You're outside your van preparing a meal which you will be cooking on your (hybrid) camper's slide-out gas stove.
And then the flies arrive.
You can't go inside to cook because your camper doesn't have an inside kitchen. So what do you do?
How do you keep the flies away??????????
And how do you cook on the outside slide-out stove when the rains come and you only have an awning for protection???????
Help please.
Orana
Possum3 said
09:14 AM Jun 15, 2020
Welcome to GN's,
Orana, you can buy 72inch wide fabric (nylon) netting, by the yard - Look up on FleaBay - Sew up a three sided "Annex" to attach to your awning with Velcro. Made one up for our camper trailer a few years ago - occasionally a bug gets in but this is Australia. Also moderates rain coming through unless very windy. Packs up to nothing stored in an old cushion cover.
Dougwe said
09:22 AM Jun 15, 2020
Welcome to the gang Orana, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have one of these set up nearby, works a treat and cheap. I get mine form the big green shed plus refills. Also and as well even, if you look at the bottom of the jar it is OZ made.
The other thing I have is an automatic outdoor bug spray set for every 40 seconds under the awning. Also works. I get the refills from the supermarket. Look for the cheaper refills as they door the same thing. I have it aimed at the door so apart from me no other bugs get in the aluminium teepee when I open door.
dogbox said
10:15 AM Jun 15, 2020
Dougwe wrote:
Welcome to the gang Orana, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have one of these set up nearby, works a treat and cheap. I get mine form the big green shed plus refills. Also and as well even, if you look at the bottom of the jar it is OZ made.
The other thing I have is an automatic outdoor bug spray set for every 40 seconds under the awning. Also works. I get the refills from the supermarket. Look for the cheaper refills as they door the same thing. I have it aimed at the door so apart from me no other bugs get in the aluminium teepee when I open door.
these things really work well, best when you buy them for all your neighbors then when they attract all the flies, they are a bit away from you, annoying them. if your out bush they tend to fill up quickly
Whenarewethere said
05:46 PM Jun 15, 2020
We have an ARB enclosure, fully enclosed top & bottom as well, so you end up with a double ceiling which is great insulation against heat from above, it kept out the a 100 million mosquitoes in Kakadu as well as Huntsmans. It has a very fine mesh.
Huntsman on the outside of the mesh.
We always pack a couple of fly swats, head fly nets, Aeroguard Tropical & mosquito coils.
When we had our soft floor camper we had the kitchen in the back tailgate area, so we had the annex up , and were fly and mossie free. we also had a covering flap under the tailgate to the ground joined to the rest of the tent.. I would never have another canvass hardfloor or soft floor unless we had an enclosed kitchen. That's where some of the early Australian Cub campers were better as had inside kitchens and fridges.
Bicyclecamper said
09:32 PM Jun 16, 2020
Whenarewethere, you have the simple life, I would love to go back too, but have managed to get the other half to agree with a lighter set up, and go either with a car version Teardrop, or a single beds version Avan and a smaller car.
Whenarewethere said
10:12 PM Jun 16, 2020
We sleep in the car most of the time as we are too lazy to put the tent up. Everything goes on the front seats, fridge on the passenger seat, & seats get pushed forward. About 20 minutes to arrange each way.
Put window socks on, close doors, fly swats at the ready.
Thanks all for your suggestions, particularly Possum3 for your suggestion re making a fly "annex" and Dougwe for the fly trap.
I have just come across a product on the internet called "Shoo Away". Anyone used it and if so is it any good?
msg said
11:23 AM Jun 17, 2020
One thing I noticed with flies. I was watching one day when one of those outdoor party BBQ's was going. You know, the slow cooked ro ast ones. The flies were buzzing around everywhere. Big noisy blowies.
Thinking to myself, you wouldn't get me to eat any of it, imagining the number of dead flies that would be in it.
When I looked closely at what was going on, I noticed that they never landed on the BBQ or the meat. Too hot? Made me a little happier but I still didn't eat with much enthusiasm.
This got me thinking about the coronavirus. How you say? Well, the govt has been touting cleanliness as being the best defence. Could I say that Australians have the best defences? Cleanlinless and a love of a bit of space between us and our neighbours.
Now, my family are good pioneer stock. For several generations living out in the harsh outback. I think I am 7th and there are 3 generations after me. Battling the worst conditions. Drought, Fire, flood, heat, dust, snakes... No doctors for miles, no convenience food, no electricity (my auntie still had none in the 70's) No sewerage. and no all the other things that we consider essential today.
One of the things my mother passed down. It became ingrained to wash you hands before eating. She had a certain paranoia about flies. She would have a fit if one got inside the house. Always took off shoes before going inside. Think of the chicken sh..t on them. Cleaning was a major task. Cleaning everything. No food was ever left uncovered. If you had been to town then before you did anything else you washed your hands when you came home. Thinking about it I still do this without thinking about it.
