Camping Equipment

I love stainless steel appliances. My dream is to have a log cabin in the woods (serviced, of course!) and all stainless steel appliances.  I love the look of them, and think it would be awesome to have a stainless steel fridge and gas stove.  C. also likes stainless steel too which is a bonus. So about five weeks ago, when we saw the Kuuma Stainless Steel “Stow N’ Go” barbecue, we both knew we wanted it, even if just for its looks.

So, we bought it. We’ve been using a Lodge Sportsman’s Grill which is cast iron for sometime and I really like it, but a gas barbecue offers some conveniences that a charcoal grill does not.  Such as less waiting times – and on our schedule, it can be a pain at times to wait for the charcoal to be ready before cooking on it.

Often referred to as a barbecue for marine use because of its stainless steel construction, the model we purchased, 83790, has  about 160 square inches of cooking space – not huge – but enough to do a few steaks or pork chops, or enough burgers for C., David, and I. It’s design is very handy for small spaces and its legs fold away for storage.

The manufacturer also says that it will put out 13,000 BTU’s of heat.

When we picked it up and brought it back to the trailer, one of the awesome things about the Kuuma was that it needed no assembly whatsoever. All we did was pull it out of the box and hook up the propane tank. The hose from the regulator to the tank was not included with the barbecue, so you would need to have one before you can start cooking.

The stainless steel does look beautiful too! But how does it cook?

Well, there are a couple of disadvantages with this barbecue. First, there is a warning that the lid should not be closed when it is on high. Actually, you might not want to close it on the medium setting either.  In our first evening with the barbecue, we decided to cook up a couple of steaks, and C. and I both like ours done medium to medium-well done.  The heat was on medium, and I closed the lid. After a few minutes, I went to open the lid, but it had seized! I had to use a screw driver in between the lid and the base in order to apply some leverage to get the lid open. The heat had sized up the screws and nuts that the lid is attached with and turn on to be opened and closed.

I have not yet tried to loosen the screws as they seem to use a TORX type of head, which I don’t have here at the trailer. And ever since that first cooking, the lid is very stiff to open and close.

The next issue with this barbecue is that even though it seems there is flame evenly distributed from the left to the right side, the heat on the right side seems quite a bit lower than on the left.  Steaks and chops that are on the extreme right hand side of the grill need to be moved toward the center after the other steaks and chops have finished cooking.

Still, even with the above issues, it cooks food, and the food tastes great. Obviously as with any barbecue that is propane, you don’t get the flavours that charcoal can impart to cooking food.  But with its small size which makes it easy to stow and store, the Kuuma is a beautiful cooking machine when you need something small and that should last a very long time because it is 100% stainless steel.

The price we picked up the Kuuma Stow N’ Go 83790 was $119.00 Canadian.

Way way back in the day, about 20 or more years ago, I had a career in law enforcement. Part of our training involved how to properly use a fire extinguisher. Up until that time, I didn’t really know there was a proper way to use a fire extinguisher and fight a fire. For those of us that have camp trailers, we probably know we should have a fire extinguisher in the trailer – actually, we should have a couple of fire extinguishers in our homes too.

But if you had to use it, would you know how? Would you be comfortable getting that fire extinguisher from off the wall and fighting a small kitchen fire with it? Do you check it regularly to see if it still has its charge? A fire extinguisher will be of little use to you if it has lost its charge, or in an emergency you are unsure what to do with it.

In our training, we learned the acronym “PASS.” Let me explain.

First of course, you’ve got the fire extinguisher in your hands.  Now what?

P: Pull the Pin! There is a safety pin located in the handle, usually secured with a plastic ring. The easiest way to break the plastic ring is to give the pin a twist, and then pull it out. The pin prevents the trigger that when pulled or pressed, releases the fire extinguishing agent from being released accidentally.

A: Aim! Aim the fire extinguisher at the BASE of the fire. Don’t aim it at the flames that might be reaching up to the cupboards – that will do nothing to extinguish the fire. If the base of the fire is in a frying pan, that is where you aim the extinguisher. At it’s base, where the fuel source is.

S: Squeeze! Squeeze the trigger of the fire extinguisher which will cause it to begin releasing the extinguishing or fire suppression agent.

S: Sweep: Sweep the extinguisher from side to side to better cover the entire area of the base of the fire.

