Another trick we used was replacing our RV stereo with a Car audio deck. this gives you the option to pick a deck that is 1, 1 1/2 or 2 din size and we chose one that would play DVD and Divx ( Divx being a compression format for movies. Akin to what MP3 is to music) we converted all of our movies into divx format and keep them on USB drives. SD card and portable hard drives as we chose to organize them. Saves a TON of room for people who travel with 2 kids and we have a surplus of movies available if we get rained in. although we try not to use our electronics as much as possible.. we didn't go camping to do what we can do at home. another advantage of these stereos is they will play mp3's as well for people who listen to music while they are camping.
First off, I just want to say how incredibly useful these forums have been and want to thank you more experienced types for taking the time to share your wisdom and tips.
Since I became a full-timer in February, I have really enjoyed the lifestyle and just love sharing my 26ft TT with my 13 year old, three-legged Lab mix. Great fun and she's a terrific and gentle ambassador.
My own dumb little contribution to this thread: I use the sticky earthquake goo that people in earthquake zones use to keep their chotzkes from falling during shaking in my medicine cabinet.
Tweezers, deodorant, razors, etc. all get their own little blob on the shelf or back wall to secure to when not in use.
With a gentle tug, they come unstuck for use, then a gentle push reattaches them. Every time I open my medicine cabinet, everything is right where I left it.
I have also had success with the yellow, Silly-Putty kind of stuff used for hanging pictures, but find it doesn't hold as well on slick surfaces.
I do have one question on your terminology here. I see "my DH" or "DW" used a lot and infer that the H means husband and W means wife, but what does the D stand for? I'll guess "Dear" for the sake of politeness, as my mind tends to wander towards some far less pleasant possibilities in the absence of the truth.
I was looking for a liquid soap dispenser to go in the "utility" compartment by the outdoor shower, but everything I found was either $50+ or had "features" that made it inappropriate. For instance, Home Depot had a wall mount soap dispenser about the right size, but the lid just sat loosely on top.
So I finally gave up and made a bracket to hold a dial soap bottle. I used a Simpson Strong Tie L bracket from Home Depot, drilled and then punched a hole big enough for the threaded part of the the soap bottle to go through and then sandwiched the bracket between the bottle and the screw on top. Hopefully the top won't vibrate loose while traveling.
Total cost 51 cents...
2004 Fleetwood Bounder 32W on WH W20 - 2005 Ford Ranger XLT 2WD Toad
Previous RVs and TOADS
2000 Four Winds 5000 21RB
1986 27' Allegro
TOADS
2004 Suzuki Aerio
1988 Chevrolet Sprint
Hey...it works! I like it! Necessity...the mother of invention! Good ol' fashioned ingenuity at work...Nice job! Thanks for sharing.
We kinda had the same problem with inside soap...it was usually stored under the sink when moving and I'd forget to put it back up on the counter when stopped...and we always had dirty hands when we needed it. Our local RV repair shop had those stick-on bottles of hand sanitizer...so I bought a couple..we used the sanitizer and saved the bottles for liquid soap. Now they are always stuck on the counter next to the kitchen and bathroom sinks...never have to go looking! Best part is that the bottles are removeable from the base for easy refilling!
We stopped using the antibacterial soup, as we were told that it is not good for your holding tanks. Still use the liquid soup that isn't antibracterial. I like your idea, it is always good to get things up out of the way and always in the same place.
Alicia and Roger
Stanwood,IA
94' Safari Motor Home
I wish we could have a subfolder in here for items that have such great **multiple uses** that we cannot live without them.
One of my favorites is non-slip shelf liner or even the non-slip mesh that goes under rugs. It's cheap and I use it in these ways (and of course the obvious as a shelf liner.)
1) We hung a tabletop fan from the wall (some of them have mounts in the bottom) so I put liner between it and the wall. Now there is less vibration of the fan.
2) Attached some small pieces to the backs of some pictures and clocks I've hung. Now they won't swing during travel and leave marks on the walls.
3) Placed it under the dinette seat cushions so they don't worm out from under us while we're sitting.
4) Cushion glass pie plates (another amazingly multi-purpose item) to protect them during travel.
5) Place under throw rugs so that they stay put. I don't use rubber backed rugs because I've seen them discolor lino and also because I hate the mess when they start to deteriorate. The liner needs to be washed when the rug is washed because it loses its adhesive properties when it gets dusty.
6) Towels slid off of the plastic towel hook rack we use, until I hot glued some pieces to the knobs on the hooks.
7) Cut a rectangle as long as a clothes hanger and about 4" wide. Cut a hole in the middle and thread the clothes hanger through the hole, and then hot glue the liner to the shoulders of then hanger. Presto. Nonslip hangers. It also allows you to use a wire hanger to hang dry items without worrying about rust stains.
8) If I store items in the bathtub while we're traveling, I can stack one on top of another and they will stay put while moving if I put a piece of liner between the stacked items.
Lots of good uses for an inexpensive and easily acquired/stored item.
Offline
