Big E's List Of Recommended Camping Stuff

Growing up my parents cooked everything using bacon grease.  One secret recipe for cooking Venison was to use bacon grease for flavoring.

Every morning the bacon was cooked first, then the eggs.  Hot bacon grease was flipped up on top of the eggs to finish them, rather than "overeasy" style.  

When I first got my cholesterol checked, it was kinda high, so I suggested my parents get theirs checked.  Mom's was 280; dad's was 375  

Was bacon grease the cause?  Maybe not.  They also used lard for cooking french fries, and lots of butter on their toast.  Ha   

Best shore lunches in Canada with walleye,were cooked in bacon grease.

Les1 posted:

When I first got my cholesterol checked, it was kinda high, so I suggested my parents get theirs checked.  Mom's was 280; dad's was 375  

Was bacon grease the cause?  Maybe not.  They also used lard for cooking french fries, and lots of butter on their toast.  Ha   

Wow. Those are big numbers. In the years before my heart attack in 2006, I was on cholesterol meds and keeping it close to 200-240, which was too high as it was. After my heart attack, I completely changed my diet and became a food nazi, eliminating everything that I thought had contributed to my cholesterol. Two months after my heart attack, my cholesterol as 91. We had to practically stop my cholesterol meds. I have since maintained it at about 130 with the LDL within the required levels for a post heart attack.

My cholesterol was 250+ for years. Had fried everything and lottsa marbled steaks and bacon. Then had an unscheduled triple bypass early 2014....I was outnumbered so my wife and the docs changed my diet big time and its been at 114ish since then until last month came back at 145...no clue why. Kent, or anybody, did you notice any difference (sore muscle kinda stuff) quitting the cholesterol meds? I'd like to get them off my recommended camping stuff list

Jan & Joel_T posted:

My cholesterol was 250+ for years. Had fried everything and lottsa marbled steaks and bacon. Then had an unscheduled triple bypass early 2014....I was outnumbered so my wife and the docs changed my diet big time and its been at 114ish since then until last month came back at 145...no clue why. Kent, or anybody, did you notice any difference (sore muscle kinda stuff) quitting the cholesterol meds? I'd like to get them off my recommended camping stuff list

I'm still on them currently. Combined diet and meds keep me down pretty low currently. Doc didn't want to count on me alone to control it. I accepted that for now.

Hmmm...We seem to be way off topic. 

Kent Smith posted:

Jan & Joel_T posted:

My cholesterol was 250+ for years. Had fried everything and lottsa marbled steaks and bacon. Then had an unscheduled triple bypass early 2014....I was outnumbered so my wife and the docs changed my diet big time and its been at 114ish since then until last month came back at 145...no clue why. Kent, or anybody, did you notice any difference (sore muscle kinda stuff) quitting the cholesterol meds? I'd like to get them off my recommended camping stuff list

I'm still on them currently. Combined diet and meds keep me down pretty low currently. Doc didn't want to count on me alone to control it. I accepted that for now.

Hmmm...We seem to be way off topic. 

Yep, let me help with that........like most folks, my cholesterol was over 200 so my doc prescribed the usual statin cure. Took my first pill at bedtime and awoke the next morning covered head to toe in hives..........a SERIOUS allergic reaction. Back to the drawing board the doc then started me on a Niacin regimen and augmented that with a script for Fenofibrate 145 mg, one a day. Since then my numbers have fallen below 100 and my good cholesterol has risen above 70. I eat lots of carbs and don't monitor my diet.

Watch, now that I've said all this I'll probably drop dead tomorrow. 

My doc put me on Niacin but I quit that and started taking Effitol.

Big E posted:

I thought I would make a list of stuff, products that have worked well for us.  Some of the items are fan favorites, tried and true and widely used and accepted across the LOA spectrum of members.  Others are little known, sleeper products if you will.  Some have been passionately debated and others, not so much.  Hope this list can be of use to somebody.

To start things off simple, toilet paper.  White Cloud Green Earth available at Wal Mart.  Broke down more quickly than every other TP I tested, even special RV TP.  And yes, I actually conducted tests.  Also, it passes the DW test........  It's made from recycled paper but it is not junk TP......

Next up is the Progressive Industries EMS PT-30-C surge protector.  Enough said....

Rolling in at #3, numerical position on the list has no significance by the way, the Air Bake non stick baking sheet.  This light weight non cracking gem is the cats meow.  Solved the uneven heat problem when baking biscuits, cookies etc.  To get the right size I had to order a 2 pack from Amazon which included a larger one.  The big one was a welcome addition to our house cooking implements......

Next, the Valterra Dominator sewer hose kit.  I know the Camco Rhino Flex is likely the most popular choice but I went with this one.  2 10' sections and a nice see thru elbow/dump station hole connector thighy.  Also, no tabs that need to be cut off to make it fit in storage space.......  Note, the pic shows a solid red elbow, all the ones I have seen have a clear elbow.  Note #2, the elbow probably wont fit in the storage tube etc......

