I have been kayak-camping for about ten years, and have had a camper shell on my little Nissan Frontier for about three years. I have learned that every single camping trip is an experiment to find what works best, what doesn't work, and what could work better. I used to think that I would eventually figure out a smooth system for all aspects of camping, but the truth is that I always end up thinking of ways to improve my camping experience on the next trip. It has become something I actually look forward to, along with all the other reasons to go camping.
I use a 5 gallon bucket with lid such as from Home Depot for trash. The lid keeps the flies away. It can double as a seat. Put it in the tow vehicle at night or when you’re away to keep critters out. I loved my teardrop, I tried to have almost everything I packed have more than a single use. The bucket is great for storing stuff in the TV while traveling on the road.
You asked about camper trash in a teardrop. I discovered a lid at Ace in the paint department that had an outer ring that snapped onto a 3 gal or 5 gal plastic paint bucket. That snap on ring was threaded so the rest of the lid system threaded inside. So much easier than hassling with the snap portion that is almost impossible for me to get off with my arthritic hands. What I discovered during use is that I can put a 13 gal garbage bag in and draped over the edge and screw the screwable part of the lid on several times without damaging the plastic bag. And it is odor proof! I use it boondocking where there are no trash cans. I can toss in a few nights use of wag bags and not get driven out of my teardrop, vehicle or side tent. So useful I don't worry about the space the 5 gal bucket takes. Hope others can benefit from this tip.
Hey there, Thanks for the videos! Since you asked: For bugs- we use wick- style hurricane lanterns with citronella oil- helps keep the bugs out and gives nice site lighting in the evenings. We also usually take a couple multi- wick citronella candles that are sold in their own "metal bucket"- usually put at least one of these on the ground upwind from the site- these methods together have pretty much taken care of the bugs every time. 'love the voltmeter suggestion- thanks! Keep up the great work!
My all-time favorite camping ideas are frozen jugs for drinking water (fill them up and freeze at home) a frozen container filled with water for the cooler (zero mess when it melts and you can drink or use the water) and if you usually camp with power, a 20 to 50 quart hot water peculator for having instant hot water for everything. Some days a fire can’t happen. And sometimes just having hot water for coffee, dirty dishes or just to wash up is awesome!
First of all, your garage looks more interesting than a candy store. Second, I would LOVE to camp in a teardrop like yours. My brother in-law and I started to build one a while a go but it’s far from finished. Lastly, it’s so cool to see it coming together and listening about your latest additions and moods.
Hey thanks! I have a big camper too, but really love this little one. If anyone reads this comment, check out the “RV East Coast” channel. Excellent videos there!
I tend to camp with a lot of 3 gallon buckets because they double for seating. I keep a Coleman lantern and some rags in one. Once camp is set up, a Walmart bag or 2 makes this a great trash can. The rags come in handy for everything and protect the lantern as we travel. Other 3-gallon bins house grilling stuff (long handled grilling tools, oven mits, even a 1-burner propane stove and some gas). Another has become our 1st Aide Kit with bandages and bug spray. We also store cooking oil and a few tall things in there too. We have bought a toilet ring that will fit on top of the 3-gallon bucket. I am extremely careful to line it with big contractor-type trash bag for protection and then double or triple Walmart bags for the “duty” so that the bucket is still usable for other things. Clean as a whistle.
in my humble opinion, i would have attached the mirror to the outside of the cabinet door. I'm the biggest cluts on the planet and would hit my head on the open door every time! Second, i never have a problem checking what's behind me when i'm concentrating on something I'm working on, especially when it's outside. Excellent video. Happy camping! =)
As tent campers, we usually hung a trash bag in a tree and carried it to the bearproof containers before we went to bed. I've just finished the aluminum frame on Timbren axles with electric brakes and LED lights for what will be our 'square drop' variation on a teardrop, so we're still weeks away from having an actual camper (I'm working on it pretty much full time at the moment), but for trash I've been thinking about something like the Trasharoo I've seen some of the 4x4 offroaders hang on their spare tires (probably lined with a trash bag). If we can't empty it in a bearproof container where we are camped, we will likely stash it in the back of the Subaru (our wagon is an L.L.Bean edition with the flat-6, so we shouldn't have any trouble pulling the lightweight trailer) or in the Yakima 'pod' on the roof rack at night. We've really enjoyed your videos, and, while our plans are probably a bit more Spartan, we've learned quite a bit from watching the construction of yours. One thing you might be interested in that we're doing has to do with the bed. My wife found a wooden frame assembly at IKEA that will go under our bedding and act somewhat like a very thin set of box springs and provide airflow under our mattress (our plan at the moment is to use the queen size version of one of the fold-up mattresses, but that's subject to change). The sides/halves of the wooden frame are separate, so they can be stacked to clean under each side (and so we can turn them on their sides to slide them out the doors if needed). I haven't taken them out of the box yet, so I haven't actually seen them. Assembly required & modification of length/width is supposed to be possible - according to my wife. (I believe that during the 33 years we've been married she has come to believe that I can 'build anything out of nothing' so long as she tells me what she wants it to do when it's done - so far, I've managed not to disappoint her.) We've nicknamed our trailer the 'Beddy Bye Basket' as a working title (from a scene in the Disney movie 'The Aristocats' that our grandsons love), but my wife is embarrassed when I call it that in public. So I believe we've finally settled on the name WilderNest (an obvious play on wilderness, and I suppose still subject to change).
I’m glad you commented! Sounds like you guys are building a nice camper. It’s especially nice that you’re making it a team project! I was pretty much alone on my build and would have loved the company. Happy building!
I imagine it's like building a car, truck or motorcycle. You're never really done. You always find new things you want to add or change. Awesome build. Congrats.
We make our own bug repellant, as here in Qld Australia we have very small flys called midgies.so mix up equal parts Epson salts, mouth wash (just a cheep blue kind) and flat stale beer. I didn't have any flat stale beer so I just sacrificed a stubby of full strength. We spray it on our deck, chairs and fly screens, works a treat.😉
Hi, my wife and I have camped all our lives. We live in Europe and european caravans usually are much smaller than american ones, but as smalll as the teardrop we never see in europe. I truly admire your craftmanship and I like watching different caravan set ups. If you ever are in for a new project, you might concider building a european sized caravan. Our caravan has an interior length of 5 meters. That is room enough for a round bench seat with a table for four persons, a 6 foot wide kitchen with fridge et cetera, a decent bed, a toilet, lots of closets and enough storage for an extra camping table with chairs, an awning et cetera. This configuration alows us to camp all year round under all weather conditions. And the caravan is still handy enough to stay mobile. We can make camp or leave in half an hour. With your car in front of it, it would make a realy nice combination.
A caravan sounds like a nice project and a manageable size. As for smaller teardrops, perhaps you and your wife can introduce Europe to a DIY teardrop! Ever thought of building one?
@@CampandCamera : I am always full of plans, so I have to make choices. I would have liked to make an Airstream style caravan with a european interior, but that would be way over my head, although I fairly handy. I better stick to garden design and modelling.
I just set up command hook on my hatchback for the trash, and hang a plastic grocery bag from that. I then either just put it on my counter at night before closing up, in my vehicle, or take a nighttime stroll to the trash bin, looking up at the stars there and back. I also have 2 small command hooks inside, tucked down by the feet area, to latch the handles of a grocery bag. This keeps it fairly flat. Then we have somewhere to put trash in the evening.
You got my name right😁Thanks for the plug for my facebook group! (DIY Teardrop Campers Community) Its an honor to have our group sticker on your build!! Thank you for all that you contribute to the group. I hope to meet you one day at a campground somewhere. Your build is undoubtedly one of the best DIY builds I have seen to date. Thanks so much for sharing with us and again for the the plug. Have fun and safe travels my friend!!
