Hints, Tips and Great Ideas

Geoff n Jen · Senior Member

RE: Hints, Tips and Great Ideas

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Happywanderer wrote:
Mozzie Patches and Mozzie Wipes
Today at my Amcal chemist I managed to find Mozzie Patches, they look very similiar to the ones talked about on here the other day. They are called Mosquito-Patch Insect Repellant. Cost 9.99 and come 10 in a box.
The Mozzie wipes are just like Baby Wipes. Called Insect Repellant Wipes 30 sheets for 6.95. You just wipe the exposed areas before heading out where the mozzies will be.
Until they bring out a Mozzie vaccination I will try anything once.

Hi Marj, do you know if they work on sand flies, I have a bit of a health problem with those little blighters.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Cruising Granny wrote:
grumpy-j wrote:
Thanks Marj - I'll give it a go.
No matter what we do I think they have a team brief and come up with a different plan of attack.
GD - A ring of petrolum jelly around the hoses and power cord works well.
Cheers,
John

I've remembered a concoction the pest controller gave me when he treated my van for ants in Broome.
Borax is the base, season with sugar and some dried meat product. He used powdered, dehydrated sheep's livers. I think some of those pork crackling bits crushed up with the Borax would do it.
They take it to the nest and it kills the colony. It worked on 3 species in Broome, and on the Cairns species as well.
I keep a bit in the fridge all the time.

Hi Chrissy, is that the concoction you cook up on the stove? I have a list of all the flavours but it's only borax, sugar and water.

Happywanderer · The Master

Dougwe wrote:
Happywanderer wrote:
Mozzie Patches and Mozzie Wipes
Today at my Amcal chemist I managed to find Mozzie Patches, they look very similiar to the ones talked about on here the other day. They are called Mosquito-Patch Insect Repellant. Cost 9.99 and come 10 in a box.
The Mozzie wipes are just like Baby Wipes. Called Insect Repellant Wipes 30 sheets for 6.95. You just wipe the exposed areas before heading out where the mozzies will be.
Until they bring out a Mozzie vaccination I will try anything once.
Hi Marj, do you know if they work on sand flies, I have a bit of a health problem with those little blighters.

Hi Doug, On the box it says Mosquito, Sandfly & Midge, Flies.

Deet free - Active Ingredient Citronella Oil

grumpy-j · Senior Member

Three fuel tips to think about

1. It's a good idea to fill up in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Servo's have their storage tanks underground so the colder the ground the denser the fuel.

As the tanks warm up the fuel expands becoming less dense as the specific gravity alters with temprature. As the fuel pumps have no temperature compensation built in - A litre is not necessarily a true litre.

2.Where possible keep your vehicle fuel tank above half full to reduce evaporation loss.

3.Avoid filling at a service station when the storage tanks are being topped up by the petrol company tanker as it can stir up settled contaminants off the bottom of the storage tank into the fuel which can cause engine problems.

Boroma577 · Guru

Have put one of these fold away clothes lines in the bathroom to hang smalls etc to dry.

Really great when traveling....when you are finished with it, just folds back into place out of the way.

I also have chrome rails on the walls in the bathroom for our towels. (seen on the right in this pic) The rails are the same as the ones pictured in the four season hatch.

-- Edited by Boroma577 on Saturday 10th of December 2011 11:29:41 AM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

grumpy-j wrote:
Three fuel tips to think about
1. It's a good idea to fill up in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Servo's have their storage tanks underground so the colder the ground the denser the fuel.
As the tanks warm up the fuel expands becoming less dense as the specific gravity alters with temprature. As the fuel pumps have no temperature compensation built in - A litre is not necessarily a true litre.
2.Where possible keep your vehicle fuel tank above half full to reduce evaporation loss.
3.Avoid filling at a service station when the storage tanks are being topped up by the petrol company tanker as it can stir up settled contaminants off the bottom of the storage tank into the fuel which can cause engine problems.

This is true John, only this week we had a problem with one of our buses, loosing power up hills and stalling when stationary, it turned out contaminated fuel, the bus was refuelled immediately after the big tanker left. The servo is covering the cost of any expenses caused as we get at least 2000 lts diesel weekly in total. Our mechanic drained and flushed the system etc and refuelled, problem solved.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Happywanderer wrote:
Dougwe wrote:
Happywanderer wrote:
Mozzie Patches and Mozzie Wipes
Today at my Amcal chemist I managed to find Mozzie Patches, they look very similiar to the ones talked about on here the other day. They are called Mosquito-Patch Insect Repellant. Cost 9.99 and come 10 in a box.
The Mozzie wipes are just like Baby Wipes. Called Insect Repellant Wipes 30 sheets for 6.95. You just wipe the exposed areas before heading out where the mozzies will be.
Until they bring out a Mozzie vaccination I will try anything once.
Hi Marj, do you know if they work on sand flies, I have a bit of a health problem with those little blighters.
Hi Doug, On the box it says Mosquito, Sandfly & Midge, Flies.
Deet free - Active Ingredient Citronella Oil

