Outdoor Adventure USA

Camping Repair Kit

The "official" camping season is well under way, and in case no one has noticed, there is a record number of campers, who are breaking out of their confinement (covid), and who are taking advantage of the great outdoors. The rush to get out should not come at the expense of preparations for a safe and enjoyable trip.

For the net this week, we plan to discuss tools, supplies and skills you need to repair your camping gear and clothing.
The ability to repair a tent, sleeping bag , boots, pants, or a camp chair while in camp can make a huge difference on your comfort for the remainder of the trip.

What do you take to handle breaks, tears or holes in your camping gear, clothing or bedding?
Are there any skills you need to practice at home before going?
Where do you store these items?

Post up your camping repair kit list, pictures, and stories of repair you made!

Storage Options

• I use a lot of small bags and boxes to store theses items. Sometimes small boxes / bags go inside larger ones. I just don't have one place with "camping repair stuff".

• My camp box along with pots and pans is a good place for a few items. Spaces like cups and bowls can be utilized as otherwise wasted space.

• Another good place is to put the repair item with the camp item there are designed to fix. For example a lantern mantel can go in the lantern box.

• There are a few items that naturally fit within the concepts of a first aid kit - like safety pins. Add extra to cover camping repair.

Repair Supplies
This is a long list of items to consider for mostly fastener.

Tape
Rescue Tape
Tenacious tape
Gorilla tape
Duct Tape
Electrical Tape

Glue
Seal All
Goop
Terma-rest patch kit
Super glue
JB Weld

Rope, ties & tie like stiff
Para cord, rope / 550 cord
Dental floss
Bailing wire
Bungie cords
Zip Tie
Safety pins
Split ring key rings
Needle & Thread & buttons
Velcro
Alligator clips
Tent pole ferrules
Tarp clamps
Small hose clamps
Inner tube rubber bands
Ratch tie downs
Nuts & bolt, washers
Anderson power pole connectors
Wire nuts

Spare Parts
Clip for Spyderco pocket knife
Extra tent pole
Heat shrink
Buss fuses for radios
Mantels
Stove/ Lantern generators/ cap

Repair Tools
Speedy Stitcher
Leatherman
Leather punch
Needles
Vice Grips
Metric, SAE & Torque Allan wrench set
Crimper for Anderson power poles
Soldering iron uses AA batteries

Tricks / Hacks
Oil from dip stick for Colman stove leather

CAMPING REPAIR KIT I

Whether you're a first time camper or a veteran, you need to have a camping repair kit. The reasons are many, but at the top of the list is the importance of making the most out of your free time, as well as the recognition that all things will, not can, break or fail. Safety certainly shares this spot.

Kit contents will vary a little depending on your kind of camping, the type of equipment you use, and the length of the trip, but the repair needs of most campers will be similar. Kit contents are usually not that expensive, so budget concerns should not come into play. And, incidentally, the benefit of having each person responsible for his own kit, means that there is a comfortable level of redundancy.

If we use our knowledge gained from our survival discussions, and combine it with an understanding of the equipment we depend on to camp, it is easy to prioritize the contents of our kits. So, here is our list, which is organized (sort of) from the most important to the less important:

SHELTER

Since many of us rely on Springbar tents, here are the repair products you will need, from Springbar:

1. Springbar Canvas Patch Kit (https://springbar.com/products/canvas-t ... gKyPvD_BwE:)

This is what they say;

This DIY Canvas Patch Kit includes approx. 15 patches in various sizes in both 8oz pearl grey and 10oz natural canvas, and one 2oz bottle of Bish’s Original Tear Mender Instant Fabric Adhesive. For small holes and tears, this kit provides everything needed to make your Springbar as good as new.

Features / Specs

Includes approx. 8 patches in 8oz and 10oz canvas

2oz bottle of Bish’s Original Tear Mender Fabric & Leather Adhesive.