By the way. If anyone wants to join our FB group, we have 2 questions you must answer for approval. This is our way of keeping the group full of active members. My admins and mods have been instructed to not approve anyone that doesn't answer both questions. In sure Michael will agree that we are active and 100% drama free so its worth the couple seconds of your time to answer the questions. Thanks again!
Almost makes me want to join up on the facepage. I'm doing my best to not get into that social doofloppy at all. Watching the few guys on boob here is about it. Glad you guys have a good group though.
@@jaypoore773 I am not on fb but would be interested in finding out about your camping club as we have a home made tear drop camper, I subed to your channel so you can find me easy.
@@jaypoore773 I may attempt to join later today and check it out. I'm building a Vardo (not quite a teardrop, I understand) but I'm sure I'd learn a thing or two from the community. Sounds like a good group from the look of things.
Glad you had a good first trip. I keep my trash in the back of my truck and use the tailgate as the extra table. Instead of water jugs have you considered the dispenser type? No need to pick it up. Just dispense off the edge of the counter. Build a holder for it to be an extra shelf on top so essentially you do not lose any counter space.
Love your channel. Just one piece of advice... On the coffee maker, always buy Stainless Steel percolators or pour over water heating pots. Much better for you in the long run. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel Water and the acid in coffee can leach out some really bad things out of aluminum.
Like you say, there has been plenty of talk over the years about aluminum being connected with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. But when you dig a little deeper you’ll find there is very little science backing those claims. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, “Although initial studies linked aluminium toxicity with Alzheimer's disease, the link has not been proven despite continuing investigation. Importantly, there is no evidence to suggest that aluminium exposure increases your risk of dementia.” In addition, it’s worth knowing a few facts about aluminum and our exposure to it. First off, it is the third most common element on Earth. It’s everywhere...in the soil and in the water, and in the fruits and vegetables we eat every day, albeit in small quantities. As for exposure in the home, it is found in buffered aspirin, some antacids, antiperspirants, and even in pickled and processed foods. And yes, if you make coffee in an aluminum brewer, you’ll likely be exposed to a very small amount of the metal. But let’s put this in perspective. According to Cook’s Illustrated (January 2012), after lab tests were conducted on tomato sauce cooked in aluminum for two hours - tomato is very acidic - and then stored in the same pot for several hours, the sauce contained only .0024 milligrams of aluminum per cup. That’s really not very much when you consider that a single antacid tablet may contain more than 200 milligrams. If you are super-cautious, stick to stainless steel. But if you follow the science, it looks like there is pretty much no risk to brewing your coffee in aluminium.
For our trash we throw it up in our rooftop carrier on our car. If you don't have a rooftop carrier adding a cargo box to your tongue or attaching one to your receiver in the back of the teardrop would be a great solution for hiding that trash. Thanks for the great video! This was really fun to watch and very informative.
Thanks for the tips and kind words. I’m looking forward to your next episode. By the way, I have a channel for you to check out. It’s not teardrop camping, but the guy and his wife do an incredible job on their videos. It’s called “RV East Coast”. Have a good one!
@@CampandCamera We are so glad you turned us on to RV East Coast. There content is incredible. We are just sitting here scratching our heads about why they have a low view count. The algorithm can be strange. His content is like watching a movie. Thanks again, much appreciated!
I installed the Froli travel bed system purchased from Nickle Atlantic under my teardrop matress and it is super wonderful, supportive and comfortable without robbing us of headspace when we sit up. They are made for the yacht industry. Great video!
Using a hook, similar to the hook you used to hang your hat, we placed one in a convienent location. We then used the plastic grocery bags that you get while buying groceries, as are disposable garbage collector. It just hangs on the hook. Takes very little space, and works perfect.
Hi. Really love your teardrop. Excellent craftsmanship One important thing to know. Water in plastic jugs can be contaminated by the process of osmosis. Your jugs should NEVER be placed directly on the ground. There is a possibility of serious illness. I know it sounds unlikely but I learned this when I was involved in disaster relief. That's why you always see water on pallets. Enjoy your life outdoors.
We use collapsible trash cans. They’re barrel shaped, made from canvas, with a metal wire coil that runs around the outside. Works great for us. You could also just leave a trash can in the bed of the truck.
We use colapsable laundry bags they are cylander shaped and have a lid that zip closed. We just close pin the trash bags on so it wont slide down and thy work great
Firstly, a very beautiful camper. My concern is that you are drinking distilled water. It's not for consumption, that's why many stores sell it next to the detergent. It is so pure it can leech minerals from your body.
Remotely possible if that's all you drank (varying opinions), but not a problem for weekend camping trips. However, spring water is about the same price and may taste better.
Nice job! This is my first visit to your channel. Having spent 50 years building fine custom furniture, I can appreciate your skill in building your teardrop camper. You are obviously a good designer, engineer, craftsman and mechanic. Thanks for sharing ! I will subscribe and like your video.
For the bedding situation we would suggest a thinner inflatable on the bottom like a "Therm-a-Rest." I think you have seen our bedding video, but we basically have the same setup as you minus the 8" Coleman. In the video we test the Coleman style, but had the same issue as you with sinking in and moving my wife and child around when they were sleeping. I bet you can find a backpacking style inflatable that will come pretty close to fitting your teardrop.
Mosquito netting can be velcroed over door openings so can plastic/vinyl screening just put a fabric binding to sew the Velcro to cut to fit larger than door openings
Great to hear you had a good camping. We have DIY teardrop camper and we use popup trash can and put it in the tow vehicle at night if I don't take it to campground trash. We also keep any left over foods in our car.
@@traveling_with_sunny We use the same trash can and love it. We just throw a large rock in the bottom of the can during the day and it stays in place.
randomly found your channel, great vid, the rechargeable thermocell works great for bugs and a 1 gallon sprayer with permethrin mixed in it (tractor supply) trash bag on a hook next to the kitchen (big black yard bag) and most importantly love the Bronco RC car (I have a 71 my dad bought in 77 and passed onto me)
I like your coffee pot. You’re right, coffee makes the morning. I have used, since 1973, an aluminum drip pot that comes in three pieces. Mine makes 12-15. Cups. It has a top section that you pour into, the center section is the strainer, and the coffe wind s up in the bottom section. The cap fits the top and bottom sections. Very light and fits well almost snywhere
To use the stabilizer jacks as you described, (and get them to actually lock, and not slip), just get some small bungees, drill holes in the appropriate spots, (1 hole, (or eyebolt), up top & 1 hole in the lever itself), and use the bungees to apply extra tension on the slide stop levers. You can even use the square tube itself for the top bungee attachment point. You can easily shorten each Bungie to your desired length by pushing the knot out of 1 hook and re-tying the knot at a shorter length. Easy-adjust Bungie's, (from places like Harbor Freight, etc...), work even better because they can be adjusted for the desired length/tension for each different campsite. Play around with what strength bungees you need to securely lock those stops in place and your problem is fixed. I have done this on my 16-foot Motorcycle trailer and locked the braces enough to even lift the tire completely off the ground and still been able to drive my bikes in and out of the trailer with no problem with stand slippage.
We use a round collapsible laundry hamper with a trash bag inside. I have seen some in the same style that are intended for trash but are usually on the small side.
What we use is a few oil lamps filled with citronella oil, it works pretty well. We used it in the south Jersey swamps along with a screen house. By it self it works but when they are bad like unbearable bad you have to have a screen house. When it is hot you may also need a fan to get some kind of breeze. But the oil lamps work as well as anything but let's face it some times everything needs help. Put some inside as well as outside and have a beautiful evening.
