
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Reply By: balko - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 21:48
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 21:48
Get an old beer keg weld 4 legs on it and screw a tap fitting in it and sit it beside the fire. Hot water for cuppas, showers, and just fill the bucket for the washing up after dinner and brekky. Just dont let it run dry fill every 2-3 days ..... Also get 100 glow sticks off ebay hang them around kids necks at night and you can always see where there at and hang 1 in the tent for a night light for little ones Cheers Balko
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Reply By: Scrubcat - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 22:33
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 22:33
G`Day Oldbaz,
Moose mentioned Bullants ( Inch-Jacks we call them ) usually find them AFTER you have set up
camp. If you throw any meat scraps, chop bones etc. on their nest the ordinary meat ants move in and the bullies move out .Yep, guaranteed, works every time. If you still find Bullies around
camp there is probably another nest.
Carry some small pieces of inner tube.One small bit is very good for starting the
camp fire in wet conditions, it will light no matter how wet it is and burns long enough to get the fire going. ( Good for the greenies also .)
Any camping is good.
Scrubcat.
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Reply By: Member - lyndon K (SA) - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 22:51
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 22:51
This might not work with every bull bar but my long handle shovel lives in the tube that runs through the bottom of it. Out of the way, almost out of site and always handy. Ocky strap the spade end so it doesn't work it's way out.
Cheers Lyndon
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Reply By: Member - LOS BUSH - Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 22:57
Friday, Feb 01, 2008 at 22:57
Like old the good ideas one we like is the 6mx6m piece of shade clothe on the ground around the tent or van entrance ,nothing seems to stick to it los
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Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Saturday, Feb 02, 2008 at 09:36
Saturday, Feb 02, 2008 at 09:36
Some great ,simple ideas there folks. Must agree re the shade cloth...doubled it makes an excellent ground sheet under tents or
soft floor campers, leave a couple of feet extra all round to sit
stuff on...no dirt etc stuck on bottom of eskies etc. I find a siver tarp of correct size..too big, is great for reducing temperature,
prevents wet pack ups & staining. Put eyelets in to match your
annex poles etc. Takes minutes to put on & all that angst re leaks
& sealing hassles are no more.....oldbaz.
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