It’s too bad that fire extinguishers can be expensive as it would be handy for people to be able to practice using one before they actually ever need to use one. Using a fire extinguisher is not difficult, and if you follow the instructions above, you’ll be using it properly. But often people panic, and in such cases, it’s easier to rely on something you’ve done several times instead of doing it the first time when you are unsure.

Do you know what the very first thing is that you should do when you discover a fire? Before or as you are reaching for the fire extinguisher?

Call For Help! Don’t take a chance with fire, even small ones. You may need help to fully extinguish it.  Call 9-1-1, and get the fire department out there.

If your children are old enough to hold a fire extinguisher, you might even want to demonstrate to them how to use it.

Now, go make sure all the fire extinguishers you own are fully charged.  It’s a good idea to take one along even on camping trips and have it handy.

So far, I have not had to deal with a huge amount of those nasty critters that like to suck the blood of humans in order to reproduce their species. Mosquitoes have not yet appeared in any great numbers even though I’m surrounded by cedar trees. Mosquitoes do seem to like cedar trees though. Perhaps it will get worse as the spring warms up.  However, it has been quite warm already and we’ve had plenty of rain – conditions that mosquitoes seem to thrive in. So I’m surprised I have not had to use any mosquito repellent yet.

There are a couple of interesting articles and threads recently discussing the best ways to deal with mosquitoes. Over at “Camping Forums,” there is a thread wherein a camper named “Kindlings” asks for advice regarding mosquitoes while camping with his wife and four year old daughter.  Over at “Camping Blogger,” Leslie Douglas has a guest post entitled “Protect Your Family Against Mosquitoes.”

The discussions and suggestions include products that use DEET, Avon’s Skin So Soft®, eating lots of garlic and the use of citronella. Douglas also recommends the Mosquito Magnet®, a product that gives off carbon dioxide which attracts bugs. The bugs and mosquitoes are then trapped in a device.The Mosquito Magnet® requires the use of propane however.

There are a couple of other alternatives that some suggest work well. One is “Neem Oil,” which is oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica). Neem is native to India, and has been used in that country for a variety of purposes including as a salve for skin conditions and as an insect repellent. If you can find Neem Oil, you might want to give it a try. I have used it a few times and although it didn’t repel mosquitoes such that they were not buzzing around my head and ears, it did seem to stop them from landing on my skin and taking their chunks and blood from me.

There is another interesting contraption which works on the theory that female mosquitoes are repelled by male mosquitoes at the time the females are looking for blood. It emits a sound the same frequency of a male mosquito and is supposed to therefore repel the blood eaters. It is solar powered and can be clipped on to clothing. This device is called the “Mosquito Annoyer” and is made by a company called “William Joseph.” Some say it works, others say it had no effect on the number of mosquito bites they received.  There is a review of the Mosquito Annoyer at this fly fishing site.

One of the delights about getting up in the morning when camping is smelling the coffee percolating and hearing the little “plop plop” noise as the water gently boils up through the tube and comes down through the coffee grounds.

I don’t think you can beat camp coffee! Not even Tim Horton’s or Starbucks comes close.

Although I generally make my coffee over a Coleman stove outside, a propane stove inside the trailer can be handy on wet rainy days. Or, if the fire is still hot enough and there are some hot coals, placing the percolator on those coals can get the coffee ready fairly quickly as well. However, if you do this, make sure you don’t have a plastic handled percolator like mine – it may melt when placed over a fire.

Although I have a plastic handled camp percolator, I really like it. I’ve had it for about 15 years, and I’ve never cleaned the inside of it other than to give it a good rinse. Some say that coffee tastes better when made in a percolator that is never cleaned. I’m not sure but I do know that the taste is not adversely affected if not cleaned other than a rinse.

It makes about 8 cups of coffee – enough for me to get going in the morning and get my shot(s) of caffeine. When C. is hear, it’s still plenty big enough for the both of us – although I wouldn’t mind a larger percolator just to have extra coffee for those “morning afters” when the campfire went to 5AM, and a few more drinks were consumed while staring at stars, cuddling, and enjoying the warmth of the fire.