For garbage on the inside of the camper, you should put a small swinging door going to an outside box with a trash bag in it. So when you throw out your little trash its no longer in the cab of the teardrop. For the outside food trash, its always better to get used to chaining it up on a tree to keep the critters out at night. You should also build, or put a small shoe box next to your door in case it rains. We always have a screen tent with changing room and bucket right outside of the camper door, tarp in between to walk right into the camper when you take your shoes off. Also for in the middle of the night when you have to go. 👍🏼
I like the Velcro curtain idea , gonna have to use that one . And yep the wife requested a mirror also. Good tips . The state parks here in Texas have lantern poles at the sites , we just hang a heavy duty garbage bag on it instead of lantern.
Hi, I saw your idea for folding washing up basin, I just thought I would let you know that here in Holland ( Nederland ) were everyone is camping crazy you can get folding buckets,ketels,pots + pans + even a teapot. Roy.
For garbage in our minivan/camper, we use a rectangular bin that dishwasher pods are sold in. We put a plastic bag inside and snap the lid back on. Half the lid hinges and can snap closed. I used the bottom 2 inches of a second bin to make a socket that I attached to the floor, to hold the bin in place when we travel. I hate air mattresses. They move around too much when one of us sits up or gets in and out of bed. They don’t insulate and if the spring a leak ... no fun. We use a foam mattress from an IKEA futon. Very comfortable!
You did a wonderful job on this build. I was gonna build my own from the suspension up, but decided to go with Bend Teardrops for my base build then I'll DIY the cabin and portions of the galley. I want a fold out couch with table setup, drop down TV from the ceiling, and storage around the TV with a Dometic toilet just under that wish a hatch (blending in withe the cabinets) to open up for it. Easy to empty, even if I need to dig a ditch being nice with nature. Still can't figure out where I'm gonna put my Dometic cooler. I'd prefer the galley but might get stuck with it as a pull out on the tongue. Also figuring out my burber scenario. I love your side table setup above the propane tank.
You might look at ThermCell brand mosquito & insect repeller. It is similar to the old Zippo brand pocket warmers in operation. It is fueled by a clear plastic sealed fuel cell about 3" L x 5/8" diameter (lighter fluid). Has a 2" x 2" "hot plate" over which you insert fiber pad impregnated with repellent (comes with the kit). Has a push button igniter. About 8" long x 3" wide x 1-1/4" thick. Can get a canvas sheath for it to hang near the kitchen hatch lid on the tear drop or anywhere else that is convenient. If the wx is not too breezy, it will clear pesky insects from about a 30' diameter circle. Guys in the Southeast use them for deer hunting when sitting on stand during season and they are quite effective. Think you can find them at WalMart, or most outdoor sporting goods / hunting stores. Good luck.
We brought umbrellas and bug netting and stands. Put the large one with lights built in square over kitchen. The small one we put by door. works great. Got all on sale and hotel clearance. New. Accept screens and stands. One is nine feet and the other seven.
I don’t know if you check comments this far out from when you posted it, but I find that it’s sometimes worth bringing a dining tent (screen tent) to get out of the bugs and eat outside. An amazing attachment would be something that attached to the galley with enough room to fit a picnic table underneath as well.
such a incredible build man, cant tell it was home built at all its crazy, mine is very obviously homebuilt looking lol cheers man your videos helped me alot even know we had way different designs
I don't have a tear drop but camp out of my 4runner, to help with bugs I changed my rear hatch lights to a yellow light. Still have light but not as many bugs. For trash I use one of those top fill dry bags for canoeing/kayaking with a trash bag inside of it. When sealed it keeps smells in and if anything leaks inside you can just hose it out. get one with backpack straps and you can hang it almost anywhere. While it keeps enough smell in that i don't smell it, it is not bear proof, so if you camp in bear country keep it in the vehicle over night. Also, this is a great video. I'm looking in to building my own off road type tear drop and your videos have helped me with ideas.
glad it sounds like you had a great time, a bonus of building it yourself is you know how to change things to fit you better later. now that you have a place to hang your hat you can officially call it home. seems like a mirror os something many people don't think about. that trash question is a good one. maybe plan enough ahead of time that you don't have allot of trash after a trip that would fit in a shopping bag and they could set it in the sink in case it leaked?
Hey, it’s always great to hear from you! You know, you’re right. We as a society generate way too much trash. That’s the better solution. Try to scale back. I like the “hang your hat” reference! Be well!
As for the mosquitoes, up here in Alaska we use citronella candles, but they are not that effective. We have heard from many forums and Creators on UA-cam that the Thermacells work really well. We want to try one out, but are waiting for May (my wife) to have our next child in September before using one. Beings it is a fairly new product we wanted to play it safe in case years down the road they find it negatively impacts growing children in the womb.
I believe we’ll try the citronella first. Yep, I don’t like to try chemical stuff right away. I’ve heard too many bad stories from folks that do. Speaking of Alaska, I have a friend living in a DIY camper van up there this summer. He keeps sending the most beautiful photos!
Vitamin B12 3 days before you go keep taking while camping and mosquitoes won't bother you. I get the odd bite but the people around me are way worse off.
For trash, stitch a large canvas bag with drain holes with hooks on the pantry door to hang it. Put all the trash in the bag, hang it drive to the nearest trash disposal point and empty the trash without opening the vehicle. Fold the canvas bag and tuck it under your seat and drive away
I don't have a tear drop, but I do want to build one. Our experience is with a pop up. Our "kitchen" is usually a picnic table under a 10 x10 canopy. We just hang a plastic grocery store bag over one corner of the canopy on the pole top. This is high enough to discourage most critters. And very handy.
I use a pop up Colman garbage can thing, I zip it closed during the rain, throw the bag in the trunk at night so critters can’t tear it up. In the tear drop and by my chair i use the larger ziplock round screw top plastic containers to throw candy wrappers, tissues and face wipes into , when full i just dump in to the big trash.
For the trash you have the curved back. Create a garbage bin to the shape. Remove handles from some of drawers and make them finger hole pull outs. Then have the garbage container have hooks that fit in those holes. Then it will stow away nicely at night and not fall out when you open the hatch. Then on the left outer shell of galley have a spot where those hooks can hook on to. So while you have hatch open you have an easily accessible garbage.
We have a motorcycle camper, and for trash--I wrap a bungee cord around a tree, hook the ends together, and hang a black drawstring bag at the hooks. If expecting animal visits (!), I only put non-food trash in there, and just carry food trash in a small grocery bag to the campground dumpster after every meal.
One tip for the Trash. A trashcan that double as a stool or footstep. To make it more easy with closing the bag you could contruckt a rotating circle to shut the opening very tightly. very quick way to open and close.
I have camped in Ontario in May, this is the beginning of bug season. There is no product that works like a Thermacell. I have had one for 15 years and as long as it is not windy you can sit outside and have no problem with mosquitoes or black flies. It is essentially silent and inexpensive to run. I take it when we go canoe tripping and it keeps them away to about a 20 foot square area. If really concerned you can get 2 or perhaps the newer patio version. I have not tried it but I am pretty sure it will do at least as good a job.
@@CampandCamera Very inexpensive , you buy refill packs that have the butane cylinder and the pad that dissipates into the air from the heater. Here in Canada you can buy 2 sizes of refills and they are very economical in my opinion. Its been a while since I bought so off the top of my head I can't give a dollar figure. Bottom line is they work great.
You need one of those circular things with the clothes pins attached. You can even rig one up. Cloths pins tied and spaced on a rope works too. You can hook it under your "table" or hang it in a tree. Towels can dry and be used at the same time.
