The one thing that bothers pretty much everyone who has ever gone camping is the lack of toilet facilities at the site. To put that into perspective, the second biggest reason that people don’t camp as much as they would want to is fear of bear attacks.

The biggest disappointment that campers feel when they reach a camp site is the lack of a facility with hygiene standard that is at least at par with what they are used to at home. Situations like these are far from the ideal experience of the wilderness and can result in some extremely unhappy campers.

Many a portable toilet is quite bulky (that is the the reason most of them are mounted to a trailer) and can be cumbersome to move around once you set their place. while that might seem ironic for something that has ‘portable‘ in its name, its not such a bad idea. You don’t want anyone to wonder where the toilet went at the wrong moment.

While many customers prefer to rent portable toilets, buying them makes sense if you want to use them for longer than a couple of weeks. It just works out cheaper that way! And what do you do when you no longer need the porta-toilet for the construction crew that was in building your garage? You sell it!

Usually the store or the dealer that sold it to you would consider buying it back. You could also help your wallet if you would consider buying the toilets second hand from the get go.

If you need portable toilets for sale or rent, visit my website at www.toiletsforsale.org for up to date information and reviews. I am currently reviewing american standard toilets as part of my home toilet deal reviews. Well worth a look.

Face it. College dorm rooms are small and simple. You need to devise a place for everything and everything should be in its place. How to reach this storage nirvana? First and foremost use your noggin.

Know your dorm room

If you have visited your college, you have probably seen your dorm room or at least something comparable. If not, check online and see if your college has some images of dorm rooms on their website.

Tip: In addition to photos of dorm rooms, look for floor plans of the various dorms and for listings of room dimensions, furnishings, and floor amenities [such as laundry and kitchen-type facilities].

In other words, really snoop the place out. Once you have a visual image and some working dimensions, it is much easier to determine what to pack and more precisely where all your stuff will be stored.

Create your zones

It only takes a few steps and if you have a roommate, be sure to talk about these points with them.

Establish zones for the functions of your room and develop the storage for that zone’s function.

Study Zone

• Use small portable plastic baskets [for inside desk drawers] to hold small items
• Sturdy, portable, closing paper file folders hold papers
• Canvas totes, old suitcases-stacked, baskets with lids, and small bookshelves can store all study essentials

Sleeping Zone

• Get risers for your bed
• Purchase low, plastic covered storage containers, of various sizes, which can possibly stack and slide under your bed

Eating Zone

• Stackable storage containers with lids can be purchased in plastic or Pyrex and used to store food and snacks
• Plastic portable containers with lids work well to store dirty dishes-prior to you hauling them to the kitchen for washing

Entertaining Zone

• Think portable storage: plastic storage drawers on wheels will hold dishes, food, and kitchen utensils
• Plastic storage cubes can be handy for stacking, storing, even double as extra seating, hold speakers or act as a small table

Storage Zones: closet or wardrobe, for clothes and other essentials.

• Get some hanging storage for shoes, purses, and other small lighter weight items
• Buy all the same-sized hangers, so they fit uniformly in your closet
• Shelf dividers, which clamp onto the closet shelf, will hold and separate clothes and keep everything from getting all jumbled together
• Hanging closet shelf organizers help hold everything and come in different widths and sizes
• Over-the-door hooks make great storage for coats, towels, and you name it

?

After you figure out how to store your college essentials, keep the dorm clutter to a dull roar by following these tips.

Conquer Clutter

• As you prepare and pack, to move into your dorm room, remember NOT to bring too much stuff. Study all the stuff you are packing and visualize where it will be stored-once it hits your dorm room
• Always maintain how much stuff comes in the room. Label your stuff, your roommate’s stuff, and know which stuff is communal. Ok, you do not have to go so far as to be sewing labels in your underwear, however, knowing up-front whose stuff is whose, will alleviate future hassles
• Keep the room clear of clutter. Talk to your roommate[s] about what level of cleanliness they are comfortable with and express your feelings to them
• Establish a routine for organizing the room and stick with it-nuff said. Just 10 minutes everyday de-cluttering, will go along way in keeping order in the dorm
• Discuss ideas, with your roommate[s], so you both/all know each others’ expectations

Still need storage?

