This topic is a favorite on backpacking blogs. Although it is only August, I thought I’d be the first!
Actually my favorite backpacking gear hasn’t changed in years, so there is no use posting that (again).
Since I just finished all my Christmas shopping (yes, I don’t have to worry about it or stress out like most folks do), I thought it might be helpful to share the most popular items that PopUpBackpacker readers are buying – and there isn’t anything related to backpacking – because the majority of readers here buy stuff for their campers, so all the items on this list are camper related. I approve – too many backpackers are obsessed with gear and are in a constant loop of new gear purchases.
Camping stuff, on the other hand, are usually purchases that are made for the long haul. Readers might find some of the stuff interesting or even a great Christmas gift idea. Since Christmas is several months away, might as well start thinking about it before it creeps up on you and you freak out. And to be upfront, there are product links in this post that will earn me a small commission if you purchase something. Don’t buy any of this stuff if you don’t need it!
This website may be compensated for linking to other sites for sales of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the purchaser.
#1 Fresh Water Tank Fill Solutions
By far and away, these are the most popular purchases and very inexpensive. I guess my solution to my problem must be fairly common. It has been one of the best things I have come up with.
I started that post with this:
It’s a pretty common complaint among RV owners — it takes forever to fill my fresh water tank and the water keeps “backing up” while filling.
This was a big problem for us. We have two 50 gallon fresh water tanks and it would take an hour to fill them. The Owner’s Manual warned of this and states to fill the tanks slowly with the water bib turned to a low volume. This was completely unacceptable.
I finally devised a solution that cost very little money and will not take much time for anyone to adopt.
You can read the post here.
Some readers bought some other stuff, but these are the two parts you need:
Camco Water Bandit – Easily Connect Your RV Water Hose to Damaged or Stripped Faucet Threads or Faucets without Thread – Features a Highly Flexible Silicone-Polymer Sleeve (22484)
9% Off $8.75 $8.00 (as of October 16, 2024 09:12 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
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#2 Leveling and Chocking Solutions for Single Axle Light Trailers
In this post How to Level and Stabilize a Tent Trailer I reviewed the two devices we used on both our tent trailers a BAL Industries Light Trailer Leveler and a BAL Industries Single Axle Tire Locking Chock.
We bought our current double axle travel trailer in 2013, and these items won’t work on it. After 5 years of using other tools for leveling and stabilizing this trailer, I began to wonder if I would still use them if we were to go back to tent trailer — we don’t plan to do so, so the “wondering” was a rare thought.
Recently someone contacted me who was in the process of buying a tent trailer, and asked several questions about the trailer he was considering purchasing. His last question was whether or not the BAL Leveler and Single Wheel Chock were worth the money. I really gave considerable thought to this question and told him yes, I think they are worth the money and they are what I would still buy.
BAL 28050 Light Trailer Tire Leveler
$75.00 (as of October 14, 2024 19:57 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
ADNIK BAL 28020 Single Axle Tire Chock
7% Off $64.00 $59.38 (as of October 14, 2024 19:56 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Update: December 2019: My daughter and her husband own a single axle popup trailer. For Christmas I bought them BAL Light Trailer Leveler and the Single Axle Tire Chock.
#3 BAL Accuslide Cable Repair Kit
The BAL Accuslide cable operated RV slide is the most common slide system found on RVs. Most people don’t think about them until something goes wrong. If a cable breaks and you don’t have a spare cable and a couple of required tools not normally found in an RV owners repair or even at home, you could end up with an expensive repair bill or, more than likely, be unable to tow it home to repair it there.
Of course having something break is begs the question, “Is this a good product?” I am sure the factory didn’t adjust the cables properly when it was built. However, moving parts do wear out and break.
In this post, It’s Probably A Bad Day When Your RV Slide-out Breaks, I document how I was able to temporarily fix a broken cable and how to replace a broken cable. The good news is that the cables can be replaced without too much difficulty.
Best to buy this stuff before your cable fails in some remote place. We keep spare cable kits and the tools in our travel trailer.