Thetford Campa Chem toilet chemical/deodorizer.  The dreaded blue liquid.  This version of Thetford Aqua Kem is available at Wal Mart in a 6 pack for $7 and change.  When researching it I compared the MSDS for both products and they appear to be identical.  This product has worked extremely well for us.  We even found it to solve a problem in our grey tank following an unfortunate bacon grease incident......

The Camco Olympian 5500 Grill.  Made to hook directly to the propane quick connect.  I have had this grill for over 4 years and 2 different campers.  I pretty much like this grill better than my big back yard grill.  One big benefit is the "smoker plate" that goes between the grill and the burner.  Almost completely eliminates flare ups.  Mine isn't shiny and pretty any more like the one in the pic, but boy does she cook......

Tri-Lynx leveling blocks.  The orange legos.  I carry 2  10 packs along with the top caps.  Haven't cracked any yet......

Victron battery monitor.  Provides valuable data about battery usage.  Especially nice if you like dry or boondock camping......

TST TPMS.  Tire pressure monitoring system.  If I had installed this sooner it may very well have prevented the tire blow out that resulted in $4500 in damage to my truck.....

Indoor/outdoor are rug made from recycled water bottles.  6' x 9' which is perfect for behind our camper.  Usually available at Costco for about $20, sometimes on sale.  Ours has been in use for over 4 years. Sorry the pics is sideways, but you get the idea.......

Anyway, hope somebody finds this useful.  These certainly aren't the only choices, and maybe not even the best.  Just the ones that have worked for us.  

                      Enjoy.......

We have most of this stuff from previous camper. Don't forget, commercial  TP is a no go, and TP should be purchased at RV centers, appropriate for RV toilets.

Doug Allen posted:

Big E posted:

I thought I would make a list of stuff, products that have worked well for us.  Some of the items are fan favorites, tried and true and widely used and accepted across the LOA spectrum of members.  Others are little known, sleeper products if you will.  Some have been passionately debated and others, not so much.  Hope this list can be of use to somebody.

To start things off simple, toilet paper.  White Cloud Green Earth available at Wal Mart.  Broke down more quickly than every other TP I tested, even special RV TP.  And yes, I actually conducted tests.  Also, it passes the DW test........  It's made from recycled paper but it is not junk TP......

Next up is the Progressive Industries EMS PT-30-C surge protector.  Enough said....

Rolling in at #3, numerical position on the list has no significance by the way, the Air Bake non stick baking sheet.  This light weight non cracking gem is the cats meow.  Solved the uneven heat problem when baking biscuits, cookies etc.  To get the right size I had to order a 2 pack from Amazon which included a larger one.  The big one was a welcome addition to our house cooking implements......

Next, the Valterra Dominator sewer hose kit.  I know the Camco Rhino Flex is likely the most popular choice but I went with this one.  2 10' sections and a nice see thru elbow/dump station hole connector thighy.  Also, no tabs that need to be cut off to make it fit in storage space.......  Note, the pic shows a solid red elbow, all the ones I have seen have a clear elbow.  Note #2, the elbow probably wont fit in the storage tube etc......

Thetford Campa Chem toilet chemical/deodorizer.  The dreaded blue liquid.  This version of Thetford Aqua Kem is available at Wal Mart in a 6 pack for $7 and change.  When researching it I compared the MSDS for both products and they appear to be identical.  This product has worked extremely well for us.  We even found it to solve a problem in our grey tank following an unfortunate bacon grease incident......

The Camco Olympian 5500 Grill.  Made to hook directly to the propane quick connect.  I have had this grill for over 4 years and 2 different campers.  I pretty much like this grill better than my big back yard grill.  One big benefit is the "smoker plate" that goes between the grill and the burner.  Almost completely eliminates flare ups.  Mine isn't shiny and pretty any more like the one in the pic, but boy does she cook......

Tri-Lynx leveling blocks.  The orange legos.  I carry 2  10 packs along with the top caps.  Haven't cracked any yet......

Victron battery monitor.  Provides valuable data about battery usage.  Especially nice if you like dry or boondock camping......

TST TPMS.  Tire pressure monitoring system.  If I had installed this sooner it may very well have prevented the tire blow out that resulted in $4500 in damage to my truck.....

Indoor/outdoor are rug made from recycled water bottles.  6' x 9' which is perfect for behind our camper.  Usually available at Costco for about $20, sometimes on sale.  Ours has been in use for over 4 years. Sorry the pics is sideways, but you get the idea.......

Anyway, hope somebody finds this useful.  These certainly aren't the only choices, and maybe not even the best.  Just the ones that have worked for us.  

                      Enjoy.......

We have most of this stuff from previous camper. Don't forget, commercial  TP is a no go, and TP should be purchased at RV centers, appropriate for RV toilets.

Oh! Did not read enough about the TP, seems appropriate .

Great lists! Thanks for starting this Erick and Doug for bumping.

Good lists.  More spending ideas.  Thanks ya all!

https://community.lanceowners.org/top...-do-you-bring?page=1

Yoder's has some canned bacon (10 year shelf life!)

Yoders