We also had problems with insects especially at meal times which is really irritating, last year I saw on line/tv something called "mug molen" (mosquito windmill) works with batteries the blades sit on top like a helicopter. I,d recommend getting one. No mozzies etc. Roy. Just put it in the middle the table.😁😅
Get a hardware store bucket with a lid (or a pickle bucket from a restaurant) for garbage. Put a hook somewhere where you can hook it through the handle to keep it from blowing away on windy nights. The lid should be insect and mouse-and-raccoon-proof if you close it tight at night, but in bear areas you may want to put it in the tongue box at night.
lol... I bought the same towel rack and did the same thing with it... Too funny.... Best thing we ever bought was an awning with the enclosure and aluminum foldaway coffee table... That the legs extend.... And of course our propane fireplace living the good life boon-docking....
@@CampandCamera the best thing about them is if there's a fire band on you can still use them at night..... even inside our screened owning then Close the sides off at night time... We've even had our camper door open while it was going and it heated inside the camper... Laying in bed while looking at the fire is awesome... Just saying
I started with a air mattress and learned the hard way they are not reliable. They will leak at the worst possible time (3 AM and raining) and you are on the floor. I switched to a futon mattress with a memory foam topper this is heavier but just as comfortable and more reliable.
What a beautiful job you did on that camper! Awesome....nicer then those they are actually selling. I love the curtains your wife made helps to make it feel cozy. Hope you have many happy trips.
to get rid of mosquitos(where you have electricity)run one of those 16" three speed fans pointed away from camp with window screen on the back. the fans suction will hold the screen on. mosquitos will be sucked onto the screen and become stuck.. you can hose the screen off later
Leveling the trailer - There is a kit, you can find it kinda cheap at the end of the season like now, and they are just plastic plates that stack like legos but are strong enough to drive on, leveling ramps or just use a couple plank sections. I bought a "stall mat", cut it up and use it to drive up on, but it can be a bit of a pain to carry around because they are heavy and don't bend much. Dealing with trash - I use the bags you get from shopping and use them as trash bags, you can't put a lot of trash in them, but that works out because I take it out every day so I won't build up a bunch of trash. I don't use those regular tall bags at home, just because trash can stink and this forces me to take out the trash everyday.
Very nice tear drop. You do quality work. I bought a dietz 80 hurricane lantern and use citronella fuel in it. Light and no bugs. Worth paying a little extra for a good lantern (get what you pay for). A tank of citronella has lasted me most of the summer and I use it on my front porch when not camping. We picked up a collapsible dishwashing basin with a handle on Amazon so I can dump grey water in an unused sewage opening at camp grounds. Enjoy your camping in your little motel on wheels.
We own a teardrop and use a BAL-28050-Light-Trailer-Leveler. It levels, stabilizes, and chocks the trailer. Bulky but worth it. We also use a Thetford Garbage Bag Holder for the trash. Store it in the truck bed at night to keep the critters out.
Use cat litter container lined with trash bags for trash can. Has cover. Has handle to bungee if windy. In vehicle, if animals . Store bags other items in until using.
Might look for a good used one, only because I’ve been down this road before I turned it cargo trailer into a camper, and I never used it, so if I buy something used I will make sure to throw the mattress away 😂
When you remove step stool and stuff from tongue box you can have garbage in there and lock out animals. Maybe a small plastic can or 2 one for recycling. You could make another shelf with cutout for the trash can you select and put on other side from propane tank for during daytime use or underneath on ground and only put in tongue box when you are away from site or at night.
I use a bungee cord and go through the Built-in handles for the garbage bag and hang it outside during the day and then I lock it up inside the tow vehicle at night.
Very informative! Last weekend we camped in ours for the first time and I had to laugh since some of the things you mentioned we experienced also. One of the things we liked a lot was the filet table we bought from Bass Pro shops to use for rinsing veggies, washing dishes, etc. but also, we hung one of those brackets from the side of it that holds a trash bag. I know the table is not small but we love it.
Camp and Camera I got it from Dicks Sporting Goods. It is called a Trash-ease portable trash bag holder. Might not be what you are looking for but we like it.
I have been kayak-camping for about ten years, and have had a camper shell on my little Nissan Frontier for about three years. I have learned that every single camping trip is an experiment to find what works best, what doesn't work, and what could work better. I used to think that I would eventually figure out a smooth system for all aspects of camping, but the truth is that I always end up thinking of ways to improve my camping experience on the next trip. It has become something I actually look forward to, along with all the other reasons to go camping.
Stephen Schwake Hey, interesting notion! I like the way you think.
Great to hear about that constant eagerness to solve and invent.
Stephen Schwake ... it’s not just camping. It’s an adventure 😃. I definitely agree with you
I imagine the cavemen went through the same process of finding a longer spear when hunting wooly mammoths!
I use a 5 gallon bucket with lid such as from Home Depot for trash. The lid keeps the flies away. It can double as a seat. Put it in the tow vehicle at night or when you’re away to keep critters out. I loved my teardrop, I tried to have almost everything I packed have more than a single use. The bucket is great for storing stuff in the TV while traveling on the road.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I use one of those 5 gallon bucket, toilet seat lids as my trashcan because it’s easy opening and seals really well for bugs as well
If those were the only issues you had I would say that you absolutely nailed it (no pun intended) on the planning and build!
You asked about camper trash in a teardrop. I discovered a lid at Ace in the paint department that had an outer ring that snapped onto a 3 gal or 5 gal plastic paint bucket. That snap on ring was threaded so the rest of the lid system threaded inside. So much easier than hassling with the snap portion that is almost impossible for me to get off with my arthritic hands. What I discovered during use is that I can put a 13 gal garbage bag in and draped over the edge and screw the screwable part of the lid on several times without damaging the plastic bag. And it is odor proof! I use it boondocking where there are no trash cans. I can toss in a few nights use of wag bags and not get driven out of my teardrop, vehicle or side tent. So useful I don't worry about the space the 5 gal bucket takes. Hope others can benefit from this tip.
Fantastic idea!!!
Hey there,
Thanks for the videos! Since you asked:
For bugs- we use wick- style hurricane lanterns with citronella oil- helps keep the bugs out and gives nice site lighting in the evenings. We also usually take a couple multi- wick citronella candles that are sold in their own "metal bucket"- usually put at least one of these on the ground upwind from the site- these methods together have pretty much taken care of the bugs every time.
'love the voltmeter suggestion- thanks!
Keep up the great work!
I failed to mention how much I like your craftsmanship. You did a beautiful job!
JZ WakkiZakko That really means a lot. I appreciate it very much!
My all-time favorite camping ideas are frozen jugs for drinking water (fill them up and freeze at home) a frozen container filled with water for the cooler (zero mess when it melts and you can drink or use the water) and if you usually camp with power, a 20 to 50 quart hot water peculator for having instant hot water for everything. Some days a fire can’t happen. And sometimes just having hot water for coffee, dirty dishes or just to wash up is awesome!
First of all, your garage looks more interesting than a candy store.
Second, I would LOVE to camp in a teardrop like yours. My brother in-law and I started to build one a while a go but it’s far from finished.
Lastly, it’s so cool to see it coming together and listening about your latest additions and moods.
Hey thanks! I have a big camper too, but really love this little one.
If anyone reads this comment, check out the “RV East Coast” channel. Excellent videos there!
I tend to camp with a lot of 3 gallon buckets because they double for seating. I keep a Coleman lantern and some rags in one. Once camp is set up, a Walmart bag or 2 makes this a great trash can. The rags come in handy for everything and protect the lantern as we travel. Other 3-gallon bins house grilling stuff (long handled grilling tools, oven mits, even a 1-burner propane stove and some gas). Another has become our 1st Aide Kit with bandages and bug spray. We also store cooking oil and a few tall things in there too. We have bought a toilet ring that will fit on top of the 3-gallon bucket. I am extremely careful to line it with big contractor-type trash bag for protection and then double or triple Walmart bags for the “duty” so that the bucket is still usable for other things. Clean as a whistle.