ADNIK BAL 22305 Cable Repair Kit Accuslide
30% Off $43.28 $29.99 (as of October 16, 2024 09:11 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Lehigh Group ST18 18″ Steel Swaging Tool
$56.29 (as of October 17, 2024 08:50 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
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#4 Olympian Wave Catalytic Heaters and Accessories
I’ve been using these heaters since 1992 in our campers. They don’t need electricity and use 1/3 less propane than a RV furnace. When it is really cold and we have been out hiking or engaged other outdoor activities, upon our return to the camper we usually turn on our furnace to “knock-off the chill.” Once the camper is warm, we turn the furnace off and use our Wave heater.
I can’t recommend these enough. I started with a Wave 3 in our small ’92 Starcraft, which really wasn’t large enough, so I won’t recommend it. When we remodeled this camper, I mounted a Wave 6 into the cabinetry using an Olympian recess kit. It was perfect and sometimes the camper got much too warm on the high setting.
In 2005 we bought our Fleetwood Niagara tent trailer. We bought the trailer in the fall and bought a Wave 8 prior to our first trip, even though the camper came with a furnace. I really didn’t want to flush mount it, not finding a suitable place for it, so I opted to use a long LPG hose with quick connect fittings. This worked much better. We could move the heater near our dinette table when we were sitting there and at night we could move it closer to our bed.
In 2013 our Fleetwood Niagara was vandalize and totaled by our insurance company. These scumbags also stole everyone thing in side the camper. This is when we bought our current trailer. Like the last trailer, we bought it in the fall and our first trip was in the mountains where we expected lows in the high 30s F. Again, we bought another Wave 8, and we use the same method of moving the heater where we need it, using a long braided steel LPG hose with quick connectors.
If you research catalytic heaters on the Internet, you will find many RVers singing the praise of the Olympian Wave heaters. You will also find some people (who haven’t used an Olympian heater) waring of death and destruction. The truth is somewhere in the middle. If you follow all the instructions (gawd what a concept!) they are very safe. Here’s a long term review of the Wave 8.
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Camco Olympian Wave Heater Leg Stands – Converts Your Olympian Wave Heater into a Portable Style Heater , Fits All Olympian Wave Heaters: Wave 3, Wave 6, Wave 8 – 2 Pack (57701)
$22.29 (as of October 17, 2024 08:28 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
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#5 Camco T-Level
Incredibly inexpensive and they work.
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#6 Sherline LM 2000 Trailer Tongue weight Scale
If there is one thing RVers don’t do, or rarely do, is to weight their trailer and especially the tongue weight.
I wrote a three part series, How Much Trailer Can You Tow? that goes into great detail on the subject and presents just about anything you want to know about towing capacities.
The Sherline makes it easy to measure your trailer’s tongue weight. They come in several different capacities. There is even one for 5th wheel trailers.
Sherline LM 2000 – Trailer Tongue Weight Scale 2000lb
11% Off $173.49 $153.93 (as of October 17, 2024 08:10 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Sherline LM 1000 – Trailer Tongue Weight Scale – 1000LB
$153.93 (as of October 17, 2024 08:28 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Sherline LM-5000 – Trailer Tongue Weight Scale – 5000LB
$156.93 (as of October 17, 2024 08:06 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
#7 Fan-Tastic Vent Endless Breeze 12-volt Fan
I love this thing. We’ve been using the same on since 2003. That’s a lot of bouncing around inside the trailer over the course of all our trips. It’s held up wonderfully.
I installed a ceiling vent fan in our 2006 Niagara (also made by Fan-Tastic Vent. It’s a good product. But a ceiling vent fan just can’t compete with the Endless Breeze because this fan is portable and really can more the air.
Plus it doesn’t consume a lot of electrical power.
Low Fan Speed = 1.18 amps
Medium Fan Speed = 1.62 amps
High Fan Speed = 2.58 amps
Here’s an in-depth review I did a while back and probably contains more information than most people need. But you might find it helpful.