Low Buck, Campsite Solutions

How about that low buck, re-purpose/recycle or just creative solution to improve camp life?

 

I'll start.

The all weather skid paper holder.

Pluck the cardboard tube from the inside of a roll of bum wad and "start" the unrolling from there. Stuff the roll into an appropriate container and there you go (so to speak). In this case a Folgers coffee container.

 

Dude! That is a great idea!

 

I saw a video on youtube where a guy did the same thing but coated it in beeswax. It burned for like 45 minutes!

 

neat!

 

Cool, keep em coming.

Emergency fire starter kit. OJ carton waxed cardboard or q-tips with a lighter in a breath mint container. Q-tip with a bit of engine oil from your dipstick will burn for a while.

 

Oh, corn chips are excellent "tinder". Greasy ass Fritos are perfect.

 

I've made my own fatwood by soaking small split pieces of cedar in wax. I used a leftover piece of cedar 1x10 cut into 6" lengths and split into small sticks. Melt a cheap candle in a sauce pan and drop a few sticks in the liquid wax, keeping the heat on low. The wood will bubble and fizz mostly from the end grain. Let it go maybe 5-10 minutes and remove it from the wax and let dry.

It's easier to shave than real fatwood and doesn't get your hands all coated with resin. The shaving readily take a spark, and the stick itself will burn for a few minutes.

For a longer lasting kindling you can do this with a harder wood like oak but it's harder to shave.

 

One more for this evening.
Take that old fraying windshield sun screen and trim it carefully so it will tuck into the inside molding of a side window. Keep that desert sun at bay.

 

Now that's a good one.

 

Tru that, Mayo packs are getting harder to find these days, I think they are getting wise.

Nothing like a little ketchup and mayo on a crispy corn dog from the under hood cooker.

 

How about some Scepter water can mods? I got the idea from someone on the forum but this is my take on it.

Cut off the threads on the cap flush with the surface. Get a ball valve with female threads. It's called a sillcock. On the inside of the cap is a PVC fitting that has matching male threads. On the backside of the valve is a large o ring for sealing.



The vent cap is moved to the back of the can near the top. A hole was drilled and tapped 1/2-13. This matches the threads on the vent cap. This position allows the vent to work with the can upright or laying down.



I also experimented with adding a schrader valve and pressurizing the water can. For this I added a dip tube so the can could remain upright and dispense water. I envisioned hooking up a short length of garden hose for washing up or whatever. It did work but application is limited in my opinion.



It's a bit involved but it makes using the water can much easier. Just lay the can down and turn the valve handle. The spout is a repair end for a garden hose and fills a bottle very well.

 

You speak to me, deep inside me, uhh I mean to that piece of me that of which is deep. I've seen beans and soup cooked off engine heat, but a corn dog? I'm trying this ASAP.

 

x2, I had a basket I made for my FJ62 and it cooked some great manifold burittos in its day. I think a Hotdogger (http://www.flat-o.com/snowmobile/hotdogger.htm) might be in the Tacoma's future somewhere down the road.

 

Sub'd. I love these types of things.