Its hard to beat a bucket. Self-contained, waterproof, and strong.
in my humble opinion, i would have attached the mirror to the outside of the cabinet door. I'm the biggest cluts on the planet and would hit my head on the open door every time! Second, i never have a problem checking what's behind me when i'm concentrating on something I'm working on, especially when it's outside. Excellent video. Happy camping! =)
Thanks for watching and for the suggestion!
As tent campers, we usually hung a trash bag in a tree and carried it to the bearproof containers before we went to bed. I've just finished the aluminum frame on Timbren axles with electric brakes and LED lights for what will be our 'square drop' variation on a teardrop, so we're still weeks away from having an actual camper (I'm working on it pretty much full time at the moment), but for trash I've been thinking about something like the Trasharoo I've seen some of the 4x4 offroaders hang on their spare tires (probably lined with a trash bag). If we can't empty it in a bearproof container where we are camped, we will likely stash it in the back of the Subaru (our wagon is an L.L.Bean edition with the flat-6, so we shouldn't have any trouble pulling the lightweight trailer) or in the Yakima 'pod' on the roof rack at night.
We've really enjoyed your videos, and, while our plans are probably a bit more Spartan, we've learned quite a bit from watching the construction of yours. One thing you might be interested in that we're doing has to do with the bed. My wife found a wooden frame assembly at IKEA that will go under our bedding and act somewhat like a very thin set of box springs and provide airflow under our mattress (our plan at the moment is to use the queen size version of one of the fold-up mattresses, but that's subject to change). The sides/halves of the wooden frame are separate, so they can be stacked to clean under each side (and so we can turn them on their sides to slide them out the doors if needed). I haven't taken them out of the box yet, so I haven't actually seen them. Assembly required & modification of length/width is supposed to be possible - according to my wife. (I believe that during the 33 years we've been married she has come to believe that I can 'build anything out of nothing' so long as she tells me what she wants it to do when it's done - so far, I've managed not to disappoint her.)
We've nicknamed our trailer the 'Beddy Bye Basket' as a working title (from a scene in the Disney movie 'The Aristocats' that our grandsons love), but my wife is embarrassed when I call it that in public. So I believe we've finally settled on the name WilderNest (an obvious play on wilderness, and I suppose still subject to change).
I’m glad you commented! Sounds like you guys are building a nice camper. It’s especially nice that you’re making it a team project! I was pretty much alone on my build and would have loved the company. Happy building!
I imagine it's like building a car, truck or motorcycle. You're never really done. You always find new things you want to add or change. Awesome build. Congrats.
We make our own bug repellant, as here in Qld Australia we have very small flys called midgies.so mix up equal parts Epson salts, mouth wash (just a cheep blue kind) and flat stale beer. I didn't have any flat stale beer so I just sacrificed a stubby of full strength. We spray it on our deck, chairs and fly screens, works a treat.😉
That’s a new me to me. Thanks for the recipe!!
Hi, my wife and I have camped all our lives. We live in Europe and european caravans usually are much smaller than american ones, but as smalll as the teardrop we never see in europe. I truly admire your craftmanship and I like watching different caravan set ups. If you ever are in for a new project, you might concider building a european sized caravan. Our caravan has an interior length of 5 meters. That is room enough for a round bench seat with a table for four persons, a 6 foot wide kitchen with fridge et cetera, a decent bed, a toilet, lots of closets and enough storage for an extra camping table with chairs, an awning et cetera. This configuration alows us to camp all year round under all weather conditions. And the caravan is still handy enough to stay mobile. We can make camp or leave in half an hour. With your car in front of it, it would make a realy nice combination.
A caravan sounds like a nice project and a manageable size. As for smaller teardrops, perhaps you and your wife can introduce Europe to a DIY teardrop! Ever thought of building one?
@@CampandCamera : I am always full of plans, so I have to make choices. I would have liked to make an Airstream style caravan with a european interior, but that would be way over my head, although I fairly handy. I better stick to garden design and modelling.
When me and my wife camp we bring a pop up laundry basket to put a garbage bag in. You can always bungee it to something if it's windy.
Great idea, thanks for sharing!
I just set up command hook on my hatchback for the trash, and hang a plastic grocery bag from that. I then either just put it on my counter at night before closing up, in my vehicle, or take a nighttime stroll to the trash bin, looking up at the stars there and back.
I also have 2 small command hooks inside, tucked down by the feet area, to latch the handles of a grocery bag. This keeps it fairly flat. Then we have somewhere to put trash in the evening.
So many great ideas.... Thank you❤️
You got my name right😁Thanks for the plug for my facebook group! (DIY Teardrop Campers Community) Its an honor to have our group sticker on your build!! Thank you for all that you contribute to the group. I hope to meet you one day at a campground somewhere. Your build is undoubtedly one of the best DIY builds I have seen to date. Thanks so much for sharing with us and again for the the plug. Have fun and safe travels my friend!!
By the way. If anyone wants to join our FB group, we have 2 questions you must answer for approval. This is our way of keeping the group full of active members. My admins and mods have been instructed to not approve anyone that doesn't answer both questions. In sure Michael will agree that we are active and 100% drama free so its worth the couple seconds of your time to answer the questions. Thanks again!
Almost makes me want to join up on the facepage. I'm doing my best to not get into that social doofloppy at all. Watching the few guys on boob here is about it. Glad you guys have a good group though.
Its a daunting task sometimes to keep it that way but I think it's worth it overall.
@@jaypoore773 I am not on fb but would be interested in finding out about your camping club as we have a home made tear drop camper, I subed to your channel so you can find me easy.
@@jaypoore773 I may attempt to join later today and check it out. I'm building a Vardo (not quite a teardrop, I understand) but I'm sure I'd learn a thing or two from the community. Sounds like a good group from the look of things.
Glad you had a good first trip. I keep my trash in the back of my truck and use the tailgate as the extra table. Instead of water jugs have you considered the dispenser type? No need to pick it up. Just dispense off the edge of the counter. Build a holder for it to be an extra shelf on top so essentially you do not lose any counter space.
Great idea!
For curtains I used a wooden dowel, command hooks and a t-shit, double that and each widow is covered and I have two spare t shirts
The Dutch Cool idea!
Brilliant tip - thx!
Love that idea
Love your channel. Just one piece of advice... On the coffee maker, always buy Stainless Steel percolators or pour over water heating pots. Much better for you in the long run. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel
Water and the acid in coffee can leach out some really bad things out of aluminum.
Like you say, there has been plenty of talk over the years about aluminum being connected with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
But when you dig a little deeper you’ll find there is very little science backing those claims.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, “Although initial studies linked aluminium toxicity with Alzheimer's disease, the link has not been proven despite continuing investigation. Importantly, there is no evidence to suggest that aluminium exposure increases your risk of dementia.”
In addition, it’s worth knowing a few facts about aluminum and our exposure to it.
First off, it is the third most common element on Earth. It’s everywhere...in the soil and in the water, and in the fruits and vegetables we eat every day, albeit in small quantities.
As for exposure in the home, it is found in buffered aspirin, some antacids, antiperspirants, and even in pickled and processed foods.
And yes, if you make coffee in an aluminum brewer, you’ll likely be exposed to a very small amount of the metal.
But let’s put this in perspective.
According to Cook’s Illustrated (January 2012), after lab tests were conducted on tomato sauce cooked in aluminum for two hours - tomato is very acidic - and then stored in the same pot for several hours, the sauce contained only .0024 milligrams of aluminum per cup.
That’s really not very much when you consider that a single antacid tablet may contain more than 200 milligrams.
If you are super-cautious, stick to stainless steel. But if you follow the science, it looks like there is pretty much no risk to brewing your coffee in aluminium.
