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Could you use a few new Holiday Gift Ideas?
It's that time of year. Time to fight the crowds and find the sales. Of course, you and I both know that was the old way. If you're like most people today, you will do much of your shopping online. In other words, you may just spend too much time browsing Amazon!
So here are a few new holiday gift ideas for you. These are three items I really love that you may have not thought about. Fay likes the first and second items too. (But in all honesty, she doesn't understand my why I like the third one so much)!
Single Burner Camp Stove
The first of my holiday gift ideas is one of my all time favorite products to use when we are out camping. This is a single burner propane stove. Not only does it get really hot, it also doesn't take up much room to store. Things heat up much quicker than with our main camp stove. In addition, it's quick and easy to setup. You simply twist it on the top of a propane bottle. To use it, you turn the nob, light it, and you're ready to cook.
I start each day with our single burner stove. Along with the coffee maker that follows, it's what gets me going each morning. Besides using it to make my coffee, it's also handy as an extra burner when cooking a meal.
Stove Top Coffee Percolator
I just love to percolate coffee first thing in the morning when we are camping. I think it's because there's just something about smelling the aroma in the air while it brews. In addition, I really like watching the bubbles in the glass bulb on top. When they start coming up brown, I know it's about ready. This stove top coffee percolator looks just like an old-fashioned one. In other words, it reminds of the one my mom had when I was little. Watching it while out camping takes me back to simpler times. To use it, I simply put water in the bottom, coffee in the basket that sits above the water, close the top, and set it on the single burner stove above.
Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer
When you pull a travel trailer, you need to keep an eye on your wheel bearing temperatures. If you don't, you could be in for trouble. A hot one is a sign there's a problem and it's close to failing. (See more details in the Towing section of my free Beginner's Guide to Small Travel Trailers.)
While this is a rare problem if you service your bearings regularly, it's not something to ignore. Unfortunately, it can leave you stranded if it happens.
The most common way to check the bearings is to put your hand on each wheel hub to see if it's real hot. While this works fine, it will get your hand dirty. Not to mention that you may also burn you hand if you have a problem!
This digital laser thermometer is a much better solution. Simply aim the laser gun at your wheel hub and pull the trigger. The red laser beam will show up wherever you aim it. The digital readout gives you an immediate indication of the temperature. Best of all, you will have no dirty hands. I use ours at every stop to make sure we don't have any problems.
As a bonus, this is also just a cool gadget. I find all kinds of things to point it at...just because I can!
Denny Johnson
My wife Fay and I live in Knoxville, TN, and we love traveling with our Casita. I created tinyTowable.com to share things we've learned along the way and hopefully help others. Be sure to check out all the information, the campground reviews, and especially the free Small Travel Trailers Beginner's Guide . If you like what you find, please subscribe to my Emails so you don't miss any future articles.
9 thoughts on “Three Camping Related Holiday Gift Ideas We Love!”
Great ideas and article. Thank you Denny!
Might be a silly question but how hot is too hot for a temperature using the Digital Laser Thermometer?
The hub temperature is going to vary, depending upon outside temperature, whether the sun is beating on the hub, speed, and the particular trailer. The thermometer helps a lot because it helps you monitor the temperature and get a feel for what’s normal. Should it start to take off at any point, you should be able to easily recognize it.
In our case, we travel in the summer and ours rare gets much over 100 degrees. I know that if I see it 130 sometime, I’ll get concerned and try to stop to figure out what’s wrong before it’s too late.
Glad you’re back!
Thanks so much Carol. I’m still quite busy working on our “new to us” old home, but certainly hope to start putting time into tinyTowable again!
Welcome to the area. We are in the Cumberland Gap area. When you get settled try Cumberland Gap National Historical park campground. It is in the VA part of the park. Loop C (electric) and loop D are open this winter. We camp there and drive through to see if any Casitas are there quite often.
Thanks for the welcome and the recommendation Pam!
– Denny
I wonder if the infrared thermometer can be used for checking doneness on the grill?!
Interesting idea, but I’m not sure it would be that helpful since it could only check the surface temperature. I think something that can probe into meat is better.