24/7 Chat About Anything

[travelaround]

I guess it would ruin the perfume? I don't know - it has been so many years since I had a perfume collection. My mother used to have dozens of fragrances. It was fun to experience them. I don't know why I don't have any anymore. I guess people quit giving them to me as gifts, I quit buying them, and... well, I'm just not a very stable lifestyle person who hangs onto things like that. I don't know where they all went! I lost them years before the fire, so can't blame anything on that.

The phone company just called to say I can get my own internet/phone now ... for some reason, here we have to get a landline to get internet! It has always been like that for the last 20 that I've been connected to this community. Anyhow, it would be a relief to have my own internet rather than having to share the RV park wifi which is so unreliable at times. I guess when we move back to my property the phone company will transfer it. They plan to give me the same number I had before the fire, not that I ever used that landline. I don't even know what the number is.... but I remember the number I had from 2000-2013 while I was living here before.

I guess it is bothering me to connect to another utility service again. I spend too much money that way... but when I start traveling again I can have it turned off for the months I won't be there.

 

[maki2]

Another day another project. This time an unplanned one, I made a hammock. I needed a way to be outside in the shade under the trees on a hot dy. A place I could take a nap, read and rest my back. When I first got here the next campsite had a half dozen hammocks put up among the trees. So all week I was thinking about buying one, looking at them on Amazon. There are a couple of sporting goods stores in Williams but I really did not want to spend the money this week.

When I got back to camp after going to town for water and sandpaper I realized I had all the materials on hand to make my own. I had 3 yards of Sil-Poly fabric, webbing for making tree straps, plenty of rope and my sewing stuff was already set up in the screen room. So I looked at a couple of youtube videos, got busy making one and now I am posting this lying in my new hammock, cold beverage on the table next to me I am literally just hanging out under the trees at the campsite.

But one thing I noticed right away, if you really want to be cool on a hot day one of the Mexican style string hammocks with all those open areas is going to be much cooler than a solid fabric hammock.

I am thinking for summer time camping in the forest in a van a hammock and tree straps is a very good investment. It gets way to hot to stay inside.

My back was hurting from too much sitting, I need breaks where I am reclined but a recling chair is too bulky to travel with. A hammock packs away very small when not in use. Problem solved and because the materials were on hand I spent zero dollars.

For those with no little money and no sewing skills youtube has videos for you on how to make a no sew hammock from old bedsheets and rope.

 

[vanbrat]

I love this.
I am always talking about how useful it is to know something about sewing. I have a teen age neighbor/surrogate grandchild who just rolls her eyes when I say something like that to her, but she is always asking for this or that sewed for her. Maybe it is time for me to say 'nope sew it yourself.' Her mom wants her to learn too, but instead of making her it is just easier to order it from Amazon. 

I used an old sheet once and made a hammock for the kids ... but then I sat in it and they jumped on me to be silly, sheet tore and we all landed on my butt in the dirt... Lesson learned - use good strong fabric. As soon as we all stopped laughing we made a new one using better canvas. That one lasted for several seasons of fun. A friend gave me one of the camping things and now it is tucked away in my van.

We had a string one for awhile. The dog thought it was a chew toy. It was comfy for short times. The strings didn't feel good to me, but then again it was a really cheap one. I prefer the canvas ones. And a just right pillow and a table for my tea and a really good book....

 

[maki2]

Van brat we are asked not to copy the full text of a posting when replying to it. Many forum members are viewing the postings on tiny cell phone screens.

 

[user 30781]

The headliner in my minivan is sagging horribly and either I just never paid attention to the ceiling or it's happened pretty quickly. I was reading that clear headed twisty pins are a good way to fix it.

I'm going to do some measuring, I've got a couple saris that would make a beautiful headliner, maybe I'll just pin one of those up.

 

[highdesertranger]

To "FIX" the headliner or put your saris up remove the headliner flip it upside down and reglue it. Twisty pins are Micky Mouse you aren't fixing anything. Highdesertranger

 

[user 30781]

That sounds like....a LOT of work!



I can't imagine taking off all the trim in that vehicle. Meaning my GC.

 

[bullfrog]

Many jobs on a vehicle are a lot of work, that is why there are specialty shops and they can be expensive. Old plastic tends to get brittle and break as well. I would suggest if you are going to try to do it yourself you find a GC in a "pull your part" junk yard with a good headliner and take it apart to see what is involved and what tools and fasters will be needed. I believe several members have removed interior panels in their GC and have made videos you may want to watch. If all else fails, It is summer, a convertible might be nice! Lol!!! I have seen everything you can think of to try to repair headliners and nothing works as well as removing it and repairing it upside down on a table, replacing it or taking it to a well established shop.

 

[MotorVation]

The headliner in my minivan is sagging horribly and either I just never paid attention to the ceiling or it's happened pretty quickly.  I was reading that clear headed twisty pins are a good way to fix it. 

