We are leaving on Friday for our annual two week trip.
Our van is pretty small and storage space is limited. In the past I used plastic shoeboxes and containers to hold our items (flashlights, batteries, decks of cards, walkie-talkies, etc.). It was all crammed together.
This year I purchased small, clear vinyl, zippered storage bags. They are mostly cosmetic bags. I found them at the grocery store, drug stores and dollar stores.
They fit a whole lot better because they are soft. The best thing,however, is that you can see what it inside. That was formerly Joe's biggest excuse for sending me into the van. He would say that he couldn't find anything. Ha! I won't fall for that this year.
I am amazed at the extra room I have now and I know instantly what is inside each bag.
Marilyn w/ Joe, 2000 Xplorer Class B van, usually pulling a Ranger bass boat.
Smudge, (in photo) a Shih Tzu/Yorkie Mix and Gizmo is waiting at the Rainbow Bridge
Now I also have them all hanging on a curtain spring tension rod inside a kitchen cabinet holding them all in a row as a dispenser so I don't have to to go searching every time I need one. (And the curtain rod still holds the other stuff in the cabinet in when I'm rolling.)
I know this is a repeat of a repeat, etc., But last weekend I FINALLY made that PVC Satellite stand I saw in one of these forums, and got to use it this weekend. It Worked GREAT !!! Had a storm come thru that knocked over some of the tri-pods others were using, and mine just sat there pretty as you please. I bet I could of sold 2 or 3 of these things this weekend !!
With the dish mounted upside down, we had one of the neighbors laugh and tell us we would never get a signal "that way" !! I showed them the TV set and they were shocked !!
Got several comments on it.
Here's the link I found if anyone's interested. "PVX Sat Stand"
I also drilled out the welds holding the Arm onto the dish, and now connect it with bolts and wing nuts. All the adjustments on the dish are also converted to wingnuts. It all breaks down nice and small.
CRUZ
HR & Beth
2006 Chevy Silverado LT3 3500HD, DRW, D/A, CC, LB, 4x4 and RED
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS
Cassie - pure Black Giant Schnauzer
Mollie - pure White Mini Schnauzer (the boss)
We carry only two kinds of tape - blue painters tape (doesn't leave any residue) and rescue tape www.rescuetape.com
This stuff is great and takes the place of just about all others. We use it for electrical, plumbing, and other "emergency" uses!
Oh we do use Velcro too but we don't carry any extra - only what is needed for a specific use
"There's no such thing as too much tow vehicle!"
Wes, Linda, & kids
"Tow Twuck" - 2008 Ford F350 DRW CC LB 6.4 Powerstroke
"Cougar" - 2006 Keystone Cougar 289EFS Fifth Wheel Our Website
Looks like great stuff. Unfortunately, it still wouldn't suit some of my purposes. Some of what I have has been around here for a while, others are for particular projects. Might pick up a roll when I run out of some of the others, though.
If there's one thing I've learned doing this, it's what sticks to what and for how long at what speed with how much weight on it. (Didn't mention the hot glue, super glue, butyl caulk, marine glue, epoxy, riveting tool, and sewing machine because they aren't in the kitchen cabinet.)
I swear if they ever gave classes on sticking stuff together, wiring other stuff together, and lubricating stuff that isn't supposed to be together, this whole forum might die, lol.
We carry only two kinds of tape - blue painters tape (doesn't leave any residue) and rescue tape www.rescuetape.com
This stuff is great and takes the place of just about all others. We use it for electrical, plumbing, and other "emergency" uses!
Oh we do use Velcro too but we don't carry any extra - only what is needed for a specific use
-Keep your plastic dish drainer in place on top of your stove. Hook one end of cord to the store grate, other end to the oven handle
-Keep broom/vacuum in place. Stand them up, all together, and wrap cord tightly around the handles. I attach mine to the plastic thermostat on the wall (it has small openings in it).
-Keep a fan in place on your countertop
-Hang towels/swim suits/anything wet on a cord to dry
The possibilities are endless!
Label maker machine - label all the cupboards/drawers so everything goes back in its place.
Mish
1 DH (he does the driving)
2 6 yr. old DDs
2005 Coachman Freedom 30.5 ft
Sheesh - I wasn't even thinking about all the bungees.
Electric 'stick' fan/heater to wall behind lounge chair
Wardrobe doors, until I remember to buy a new door clasp
Spin dryer and sewing machine to dining table leg
Anything carried on the scooter
Keeps lid to the house batts up while working via bungee to coffee cup holder
trays of small parts bungeed in a stack while moving - each becomes the lid for the one below
group of bottles bungeed together inside fridge so they can't hop the guard rail
tighten up awning tie-downs
keep tarp on roof during repairs via bungee to A/C cover
poop in a group (just kidding!)
Other things I don't recall or haven't even thought of yet. That, and little strips of velcro for temporary attachments:
blow dryer to wall
holds button down on sink hose while washer fills
every kind of cord and cable coiled
drapery tie-backs
hang window covers in bedroom
Collected interesting boxes for years - now it's soft bags and stuff to stick some stuff to other stuff. Heckuva hobby. Who knew?
ohiotubagal wrote: Bungie cords! I use them for everything...
-Keep your plastic dish drainer in place on top of your stove. Hook one end of cord to the store grate, other end to the oven handle
-Keep broom/vacuum in place. Stand them up, all together, and wrap cord tightly around the handles. I attach mine to the plastic thermostat on the wall (it has small openings in it).
-Keep a fan in place on your countertop
-Hang towels/swim suits/anything wet on a cord to dry
The possibilities are endless!
Label maker machine - label all the cupboards/drawers so everything goes back in its place.
Serena wrote: Sheesh - I wasn't even thinking about all the bungees.
>> group of bottles bungeed together inside fridge so they can't hop the guard rail.
I use refrigerator bars like these in the fridge to keep everything in it's place. To make sure everything is snug I push everything to the back of the fridge and secure with these bars…works really good. I don't have any surprises when I open the door during or after a trip.
'06 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 36B / W22
'05 Jeep Liberty-Toad
Don't know if anyone has posted this or not, but here's one of my favorites.
We were lamenting the fact that we don't have an outdoor shower on our PUP, so I went to the local WMart and bought a "Y" adapter for the city water faucet. One end of the "Y" goes to the camper, the other end goes to a 6' section of hose with a hand held garden sprayer (one with about 10 different spray patterns) on it. Viola! Instant outdoor shower for hosing off dirty kids.
It doesn't have hot water, but it will definitely get the sand and dirt off your feet.
Me (69), DW (69), DD (95), DS (00), DS (01) and 1 camping toy fox terrier (08)
95 Fleetwood Utah, 02 Ford Explorer Limited (V8)
Here's one for people with small children. When we put our 2-year old down for nap or bedtime, he likes to peek out through the curtain to see what is going on outside. We stick two of the suction cups with hooks above and to either side of the window on the outside of the trailer. We then hang a bath towel across the hooks whenever he is in bed. It also darkens the room which is better at nap time.
Offline
I bet I could of sold 2 or 3 of these things this weekend !!