Interesting thought too about in my grandfathers house how the laundry, dunny, kitchen were all separate and at varying distances from the main house. I thought that they were just add ons or something maybe there was a method in their madness.
Anyway, due to my tough strong nagging mother, I can't ignore the lessons she taught us for survival living in the bush. Stay away from snakes!!!!
Possum3 said
12:09 PM Jun 17, 2020
Orana wrote:
Thanks all for your suggestions, particularly Possum3 for your suggestion re making a fly "annex" and Dougwe for the fly trap.
I have just come across a product on the internet called "Shoo Away". Anyone used it and if so is it any good?
We use it on camp table, (a nylon propellor turning at moderate speed) OK over a plate of savouries but that's about it - Aldi have them on special occasionally in summer months.
you can buy outdoor fogger in a spray pack. The David Grays brand is best. give it a good spray around, may have to use it a couple of times. we use it all the time when stopping for lunch, gives you peace for awhile so we can eat with out them. we always carry a half dozen. also carry "fly strike powder" in a squeeze container, for the ants if needed at a camping spot over night, the ants are gone within half and hour, normally used for maggots on sheep.
gold dandelion said
09:33 PM Jul 4, 2020
you can buy outdoor fogger in a spray pack. The David Grays brand is best. give it a good spray around, may have to use it a couple of times. we use it all the time when stopping for lunch, gives you peace for awhile so we can eat with out them. we always carry a half dozen. also carry "fly strike powder" in a squeeze container, for the ants if needed at a camping spot over night, the ants are gone within half and hour, normally used for maggots on sheep.
Possum3 said
11:45 PM Jul 4, 2020
gold dandelion wrote:
you can buy outdoor fogger in a spray pack. The David Grays brand is best. give it a good spray around, may have to use it a couple of times. we use it all the time when stopping for lunch, gives you peace for awhile so we can eat with out them. we always carry a half dozen. also carry "fly strike powder" in a squeeze container, for the ants if needed at a camping spot over night, the ants are gone within half and hour, normally used for maggots on sheep.
For ants Derris Dust (Tomato Powder) is cheap and effective.
Orana said
02:12 PM Jul 28, 2020
To everyone who replied to my enquiry, my thanks. Apologies for not emailing earlier but have been in hospital for a few weeks and now home. Cheers.
Tony Bev said
06:32 PM Jul 28, 2020
A warm welcome from me, Orana
Hope that you have fully recovered, from your hospital stay
Although we have an inside kitchen, I have seen plenty of people using fly screen netting, with a few adjustable tent type poles, holding the netting up
While outside, or at happy hour, with nibbles, we use fly net type covers, over the food, and spray ourself with a personal fly spray product
Whenarewethere said
11:51 PM Jul 28, 2020
Orana wrote:
To everyone who replied to my enquiry, my thanks. Apologies for not emailing earlier but have been in hospital for a few weeks and now home. Cheers.
I've seen it or maybe something similar at a farmers market being used to keep flies off takeaway food stalls. They do seem to work as the flies don't like moving things. But these are pathetic Sydney flies, the bush flies will carry carry off this device.
If you want / need a break from flies it just will need to be an enclosure..... & an arsenal of weapons to disperse the remaining enemy infiltration!
Flyscreen enclosures don't take up much room, they are light weight & a couple of fly swats inside work. While setting up use a head fly net over a rimmed hat.
The tiny sand flies are even more of a nuisance as they have zero understanding of no, so get a finely woven fly screen so they don't get through the mesh.
Possum3 said
10:00 AM Jul 29, 2020
Last year whilst at Poeppel Corner (about 174 km west of Birdsville, in the middle of the Simpson Desert), the flies were so bad one of them just grabbed my Fly Swatter and broke it over his knee. Seriously, they were so bad it was impossible to eat or drink - Even with fly nets over our heads the flies literally were crawling down the drinking straw, to get to the moisture.
Kaid said
03:19 PM Jul 29, 2020
I was at a Christmas Party and the hostess used a Mosquito net over the table. Worked a treat
Gary and Barb said
10:23 PM Aug 8, 2020
Aussie flies are more than persistent; they are manic!
I have an indoor kitchen in my Trayon slide-on camper, plus a good annexe, but when I am not careful, the dunny budgies get in. If you are outside without screening, try wiping the table over with Spray and Wipe or a Pine o'clean solution. Insects hate it and it keeps the place sanitary. Food after it is cooked is a different proposition. I use pop-up fly shields on the wiped over table and have a face net. That worked in central Aust.
Good luck, but the forces of evil have numbers on their side!!
Ziggy99 said
03:46 AM Aug 23, 2020
The only personal repellant I've found to work is Desert Dwellers/Natures Botannicals.
Imagine this.
You're outside your van preparing a meal which you will be cooking on your (hybrid) camper's slide-out gas stove.
And then the flies arrive.