I’ve just finished my first cup of coffee. I have to admit to liking mine “double double” as we say here in Canada. Double cream and two teaspoons of sugar. And it has to be real cream – not that powdered stuff that seems so prevalent in the USA. But in a pinch, I also enjoy camp coffee black – but still need the sugar!

I’m about to have my second cup of coffee, and it looks like it will turn into a pleasant day with a mix of cloud and sunshine. There is a breeze blowing and no humidity in the air. A beautiful day to be living in a camping trailer park!

Sometimes ‘Mother is the invention of necessity’ I think is a better wording of the old saying. Perhaps necessity is the mother of invention, but sometimes you don’t need to invent anything. You just go back to what you are used to, and what you know what will work regardless of the warnings. Of course there is a warning on Coleman lanterns to not use them indoors. And that means campers. And my girlfriend reminds me that it is “dangerous” to have the Coleman lantern running inside the trailer.

But I also know the risks, and the main risk is no or poor ventilation, while the second next risk is that the lantern will be knocked over and the flames will ignite something flammable inside the trailer.

Well, with the windows open in here, ventilation is not a problem. And I’ve got the lantern sitting sturdily on the stove. And I’m nowhere near it to knock it off. And I need light.

I haven’t figured out the lighting yet in this Glendale camper. None of the lights at the “front” of the camper (that being the side towards the hitch) work. At first, I thought all the bulbs were blown. I went into the local Home Hardware store to get new lights, and they told me I needed 12 V Type A bulbs. Excitedly, I brought them back, screwed them in, and awaited light when I turned on the switches.

There was no light.

I also tried the automotive type bulbs that go in the ceiling fixture. Slid the switch. No light. Then, I wasn’t so excited. I remembered I had seen a fuse box in the bedroom and went to check that.  There are also some breaker switches in there.  The breakers seemed fine. One of the plastic screw on thingies that holds one of the fuses is duct taped. If I wiggle that, the lights in the bathroom and bedroom go out. Wiggle again, they come back on.

So, I try to keep it wiggled just right so I have light in the bathroom and bedroom.

I took out the other fuses, and they appear to be fine.

So I’m not sure why there are no lights in the front of the camper. My electrician brother-in-law might be able to point me to the right place to start looking but I’m not sure when he’ll be able to take a look. In the meantime, I want some light.  It’s been raining all day, and everything is soaking wet outside. I’m staying dry inside until bed time.

So I’ve got my trusty Coleman 286 going. I’ve had the lantern for years. I am not sure how many – was it the first one I bought over 30 years ago, or did my ex-wife take that one and this is one I purchased later?  Whatever the case, I’ve had it a long time along with a case it sits in when not in use. It has a nasty habit of a large flame up that comes up above the top when I first light it up, but after a minute or so, it settles down and the mantle becomes brilliant white and gives me tons of light.

It’s been on a lot of camping trips, often been my guide back when I’ve gone for a walk during a dark night, and right now, is helping me to read and wr

I awoke after C. And thankfully, she had already brewed up a pot of King Cole tea! A nice hot steaming cup of tea was waiting for me after I threw on my track pants, rubbed my eyes, and pushed the cobwebs away from my brain. We didn’t get a whole lot of sleep – didn’t want to waste the day, but after a few cups of tea, we were almost raring to go. I put on breakfast (glad I have the well seasoned cast iron frying pan) of bacon and eggs, and even made toast over the Coleman stove. Nothing like eating breakfast outside! And along with it, percolated coffee. You could smell the bacon cooking a hundred yards away too.

After breakfast, C. surveyed the clutter I had in the trailer. Moving in has meant that I am still not sure where to put stuff, and having no clothes hangars, clothing was in a big pile at one end of the trailer. “Ok, we’re going into town later to get you some hangars,” C. stated. But first, I’m going to clean that bathroom, get rid of the old mat over here, clean under that, clean in the space where the fridge is going, and we’re going to get this place organized for you.

She went to work while I watched. For about five minutes. Then I decided I’d try to figure out why there was water leaking down from the faucet in the kitchen.  Turned out the the retaining nut or whatever it’s called was loose. With some tightening, no more water leaking. Then I decided I’d attack the Wedgewood range stove top I wrote about earlier – the filth of it disgusts me. Looks like cleaning that is going to take a lot of elbow grease and not something I can’t do all at once.

