Tips N Tricks

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Starting a new thread where we can share our tips and tricks that make things easier or more efficient when wheeling or camping.

First one: always re-load your cooler early in the morning when the drinks are coolest.

Ace

 

[riderjgs]

Always, ALWAYS, make sure you include the poles when you pack your tent. Ask us how we know!

 

[RyanR]

Always, ALWAYS, make sure you include the poles when you pack your tent. Ask us how we know!

I would add "Don't forget the ladder extension for your roof top tent" Not a show stopper, but I'm a bit old for gymnastics.

 

[RyanR]

Here's a couple random tips I've picked up over the years:

Use your floor mat from the Cruiser as a doormat for your tent - The rubber mats from the FJ or Weathertech mats work great. They help keep your tent clean and the rubber mats will keep your shoes and gear high and dry in standing water after a heavy rain. (Assuming they are covered/under your vestibule/etc.)

Keep a mug with a lid in your truck - You never know when someone might have coffee, tea, food, etc to share. I find the short fat mugs with a sealable lid are the best. You can use it as a bowl and they are perfect for making items like instant rice and noodles that need to sit covered in hot water. They are also good for storing leftovers from last nights dinner to make breakfast in the morning. I like items that have multiple uses and this is the one item I use more than anything else in the FJ.


Back to work, I'll post some more later.

 

[bluecruiser]

Keep a coozie in the truck. At all times. That's my tip. Thx

 

[RustbombFJ40]

I keep a few in mine

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Tired of your trasharoo sliding down on your tire and having that "full diaper look"? A simple mod fixes that and makes it much easier to attach and remove. Snap hooks on each strap with eyelets mounted to the tire carrier.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Another Trasharoo fix to keep the trash bag in place. Use several paper clip binders to clamp the trash bag to the top of the Trasharoo.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Hopefully most of us carry quality rain gear even in the desert. I'd venture to guess many don't use it when it's getting cold or windy. It actually holds heat and blocks the wind better than most winter coats.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Another tip for your fridge or cooler. Remove the bladder out of a wine box, after enjoying the wine natch. Place in the top of your cooler to take up any space between the food and lid. This keeps the contents from bouncing around if you crash through a washout you didn't see. Nice thing is you can easily add or remove air as contents change and it adds some insulation.

 

[RustbombFJ40]

I like that one

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

A tool that is always in my gear is one of those folding rakes found at Lowe's and some RV suppliers. I use it to clear campsites, poke fires, pick up nasty stuff like dog poop, swat bugs and much more. It's also easy to rake up a pile of pine needles, dry grass, leaves and twigs for tinder for starting fires.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Couple of more items I find very useful around camp are these small spring loaded clamps found in most hardware stores. Very usefull for holding tarps in place, keeping tent flaps open and make a great "third hand". The second item is an oversized clothespin that snaps to tubing that's about 1" diameter like roof racks, tent poles, etc. Can be found in Marine Supply stores.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Saw this on FB. Take a water jug or any translucent container and put your headlamp around it with the light facing in. Makes a great low key ambient camp light.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[jonharis]

Saw this on FB. Take a water jug or any translucent container and put your headlamp around it with the light facing in. Makes a great low key ambient camp light.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

I definitely want to try it some time.

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Tired of finding your roll of paper towels soggy after a damp night? Get a snug fitting dry bag and kiss that problem goodbye.

Ace


...via IH8MUD app

 

[Alan "Ace" Brown]

Demoed this to Jonathan at Lone Warrior: place about half a shovel full of hot coals directly under your camp chair. Keeps you toasty for quite some time. Just be careful with kids and dogs around.