Thanks Marj, I will try and find some patches they sound good, you only have to try things once as they say

Esmeralda · Guru

Esmeralda wrote:
Also, while in Kathmandu I bought a shower bag (the sort that warm in the sun) and it has a thermometer on it. Yet to check it out but it could be a good idea. I will try it on the clothes line tomorrow.

I tried the new shower bag out yesterday - I put it on one of the bins in the sun for a few hours - around 4. Didn't register on the "thermometer" strip but the water was very hot - would definitely need cold water added before use.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Gee, that's good Helen. Enjoy.

Happywanderer · The Master

I must get one of those Helen. The local camping store was advertising 20 litre ones for 9.95. Thought I that was a good price.

I also got one of those showers you add to the tap, usually have one to wash the dog, well I did anyway.
Thought it would be good when no showers around, maybe just a tap at the public toilets, its really hot weather and want want to cool off, wash hair, feet etc.

Firefly · Guru

Have you tried the 12v showers at all?

About $20 for one and they are magic. Fill a bucket with the right temp water for you, drop the pump in the water and use the hand held bit for the shower. It needs to be hooked to your car battery to work but its a dream

Water usage is minimal. Two of us can shower with only one bucket of water. While you soap up, throw the head back in the bucket and it just recirculates and less wastage. wink

This link will show you an example of one. We got ours from BCF or similar.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PRIMUS-12V-HAND-HELD-CAMP-SHOWER-NEW-/230703792436?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item35b7048134

This way, you get to control the temperature and you can shower when you want. A bit dearer but well worth it.

Esmeralda · Guru

That's next on my list - I think the shower bag will only be good for heating the water until I get a bit more strength in my shoulder and arms as they are very heavy. Can anyone tell my how to put the bag up in the air - what do I hang it on? It would have to be strong as 20L is heavy.

Thanks Helen

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Thats the very reason we tip the warm water into a bucket and use the little pump Esmeralda (or just heat some water on the fire or gas). But I know somebody who has put a special hook on the side of their caravan for these bags.

Firefly · Guru

Es when we had the bag we had to hoist a rope over the van and tie it off that way as there was no where to put it on the van. It is very heavy for sure mate isn't it.

Boroma577 · Guru

Firefly wrote:
Es when we had the bag we had to hoist a rope over the van and tie it off that way as there was no where to put it on the van. It is very heavy for sure mate isn't it.

When we used to tent camp we always used these bags. Nothing to see 8 or 10 of them out during the day if we had visitors coming.

We used to use a tree branch to throw the rope over and hoist the bag up into position ready for a shower. We also had a shower recess which was open at the top to accommodate this.

grumpy-j · Senior Member

My wife purchased this wine bottle carrier for travelling in the van to avoid any brakages.

It's foam insulated so also keeps the wine cool.

Will road test it out over Christmas break.

Cheers,

John

Cruising Granny · Guru

I've remembered a concoction the pest controller gave me when he treated my van for ants in Broome.
Borax is the base, season with sugar and some dried meat product. He used powdered, dehydrated sheep's livers. I think some of those pork crackling bits crushed up with the Borax would do it.
They take it to the nest and it kills the colony. It worked on 3 species in Broome, and on the Cairns species as well.
I keep a bit in the fridge all the time.
Hi Chrissy, is that the concoction you cook up on the stove? I have a list of all the flavours but it's only borax, sugar and water.

I don't think he cooked it. The livers were dried and then powdered. I added the sugar to target other ants. It's still in my fridge 3 years later.

I use just dry borax.

I also use it for my toilet chemical brew. Handy stuff.

lyn-n-ken · Senior Member

hi esmerelda

you allow 1kilo in weight per litre of fluid , this is an approcsomate measure but fairly accurate (some liquid is different in volume). hope this helps,

so 20lts is 20 kilos, i have bad shoulders to and have to watch how heavy i lift .

lyn

littledick · Senior Member

Fold up awning protector.

Dick

Sorry,did not come through.

-- Edited by littledick on Monday 12th of December 2011 11:57:45 AM

grumpy-j · Senior Member

A tip when travelling.

It is a good idea to get yourself into the habit of monitoring your caravan's wheel bearings by placing your hand over the wheel hubs to feel for any heat build up.