In just about every city you should be able to find off campus storage units for rent. Before you spend that extra dough, think if you really need all that stuff.

Showing responsibility for your room, your stuff, and keeping it all stored and organized will go a long way in helping you create more time and less frustration in your college life.

Instantly download your FREE College Life Tips To-Do List? at College Life Tips to help you prepare and pack for college. It is a college essential.

Mary Wiseman has a passion to assist her clients in establishing organizing systems, so they remain focused on their life desires. She possesses a charming array of fresh ideas, uses tried and true steps to simplify those sometimes overwhelming goals and an unlimited supply of contagious enthusiasm.

Business URL: http://www.collegelifetips.com

Some bathrooms are designed differently, and require different types of fixtures and parts to make them look like they were designed to look. Some shower stalls are taller than others, and if you have a home where someone made the bathroom custom style and installed an extra long shower in the bathroom, you are probably going to have to find a long shower curtain that you can use to fit it properly.Without having the right length of shower curtain, you are probably not going to be happy with the way that it looks, and you are probably not going to like if water drips out the bottom, where the curtain is too short.

You may have a difficult time trying to find an extra large bath curtain if you are looking in stores that sell bathroom supplies, but if you look online you may be able to find a better selection of shower curtains that are available in extra long lengths. If you have looked all over and are still not able to find one that is going to work, you may need to have it custom made. This could be expensive, but if you are crafty and want to try to do it yourself, you can find the materials and fabrics that you need.

Another option for finding a long tub curtain include taking two regular length shower curtains, and cutting them to create a new seam and then sew them together to create the length that you need. This can be a fun way to have a unique bathroom curtain, and you can either use two of the same kind of curtains, or you can take a couple of different ones to make your own pattern. There are also regular curtains that you can find to fit long windows that you may be able to modify and use for your curtain.

If you find a curtain that you think will work to use as an extra large bathroom curtain, you can cut in slits across the top of the curtain, and then sew the edges of them so that you have nice open slits that will fit nicely over the hooks that you hang the shower curtain on. If you need a long curtain, and are unable to find one anywhere, that could be a good option to work with. If you shop around for what you need, you can find or create something that will work for making this type of curtain. You can find some great ideas online for creating one for your bathroom.

James Sherman is an Internet marketer that loves researching new products. He is also the current webmaster of several blogs, including Extra Long Shower Curtain and Kids Shower Curtains.

The drinking water filter mod is one of those things that should come straight from the factory for all RVs. The way RV holding tanks and plumbing systems are designed and utilized tends to promote bacterial growth if not sanitized on a regular basis. And more importantly, it’s not all that uncommon to get a bad batch of water from a seemingly safe water source. In addition to sanitizing your RVs plumbing system frequently, filtering the water before it get’s in to your system goes a long way in preventing bad water taste and potentially harmful parasites and bacteria from having their way with your system. The last thing you need when camping is to be enjoying your toilet more than the outdoors.

Using Your Water for Drinking and Cooking

Although there are several approaches to providing clean water for your RVing needs, this mod focuses on drinking and cooking water filtration. Of course, filtering your entire RV water supply system is an option but it is not always necessary. Most water sources are chlorinated and have enough protection to minimize bacterial growth. It just might not taste very good. Again, sanitizing often and not letting your water pipes, water heater, and fresh water tank sit without use will stave off 99% of bacterial growth. Assuming you have decent water to start with, the drinking water filter will provide great taste and protection in a simple to use manner.

Drinking Water Filter Types – Portable and Under-Counter Mount

The simplest approach to modding your RV with a drinking water filter is the countertop style filter. This system uses a standard, replaceable 10-inch filter cartridge and houses it in a plastic canister that sits on your counter. The water is fed to the unit through a tube hooked up to your sink faucet, and includes a spigot to serve the filtered water. This has the advantage of being portable. You can take the filter system with you for use in another RV, or even your home for that matter. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get great tasting water, then your mod work here is done.

The most arguably popular drinking water filter mod though is the permanent-mount under-sink type, where the filter cartridge is mounted under the sink and the dispenser is mounted to the countertop or sink. The water supply to the dispenser is connected via a tee fitting placed in the cold water supply pipe used by the sink faucet. This makes using the dispenser easier and requires less counter space. And the filter housing is placed in an out of the way location under the sink, in a cabinet, or other convenient spot.

