Just a quick tip

[tlhdoc]

What is the one trick, secret, etc. that you find the most useful when camping?

For me it is getting the most water into the water system when we dry camp.  I have a 20 gallon water tank and a 6 gallon hot water heater that are both empty when I tow.  When we get to the campground I fill the water tank, but when I turn the water pump on I have 6 gallons of water pumped into the water heater.  Then I only have 14 gallons of water in the fresh water tank.   I have learned how to fill the water heater so that I start with a full 20 gallons of water in the fresh water tank.  A real plus when you have to haul water to refill the tank.  If you have a water heater and an outside shower it is easy to fill the water heater.  You attach the hose to the city water inlet, turn the water on and then open the hot water valve on the outside shower.  The water will fill the water heater pushing all of the air out of the shower.  When the water heater is full close the faucet, turn off the water to the hose and unhook the hose.  Now there is 26 gallons of water in the PU.

[Danusmom]

Hey, since we both have the same PU this really helps.:M  Thanks.  I can't think of any perils to offer at this time...other than pouring marinade into a freezer Ziploc bag with any meat we bring camping.  And, freezing 1-2 weeks prior to our trip.  Whatever thaws 1st in the cooler is the 1st to go on the grill.  This process makes the meat much more tender & requires less cooking time.

It's too close to bedtime & tapping into my gray matter would require too energy at this point.  I'll have to get back to you on this topic.

[topcat7736]

We have our little 2.5 gallon electric water heater which we use on our "electric" trips.

I've found that if you open the pressure relief valve on the heater, it will fill 10 times faster than by having to push all the air through the 1/2" hoses and faucets.
 
When you hear the water reaching the top of the heater, close the valve & then open the faucets to purge the small amount of remaining air from the hoses.

[B-flat]

I keep extra sheets in the camper drawers and put clean ones on the bunk ends when I remove the used ones on the day we are leaving the campground to go home.   That way the beds are ready on the next camping trip which is  especially nice when pulling into the campground late in the day.

[brainpause]

We also put sheets on the beds before leaving on a trip. We used to do it before we left a cg, but we have to open the PU when we get home anyway, and it usually stays open in the garage until we leave for another trip.
 
The drain vent for the sink was inspired by many, and has saved a lot of headaches (and full sinks). See it at http://www.larryandhollycrockett.com/modifications.html
 
I don't know if it is a "tip," but I got some great advice before purchasing our Quik-Shade. It has made our canopy virtually obsolete.
 
Also, the six-inch PVC idea (front and rear on our trailer) for storage wasn't my original idea. I can store lots of things in them!
 
Larry

[Turn Key]

Wax paper on hitch rather then grease.

[Ab Diver]

Everybody has their own system, but for us, stackable Sterilite drawers have made a HUGE difference in keeping *stuff* organized. They also make loading and unloading everything in the trailer that won't fit into the trailer's built-in storage spots a snap. No more duffel bags taking up space on the bunks or needing an outside "pup" tent to serve as a clothes closet.

[ForestCreature]

Tracy, another  way to fill your tanks while dry camping is to use a battery operated Kerosene syphon pump.  Buy a new one at Target, Wally World or your favorite hardware store. Sanitize it and stick it in the water jug, other end in your water fill, turn it on. No lifting of heavy water jugs, and in a few minuets your tank is full.

[SkipP]

Everybody has their own system, but for us, stackable Sterilite drawers have made a HUGE difference in keeping *stuff* organized. They also make loading and unloading everything in the trailer that won't fit into the trailer's built-in storage spots a snap. No more duffel bags taking up space on the bunks or needing an outside "pup" tent to serve as a clothes closet.

Couldn't agree more! We use four drawers, one for each of us, and things work a lot smoother that way. The drawers set on the floor inside the camper for travel and simply set on top of the counter when popped up. Saves a ton of time!

SkipP

[brainpause]

OK, I've already posted three, but Holly helped me think of another one.

We have only recently started doing this, but we cooked some meat on the Foreman grill (3 meals worth), and then vacuum packed it, then froze it. When we camped that weekend, all I had to do for the meat was to heat a pot of water and put the meat packets in. They heated, tasted great, and little cleanup!
 
Larry

[Michicampers]

We keep our paper plates, bowls, and plastic cups in a wicker magazine basket. It is easy to restock and slide back in the PU after we get home, even popped down (I put felt protectors on the bottom). It also comes in handy when traveling, since we like to stop for picnic lunches along the way at a beach or nice park, instead of stopping at a restaurant. I add some napkins, plastic utensils, and a container of wipes when we do that. We keep it and the cooler right inside the door, so they are easy to take out when we stop.

[tlhdoc]

Tracy, another  way to fill your tanks while dry camping is to use a battery operated Kerosene syphon pump.  Buy a new one at Target, Wally World or your favorite hardware store. Sanitize it and stick it in the water jug, other end in your water fill, turn it on. No lifting of heavy water jugs, and in a few minuets your tank is full.

Marcy that is a good way to refill the water tank,  but it will not fill the water heater , which means I would have to haul 6 gallons of water to refill the water tank as soon as I turn the pump on.

[Campaholics]

Check lists, check lists, and more check lists.

Ours have evolved over the last eighteen years.  There are sub lists for the tool box, picnic basket, utility box, shaving bag, etc.  Then the pu list, and the car loading list.  We have also developed loading lists for food, down to which cooler, or the food box (The sort function on an MS Word table makes this easy).  

Six pages of lists, plus up to two pages for the food list might seem extreme, but it works.  When we use the check lists, we don't forget anything.  When I'm lazy, or in a hurry, and circumvent one of the lists something always gets left behind.  

Bob

[JonesFamilyJayco]

Great post!!! This is what I enjoy most about PUT.  Most of the tips I use to make camping easier & more fun I learned here.

We use towels(green) & cooking utensils(plastic red handles) with a color/pattern that does not fit what we use at home.  That way I can keep those items together & return them to the camper.

I find that large (but not giant) sterlite containers with different colors helps me stay organized.  I have  one for food, cooking utensils, fire wood, & lanterns.  They can stack without blocking the beds.  They are easy to take out of the camper so I can pack up without clutter, and I find it is easier to restock.  

My grey water hose is bright blue, and I divided it into two lenghts.  One length is only about 3' & I use it when dry camping to tap into my stoage tank.  The longer length is for full hookup camping, plus I can connect the two if a little extra length is needed.  I keep both separate, coiled with male end attached to female to prevent leaks, & stored in a mesh laundry-type bag.  I also keep my sink-vent device in this same bag.

Last, I keep a bag of latex examining gloves in the camper so when it is time to empty the porti-poti at the dump station, I can keep my hands clean.

[Kelly]

[font="comic sans ms"]Discovered this year that the 10-gallon Rubbermaid Totes fit under my dinette seats.  Very easy to just fill those up in the house and then stash them under the seats.  Makes packing the trailer a breeze!  I have one with paper products, one for extra blankets, once for 'outside stuff' (extra 1-lb propane tanks, small axe, lantern, etc), and one for cookware.  

When I get to the campground the one with paper products goes on a dinette seat (I have 2 dinettes) and the one with cookware and the one with 'outside stuff' go on the ground under the bunk end.[/font]