Awhile back I installed a slider for our little butane stove (we use it on short camps and when it's just the two of us) and started the pull out for our ice chest which Crybaby failed to install. I had to stop the project because another more pressing project came up as has been our lot since we received our hot mess. Well this week I was back at it and though I haven't stained or trimmed them it's great to have the sliders so that we don't have to lug the ice chest in and out. I used 1/2 inch plywood for the base which I glued and nailed a birch face and sides to it before leveling and installing the glides to it. My husband smiled and rolled his eyes when I nailed the two 1/8 inch sides together without a nail even hinting of popping through the sides. He commented, "So that's how you use one of those, that's a huge difference between your work and Crybaby's." I laughed and thanked him and reminded him a nail/staple gun can be a great tool if used correctly.
Stove sliding drawer makes throwing a pot of coffee on so easy.
Our ice chest fits great into the slider.
I put insulation around the walls where the ice chest goes to help keep it cooler.
I'm going to make some curtains I think to cover the ice chest when not in use.
I found a cool gadget for the cooler and installed it after I was finished with the drawers. This is a waterproof cooler light and it has an auto setting so when you open it the light comes on.
The axle sparked my husband to start prepping the car for camping too. Last year we went on 11 camps with the trailer in various stages of disrepair and rebuild. Our plan has always been to try and get out once a month with it and we were very close considering everything we've had to rebuild. We laughed while we remembered each on including our first camp with the Teardrop group when we only had outer walls and wiring hanging everywhere. Each camp brings us closer to each other and closer to completing our rebuild. The trailer should pull like a dream with the new axle, balanced tires, and the tune up Dory received.
New tires and brakes and we are ready to kick off camping season.
I completed one more side project in anticipation of our next camp, our solar oven! I can't wait for it to completely cure and we can take it out on a camp. I highly recommend building one, you can make it as large or small as you wish. Our solar oven is 15"x17" and is about 16" deep. I purchased an oven stone and built the oven around it using 1/4 inch plywood then glued and nailed it together. I painted the whole thing black then I went back and painted the inside with a silver reflective paint. I had purchased some reflective solar film which I glued with waterproof cement to the sides inside the box to conduct the sun rays into heat. I splurged and purchased a solar oven thermometer so I could see the temperature for cooking. Then to close it off I cut plexiglass to fit the top.
We used a pizza box and tinfoil last summer so the girls could cook a pizza at camp and we all had a great time with it. When we do our next camp we are going to shoot the moon and bake cookies and muffins in the box. I'll share photos and recipes when we do.
Silver reflective paint helps to conduct the sun rays for cooking.
The solar film on the sides generates more energy for cooking.
The cooking stone holds and spreads the heat more evenly for better cooking.
This is a set it and go have fun type of cooking with the sun doing the work.
I have so many new things to review for camping I can hardly wait to get out in the woods. I love finding things that making camping easier or fun. We are trying to go all solar so we can increase the areas we can camp at, from our solar battery charger to the new solar lanterns we want to be able to just go and not worry about hook ups.
Our next project hopefully another won't bump it again will be the nose cabinet. I've been dying to get our linens stored properly. Until next time stay safe and happy camping!
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