For our trash we throw it up in our rooftop carrier on our car. If you don't have a rooftop carrier adding a cargo box to your tongue or attaching one to your receiver in the back of the teardrop would be a great solution for hiding that trash. Thanks for the great video! This was really fun to watch and very informative.
Thanks for the tips and kind words. I’m looking forward to your next episode. By the way, I have a channel for you to check out. It’s not teardrop camping, but the guy and his wife do an incredible job on their videos. It’s called “RV East Coast”. Have a good one!
@@CampandCamera We are so glad you turned us on to RV East Coast. There content is incredible. We are just sitting here scratching our heads about why they have a low view count. The algorithm can be strange. His content is like watching a movie. Thanks again, much appreciated!
I agree. I’d love to have those editing skills!
Wow! You are great. I'll be back for other stuff! Well done.
Thank you!!
Mine too Joseph and I got a lot of help from right here on my build as well, this is a stunning example of what a person can do at home.
M Langford I really appreciate that! Your camper is nothing to shake a stick at either. You do good work.
Thermacell. For mosquito repellent is the best.
I installed the Froli travel bed system purchased from Nickle Atlantic under my teardrop matress and it is super wonderful, supportive and comfortable without robbing us of headspace when we sit up. They are made for the yacht industry. Great video!
Thank you! I’ve seen the Froli mentioned, but never tried one out. It looks like a great product. Thanks for the info.
It's the little things that make life easy. Beautiful kitchen and great ideas.
Thank you!
Trasharoo that hangs on the back of my vehicle is a great option for trash. It keeps it off the ground and away from most of the livable area.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Using a hook, similar to the hook you used to hang your hat, we placed one in a convienent location. We then used the plastic grocery bags that you get while buying groceries, as are disposable garbage collector. It just hangs on the hook. Takes very little space, and works perfect.
I tried that a few days ago. It worked great! Thanks for the tip!
In regard to the mosquitoes. You could try a collapsible screened in gazebo. I have a couple and they do a good job of keeping the bugs at bay.
Good tip!
We are part of that DIY FB group! So many great tips
I got a set of collapsible bowl with a colander at Ikea. Best money I ever spent. Those things rock.
slowpokebr549 I think I’m gonna grab a set of those collapsible bowls!
Hi. Really love your teardrop. Excellent craftsmanship
One important thing to know. Water in plastic jugs can be contaminated by the process of osmosis. Your jugs should NEVER be placed directly on the ground. There is a possibility of serious illness. I know it sounds unlikely but I learned this when I was involved in disaster relief. That's why you always see water on pallets.
Enjoy your life outdoors.
That’s great information!
We use collapsible trash cans. They’re barrel shaped, made from canvas, with a metal wire coil that runs around the outside. Works great for us. You could also just leave a trash can in the bed of the truck.
We use colapsable laundry bags they are cylander shaped and have a lid that zip closed. We just close pin the trash bags on so it wont slide down and thy work great
This is exactly what we do. Collapsible trash can, sits under the kitchen during the day, and in the truck bed at night
Firstly, a very beautiful camper. My concern is that you are drinking distilled water. It's not for consumption, that's why many stores sell it next to the detergent. It is so pure it can leech minerals from your body.
Thanks for the info!
Yes! I’m so glad you said something.
Use the 1/2 gallon jug, refill them, freeze them and set it in your yeti cooler instead of ice
Remotely possible if that's all you drank (varying opinions), but not a problem for weekend camping trips. However, spring water is about the same price and may taste better.
Many many many people drink only distilled water and are healthier for it. You just have to watch the plastic anything goes into.
Nice job! This is my first visit to your channel.
Having spent 50 years building fine custom furniture, I can appreciate your skill in building your teardrop camper. You are obviously a good designer, engineer, craftsman and mechanic. Thanks for sharing ! I will subscribe and like your video.
Thank you very much! 50 years, wow! I'm sure I could learn volumes from you. Thanks so much for subscribing!
For the bedding situation we would suggest a thinner inflatable on the bottom like a "Therm-a-Rest." I think you have seen our bedding video, but we basically have the same setup as you minus the 8" Coleman. In the video we test the Coleman style, but had the same issue as you with sinking in and moving my wife and child around when they were sleeping. I bet you can find a backpacking style inflatable that will come pretty close to fitting your teardrop.
I’ll check into that. Laying down, it’s great, but setting doesn’t exist!! I’m certainly not gonna video it!
yup, the 8" thick ones are great in a big tent, is about it.
Mosquito netting can be velcroed over door openings so can plastic/vinyl screening just put a fabric binding to sew the Velcro to cut to fit larger than door openings
don't forget the area between the trailer bottom and ground
Great to hear you had a good camping.
We have DIY teardrop camper and we use popup trash can and put it in the tow vehicle at night if I don't take it to campground trash. We also keep any left over foods in our car.
Someone else mentioned a pop-up trash can too. I’d better check into that!
This is what we use.
Coghlan's 1219 Trash Can, 19 X 24-inches www.amazon.com/dp/B006EHAJSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3sCbDbBXC3BQW
I like it! Looks like it zips closed on top too.
@@traveling_with_sunny We use the same trash can and love it. We just throw a large rock in the bottom of the can during the day and it stays in place.
randomly found your channel, great vid, the rechargeable thermocell works great for bugs and a 1 gallon sprayer with permethrin mixed in it (tractor supply) trash bag on a hook next to the kitchen (big black yard bag) and most importantly love the Bronco RC car (I have a 71 my dad bought in 77 and passed onto me)
I like your coffee pot. You’re right, coffee makes the morning. I have used, since 1973, an aluminum drip pot that comes in three pieces. Mine makes 12-15. Cups. It has a top section that you pour into, the center section is the strainer, and the coffe wind s up in the bottom section. The cap fits the top and bottom sections. Very light and fits well almost snywhere
That was some of the best coffee I’d had in a while! Thanks for sharing your own experience. I really appreciate it!
To use the stabilizer jacks as you described, (and get them to actually lock, and not slip), just get some small bungees, drill holes in the appropriate spots, (1 hole, (or eyebolt), up top & 1 hole in the lever itself), and use the bungees to apply extra tension on the slide stop levers. You can even use the square tube itself for the top bungee attachment point. You can easily shorten each Bungie to your desired length by pushing the knot out of 1 hook and re-tying the knot at a shorter length. Easy-adjust Bungie's, (from places like Harbor Freight, etc...), work even better because they can be adjusted for the desired length/tension for each different campsite. Play around with what strength bungees you need to securely lock those stops in place and your problem is fixed. I have done this on my 16-foot Motorcycle trailer and locked the braces enough to even lift the tire completely off the ground and still been able to drive my bikes in and out of the trailer with no problem with stand slippage.
Awesome information! Thanks for taking time to post this.
We use a round collapsible laundry hamper with a trash bag inside. I have seen some in the same style that are intended for trash but are usually on the small side.
Roger Evartt we use a collapsible hamper as well and just toss our trash at night
What we use is a few oil lamps filled with citronella oil, it works pretty well. We used it in the south Jersey swamps along with a screen house. By it self it works but when they are bad like unbearable bad you have to have a screen house. When it is hot you may also need a fan to get some kind of breeze. But the oil lamps work as well as anything but let's face it some times everything needs help. Put some inside as well as outside and have a beautiful evening.
For garbage on the inside of the camper, you should put a small swinging door going to an outside box with a trash bag in it. So when you throw out your little trash its no longer in the cab of the teardrop. For the outside food trash, its always better to get used to chaining it up on a tree to keep the critters out at night. You should also build, or put a small shoe box next to your door in case it rains. We always have a screen tent with changing room and bucket right outside of the camper door, tarp in between to walk right into the camper when you take your shoes off. Also for in the middle of the night when you have to go. 👍🏼
I like the Velcro curtain idea , gonna have to use that one . And yep the wife requested a mirror also. Good tips . The state parks here in Texas have lantern poles at the sites , we just hang a heavy duty garbage bag on it instead of lantern.