Tools Needed for Permanent Installation

Doing this mod is pretty straightforward, but requires a few tools you might not have handy in your mod tool set. These are a PEX or plastic tubing cutter, and a hole saw. Using a tubing cutter will help ensure there are no burrs on the tubing after cutting, which reduces the chance of a leak at the fittings where the tubing slides in. The hole saw is necessary since the dispenser is secured by a threaded shaft on the bottom of the dispenser, which must go through the sink or countertop, and is secured underneath the sink or countertop using a large washer and nut. Some dispensers only require a 1/2″ hole for the threaded shaft so you might not need a hole saw. A 1/2″drill bit will work. Others may need a larger mounting hole so a hole saw is a must.

Beginning the Installation

Once you have the right tools for the job, installation is easy. Start by locating where you want to mount the dispenser. If you plan to mount the dispenser through the countertop, place some masking tape over the area you will be drilling through to help prevent splintering. If you plan to mount the dispenser through a metal sink shoulder, drill slowly if using a hole saw to prevent overheating the bit. After drilling the dispenser mounting hole, place the dispenser mounting shaft through the hole and secure with the supplied hardware.

Finding a Water Source to Tap In To

The next step is to locate a suitable place for the tee fitting in the cold water line going to the sink faucet. The tee fitting taps in to the line and provides the water supply connection for the dispenser. You can tap in to any cold water line but under the sink is the most convenient. Here is where you use your handy dandy PEX tubing cutter. Before cutting, be sure your water pump it switched off and all pressure in the line is relieved. Otherwise you’re in for a real mess. Now carefully cut a 1″ section out of the cold water line, which will require two cuts. If you have enough room to move the lines away from each other 1″, then you may not have to do the second cut.

Installing the Tee Fitting

Water filter kits usually come with all the fittings necessary for a typical installation. This mod uses a plastic tee fitting which slips in between the cut tubing and a brass shutoff valve that serves both to provide the water supply to the dispenser and to turn off the supply if you need to change the filter or winterize. Thread the brass fitting in to the tee fitting using plumbers tape around the threads to prevent leakage.

Fitting the Brass Water Supply Shutoff Valve

Next, the water supply tubing needs to be attached to the brass shutoff valve. Don’t worry about the length of the tubing at this point. The idea here is to secure the tubing to the fitting first since doing this requires a couple of end wrenches to secure. You might not have much room to use the wrenches in a tight compartment. The brass fitting is a compression type fitting so you need to slide the compression nut on first, then the small compression ferrel. Insert the tubing in to the fitting and tighten the compression nut fairly tight but not too tight.

Now secure the plastic tee fitting to the cold water line by sliding the round plastic threaded nuts on to each side of the cut tubing, then insert the tee fitting. Secure the nuts to the fitting taking care to not over tighten. You can use pliers to do this but make sure you hold the fitting body securely so you don’t damage the water line.

Mounting the Water Filter Cartridge

The next step is to mount the water filter. Find a suitable location near the the tee fitting you just installed. The mod shown in the pictures uses a simple plastic bracket that the filter snaps in to. Secure the bracket and snap the filter in to place. Now you can measure how much tubing you need to go from the dispenser to the filter, and from the filter to the shutoff valve. Measure the distance for each and then add 6″. This extra tubing will help with any bends required when routing the tubing. Cut the tubing with the tubing cutter to the appropriate length.

Attaching the tubing is incredibly simple with the type of filter and dispenser used in this mod. All you have to do is insert the tubing in to the ends of the filter and in to the bottom of the dispenser. No compression fittings or special tools are required. The tubing may appear to be loose in the filter and dispenser but try pulling the tubing out. You can’t. The fittings hold the tubing in place and water pressure actually prevents the connections from leaking. Just be sure to connect the lines correctly, observing the filter input and output arrows.

Do a Final Leak Check

All that is left is to do now is turn on the water pump and check for leaks. Tighten fittings if necessary but don’t overtighten. Let the dispenser run for a minute or two to eliminate charcoal sediment in the new filter. Now enjoy a great tasting glass of water!