You can't go inside to cook because your camper doesn't have an inside kitchen. So what do you do?
How do you keep the flies away??????????
And how do you cook on the outside slide-out stove when the rains come and you only have an awning for protection???????
Help please.
Orana
Orana, you can buy 72inch wide fabric (nylon) netting, by the yard - Look up on FleaBay - Sew up a three sided "Annex" to attach to your awning with Velcro. Made one up for our camper trailer a few years ago - occasionally a bug gets in but this is Australia. Also moderates rain coming through unless very windy. Packs up to nothing stored in an old cushion cover.
Welcome to the gang Orana, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have one of these set up nearby, works a treat and cheap. I get mine form the big green shed plus refills. Also and as well even, if you look at the bottom of the jar it is OZ made.
The other thing I have is an automatic outdoor bug spray set for every 40 seconds under the awning. Also works. I get the refills from the supermarket. Look for the cheaper refills as they door the same thing. I have it aimed at the door so apart from me no other bugs get in the aluminium teepee when I open door.
these things really work well, best when you buy them for all your neighbors then when they attract all the flies, they are a bit away from you, annoying them. if your out bush they tend to fill up quickly
We have an ARB enclosure, fully enclosed top & bottom as well, so you end up with a double ceiling which is great insulation against heat from above, it kept out the a 100 million mosquitoes in Kakadu as well as Huntsmans. It has a very fine mesh.
Huntsman on the outside of the mesh.
We always pack a couple of fly swats, head fly nets, Aeroguard Tropical & mosquito coils.
We sleep in the car most of the time as we are too lazy to put the tent up. Everything goes on the front seats, fridge on the passenger seat, & seats get pushed forward. About 20 minutes to arrange each way.
Put window socks on, close doors, fly swats at the ready.
I have just come across a product on the internet called "Shoo Away". Anyone used it and if so is it any good?
Thinking to myself, you wouldn't get me to eat any of it, imagining the number of dead flies that would be in it.
When I looked closely at what was going on, I noticed that they never landed on the BBQ or the meat. Too hot? Made me a little happier but I still didn't eat with much enthusiasm.
This got me thinking about the coronavirus. How you say? Well, the govt has been touting cleanliness as being the best defence. Could I say that Australians have the best defences? Cleanlinless and a love of a bit of space between us and our neighbours.
Now, my family are good pioneer stock. For several generations living out in the harsh outback. I think I am 7th and there are 3 generations after me. Battling the worst conditions. Drought, Fire, flood, heat, dust, snakes... No doctors for miles, no convenience food, no electricity (my auntie still had none in the 70's) No sewerage. and no all the other things that we consider essential today.
One of the things my mother passed down. It became ingrained to wash you hands before eating. She had a certain paranoia about flies. She would have a fit if one got inside the house. Always took off shoes before going inside. Think of the chicken sh..t on them. Cleaning was a major task. Cleaning everything. No food was ever left uncovered. If you had been to town then before you did anything else you washed your hands when you came home. Thinking about it I still do this without thinking about it.
Interesting thought too about in my grandfathers house how the laundry, dunny, kitchen were all separate and at varying distances from the main house. I thought that they were just add ons or something maybe there was a method in their madness.
Anyway, due to my tough strong nagging mother, I can't ignore the lessons she taught us for survival living in the bush. Stay away from snakes!!!!
We use it on camp table, (a nylon propellor turning at moderate speed) OK over a plate of savouries but that's about it - Aldi have them on special occasionally in summer months.
For ants Derris Dust (Tomato Powder) is cheap and effective.
Hope that you have fully recovered, from your hospital stay
Although we have an inside kitchen, I have seen plenty of people using fly screen netting, with a few adjustable tent type poles, holding the netting up
While outside, or at happy hour, with nibbles, we use fly net type covers, over the food, and spray ourself with a personal fly spray product
I've seen it or maybe something similar at a farmers market being used to keep flies off takeaway food stalls. They do seem to work as the flies don't like moving things. But these are pathetic Sydney flies, the bush flies will carry carry off this device.
If you want / need a break from flies it just will need to be an enclosure..... & an arsenal of weapons to disperse the remaining enemy infiltration!
Flyscreen enclosures don't take up much room, they are light weight & a couple of fly swats inside work. While setting up use a head fly net over a rimmed hat.
The tiny sand flies are even more of a nuisance as they have zero understanding of no, so get a finely woven fly screen so they don't get through the mesh.
Aussie flies are more than persistent; they are manic!
I have an indoor kitchen in my Trayon slide-on camper, plus a good annexe, but when I am not careful, the dunny budgies get in. If you are outside without screening, try wiping the table over with Spray and Wipe or a Pine o'clean solution. Insects hate it and it keeps the place sanitary. Food after it is cooked is a different proposition. I use pop-up fly shields on the wiped over table and have a face net. That worked in central Aust.
Good luck, but the forces of evil have numbers on their side!!