One of my favorite food smells is that of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven (Yum!!!). Fresh baked cookies and other baked items are one of the things I miss when I go camping since my camper doesn’t have an oven in it.
Coleman has solved that problem with its Instastart Camp Oven.
Things like fresh baked cookies, cakes, pies, and breads that are difficult to make with a traditional camp stove, grill or open fire are now possible with the Instastart oven.
It’s large enough to hold a 9″x13″ baking pan and runs on propane so there’s no worry if you don’t have electricity at your campsite. Plus there’s a viewing window so the progress of the items inside can be monitored.
The one negative thing people have said about the oven is that it can be tricky to regulate the temperature because although there is a thermometer on the top of the stove to let you know what the temperature is inside, it doesn’t have a thermostat. This means the user has to fiddle with the temperature knob until the correct temperature is reached which takes a few minutes. But, once the oven gets to the desired temperature it maintains it pretty well.
The price is pretty reasonable too. At the time I’m writing this it’s available on the Coleman website for a little under $100 and available at Amazon for $72.99 with free super saver shipping . That’s a less than I paid for my Weber portable grill earlier this year.
Coachlift offers RV person lifts to help people with limited mobility get in and out of their RV’s. I think it’s a great product. 
My Mom has suffered from diminishing mobility the last several years which has made it difficult for her to go places. Until I saw her unable to walk up steps I didn’t realize how difficult getting around can be for people with mobility problems. Even one short step can be a big issue for someone with knee or hip problems. Last year my Mom couldn’t go to a family wedding reception because the restaurant didn’t have handicap access and there was no way she could get up the 5 steps into the restaurant, even with help. And, if it wasn’t for the chair lift we had installed at her house last year, she wouldn’t be able to continue living there. So I was really happy when I saw these RV lifts while browsing through a camping magazine today.
RV lifts allow couples to enjoy the RV lifestyle even if one, or both, of them has problems navigating steps. My back, hips, and knees are all in good shape and I think the steps in and out of RV’s are pretty treacherous at times.
One great thing about the RV lift I have pictured here is that widening the door of the RV isn’t required. According to the company’s web site, “It [the lift] is installed on the exterior of the RV next to the entrance door. The user sits on the lift chair, pushes the hand-held control button, rises gently on the vertical lift tube, and swings the chair through the door opening into the interior of the RV. The double-hinged design of the swing arm allows the durable aluminum chair to turn to any angle for easy loading.
The lift is used the RV’s accessorty battery for its power. When it’s time to hit the road, the chair and swing arm of the lift are easily removed for stowing inside the RV.
For more information, check out CoachLift’s website.
The last thing anyone wants to do when they go camping is accidentally start a forest fire no matter how small it may end up being.
Most campgrounds allow campers to build campfires in designated campfire pits or rings unless extremely dry weather conditions may any sort of fire - no matter how well contained - just too dangerous.
To me a campfire is one of the best parts about camping, especially on cool evenings. I love the sound of the crackling wood, the sight of the flames dancing around in the fire ring, and the smell of food being cooked over a fire - especially if it’s a marshmallow (Yum!)
But safety is of upmost importance when dealing with a campfire or any other type of fire.
One thing I see fairly often is people walking away from their campsites, leaving their fire unattended. Yes, I understand that it’s often for just a few minutes while they run to the bathroom but a few minutes is all it takes for a fire to get out of control and burn a whole lot more than that evening’s meal. And, all too often, people pack up and leave their campsite to go home while their campfire is still smoking and hot.
It is really important to put a campfire out completely before leaving a campsite. How is that done? According to the ’s especially important to put out a campfire properly whether it’s at the end of the day or at the end of a camping trip. According to the Southwest Washington Fire Prevention Council:
Drown the fire with water. Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Move rocks—there may be burning embers underneath.
Stir the remains, add more water, and stir again. Be sure all burned material has been extinguished and cooled. If you do not have water, use moist dirt. Mix enough soil or sand with the embers to smother them. Continue adding and stirring until all material is cooled. Be careful not to bury burning material!
Feel all materials with your bare hand. Make sure that no roots are burning. Do not bury your coals—they can smolder and break out.
They also have a handy 2 page downloadable Camping Planner that includes the information on how to put out a campfire along with how to build one also has a helpful checklist to help make sure no neccessities are left at home.