Tips

1. Whatever brand filter you choose to buy, be sure it has been certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, or NSF. The NSF tests water filters to make sure that the manufacturer labels are telling the truth about performance. Avoid “generic” filters that have little or no information on the filter housing or packaging. Also avoid buying solely on price. Cheaper doesn’t always mean good. Remember the Yugo?

2. Although the drinking water filter in this mod is suitable for drinking and cooking needs, it does nothing for the rest of the water in the system. If you are not one to sanitize your plumbing system often, you should probably use a whole house filter to minimize bacterial growth and ensure safe water for other uses. See the resources below for filters designed for applications like this.

Copyright 2009 by Mark Corgan, owner and operator of ModMyRV.com

Visit us at http://www.modmyrv.com, the only site that’s just about making mods to your RV.

Liquid soap dispensers that come in stylish designs and features are a great way to keep the bathroom settings in your home and office more appealing, and to maintain a hygienic lifestyle. You can buy the liquid soap of your choice in bulk, and thereby save money and reduce the use of plastic bottles.

Apart from bathrooms and kitchens, special hand soap dispensers are used in most of the portable hand washing stations in public areas, as these are found to be the best means to prevent infections.

Regulated Dispensing System to Reduce Wastage of Soap

Wastage of soap can be reduced to a great extent by the use of liquid dispensers. Advanced features integrated into these products trigger the liquid soaps in a very efficient manner. Just a single press on the large push button is enough to dispense a generous drop of liquid. This regulated dispensing system helps in minimizing soap wastage.

Soap Dispensers in a Variety of Models and Attractive Features

At present, liquid soap dispensers are available in different forms, types and patterns catering to the varying tastes of the users. Both wall mounted and counter top models can be found in the market today. By using wall mounted models, you can save your counter space, eliminate the use of bar soaps and bring a pleasing look to the place.

You can use cartridges so as to refill the liquid soap dispensers when these run out of liquid soaps, and maintain them full all the time. This helps you to save your valuable time and money to certain extent. If you already have a liquid soap gallon with you, you can conveniently fill-in the dispenser than go for a new purchase. They can be bought along with the liquid dispenser purchase you make from the dealer.

Find the Right Dealer Who Can Cater to Your Demands

If you want to buy suitable liquid soap dispensers, reliable retailers or dealers can help you with the right product that matches your need. Compare prices and services offered by different dealers and find the right dealer who can cater to your demands.

Rydoexpress is a leading provider of janitorial supplies and cleaning products including Liquid Soap Dispensers. RydoExpress stock the best liquid soap dispensers on the market from all popular brands.

North Dakota is all about wide open spaces under the blue sky. You will want to explore the state in a slow, casual manner, so here are some motorhome lodgings in North Dakota where you can stay.

North Dakota is the northernmost state in the Great Plains region, and the northern sister to South Dakota. Known in the late part of the 19th century as part of the “Wild West”, North Dakota is still in a state of wilderness today. The third least populous state in the United States, North Dakota offers a lot to adventure seekers who enjoy hiking and exploring northern wilderness areas – like White Butte, the highest spot in the state, and areas of the Badlands and the Great Plains. motorhome lodgings in North Dakota offer outdoor enthusiasts a great way to see this untamed state.

North Dakota is one of the states that is known for being part of the western expansion. Lewis and Clark explored this territory, and General Custer’s “Last Stand” took place here. During the time of Rough Riders and cavalry, Theodore Roosevelt led expeditions through the state. Today, many people visit North Dakota in order to follow the historic trails left by these individuals, as well as to see the beautiful plains of the state. Many families come here to follow the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which runs along the Missouri River as well as through the plains and buttes. There are 27 place markers and trail guides that were placed by the state in order to help you follow this journey.

Located near one of the Lewis and Clark Expedition stops (along the river, where you can take Lewis and Clark jetboat excursions), is New Town, North Dakota. This city is also home to other attractions – namely, the 4 Bears Casino and Lodge. This Native American casino is also home to an motorhome park, so it makes a perfect place to stay for families who want to enjoy not only the historic aspects of North Dakota, but also the casinos. Located on the shores of Lake Sakakawea, this casino, lodge and motorhome park offers many amenities to those who choose to stay here.

