OAUSA Net - December 01, 2021 – Camping Tips, Hacks, Wrinkles

[toms]

A hack is a cleaver solution or modification. A wrinkle is also a cleaver modification but can also be a useful piece of information or advise.

Many camping tips revolve around using one devise for many other uses with “out of the box” thinking. Many nights we have spent around the camp fire discussing multiple uses for such devises.

Some hacks involve repurposing common “urban” items in unusually way in the wilds.

For our net this week, share your camping tips, hacks, and wrinkles. We need everyone to post up as many as possible.

Most of us bring along at least one impractical items. That make life feel a little better. We would like to know what you bring that “You just would prefer not to do without”. For Dave it is a set of real glass wine glasses with a long stem!

The scope is as wide as the topics for our nets – camping, 4-wheeling, food prep, edged implements, ham radio, outdoor medicine, destinations, navigation, vehicle repair & maintenance, shooting, reloading, etc. What are your wrinkles?

Let me give you two examples to get started.
Sticky Zippers – A quick fix in the field is Lip balm (aka chap stick.)
Carry 4 small (but strong) magnets. Use to hold the corners when reviewing a map on the hood or side of vehicle. Doesn’t work on new vehicles made of aluminum.

[Jeff-OAUSA]

Have you ever spent a great day camping and cooking in the snow?

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And then overnight, the snow begins to dump onto your tent, and it gets really, really cold....

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And because of the wine and hot buttered rums, you find that you or your significant other needs to make a "Bio Run" in the middle of the night, but the pathway to the "Facilities" looks like this?

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And your spouse is hearing strange noises in the night outside of the tent...

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Then that is when the Discretely Marked Nalgene Bottle comes in really handy as a Camp Hack...

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And while the Discretely Marked Nalgene Bottle may seem best suited for men, there are tools to make this Camp Hack suitable for women too!

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[toms]

Luggage Tags

1. My luggage tag straps do not stay tight on the buckle. It could be because there is no final loop in which to tuck the loose end as contrasted to my watch band which has two final loops. My solution is to punch a hole on the end and use a small zip tie.

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Zip tie after attaching to the bag or luggage.

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2. Mandoline Slicer
The slicer bit my hand once when I was reaching into the camp box without looking. My solution is a leather cover.

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3. Hi-lift handle

The hi-lift handle is a 3 foot pipe that has many uses off-road to solve problems. It can be used for leverage on a tool or to reinforce a bent tie rod.
By replacing the cotter key with a PTO pin it is easy to remove it.

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[lrsrngr]

KK6CTT for the online check-in please (12/02/21)

Fieldcraft is one if not the closest skill related to "Common Sense" survival and for some it cannot be taught in a classroom environment without experience in the field. Common places to find the information in this day and age are "YouTube University" but there are still a number of books that should be kept in hard copy. When you see these books at a thrift store or yard sale...scoop'em up!

Lots of Scouting books that I found in various places. SF and Ranger Handbooks (HB) have worked well over the years. "Survival," how to books can be useful along with the Forxfire series of old school knowledge placed in a multi-series of books that are great for studying when you have some down time. The Scout Handbook (HB) is a classic tool.

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Fixes in camp start with understanding the tools that make life easier if you know how to implement them. Twine, 550/paracord and ropes are pretty generic if you do not know how to properly take care of them or use them in accordance with their capabilities.

The US Army Ranger Handbook (1988) has been updated over the years. Most are good but some versions are better than others. It is the same with the Scout Handbook (1974), I suggest getting the spiral binding as you can see here both handbooks have been through a lot and they are both good "tools of the trade."

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First things first when using cordage/rope. Know the qualities of the cordage and what it is used for. Understand tensile strength when applicable or use enough of the same stuff enough to know what you can get away with. Dress the ends of cordage so that they do not fray (a pet peeve) and one that was apparent when I was reading about knots on the internet and they were using cordage for knot tying with frayed ends, UGH!

Top Knots Scout HB:
o *Whipping
o *Bowline
o *Taut-Line Hitch
o *Clove Hitch
o *Two Half Hitches
o *Sheet Bend
o *Square Knot

Ranger HB Knots (Illustrations courtesy of TC 3-21.76):
o Nomenclature:

It is nice to know your way around the names of what you are discussing. This helps to know that every "quick release" usually has a "bight" associated with the knots described below.