A good time to do this is when stopping along your trip for morning tea, a toilet break, when you change drivers, or just at the end of each day.

It's also a good practice to check your wheel nuts for tightness.

(If you over tighten the nuts you can stretch the thread and when expansion & contraction happens it may cause the nuts to loosen off).

-- Edited by grumpy-j on Monday 12th of December 2011 11:57:59 AM

Esmeralda · Guru

lyn-n-ken wrote:
hi esmerelda
you allow 1kilo in weight per litre of fluid , this is an approcsomate measure but fairly accurate (some liquid is different in volume). hope this helps,
so 20lts is 20 kilos, i have bad shoulders to and have to watch how heavy i lift .
lyn

Thanks - I thought this was the way it works. I will never be able to lift it full that's for sure biggrin biggrin biggrin

Happywanderer · The Master

I was going to get a 20litre solar bag until I realised I could never lift it full. Have trouble lifting a 10 litre water bottle, so will go look for the 12 volt portable shower next time I'm down the port.

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
I was going to get a 20litre solar bag until I realised I could never lift it full. Have trouble lifting a 10 litre water bottle, so will go look for the 12 volt portable shower next time I'm down the port.

Just make sure you flush it out with good clean water when you get back home and spray it with WD40.

Also a good idea to pick up a small 7 amp battery as an independent power source to run it.

beiffe · Guru

For checking your wheel bearings get a Infra Red temperature gun. A bit dear about $90 but you can check your bearings and your tyres in a few seconds. if you have duals and one is hotter than the rest , that tyre is either flat / down in pressure or dead flat and about to tear its self to bits. All tyres should be fairly close with the ones on the sun side a bit hotter. Good for checking the heat in your camp oven or fire as well.
Regards
Brian

Cruising Granny · Guru

grumpy-j wrote:
A tip when travelling.
It is a good idea to get yourself into the habit of monitoring your caravan's wheel bearings by placing your hand over the wheel hubs to feel for any heat build up.
A good time to do this is when stopping along your trip for morning tea, a toilet break, when you change drivers, or just at the end of each day.
It's also a good practice to check your wheel nuts for tightness.
(If you over tighten the nuts you can stretch the thread and when expansion & contraction happens it may cause the nuts to loosen off).

-- Edited by grumpy-j on Monday 12th of December 2011 11:57:59 AM

Can you please write your threads in smaller print and not in bold. It reads like your are yelling.

Simply edit your settings to get this happening. It will also take up less space.

Happywanderer · The Master

Boroma577 wrote:
Happywanderer wrote:
I was going to get a 20litre solar bag until I realised I could never lift it full. Have trouble lifting a 10 litre water bottle, so will go look for the 12 volt portable shower next time I'm down the port.
Just make sure you flush it out with good clean water when you get back home and spray it with WD40.
Also a good idea to pick up a small 7 amp battery as an independent power source to run it.

Can you explain why you think it best to have a independant power source, Boroma, thanks. Was just going to plug it into the 12volt plug inhouse.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We have used our shower tent with an independant battery which I find heavy to lift, and using the auxilary battery in the Prado. On the last trip, we left the spare battery behind, too much weight to be carrying about for very little use. But the independant battery allows you to set up wherever is private and not have to worry whether you can reach the plug on the van/ tug.

Boroma577 · Guru

Happywanderer wrote:
Can you explain why you think it best to have a independant power source, Boroma, thanks. Was just going to plug it into the 12volt plug inhouse.

From my point of view I prefer to have the shower set up slightly away from the camper. No issues with water running where you do not want it too

And you can just set it up and leave it up....no plugging in and unplugging, leads running about the place....AND you can bet your bottom dollar you'll get into the shower, undressed and ready to shower and discover you did not turn the ignition on or similar!!

These small 7amp batteries are readily available and not very expensive, maybe $35 - $40 and you can charge it up at home and it will last you quite a long time if you only use it to run the shower.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Gerty Dancer wrote:
We have used our shower tent with an independant battery which I find heavy to lift, and using the auxilary battery in the Prado. On the last trip, we left the spare battery behind, too much weight to be carrying about for very little use. But the independant battery allows you to set up wherever is private and not have to worry whether you can reach the plug on the van/ tug.

The 12v Turbo showers are the way to go, though the solar bags are great for warming the water, but too heavy to lift etc.

Independent power source ??

An 12v extension cord like http://www.tentworld.com.au/showitem.aspx?item=128998 is all that may be needed. If you shop about you can get them up to 6m or more in length.

No heavy battery to lug about, plus no worries about recharging the additional battery.