MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: LuckyDog on August 27, 2014, 09:14:10 AM

Title: Sand problem
Post by: LuckyDog on August 27, 2014, 09:14:10 AM
Hi again Swaggers, The SWMBO and I are heading to Moreton Island for 3 weeks @ Xmas, not really had much use of our hard floor CT to since purchasing it new in January, just a few trips mainly on grassed areas, but I was toying with the idea of taking some kind of hand held Vaccum or 12 volt or rechargable dustbuster to try and eliminate the amount of sand that gets dragged into the CT floor then up into the bed.

Can any other swaggers users comment on how they keep sand and dirt to a minimum or if anyone else is thinking along these lines?

if you know of a 12 volt rechargeable model?

OR is the Dustbuster just going too far?

LD
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: UIZ733 on August 27, 2014, 09:31:39 AM
We bought a rechargeable one from the Reject Shop and it works quite well for getting at the difficult places. Not suitable for large areas. $29 from memory.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Nomad on August 27, 2014, 09:35:34 AM
Bucket of water next to your front door.
 :cheers:
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Ratbag on August 27, 2014, 09:35:57 AM
Gidday LD

I have always carried a bit of carpet that I use as a door mat ... Put it outside the door if it's dry, inside if it's wet.

Seems to keep most of the crap contained.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: noel_w on August 27, 2014, 09:36:58 AM
I have a Ryobi One+ vacuum and works a treat.


http://ryobi.com.au/Products/PowerTools/ONEplus/Misc/CHV182G (http://ryobi.com.au/Products/PowerTools/ONEplus/Misc/CHV182G)


Helps though if you have other tools as I already have batteries. You can also get an in-vehicle charging system for it so you can charge it on site. I haven't got this yet but is on my wish list.


http://ryobi.com.au/Products/Accessories/BatteriesChargers/18V/BCL1418IV (http://ryobi.com.au/Products/Accessories/BatteriesChargers/18V/BCL1418IV)


Hope this helps. I know - sand gets in everywhere.  ;D
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Bird on August 27, 2014, 09:38:41 AM
Rubber mats in the annexe area, or shade cloth flooring in the annexe and as nomad said bucket of water for the rest.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: ronmac on August 27, 2014, 09:56:40 AM
Google Duramesh  cheers Ron.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: chester ver2.0 on August 27, 2014, 10:40:49 AM
Bucket of water and a soft bristled broome and just relax

I was getting fraser island sand out of my car a year later
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: firefox on August 27, 2014, 10:44:39 AM
we use a cgear mat or mesh in the entire annex, and then a piece of carpet at the doorstep. it takes about 98% of the sand away before going inside and we just bang out the carpet every week. done this whilst camping for 6+ weeks in sand.

we also brought one of the battery dyson's. although a little expensive we use ours all the time being on the road and it works like a treat. but the carpet and annex flooring will solve your problem.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: callmejoe on August 27, 2014, 11:09:42 AM
Bucket water now x3
prevention is better then cure.
Not only is it about the cheapest  I would almost say it also the most effective.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: chisel on August 27, 2014, 11:11:03 AM
c-gear mat outside the door, and a broom for sweeping inside. 
It's near impossible to keep all the sand out, especially if it is rainy or kids have been in the water recently and have wet sand on their feet. 
The bucket of water is not a bad idea if you can also get the kids to dry their feet off after using it.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: grafy82 on August 27, 2014, 11:39:00 AM
I have a Ryobi One+ vacuum and works a treat.


http://ryobi.com.au/Products/PowerTools/ONEplus/Misc/CHV182G (http://ryobi.com.au/Products/PowerTools/ONEplus/Misc/CHV182G)


Helps though if you have other tools as I already have batteries. You can also get an in-vehicle charging system for it so you can charge it on site. I haven't got this yet but is on my wish list.


http://ryobi.com.au/Products/Accessories/BatteriesChargers/18V/BCL1418IV (http://ryobi.com.au/Products/Accessories/BatteriesChargers/18V/BCL1418IV)


Hope this helps. I know - sand gets in everywhere.  ;D


I don't have the 18v vacuum yet, though I'd love one, but I have plenty of the batteries from other tools. I've got the 12v one+ charger in your link and it is very handy when camping but you've gotta watch your car battery as this little charger pulls approx. 6.5 amps when charging according to the draw reading on my solar controller.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Homer_Jay on August 27, 2014, 11:40:11 AM
We normally keep a banister brush (hand broom) handy, just give the feet a quick brush before going inside. Works well if your feet are reasonably dry and sandy. Shade Cloth matting helps to give you somewhere out of the sand to 'live' outside the camper.

But no matter what you do, the sand will get in the camper, and the car is just a lost cause trying to keep it out.

Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: lyn4680 on August 27, 2014, 01:06:41 PM
another vote for the c-gear here.

we have that an a couple of cheap bath mats just inside the door.  the mats get a good thumping every day and inside stays pretty clean, I just run around with a broom every now and then
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Rumpig on August 27, 2014, 05:23:52 PM
We normally keep a banister brush (hand broom) handy, just give the feet a quick brush before going inside. Works well if your feet are reasonably dry and sandy.
we use the same and it works pretty well, just leave it sitting inside the doorway so it's there as you go in. Just got to watch when you wear long pants, often find sand gets caught in the bottom of the legs at times.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Muckinhell on August 27, 2014, 06:09:46 PM
I bought one of these vacuum, blow and inflater for kids toys so a multi tasker and powerfull.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Mini-Portable-Car-Handheld-Vacuum-Cleaner-Inflator-/271407260835?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item3f312224a3 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-Mini-Portable-Car-Handheld-Vacuum-Cleaner-Inflator-/271407260835?pt=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item3f312224a3)
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: CBRK on August 27, 2014, 07:08:34 PM
I have a Ryobi One+ vacuum and works a treat.


http://ryobi.com.au/Products/PowerTools/ONEplus/Misc/CHV182G (http://ryobi.com.au/Products/PowerTools/ONEplus/Misc/CHV182G)


Helps though if you have other tools as I already have batteries. You can also get an in-vehicle charging system for it so you can charge it on site. I haven't got this yet but is on my wish list.


http://ryobi.com.au/Products/Accessories/BatteriesChargers/18V/BCL1418IV (http://ryobi.com.au/Products/Accessories/BatteriesChargers/18V/BCL1418IV)


Hope this helps. I know - sand gets in everywhere.  ;D

Hi,

I have both the charger and vacuum and they work well but it is limited in what it can do.

