Tips and Tricks

[Mosasa]

Sometimes it the small things that can make a big difference in our 4x4ing lives.

What small tips and tricks have you learned over the years while busy with your trips etc?

For example - we use a big plastic bucket with a lid that fits tightly as our washing machine. Put some water and soap in the bucket, pop your dirty washing into the bucket and seal properly. Then load the bucket securely into the back of the vehicle and the days driving, rocking and rolling does your washing for you. When you are ready, take your clothes out, rinse and hang to dry.

Any wise old owls out there with more ideas?

[Peter Connan]

I have heard or seen that tip many times, and tried it once. Didn't work at all for me.

It takes more effort to rinse the clothes properly than to wash them, and there are no short-cuts to the rinse. In any case, I am not in a situation where I can go on long enough trips that packing enough clothes becomes a problem.

I had a hose made up for my gas bottle with a pneumatic quick-connect fitting on the end, and a hose made for my gas stove with the other end of the fitting. I attach a canvas string bag to my gas bottle in which the hose lives. On a trip, I don't remove the pipe from the gas bottle, I simply un-clip the hose from the stove, roll it up and shove it in the bag.

I know a canister stove is even easier, but I haven't seen one that works as well as a higher-pressure stove coupled to a bigger bottle.

My other trick is a Hella plug on the outside of the car, inside one of the wheel wells. If I want lights in camp, I plug them in there and then I don't have to have a window open for mosquitos and other goggas to enter the car by.

[GH]

For warm shower water I use a galvanized bucket which I fill with water and place on the fire till it's the perfect showering temperature.

[iandvl]

I always travel with tinfoil. It's the perfect stuff for wrapping up your braai leftovers for the fridge.

Also with wraps - they make the most awesome padkos with the braai leftovers...

[Bushbuk]

Ive learnt to pitch my tent before drinking hehe...

[Hedgehog]

Ive learnt to pitch my tent before drinking hehe...

Very good tip

[Stranger]

I take a plastic bottle and burn a small hole in the bottom. Fill with water and put the cap on. Put it some where convenient in camp and use it for washing hands. Unscrew the cap just a little bit and it allows a small stream to come out. Saves loads of water.

[LandyLove]

When folding up a large piece of canvas like a tent door or window. Take the two outside corners and fold them in, creating a triangle with the tip towards you. Then start rolling up the small tip. Much easier than wrestling with a 2m wide flap.

[dilligafrican]

I have heard or seen that tip many times, and tried it once. Didn't work at all for me.

It takes more effort to rinse the clothes properly than to wash them, and there are no short-cuts to the rinse. In any case, I am not in a situation where I can go on long enough trips that packing enough clothes becomes a problem.

I had a hose made up for my gas bottle with a pneumatic quick-connect fitting on the end, and a hose made for my gas stove with the other end of the fitting. I attach a canvas string bag to my gas bottle in which the hose lives. On a trip, I don't remove the pipe from the gas bottle, I simply un-clip the hose from the stove, roll it up and shove it in the bag.

I know a canister stove is even easier, but I haven't seen one that works as well as a higher-pressure stove coupled to a bigger bottle.

My other trick is a Hella plug on the outside of the car, inside one of the wheel wells. If I want lights in camp, I plug them in there and then I don't have to have a window open for mosquitos and other goggas to enter the car by.

We use a capsize bottle as they seal completely and can handle pressure generated by warm water. Drive today with it, change water when at camp and drive again to rinse.

[Stranger]

Going commando saves on washing

[Karol]

rubber floor mats double up as traction tracks when getting out of a bogged down in thick hot stand situation.

[Stranger]

Keeping Swambo well supplied with copious amounts of red wine makes for a stress free holiday.

Wrapping wine bottles in newspaper stops them clinking together in the box/fridge

You can get large rolls of cling wrap from West Pack. Dozens of uses. We use to keep cases of beer wrapped.

[PJ SA]

If you pack your chair first(under everything/last to unpacked) and SWAMBOs chair last(on top of everything/first to unpacked) then everything else falls into place

[Luka]

Have SWAMBO pick the coaming site, no complaints after that.

We have pepper spray in the kitchen for when the pesky vervets become aggressive to SWAMBO.

Use a 500ml Coke bottle with nozzle from water bottle for dishwashing liquid and cooking oil.

[Emmie L]

rubber floor mats double up as traction tracks when getting out of a bogged down in thick hot stand situation.

And they serve one very well in the shower too.

[iandvl]

Another thing. If you have a drawer system, make ply-wood lids for the drawers. These make a very nice place to make coffee / food when you take a brake from driving.

You can even take it a little further. The ones I built for my drawers can interlock at 90 degrees, which turn them into a very effective wind-shield for the gas cooker... When the cooker is on a table at the camp, obviously.

Edit: Here is a photograph - perhaps it makes more sense. I have a "lid" for both drawers.

[Stranger]

Spray your tyres with Handy Andy when camping in unfenced camps.

[dieterf]

Spray your tyres with Handy Andy when camping in unfenced camps.

Why, what does it deter?

[dieselkop]

Why, what does it deter?

Cleans them, I would imagine

[PJ SA]

Why, what does it deter?

The locals, can't get a good grip when trying to remove them