Camping hacks?

[Socal Tom]

I've been reading a lot of website lately that have " world best cant live without them, or you will never have children.... camping hacks" or something like that.
Most of them are common sense, but there are a few I am skeptical of. What are your thoughts on

1) Using tic tac boxes for spices?

2) Putting spices, or tooth paste into plastic straws and sealing it up?

3) Using a belt to hang pots and pans from a tree?


How many spices do you really need when camping? I've got salt, pepper and garlic. If I'm going to cook something that requires spices I just put it in a ziplock bag or bring the whole bottle. It seems like collecting the tic tac bottles would be a lot of work, and then filling them and keeping them filled...

The plastic straw thing just seems silly. I don't know how I would get spices in a straw, if I were back packing the size would be appealing, but if I'm backpacking I'm probably bringing something pre-made. What would I bring that needed spicing and would fit in my backpack? If I'm car camping then just bring the bottle of spices. It goes in the box with all the other food.

As far as hanging my pots and utensils on a tree. Well, I need the right size tree, in the right location ( near the fire) and I need to hope that ants and sap aren't all over the tree. Is it a good idea to put your cooking fire right next to a tree?

What are your thoughts?
Tom

[Vedette]

Yes, you have to take some suggestions with a grain of salt? (just how many grains of salt fit in a tic tac box or a straw anyway?)
Brian

[Socal Tom]

Yes, you have to take some suggestions with a grain of salt? (just how many grains of salt fit in a tic tac box or a straw anyway?)
Brian

It seems every article that mentions the tic tac boxes has exactly the same picture. I don't thing anyone has done it since the first person.
Tom

[dales133]

I dont think they would hold enought to warrant the hastle of trying to fill them personaly

[Socal Tom]

I dont think they would hold enought to warrant the hastle of trying to fill them personaly

Thats kind of how I saw it. If you camp alot, you would bring more than 2 tablespoons of the spices you need. If you don't camp often, then why go through all the trouble to load a small container when you can just toss the bottle in with the rest of the food?

[dales133]

Tracy got some for us that are about the size of those regular glass off the shelf size ones.
Definatly wouldnt bother with anything smaller

[tony.latham]

Belt for hanging pots? Tic-tac boxes? Huh? What kinda camp you running? Sounds like somebody cooking mash down in a holler in Tennessee.

You need salt, pepper, and four others. What the wife keeps in 'em is a mystery. I think she's got 'em labelled now.



You can get those glass jars on Amazon I think.
Tony

[Vedette]

Size does matter!
I just built Sandi a spice drawer for Kermit........yes, she like to cook with spices at home and camping!
And, since we travel long distances and are usually out for a while each trip, she wanted larger containers (still small enough for a teardrop....but larger than a tic tac box). So we used small jam preserve jars and can fit 7 in here new drawer. They can not move, bounce, or come in contact with each other. They seal properly, you can see the spice and it's level, and it doesn't draw $#^@ from the plastic container.
We agreed that because we "are camping" she didn't need the 40 jars that re in her spice drawer at home.
And I got to make something out of wood????
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[dales133]

I think i ended up with 11 jars.
They dont hold tons but probably a dozen tablespoons and have a clear glass window to see whats in them.
The glass is in an ivory tin surround to protect it with a stainless lid.
Matches the kettle she got for it


Hey btw brian do you have any contacts for autometer gauges?
I found some i want but they are close on 200 each here.
The prestige antque ivory range

[Tomterrific]

Seems like backpacking ideas. Toothpaste in a straw?

[Vedette]

Brian do you have any contacts for autometer gauges?
I found some i want but they are close on 200 each here.
The prestige antque ivory range

Yes, I can get them.
Probably cheaper in the USA.
Which ones are you in need of? Style and #
Do you have a Autometer catalog?
I have a couple, but not current.
Brian

[Vedette]

Brian do you have any contacts for autometer gauges?
I found some i want but they are close on 200 each here.
The prestige antque ivory range

Yes, I can get them.
Probably cheaper in the USA.
Which ones are you in need of? Style and #
Do you have a Autometer catalog?
I have a couple, but not current.
Brian

[dales133]

I can get part numbers ect.
Want a volt meter and the 220 - 33 ohm fuel gauge to use for my water tank.
Cheapest ive found was about 88 us but the are pretty steep on the postage.

[dales133]

http://www.autometer.com/2-1-16-voltmet ... ivory.html

http://www.autometer.com/2-1-16-fuel-le ... ivory.html

Little bit extravagant but im looking at using them along side the retro control panel lights and switches i got in singapore in the galley.
If they work out to expensive theres another range of autometer antique ivory gauges for about half as much.

[bobhenry]

Back on the spices. I have always had a dozen or more on board. I decided to utilize the McDonald's milk chubs for my spices. I remove the screw on top and install a shared one that I drilled for a shaker top. The stock lid is reinstalled for storage keeping it fresh and dry. The larger steralite storage jars on the lower shelves are for coffee, flour, sugar, and such !



The little one in the center of the galley bulkhead was a $3 find at GoodWill .
It made a nice decorative addition while being functional. I later gave it away and went with the
Mickey Dee milk chubs because of the good volume and convenience.