2. Springbar Tent Window Mesh Repair Kit (https://springbar.com/collections/acces ... repair-kit)

This is what they say:

A simple and effective DIY kit for repairing minor holes and tears in tent window mesh. This kit includes a C-needle, thread bobbin, and a 10 x 10 inch piece of no-see-um mesh.

Features/ Specs

DIY repair kit for minor holes and tears in tent window mesh
Includes a C-needle, thread bobbin, an 10 x 10 inch piece of no-see-um mesh

3. Springbar Vinyl Patch Kit (https://springbar.com/collections/acces ... -patch-kit)

This is what they say:

This Vinyl Patch Kit includes approx. 10 vinyl patches in various sizes and a 1/4oz tube of Aquaseal® Urethane Repair Adhesive. Whether a sharp rock under your tent punched through or you accidentally dropped your pocket knife on the floor, this kit gives you everything you need to make a watertight patch in minutes.

Features/ Specs

Includes approx. 10 vinyl patches in various sizes

1/4oz tube Aquaseal® Urethane Adhesive

4. Large Tear Repair Kit

Tears or rips in canvas tents require a repair tool with the ability to fix these larger problems, and such a tool is the Speedy Stitcher. Among its many virtues, it can repair the fabric of your canvas tent, especially when the damage is a large tear or rip.



5. Seal-All (http://eclecticproducts.com/products/se ... l-all.html)

Seal-All has been around for quite a while, and, at least for this camper, it has proven its value as a multi-purpose adhesive and sealant. From Air mattresses to tents, it is a must have as part of your camping repair kit.

In particular, if you have to make large tear repairs to your canvas tent, the needle holes, as well as the the rips, need to be sealed. Seal-All is the right stuff for this job.

This is what they say:

Seal-All is the adhesive mechanics and hobbyists trust for all their automotive and garage repairs. It adheres with superior strength to most substrates and resists gasoline, oil, paint thinner and most solvents.

Fast dry time – set in 2-3 minutes
E-Z flow formula
Gas & oil resistant
Waterproof – bond remains secure even when exposed to water
Abrasion resistant
Temperature resistant – remains tough even in extreme temperatures

CAMPING REPAIR KIT II

STOVES

Food preparation is the job of your stove. From my perspective, there really are only two contenders for camping stoves - Coleman and Partner Steel, and, as reliable as they each are, things sometimes break or fail. One of the many wonderful things about each, is their simplicity and the ease of repair. An added bonus is the inexpensive and compact repair kits that are available for each. There is no reason why a camping trip should come to an end just because your stove quits working.

1. Partner Steel Stove Repair Kit (https://partnersteel.com/cook-partner-accessories)

Partner Steel sells this repair kit, which contains just about everything your will need to fix your stove.

Here is what they say:

The emergency repair kit includes common parts that may be needed to repair any of the stoves and get them back into working order. Also includes tools, a handy zippered carry bag and a repair guide.

NOTE:

The only other thing that will complete your Partner Steel stove repair kit is a replacement propane hose and regulator. An extra is compact, cheap, and a real "trip saver" if you misplace or damage the primary one.


2. Coleman Stove Repair Kit

There are basically two things that can be repaired/replaced on your Coleman stove - the pump and the valve/generator. Both are inexpensive and very compact to store. For your part, make sure that the replacement parts you carry are specifically for your model stove.



NOTE-1: The replacement parts for Coleman Lanterns (pump and valve/generator) are the same, but different sizes.
NOTE-2: Need help learning how to make your Coleman stove repairs??? Check out the Old Town Coleman Center (https://www.oldtowncoleman.com/learn/re ... -stove.htm.) The website is dedicated to rebuilding and repairing Coleman two and three burner stoves.


ELECTRONICS

Electronic devices are a common part of the equipment that most us us rely upon on our various outback adventures. Aside from following redundancy rules, we think there are a couple of important electronic related items that should be in your repair kit.