There are just a few motorhome lodgings in North Dakota, so the 4 Bears Casino is definitely worth traveling to. With 85 full hookups (including water, electric and sewer) this park offers families a good central location to explore the Lewis and Clark region of the state. There are full restroom and shower facilities on site, as well as many different picnic shelters for use of the park’s guests. The motorhome park overlooks a beautiful lake, and a full buffet restaurant is available in the casino for meals.

Choosing to visit this part of the country can be a welcome break from the busy regions of the United States. Here, you can really enjoy all the wilderness that the US still has to offer, along with experiencing the historic routes of our forefathers. motorhome lodgings in North Dakota are perfect for making your trip special.

Find more information about RV campgrounds

Cheap living is something we may not have thought much about before last year. Then the stock market went south and people are thinking “Now I can’t ever retire”. When you are dealt lemons why not make lemonade? Cheap living does not mean living cheap it can mean a lot of fun. How?

Consider fulltime Rving as a way of life. Lots of people do it or haven’t you been caught behind a RV on a 2 lane curving road. Yep that’s us in the RV, not in any particular hurry, enjoying the scenery. RVing is also a great way of living cheaply.

List the money you spend on your home mortgage, home insurance, utilities, property taxes, painting, termite service, etc . Compare with monthly rent of around $500 per month for an RV space. Add your RV insurance, a maintenance fund and compare the 2 columns.

Are you shocked? I ran the numbers when we first got an RV and figured I could RV for about 35% of what I spent operating a house. Now of course I did miss mowing the lawn, cleaning the screens, gardening, and doing house chores…get the picture.

Replace the restrictions, let alone the expense and life on the road seems like a winner to me. It is a way of life that has many rewards.

The obvious are choosing the climate you experience, being closer to family, or being further from family. Whatever it is your choice.

Before the RV, when we were working we vacationed by plane. Go to the airport, get the bags (I assume they made it), get the rent a car and off you go. You may pack and unpack a couple of times, but what the hay you are on vacation.

Compare that, which we did for 20 years, to RV life. One you pick when you go through big towns to avoid traffic, you never have to unpack, and your “home” goes with you everywhere.

A big bonus in RV life is the scenery you see on the road. You miss a lot when you fly.

We used to fly from Phoenix to Denver and drive to Steamboat Springs. Flying takes about 12 hours of hassle and frustration. When you drive to Steamboat Springs from Phoenix you go through Monument Valley, there is no traffic, great scenery…oh yeah it takes 12 hours. Do I have to mention the difference in cost?

Here is a great example of how cheap living can be a positive instead of worrying about your next brokerage statement. RV life costs less, offers tremendous flexibility, and is a lot of fun. Enjoy.

Gary Pierce is the webmaster of http://www.frugal-retirement-living.com he retired early at 49, still retired at 63. He has experience in lifestyles that are both fulfilling and frugal. It is 2009 and many are wondering if they can ever retire. Don’t give up until you check out this website. Enjoy.

Recreational vehicles are investments in the good times that you spend with family and friends. You want RV parking and RV storage where you know that your investment is safe, secure and fully accessible when you’re ready to go. You have a lot invested in your RV. Don’t let the weather, vandals, or pests ruin your fun. Are you concerned about neighborhood covenants that are keeping you parking that recreational vehicle at home? Do you have city ordinances that won’t allow parking your RV on the street or in your driveway? No need to fight the neighborhood and you’ll really appreciate having your driveway back. There are so many great RV storage facilities available that it is easy to find one that’s just right for your needs.

When choosing a place to store your RV make sure that your Motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel or other towable is stored in a professionally managed RV storage facility. You need to also address cost, monthly or annual contracts, access hours to get into your RV, whether the site provides insurance of any kind while on their lot, taxes, security, and access to a manager or onsite person when needed. If you aren’t sure how long you might want to store that RV, you may want to look for one that offers month to month payment terms. By going month to month, you only pay for the storage you need when you need it.

Some RV storage lots provide “winterization”, battery charging, cleaning, period courtesy checks, etc. You need to consider issues like weather protection, insurance, and accessibility. If you are storing your RV in a cold climate for the winter you will find winterize your RV helpful as well. Many RV Storage locations facilities are usually fully equipped with a dump station and water station making RV storage and trailer parking between trips easy and worry-free.