I use it at the end of thd trip to make it tidy for next trip. I take the fan during summer and the reciprocating saw so already need the batteries and charger.

Remember your camping and at beaches sand comes with the territory.

Chris
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Beachman on August 27, 2014, 07:25:58 PM
We do a lot a beach camping and now we just live with the sand feeling in the bed. If you drink enough beers that also helps take your mind off the gritty feeling  :cheers:

If it's dry sand you want to remove, then buy the cheapest baby power you can and give your hands and feet a big sprinkle before entering your tent and wipe the powder/sand off with a dust pan brush. The sand literally losses it sticking ability once baby powder is applied. 

After a week camping on the beach, our annex area is white from the amount of baby powder we use.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Jasman on August 27, 2014, 07:45:20 PM
+1 the CGear, these things are amasing.  Everyone who sees it for the first time are in awe of how well it works and immediately say they are getting one when they get home.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: LuckyDog on August 28, 2014, 03:35:04 PM
Thanks for the great responses,
We are seasoned Beach camper but used to tents so the Camper is something new to us.
We are also used to putting mats down in front of the door ways and keeping banister brushes nice and handy, but the Ryobi Vaccum was what i was looking for, just for that once a week clean to keep the CT as clean as possible whilst its still sparkling/newish.

i was amazed at the baby powder, i will be giving that a try also as well as the c-gear mats will also be on my shopping list (anyone know where the cheapest place to get them?)

once again thanks for sharing your knowledge guys, its great

happy Camping

LD
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: chisel on August 28, 2014, 09:40:07 PM
My wife loves using the baby powder too - especially on wet (well not wet but not-quite-dry), sandy kids after swimming. 
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: slave on August 29, 2014, 03:11:32 PM
As said above baby powder does work well. i just wish I knew about it when my kids were younger.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: lyn4680 on August 29, 2014, 09:29:41 PM
Thanks for the great responses,
We are seasoned Beach camper but used to tents so the Camper is something new to us.
We are also used to putting mats down in front of the door ways and keeping banister brushes nice and handy, but the Ryobi Vaccum was what i was looking for, just for that once a week clean to keep the CT as clean as possible whilst its still sparkling/newish.

i was amazed at the baby powder, i will be giving that a try also as well as the c-gear mats will also be on my shopping list (anyone know where the cheapest place to get them?)

once again thanks for sharing your knowledge guys, its great

happy Camping

LD


We got ours from autoelec.com.au eBay store - http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/autoelecau/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

Pretty much the cheapest we could find and we got a couple of UHFs as a bonus.  They're not the greatest but the kids think they're the best thing since sliced bread.



Sent from my Surface Pro 2 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: 4wd26 on August 31, 2014, 03:44:28 PM
if your heading to the western beaches on Moreton, most of the campsites don't have white sand

what they have is black stained sand from the campfires (charcoal)

this stuff if you add water gets rid of the sand but you end up with the black marks inside.

we use cgear annex mat for the whole outside area and a small mat or carpet, and sweep out.

we have found more mess inside if using the outside hose/ bucket method rather than trying to keep everything dry
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: darrenh on August 31, 2014, 03:56:46 PM
As I have posted before, I have a large c gear mat but when I go to steady or inskip I prefer the use 2 layers of 70% shade cloth. I works just as good as is a lot cheaper. The shade cloth comes in 3.6m wide. Buy it from bunnings double it over and is a lot lot cheaper and you can make it as big as your want. Mine is 8m x 3.6m. Runs from the beginning of the drawbar to the back of the camper.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: Muckinhell on August 31, 2014, 05:47:40 PM
As Darren suggested we use the same, some doubled over shade cloth but peg it down cause when you walk on it doubled up it can slip and give you a fright, also the baby powder is good if you end up camping near ants, just spinkle around the tyres jockey wheel or anywhere they can climb on you trailer and it keeps them off. been using it round the pergola uprights to stop the ants climbing up and making homes inside them.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: scrubber on August 31, 2014, 09:47:23 PM
We just use a single layer of shade cloth when we've been to Moreton Island, Inskip, Straddy etc.  A heck of a lot cheaper than Cgear and works just as good - good enough for us anyway.  I managed to score a roll of it from a demo yard for 20 bucks so I have heaps of the stuff.  We also have 2 rubber mats at the doorway, dustpan and brush (get the bulk of it off) then use Talcum powder.

Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: grafy82 on September 02, 2014, 01:44:15 PM
Just make sure you have a good look before you buy shadecloth from bunnings or wherever. I actually found it was cheaper to buy the Oztrail version of the Cgear (its the same sort of shadecloth stuff) than it was to get the  normal shadecloth. The Oztrail has the bonus of having a fully sewn edge with eyelets in it as well.
Title: Re: Sand problem
Post by: LuckyDog on September 02, 2014, 04:28:05 PM
Just won on ebay a 5.2 x 2.4 m cgear for $200 so i'm 1 step closer to keeping the sand out :)