I'm going to do some measuring, I've got a couple saris that would make a beautiful headliner, maybe I'll just pin one of those up.

Clear headed twisty pins will work. It won't be as tight as stock but it will keep your headliner from driving you crazy. I pinned some neckerchiefs up on mine to cover damage. Someday I plan on dropping the whole thing and gluing a new liner on it. My rear AC ducts through it so I plan on keeping it

 

[highdesertranger]

Well IMO when you Micky Mouse something you're not fixing anything.

I have repaired headliners, I have also made them from scratch. Are they a lot of work? Well they are not easy peasy but it's not like brain surgery or rocket science.

In the end it's up to you.

Highdesertranger

 

[maki2]

Go to the youtube channel Headliner Magic. he has a video on how to safely remove the headliner in a Grand Caravan. He has other videos showing how to put new fabric back onto the headliner boards.

Do not make a decision based on guesswork, truly understand what it takes to fix it right. Watch the videos anf figure out if you can do it either on your own, with the help of a friend or by hiring the job out to a fellow nomadic who does side jobs to supplement their income.

Twisty pins are of course still an option, a few of them for now to get it up out of the way should do no major harm until you have the time and funds for a proper repair. In long run it is best to do a proper repair as that helps keep the resale value and insurance replacement value where it should be. Funky repairs like putting up busy patterned scarves to hide damage to the interior will substantially lower the perceived value of a vehicle that is otherwise in decent merchanical condition. Fine for a temporary decoration but do try to acieve a lasting repair that is well executed. That way you have options and money should you want to change to a different vehicle.

 

[user 30781]

It's not really in the way because there is so much stuff holding it up. Vent things here and there and lights and the temp/direction readout/sunglasses holder thing and more. It's just sagging between all this stuff on the ceiling. That's why when hds said take it down and re-glue it my eyes half popped out because I've never seen so much crap on the ceiling of a vehicle before. lol

I'm not too worried about resale value. It's got 140k on it now and the plan is to run it until whichever one of us dies first.

Unless I win the lottery. haha

I will watch the video, maki, thank you.

 

[maki2]

I am not of course going to let removing a few things from a ceiling panel terrify me. For a while I put in most of the panels that are inside the cockpit of a 737. It was all women who were doing that on my crew. It could have been men as well but it was way more fun without them around.

There are just some screws and some snap in place surround stuff. No need to let it overwhelm you, it is not anywhere close to being impossible for you to manage it with no prior experience. Sometimes you might have to puzzle a few things out now and again as to why something is not coming loose. You can handle those fasteners and it will build your self confidence to have done so. The hardest part is working up to having the courage to begin.

 

[maki2]

Today's project was making the white marine vinyl cover for the outside of my Honda Element's windshield. I took some basic measurements and then I cut a piece 3' by 6', easy as my car is very boxy in shape, no crazy curves to deal with. Captured the two side edges inside the front doors. Used a felt pen to draw on the outside following the curve of the door. Then I stitched another small section of vinyl onto the end area that extended inside the car door. I added a 1 inch wide reinforcing strip of Viny to the top edge as well as the bottom edge of the window covering.

All that is left to do is insert some neodmium magnets spaced along the top and bottom edges. To hold them in place I have created pockets along the 1 inch reinforcing strip. I do not have enough magnets on hand for that, next time I get to a hardware store that stocks them I will finish the job. But for now the cover is useable by putting some block magnets on it. The magnets are to keep the wind from getting under the top and bottom edge. The windsheild wipers are under the cover which will means less UV damage happens to them. I could post a photo but there is not much to see other than a rectangle of white vinyl covering the windshield.

 

[user 30781]

Here's the back ceiling, lots of stuff!



Sagging is mainly up front

 

[desert_sailing]

"It

 

[GypsyJan]

"It "

Well, I guess my ESP is not working today.

 

[crofter]

"It    "

Well,  I guess my ESP is not working today.

Information Technology, or would that be IT.

There's also chill its hot weather gear, though I wonder if they really have chill its for men and chill its for ladies. Comes in pink, blue, and yellow-green. Maybe the yellow-green color is for its.
-crofter

 

[maki2]

If you are intimidated by taking those items out of that ceiling panel it is a sure bet you have done very little over the years in the way of fixing stuff.

Good a time as any to get started on being more self sufficient at DIY as a nomad. Try taking a few of those pieces out and see how it goes. New skills can be acquired one fastener at a time.

 

[maki2]

Speaking of clothes I need to get some new pants soon. I realized the only truly practical color for camping in the desert and northern Arizona forest is a brown camo pattern. The broken and color varied pattern won't show the dirt as much.

Of course it is not a look that a lot of older women favor which means that I could become a trend setter should I wander into a senior center one of these days. Very unlikely to find any Camo pants in women's sizes at the Goodwill which is where I acquire most of my camping clothes. An unrealistic fantasy wish.