1. Cables

Whether it's computer connection or charging cables, they are an indispensable part of the electronics age. While it is vital to carry the cables that are unique to your devices, it is also necessary to carry spares. Keep in mind the rule of redundancy - one is none, two is one, and three is two. At least in my experience, these cables have a very limited life expectancy, whether from breakage or "innocent" pilfering, (also known as lending), and this is why it is wise to carry spares.

2, Electronic Storage Devices

Most of the equipment that we rely on for our vehicle dependent travels comes with an instruction or repair manual. Having these manuals on the trail, regardless of the equipment, is never a bad idea, especially for Ham radios, computers, antennas, vehicle repair, computer programs, and the like. While keeping paper copies of EVERYTHING, may be a bit much, there is a solution which will allow you to have it all. That solution is to put everything on an SD card, a flash drive, or your computer. This is an ideal solution for bulky documents, like vehicle repair manuals and Ham Radio equipment.

Living by the rule of redundancy does require you to keep paper copies of at least some of your stuff, so that if the computer breaks down, you are not screwed. For very little money, you can have a storage device that can easily carry even the largest manuals. Flash drives and SD cards are now past the 250GB range and in the unlikely event that you need more than one, the cost is minimal.

CAMPING REPAIR KIT III

1. Shoes / Boots

On just about every one of my camping trips, there is some hiking, and on some trips, a whole lot more than others. The truth of the matter is that the road builders that made the trails we like to use, just didn't make them to go to every spot we want to visit. Thus, we need to hike, and the cold hard facts are that a great many of the really great places to visit, will require a hike. In a sense, the need to hike is the is the great divide between the places that many people visit, and the places that just a few visit.

If you view your boots as your do your tires, then it makes sense to bring a boot repair kit, just like your tire repair kit. And, just like your spare tire, it is a good practice to bring a spare set of boots, especially when you know that hiking will be an important part of your trip. When I travel a thousand miles to explore an area, I sure don't want to get sidelined by a boot failure. Oh, YES - don't forget to bring extra laces.

There are a couple of boot repair products to mention:

Duct tape.

I have seen more than one set of failed boots, brought back to life by the use of duct tape. And, if you find that duct tape isn't working, then you are just not using enough.


On a recent hike, I had the opportunity to watch both boots start to lose the sole. By sacrificing the boot laces, I was able to keep the boots together long enough to get back to camp, where my spare set of boots were waiting. The temporary solution for the failed boots was the use of Boot Fix Glue.


2. Gas Can Gaskets

Our favorite places to explore require that we travel great distances to very remote locations. Needless to say, these destinations do not have any facilities, including gas stations. In order to get there, and back, we need to carry extra gasoline, and the containers of choice are the original German Jerry can. They are robust, well made, long lasting, and meant to take a beating. In time, there is one part that occasionally needs to be replaced - the spout gasket. Having traveled thousands of miles, I have yet to see one of our cans leak, but it would be foolish to suppose that failure is impossible. For a few bucks, we carry a set of replacement gaskets, and should the unlikely happen, we can preserve the gasoline we need to return home. Deutsche Optik sells 'em - https://deutscheoptik.com/Set-of-Four-J ... skets.html.


3. MISC

In no particular order of importance, the following are must have repair kit items. For now, pictures will do, but more on the net.

KK6CTT for the online check-in please (06/03/21).

I will be in and out depending on the meeting I have to attend this evening.

Thanks!

I would like to add in no particular order:

• Heat Shrink

• A lighter and solder

• Pine pitch

• Extra charge controller (especially if you are trying to protect an expensive LiFePO4 battery)

• Fuses for all the different gear/automobile

• Multimeter

• Petroleum jelly (for skin/lips or mechanical/seals)

• Files (flat, triangle, round or half round)

Check inn please
K9ATK BRIAN
K9FOG TRISH
KD0EXI CHEYENNE
KD0RHA TYLER
KD0GPE AUSTIN
thanks looking foward to another awesome net
Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend

Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

thanks for early check in, KF6KOC Randall & KF6RGR Becky.

This is KM6OJB please check me in.
Thanks
Joe