where to mount the coleman lantern at camp?

[working on it]

Just getting around to preparing to actually use the trailer... minor details like setting up the equipment! I've already got the cooking stand built, the cooler stand is also ready, and the side tent/potty and the shade pop-up are all ready to be purchased (chosen but not yet bought: looking for best prices). But I've tried building a lantern hanger from steel, and it was portable, but was 6ft tall and weighed 20lbs (that was sturdy, but too big too carry with me); I scrapped it, and decided to use leftover parts (from my other current project, the wife's home office) to do the job. How about a closet shelf bracket with rod hanger ? Powder coated "platinum" color to blend in with the grey, black, and silver color scheme of the trailer, I'll be able to use an existing bolt/stud to mount it at camp. It'll be located at the trailer hatch above the side-mounted (also installed at camp) cooking stand. I haven't been to the garage yet today, to actually try it (no room to put the side-table on in there anyway), but I made some photo plans to illustrate my idea.

lantern bracket placement.jpg (85.66 KiB) Viewed 695 times

lantern bracket detail.jpg (31.24 KiB) Viewed 695 times

lantern bracket detail 2.jpg (36.21 KiB) Viewed 695 times

All I have to do is to drill a hole and install the locating pin. Probably will need to put a pad between the bracket and trailer, to prevent scratching, too. This mounting system will be on both sides, so I can cook in either location, or just hang a light on both sides (might need a second Coleman lantern then!). The brackets were cheap, and easily replaced at any Home Depot http://www.homedepot.com/p/Closet-Pro-10-3-4-in-Platinum-Shelf-and-Rod-Bracket-RP-0045-PM/202183198#.Uhi_E1ko61s.

[Vedette]

Looks like a great idea!
Use a piece of peal and stick rubber insulator on the back side of the braket to protect the side of your trailer.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[working on it]

Looks like a great idea!
Use a piece of peal and stick rubber insulator on the back side of the braket to protect the side of your trailer.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

I have a lot of leftover peel-and-stick weatherstripping around...thanks for that great idea! Better than a cloth pad to lose.

[mary and bob]

we have a telescoping free standing lantern stand/ hanger that folds up and has it's own carry bag. Three legs fold out. I think we got it at a Coleman outlet store.

[working on it]

we have a telescoping free standing lantern stand/ hanger that folds up and has it's own carry bag. Three legs fold out. I think we got it at a Coleman outlet store.

Is this it?

stand.jpg (5.24 KiB) Viewed 646 times

Nice, but won't it tip in the wind, since the weight of the lantern is all on one side? My discarded steel stand was originally a X-mas tree stand, with a 15lb weight on top of that, and an old gooseneck light holder screwed to the top of conduit attached to the treestand. It was offset enough to hold the lantern vertically inline with the center of gravity, heavy enough to withstand a push or the wind, and ugly as hell. Just a test piece, you know, not even up to my low standards (redneck engineering)...but it would've worked. But after some comments on my other "bright" ideas, I scrapped it. No photos, just the memories....

[mary and bob]

That's the one. It has 3 legs that fold out, and the foot of each leg has a hole in it, so one or two tent stakes hooked into those holes keeps it stable. We just came back from a 4 day camping trip where it was out with a propane lantern hanging on it the whole time and never staked it down, but there was no wind. It's aluminum so light weight and no rust issue. For tent stakes I either use ones that I bought at Campmor, or others I made out of 1" steel angle.

[working on it]

That's the one. It has 3 legs that fold out, and the foot of each leg has a hole in it, so one or two tent stakes hooked into those holes keeps it stable. We just came back from a 4 day camping trip where it was out with a propane lantern hanging on it the whole time and never staked it down, but there was no wind. It's aluminum so light weight and no rust issue. For tent stakes I either use ones that I bought at Campmor, or others I made out of 1" steel angle.

Tent stakes, of course, so obvious I didn't think of it! Now it looks even better! I might have to get one. Thanks.

[mary and bob]

And our camp sign is mounted on an old 3 leg music stand, and I drilled a hole in each leg so I can stake that down. I have a plastic Sears tool box that I keep my stakes, hammer, and puller in.

[RandyG]

If you were to mount it on with a piano hinge, you could just swing it in for transport and not have to take it off. But it seems you are going toward the stand idea again, just sounds like more to set up and more to carry.

[mary and bob]

just sounds like more to set up and more to carry.[/quote]

Depends on where you want the light. I put the lantern out in the site away from us to attract the bugs there. The coleman stand is 36" long, 4 lb, and I can't quite get my thumb & middle finger around it at the largest point when it's folded and in the bag. I like it, but that's only my opinion, and since we have 3 different campers that we use it works good for us.

[working on it]

Depends on where you want the light. I put the lantern out in the site away from us to attract the bugs there.

I'm still going to use the shelf brackets to hang the lantern from either side of the trailer...but at some point I'll need to use it elsewhere, perhaps to lure insects away, or at a campfire or card game away from the trailer. Then, the freestanding hanger will be used!

[rebapuck]

I like the idea. And the angular design goes with your trailer.

[pmowers]

If you were to mount it on with a piano hinge, you could just swing it in for transport and not have to take it off. But it seems you are going toward the stand idea again, just sounds like more to set up and more to carry.

I have several swivel plant hangers mounted on my porch. You could just swing them out to use, then fold back for travel. They come in sizes up to 22 inches long.
One of the things we use at the table are military surplus IV poles that were designed to clamp on the side of a stretcher. You can adjust the height, and there is a hook at the top to hang your iv/ lantern. I will have to pull one out and get a pic if I can remember.

[pjo129]

We use a push it in the ground regular 6' shepherd's crook I got for $10 at Menards. Worked great at the CRA. It stows easily along side the mattress.

[working on it]

I went ahead and made the shelf bracket mounting studs (for the lantern hangers), .

bracket on stud mounts.JPG (228.68 KiB) Viewed 494 times

hanger perspective.JPG (211.03 KiB) Viewed 494 times

and assembled my side table cooking stand for the Coleman stove to test clearances.. I dropped the cooking stand legs thru the eyebolts I mounted on the sides, and put the stove on its shelf and hung the Northstar on the hanger.

hanger and stand ready for use.JPG (219.14 KiB) Viewed 494 times