C. pointed out that because I don’t need to use the shower and tub in the trailer (there is a more comfortable shower over in the public washroom area of the park), I could use that area for storage of stuff that I’m not going to be using for awhile. That cleared up a lot of clutter, and after several hours of sweat inducing hard work, we took a break.

Then the rains came. And it’s rained, and rained and rained! Off to town we went, got clothes hangars, and now the place is looking much better!

When C. came up on the weekend, we made a list of things we should get for the camper trailer. I already have camping gear but not enough of some things for actually living in a place with that gear. Here’s the list we came up with:

Bucket – for cleaning.

Butter dish (some plastic ware with a lid will do)

Sugar container with a lid to keep out the beasties that might appear when I’m not there

Forks

Plates

Cordless Vacuum (although there is an electric hook up, a full size vacuum would just take up to much room)

Internet connection

Freezer bags

First Aid Kit

Fire Extinguisher

Ulster Flag

Cape Breton or Nova Scotia Flag

Flag Pole(s)

Mugs

Bar size Fridge (the original fridge that came with the camper is not in it)

Kitchen table/chairs

Propane Regulator (but now I know it’s just a hose I need)

Also on the list include things that I need for personal and business comfort, including my “lap desk” that makes using my laptop easier when sitting and there is no table in front of me), shorts, sandals, bathing suit.

I also would like to find a better and less costly supplier of firewood. A bag of firewood costs $7.00 at the gas station down the road and is easily burned in one evening.

After C. left this afternoon, I decided to take the new propane tank out of the Jeep and put up in front of the trailer. At the time, I decided to turn on one of the tanks that is hooked up, and when I did, I realized that the spewing propane was not coming from the regulator at all! There is a hole in the hose that goes from the tank to the regulator and it’s from here that the propane is leaking.

That means I just need to get a new hose.

When I discovered this, I turned on the other propane tank (the first one is turned off, of course), and there were no leaks.

With that wonderful discovery, I got myself busy at getting the stove and oven in the trailer working as well as the hot water heater.  Attached to the inside of one of the cabinet doors in the Glendale Camper is a sheet of paper with the specifications of the camper and original equipment. On it, it instructs to light all pilot lights after turning on the propane. So I busied myself looking for any pilot lights that needed to be lit.

First was the water heater. I went around back of the trailer and easily figured out how to turn on the pilot for the water heater. Pretty standard – turn the control knob to “Pilot,” hold down the red button, and stick in a lighter where the pilot light is. A blue flame!

Next was to figure out the stove and if it had a pilot light even. I turned one of the burners on, and there was no “clicking” sound like on other gas stoves I’ve had. I was able to light the burner with a match. Then, I lit all the burners, thinking that if the stove had a pilot, it would catch with all the burners lit. It was kind of dark near the stove, so seeing a pilot light flame somewhere should be easy, but I couldn’t see one nor could I see any place where a pilot light would be.

I turned off all the burners, waited a while to see if I could smell propane which would be evidence of an unlit pilot light. Nothing. Then I lit a long match and slowly went over the top of the stove and into every part near the burners, seeing if something would light. Nothing.

So I am sure there is no pilot light for the stove. Which is fine by me.

Next was the oven. I opened the oven door and smelled. No gas. But a gas oven usually does have a pilot light, even those that have stoves that do not have pilot lights. Once again, I lit a match and slowly hovered it in and around the gas burners trying to light something. Perhaps the oven was not working?

I don’t like playing around with gas and flames very much.  But I thought I’d try to see what happens when I turned the oven on to “low.” With the match lit, and kneeling in front of the stove as far away as physically possible, I turned the knob to low.  The oven burner did not light up. Using a flashlight, I could see what appeared to be a pilot light burner burner near the back. I put the match close to it, and voi la! I had it lit.

I then turned the oven on to full blast. The main oven burner lit up. I turned it down to low again. The main burner went out but the pilot light stayed on. I turned the oven off. The pilot light went out.

So it seems that in order to light the oven pilot light, I have to turn the oven on to low and then adjust the temperature control. I have no idea if the oven thermometer works or not but that will be tested another day.

After being very excited about figuring out the oven and stove, I turned on the hot water tap. I had warm water coming out! The hot water heater was definitely working, and an hour later, I had very hot water flowing from the tap!

I can now do dishes without having to boil water.