Lantern poles...the campground I was at had one of those. Great idea! I have to give props to my bride for the Velcro. I’m not that smart!
I went a bit more complicated, but using button snaps works really well too!
Hi, I saw your idea for folding washing up basin, I just thought I would let you know that here in Holland ( Nederland ) were everyone is camping crazy you can get folding buckets,ketels,pots + pans + even a teapot. Roy.
For garbage in our minivan/camper, we use a rectangular bin that dishwasher pods are sold in. We put a plastic bag inside and snap the lid back on. Half the lid hinges and can snap closed. I used the bottom 2 inches of a second bin to make a socket that I attached to the floor, to hold the bin in place when we travel.
I hate air mattresses. They move around too much when one of us sits up or gets in and out of bed. They don’t insulate and if the spring a leak ... no fun.
We use a foam mattress from an IKEA futon. Very comfortable!
That bin setup is a great idea! Thank you!
You did a wonderful job on this build. I was gonna build my own from the suspension up, but decided to go with Bend Teardrops for my base build then I'll DIY the cabin and portions of the galley. I want a fold out couch with table setup, drop down TV from the ceiling, and storage around the TV with a Dometic toilet just under that wish a hatch (blending in withe the cabinets) to open up for it. Easy to empty, even if I need to dig a ditch being nice with nature. Still can't figure out where I'm gonna put my Dometic cooler. I'd prefer the galley but might get stuck with it as a pull out on the tongue. Also figuring out my burber scenario. I love your side table setup above the propane tank.
You might look at ThermCell brand mosquito & insect repeller. It is similar to the old Zippo brand pocket warmers in operation. It is fueled by a clear plastic sealed fuel cell about 3" L x 5/8" diameter (lighter fluid). Has a 2" x 2" "hot plate" over which you insert fiber pad impregnated with repellent (comes with the kit). Has a push button igniter. About 8" long x 3" wide x 1-1/4" thick. Can get a canvas sheath for it to hang near the kitchen hatch lid on the tear drop or anywhere else that is convenient. If the wx is not too breezy, it will clear pesky insects from about a 30' diameter circle. Guys in the Southeast use them for deer hunting when sitting on stand during season and they are quite effective. Think you can find them at WalMart, or most outdoor sporting goods / hunting stores. Good luck.
Danny Buck great advice!
We brought umbrellas and bug netting and stands. Put the large one with lights built in square over kitchen. The small one we put by door. works great. Got all on sale and hotel clearance. New. Accept screens and stands. One is nine feet and the other seven.
Great idea!
I don’t know if you check comments this far out from when you posted it, but I find that it’s sometimes worth bringing a dining tent (screen tent) to get out of the bugs and eat outside. An amazing attachment would be something that attached to the galley with enough room to fit a picnic table underneath as well.
Great tip! My wife has been asking for one.
such a incredible build man, cant tell it was home built at all its crazy, mine is very obviously homebuilt looking lol
cheers man your videos helped me alot even know we had way different designs
Joseph Terry Thanks a bunch! Glad the videos helped!
Love the curtain
I don't have a tear drop but camp out of my 4runner, to help with bugs I changed my rear hatch lights to a yellow light. Still have light but not as many bugs. For trash I use one of those top fill dry bags for canoeing/kayaking with a trash bag inside of it. When sealed it keeps smells in and if anything leaks inside you can just hose it out. get one with backpack straps and you can hang it almost anywhere. While it keeps enough smell in that i don't smell it, it is not bear proof, so if you camp in bear country keep it in the vehicle over night. Also, this is a great video. I'm looking in to building my own off road type tear drop and your videos have helped me with ideas.
I didn’t know about the kayaking bags. That’s a great tip! Good luck on your build!!
glad it sounds like you had a great time, a bonus of building it yourself is you know how to change things to fit you better later. now that you have a place to hang your hat you can officially call it home. seems like a mirror os something many people don't think about. that trash question is a good one. maybe plan enough ahead of time that you don't have allot of trash after a trip that would fit in a shopping bag and they could set it in the sink in case it leaked?
Hey, it’s always great to hear from you! You know, you’re right. We as a society generate way too much trash. That’s the better solution. Try to scale back. I like the “hang your hat” reference! Be well!
As for the mosquitoes, up here in Alaska we use citronella candles, but they are not that effective. We have heard from many forums and Creators on UA-cam that the Thermacells work really well. We want to try one out, but are waiting for May (my wife) to have our next child in September before using one. Beings it is a fairly new product we wanted to play it safe in case years down the road they find it negatively impacts growing children in the womb.
I believe we’ll try the citronella first. Yep, I don’t like to try chemical stuff right away. I’ve heard too many bad stories from folks that do. Speaking of Alaska, I have a friend living in a DIY camper van up there this summer. He keeps sending the most beautiful photos!
find my comment for near free mosquito control :)
Vitamin B12 3 days before you go keep taking while camping and mosquitoes won't bother you. I get the odd bite but the people around me are way worse off.
@@revivalgirlheavenbound6661 Thank you for this suggestion. Next summer when they come out in full force we will be prepared!
Great tips I live in a pickup 24 7 some of your tips are good in my pick up
Thanks so much! Glad I could help with some tips. Be well, and Merry Christmas.
For trash, stitch a large canvas bag with drain holes with hooks on the pantry door to hang it. Put all the trash in the bag, hang it drive to the nearest trash disposal point and empty the trash without opening the vehicle. Fold the canvas bag and tuck it under your seat and drive away
Seems like command strips are a camper's best friend!
Bikes Boats Bivouacs They are indeed.
I don't have a tear drop, but I do want to build one. Our experience is with a pop up. Our "kitchen" is usually a picnic table under a 10 x10 canopy. We just hang a plastic grocery store bag over one corner of the canopy on the pole top. This is high enough to discourage most critters. And very handy.
Do it! Lots of resources on the net to help you get going. Check out www.tnttt.com
You must not camp in bear country. You can't leave your garbage hanging on a canopy leg in near country. You'll have some serious problems for sure.
I use a pop up Colman garbage can thing, I zip it closed during the rain, throw the bag in the trunk at night so critters can’t tear it up. In the tear drop and by my chair i use the larger ziplock round screw top plastic containers to throw candy wrappers, tissues and face wipes into , when full i just dump in to the big trash.
I need to check into the Coleman popup can. A couple others also mentioned it. It must be good. Thanks for the tip!
For the trash you have the curved back. Create a garbage bin to the shape. Remove handles from some of drawers and make them finger hole pull outs. Then have the garbage container have hooks that fit in those holes. Then it will stow away nicely at night and not fall out when you open the hatch. Then on the left outer shell of galley have a spot where those hooks can hook on to. So while you have hatch open you have an easily accessible garbage.
We have a motorcycle camper, and for trash--I wrap a bungee cord around a tree, hook the ends together, and hang a black drawstring bag at the hooks. If expecting animal visits (!), I only put non-food trash in there, and just carry food trash in a small grocery bag to the campground dumpster after every meal.
Jeannette C Good tip!
Use a Thermacell for mosquitoes. There are different kinds, I have one I wear on me when doing yard work. Works great!
Very inspiring can't wait to build mine I'll be watching thanks for the video
William Fullman Thanks for watching! Best of luck on your build!
For jacks on my teardrop, I went to a salvage yard and got 4 Subaru jacks for 10.00 , then welded one in each coner.
That’s a great idea!
I really enjoy your videos and because of you I’m going start designing and tear drop.
Ty
That’s awesome!! Keep me posted and best of luck to you! When you get it in the bones, maybe we can put it on an upcoming episode.