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o *Square Knot
o Double Sheet Bend
o *Bowline, Bowline on a Bight, Three Loop Bowline & Bowline on a Coil
o *Round Turn w/two Half-Hitches
o *End/Middle of the Rope Clove Hitch
o *Double Figure-Eight, Rerouted Figure-Eight, Figure-Eight Slipknot
o Butterfly
o Wireman's Knot
o *End of Rope Prusik, Middle of the Rope Prusik & Finger Prusik
o *Munter Hitch, Munter Mule Knot

This is truly a helpful knot when you are trying to belay and you do not have a lot of help to assist someone who is either going down or climbing up. The knuckle will flip over on itself when pulling from the down or upside.

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o *Rappel Seat

You don't need anything fancy, you just need to know how to use what you have available.

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Other knots:
o **The Mongasso Knot?
o *Tightening System Technique(s) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHw7uymjq3Q
o Hangman's Noose (The mechanics of this knot is how I began to understand how to lash items together the same with whipping)
o Arbor/Jam-Knot/Survivalist Zip-Tie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na_ulQjxqzY

*Knots I deploy on a regular basis
**Trivia knot first learned from a Ranger Hall of Fame Inductee, 1SG Tom Wilburn, high-speed low-drag Mountain Camp Ranger Instructor. https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/A ... index.html

[DaveK]

CAMPING AND VEHICLE FIXES AND HACKS

1. WISHY WASHY IMPROVED

Sanitation while camping is an important safety concern, and washing hands is at the top of the list, especially for the cooks. But in truth, everyone who joins the meals also benefits from this. Anything that makes a task easier and more efficient, is always welcome at our camp. Enter the Partner Steel Company's product, known as the "Wishy Washy" - a truly ingenious idea. When connected to a water source (like a 2-5 gallon can) it serves as a community hand washing station, operated entirely by a foot pedal - no dirty hands ever touch the on or off handle.

The only drawback to the system was the design, which required a 5 gallon bucket to catch the dirty water. This presented a problem, because when it was time to pack up to go home, we had to dispose of the dirty water and wash out the bucket, which was just another task that had to be addressed before we could leave. Solution - I 86'ed the 5 gallon water bucket, and instead of connecting the nozzle to the bucket, I made a stake to do the job. Now the dirty water goes into a hole in the ground that we just have to bury. Also, we no longer have to carry that 5 gallon bucket.

The other improvement to the WW is a super convenience addition that really pays off when it comes time to dispense soap for washing. I fab'ed a soap dispenser holder that attaches to the nozzle tube, making the soap right at the hand washing station, within easy reach.

The Stake to which the WW is attached

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The Soap Dispenser

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The Entire Bag, With All Components

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The Wishy Washy, Improved, and installed

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2. Voltage Meter

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3. Second Battery and Air Compressor

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4. On Board Battery Charger

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5. Larger Battery Tray

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6. Reinforced Computer Stand

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[KAP]

Tailgate enclosure for truck camper shell.

Waterproofed, Canvas drop cloth clamped over the lift gate provides extra bed length and a decent amount of protection from wind and critters while allowing easy entry and exit.

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Binder clips with 1/8” rubber Glued to the inside for glass protection and a non slip grip.

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[Diesel4x]

Good evening gentlemen,

Please check in Randy, KF6KOC and Becky KF6RGR

Thanks!!

[KK6DYO]

Powerpoles on All 12V Connections

Makes it easy to connect up 12V devices such as LiFePo storage batteries, solar controllers, mattress and tire inflators, voltage testers, electric blanket, propane furnace, in-line breakers, battery chargers, etc. Makes much more reliable connections than cigarette lighter power plugs, which I will cut off and replace with Powerpoles. Note: cigarette lighter power plugs often contain fuses which must be accounted for. Solar panels now often come with Powerpoles or adapters instead of only MC4 connectors. Note: MC4 connectors are waterproof, Powerpoles are not.

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Marine Heatshrink on Powerpole Connectors

Can be used to provide some water protection, but mainly allows firm grasp when pulling Powerpoles. Can be marked as needed with silver or white pen, in this case showing the maximum current of a general connector cable.

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USB-Powered Radio Chargers

Since USB power sources are so ubiquitous, I’ve made a few USB (5V) to radio (HT) charging port cables using step-up circuit boards (Amazon) wrapped in epoxy putty after the proper output voltage is dialed in. Ugly, but gets the job done.

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[KAP]

Please check us all in.

John KM6FXI
Kevin KK6DGL
Jack KK6WXQ
John KJ6UNC

Thank you.

[Geoff]

Please check me in tonight.