Your favorite camping or RV'ing gadget/tip/thought, etc

[gozagswoohoo]

On my first 3-4 RV'ing trips that I've taken so far, I already have a list of things that I found crucial or as a 'must-have'. Are there any things you can/would share, that you have found helpful for yourself?

Any gadget's or items that you've purchased that are just a BIG help? (Maybe a particular multi-tool, or a particular lantern, etc).





Here are my thoughts/tips:

I will never go on another RV'ing trip without a few of these--- (after spending a good 30 min or so, more than once, trying to start a fire...these things are AMAZING. They're cheap too).





Next, our rope lights. They REALLY 'make' our campsite. Ours is a soft-white LED color, and it not only provides great light, but it LOOKS SHARP. I've seen a number of campers that have yellowish lights hanging on them, but I've fallen in love with ours. Here is a snapshot of mine from last weekend.






THINGS/TIPS I would like to hear more on:

One thing I think will be a necessity for me, is some sort of small/portable table for the campsite. I often need a table to set something on next to the fire while I'm grilling, and the picnic table is usually too far away. Anyone have a recommendation for a good table that fits this need?

Also, I always have a frustrating time emptying my grey/black tanks. I guess I need to buy those caterpillar leg-looking things that I've seen some people have? Does everyone pretty much just go ahead and buy those? I saw them last weekend for like $50. That seems like a lot of money for that. Thoughts?




I may add one or two things in a bit.

[Edd505]

Portable ice maker, no more trips to the store for ice and more room for ice cream.

[gozagswoohoo]

Originally Posted by Edd505

Portable ice maker, no more trips to the store for ice and more room for ice cream.

Ooooo, great idea. Love this. Only downside for me would be that I have VERY little counter space at the moment! Not sure where exactly I would keep this.

[Edd505]

Originally Posted by gozagswoohoo

Ooooo, great idea. Love this. Only downside for me would be that I have VERY little counter space at the moment! Not sure where exactly I would keep this.

Keep it on the floor near the bunk house door, like most TT's there is never enough counter space.

[DebKen]

We bought a foldable table that has different leg heights. It was about $25.00 and Walmart. It looks like this:

http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/84...52_180X180.jpg

[Jhowemca]

A patio mat is up there for me (not a pic of mine but you get the idea).

[Jhowemca]

A vent cover is near the top of my list too.

[Jhowemca]

This is the one I use. It works great for me.
Kind of a necessity I think.

[bap]

WE like to cook over the campfire but have found that a lot of the fire rings don't have cooking grates for them. We went to the local hardware store and bought a couple of lengths of square metal tubing and a replacement grate for a Weber charcoal grill. I just lay 2 pieces of tubing across the fire rings and set the grate on top of it to cook on. Works great and I just keep it in the front outside storage compartment.

Old Smokey 22in Replacement Top Grill (#22TG) - Charcoal Grill Parts - Ace Hardware
National Hardware 4067BC 1/2 in. x 48 in. Square Tube, Plain Steel (Blue) 16 Gauge - For Life Out Here

[Tex1961]

That's a tough one...

Our Keurig coffee maker
Portable propane fire pit (been a wee bit dry here in Texas)
LED flashlights (been running on the same AA batteries for 2 years)
Smart phone (GPS, Music, and track the kids)

[Polk]

dish rack for washing dishes. my wife got one at walmart that the lip sits over the edge and excess water goes into the sink.
we just got a outdoor rug and table.

[Polk]

couple of pics

[need-a-vacation]

Oh, where to start???? Lol

For fire starters, couple pieces of paper towel with saved bacon grease gets a fire started very quickly!
Aluminum roll top table. We have 2 of the larger ones (2 sizes available) from Sportsmans Guide, but other places have them also. Pack up just like a bag chair, nice and compact!
Awning mat as mentioned.
Icemaker sits on a small fold up table under the awning on long trips. Short w/e trips usually it stays stored under the bed.
Fire tongs and poker.
Chairs of course! Lol
4" u shaped gutter works great to support the sewer hose.
Good food, great times, and great company!

[jasoncw]

Polk I like the Flintstones wheel covers! lol

[John K.]

There are very few things we couldn't live without. However, our back up camera is crucial. I've wired our tow vehicle and travel trailer so that I can move the camera from the TV back (for hooking up to the trailer) to the TT back (so I can see traffic behind us). Without it, I'd forever be wondering whether anyone's behind us and what do they appear to be planning to do next.

We also need a cover for the hitch ball. Without it, I always got grease on my hands and usually on my clothes. Now we use a soft drink cup covered by a plastic grocery bag; put the cup on the ball and tie the bag around the hitch.

Also, we have to have a brake controller to increase safety, improve control over the TT and reduce wear of the TV's brakes.

A door mat is essential: we track in enough pebbles and dirt as it is when we have the mat on the floor; we'd have to shovel out the stones, leaves, dirt clods at the end of the day without it.

Our goal is to avoid using propane since we're paying for electricity at the camp site anyway, so a microwave oven is required. We also use a Ninja-style cooker and an electric kettle -- both very important.

We don't use sewer hose brackets, but the few times I've needed to elevate one end, I've used the tire chocks or risers or pieces of wood.

BTW, camp fire: crumple scrap or news paper into a mound, place kindling on top with "tails" of the paper sticking out on each side that you can light. Once that's roaring, add larger sticks; once they catch, add progressively bigger pieces. All ingredients must be dry; the wood must have spaces between them so air can circulate and draw the flames. My wife amazes me by being able to use one match to start a mini-bonfire every time.

Happy camping...

[need-a-vacation]

I forgot to mention when we have electric hook up we try to remember to take an electric heater when it is colder out. As mentioned, saves propane!!!

[SomersIsles]

I have a surge guard. So glad I did. Our first trip, the campground went down to 90something volts. Lots of campers were having major issues with their rig after that!

[Camper_bob]

This is our favorite little camp table. It's not very big (which is great) and it's perfect for holding drinks or a book or S'mores supplies ... And it has a 200 lb weight capacity, so some (not me, I'm too big for it) could use it for a stool in a pinch!

ALPS Mountaineering SideKick Camp Stool or Side Table https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QCGBAQ..._kx.0vbF0QDF9T

I love our Keurig.

I love our awning lights; they're little lanterns that flicker, super neat and adds a nice ambiance.

I love our Camco Little Red Campfire. We are in historic drought (or at least we have been for a few years, finally getting a little rain lately) so we still get to have a campfire during a burn ban.

[LoveCamping58]

I would agree with the mat and the roll up table. I have 2 roll up tables, one with a wood top that I have next to cooking and the other with an aluminum top that works for everything else. And because we normally do not camp in a campground, a folding picnic table. We have a green one similar to this Folding Picnic Table & Benches - Lifetime 80352 - Picnic Tables - Camping World, we like it because the benches are separate.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by need-a-vacation

For fire starters, couple pieces of paper towel with saved bacon grease gets a fire started very quickly!

I'll take the hot bacon grease and pour it on to a couple split logs and a few paper towels. That evening, the fire starts right up with no other fire starters.

I have a spare propane blow touch in the cargo hold. I use it to start campfires if the wood is not good, or charcoal.

The other items I have that I like, is the 90 degree elbow for the city water hose hookup to relief stress on the plastic connector, along with a pressure regular.