Other things to consider when evaluating storage locations are whether the storage is indoors or out. Are the driveways and doors wide enough for your motor home? Do they have dump stations? Is there water and electrical available? Do they offer any additional services for your RV such as oil changes and washes? All of these will have an effect on the price so be sure to take them into consideration.

Inside RV storage verses outside – When considering this factor, outside storage is typically cheaper; otherwise if you can afford it store the RV inside, especially if you can do it in a controlled temperature environment. Inside facilities should provide air-conditioning in the hot climates and heat for colder climates. When storing your RV inside usually eliminates the need for an expensive RV cover, tire covers, winterizing which takes a lot of time and planning although RV cover can be great when considering dust and dirt over a few months time., keeps animals and most bugs out, prevents all weather related damage like high winds, sun, and hail and rain, aging. They also tend to be more secure than outside RV storage places.

Dan Mercurio writes for RV Storage Facilities. Let him show you how efficiently and affordably he can administer a quality search engine marketing campaign for you as we have for Wisconsin RV Storage.

Carbon Monoxide Gas is invisible, odorless, and deadly! Carbon Monoxide is produced when any fuel is burned; this includes gasoline, propane, natural gas, wood, & coal. It is extremely serious when combustion by-products are not vented outside. Carbon Monoxide is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the United States each year. Let’s look at what we can do to prevent the danger of carbon monoxide in our RV.

In RV’s Carbon Monoxide Gas usually results from:

* Exhaust leaks from either a vehicle engine or a generator.

* Improper use of portable gas powered heaters.

* Someone else’s vehicle or generator when camping in close quarters.

If your RV doesn’t have a carbon monoxide detector you need to purchase a battery operated carbon monoxide detector designed for use in RV’s. Test the carbon monoxide detector every time you use the RV. Replace the carbon monoxide detector batteries when you change clocks for daylight savings time.

Here are some more important notes about Carbon Monoxide:

* Inspect the generator exhaust system before using the generator, every time.

* Avoid leaving windows down and roof vents open when in close proximity to vehicle and/or generator exhaust.

* Follow all directions and safety cautions and warnings when operating gas powered heaters.

* If you use a portable generator direct the exhaust away from the camping area.

* Never use the range burners or oven to heat the RV!

* When cooking with the range burners use the range fan & always leave a window cracked open for fresh air and ventilation.

Learn how to recognize Carbon Monoxide Symptoms: Carbon Monoxide symptoms include:

1) Dizziness

2) Vomiting

3) Nausea

4) Muscular twitching

5) Intense headache

6) Throbbing in the temples

7) Weakness and sleepiness

Inability to think coherently

* If you or anyone else experiences any of these symptoms get to fresh air immediately. If the symptoms persist seek medical attention.

* Shut the vehicle or generator down and do not operate it until it has been inspected and repaired by a professional.

Now we want to discuss a topic many RVers don’t think about, an emergency escape plan. What do you do in the event of an emergency and everybody has to get out of the RV quickly and in an orderly fashion. The National Fire Protection agency requires that RV’s have emergency escape windows. Make sure everybody knows where the escape window is located and how to use it.

It’s a good idea to practice using it so you are familiar with how to get out of the RV in case of an emergency. You should have an emergency escape plan for the front of the RV and the rear of the RV.

* Time is your biggest enemy if there is a fire. It only takes one minute for smoke to fill the RV.

* Design an escape plan specific to the needs of the individuals in the RV.

* Sketch your plan on paper and indicate which windows and doors can be used to escape. Review the plan with everybody.

* Make sure everybody knows where the emergency escape window is located and how to use it.

* Make sure everybody knows how to use window and door latches before there is an emergency.

* Practice your escape plan so everybody is familiar with how to get out of the RV in case of an emergency.

* Designate a meeting place outside where everybody will meet immediately after escaping so you can get accountability.

* When everybody is safely out of the RV call 911 for help.

* Never re-enter a burning RV!

This information is an excerpt from our RV Safety Features, Tips & Tricks DVD

Happy Camping,

Mark

Copyright 2008 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

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