One tip for the Trash. A trashcan that double as a stool or footstep. To make it more easy with closing the bag you could contruckt a rotating circle to shut the opening very tightly. very quick way to open and close.
Now that’s a clever idea!
I have camped in Ontario in May, this is the beginning of bug season. There is no product that works like a Thermacell. I have had one for 15 years and as long as it is not windy you can sit outside and have no problem with mosquitoes or black flies. It is essentially silent and inexpensive to run. I take it when we go canoe tripping and it keeps them away to about a 20 foot square area. If really concerned you can get 2 or perhaps the newer patio version. I have not tried it but I am pretty sure it will do at least as good a job.
John Jackman That’s great advice. Is it very expensive to run?
@@CampandCamera Very inexpensive , you buy refill packs that have the butane cylinder and the pad that dissipates into the air from the heater. Here in Canada you can buy 2 sizes of refills and they are very economical in my opinion. Its been a while since I bought so off the top of my head I can't give a dollar figure. Bottom line is they work great.
You need one of those circular things with the clothes pins attached. You can even rig one up. Cloths pins tied and spaced on a rope works too. You can hook it under your "table" or hang it in a tree. Towels can dry and be used at the same time.
Ann Nice!
Great tips. It’s amazing the little things you learn with experience.
Agreed!
We also had problems with insects especially at meal times which is really irritating, last year I saw on line/tv something called "mug molen" (mosquito windmill) works with batteries the blades sit on top like a helicopter. I,d recommend getting one. No mozzies etc. Roy. Just put it in the middle the table.😁😅
Get a hardware store bucket with a lid (or a pickle bucket from a restaurant) for garbage. Put a hook somewhere where you can hook it through the handle to keep it from blowing away on windy nights. The lid should be insect and mouse-and-raccoon-proof if you close it tight at night, but in bear areas you may want to put it in the tongue box at night.
lol... I bought the same towel rack and did the same thing with it... Too funny.... Best thing we ever bought was an awning with the enclosure and aluminum foldaway coffee table... That the legs extend.... And of course our propane fireplace living the good life boon-docking....
Those LP fireplaces intrigue me.
@@CampandCamera the best thing about them is if there's a fire band on you can still use them at night..... even inside our screened owning then Close the sides off at night time... We've even had our camper door open while it was going and it heated inside the camper... Laying in bed while looking at the fire is awesome... Just saying
I started with a air mattress and learned the hard way they are not reliable. They will leak at the worst possible time (3 AM and raining) and you are on the floor. I switched to a futon mattress with a memory foam topper this is heavier but just as comfortable and more reliable.
Good idea!
Best sleep I ever had camping was on an army folding Cot....and alot of beer
You can use a screen door spring for curtains also
I use the large citronella candles made by Off, in my 8 man tent. They keep the bugs out. Should work for your camper.
The simple things in life are often the Best. Great build 😀👍👍👍
ISTP 196 Thank you very much!
Nice workshop there buddy all nice and clean and organized and well thought out the envy of every woman
Thanks, but all the clutter is behind the camera!
Lmbo coffee pot I need one 25 times that big but love your camper thanks for sharing
What a beautiful job you did on that camper! Awesome....nicer then those they are actually selling. I love the curtains your wife made helps to make it feel cozy. Hope you have many happy trips.
Lucy L. Thank you very much! She told me the other day she’s also going to make matching pillowcases!
@@CampandCamera You'll be like two little bugs as snug in a rug. ❤
Take your jug of water freeze it the night before your trip giving you cold water for good couple of days.
Good idea!
to get rid of mosquitos(where you have electricity)run one of those 16" three speed fans pointed away from camp with window screen on the back. the fans suction will hold the screen on. mosquitos will be sucked onto the screen and become stuck.. you can hose the screen off later
Leveling the trailer - There is a kit, you can find it kinda cheap at the end of the season like now, and they are just plastic plates that stack like legos but are strong enough to drive on, leveling ramps or just use a couple plank sections. I bought a "stall mat", cut it up and use it to drive up on, but it can be a bit of a pain to carry around because they are heavy and don't bend much.
Dealing with trash - I use the bags you get from shopping and use them as trash bags, you can't put a lot of trash in them, but that works out because I take it out every day so I won't build up a bunch of trash. I don't use those regular tall bags at home, just because trash can stink and this forces me to take out the trash everyday.
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve started using shopping bags now too. They are great and free!
Fisherman in Canada use Skin So Soft original bath oil, for Miskitos I use to sell it by the bucket load
Louine Franco Now that’s one I hadn’t heard. If it works in Canada it surely would work anywhere. You have lots of mosquitos up there don’t you?
Very nice tear drop. You do quality work. I bought a dietz 80 hurricane lantern and use citronella fuel in it. Light and no bugs. Worth paying a little extra for a good lantern (get what you pay for). A tank of citronella has lasted me most of the summer and I use it on my front porch when not camping.
We picked up a collapsible dishwashing basin with a handle on Amazon so I can dump grey water in an unused sewage opening at camp grounds.
Enjoy your camping in your little motel on wheels.
That lantern sounds interesting. I love firelight anyway. Thanks for dropping in!
We own a teardrop and use a BAL-28050-Light-Trailer-Leveler. It levels, stabilizes, and chocks the trailer. Bulky but worth it. We also use a Thetford Garbage Bag Holder for the trash. Store it in the truck bed at night to keep the critters out.
I just looked the BAL up. This looks like a well thought out leveler. How have I never heard of this before? Thanks for the great tip!
I installed the BAL 23025 jacks on the rear of ours and they work great. I’m pretty sure I could change a tire with them if I was desperate
Use cat litter container lined with trash bags for trash can. Has cover. Has handle to bungee if windy. In vehicle, if animals . Store bags other items in until using.
Nice!
Oil diffuser with citronella oil. Better concentration of the citronella and no fire hazard. Lava rock can be used to diffuse without power!
Distilled water is attractive due to price, I don't recommend it because there are no minerals left in it, which we need.
We can get plenty of minerals from our food
@@jewelsbug927 Please provide evidence of this. And which foods. You can't just make a blanket statement like that.
Black bear pillow matching curtains!👍🏽
Thanks for noticing!
I recommend the Trasheroo on your spare tire.
They make a spare tire trash bag that the Jeep guys use which may work out pretty well for you
Might look for a good used one, only because I’ve been down this road before I turned it cargo trailer into a camper, and I never used it, so if I buy something used I will make sure to throw the mattress away 😂
Take Vit B 1. Apparently it leaves something in the skin. Take about 2 wks before a trip. I have told this to missionary workers. It does work.
When you remove step stool and stuff from tongue box you can have garbage in there and lock out animals. Maybe a small plastic can or 2 one for recycling. You could make another shelf with cutout for the trash can you select and put on other side from propane tank for during daytime use or underneath on ground and only put in tongue box when you are away from site or at night.
Great ideas! I can tell you’re an experienced camper!
I use a bungee cord and go through the Built-in handles for the garbage bag and hang it outside during the day and then I lock it up inside the tow vehicle at night.
Good and simple idea. I like it!
I live in Louisiana mosquito repellent with deep. Also use vanilla extract in sprayer for nates.
Being from Louisiana, you definitely have to deal with bugs. Thanks for the tips!
Very informative! Last weekend we camped in ours for the first time and I had to laugh since some of the things you mentioned we experienced also. One of the things we liked a lot was the filet table we bought from Bass Pro shops to use for rinsing veggies, washing dishes, etc. but also, we hung one of those brackets from the side of it that holds a trash bag. I know the table is not small but we love it.
Hey, I’m glad you guys had a great time! I’m interested in that bracket. Do you have a link?
Camp and Camera I got it from Dicks Sporting Goods. It is called a Trash-ease portable trash bag holder. Might not be what you are looking for but we like it.