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![]() Welding gloves and channel lock pliers are handy on campouts. |
Two items probably found in your truck toolbox work well on camping trips. A pair of welding or other thick, leather gloves is handy when cooking over open flames with hot pots, pans and kettles. In addition, channel lock pliers make great pot holders and allow safer moving of the cooking grill top because of the angled handles.
Don’t capsize the canoe
Landing a canoe against the shore in fast-moving currents is easier when approaching tail first. Decide on the downstream spot you intend to land on well in advance.
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August is a great time to pick and set up a site for a shooting range. Select a site far enough away from base camp so the noise won’t disturb anyone. Avoid an east-west orientation to keep the sun out of the shooters’ eyes during morning or evening. Fairly level ground with a steep hill for an impact area will prevent stray bullets. If no backdrop is available, a bulldozer can push up dirt for a backstop. A range of 100 yards is sufficient.
Beware of the "blowout"
Today’s tires are more reliable than they were in the past. However, "blowouts" still occur. To make matters worse, if you are hauling a heavy load like an ATV or cattle, the problem can be magnified.
"Blowouts" occur when there is not enough air pressure in the tire to maintain the natural flex of the rubber bonded to the fabric and steel cord reinforcement. The cause can be a large gash or tiny puncture in the tire. The extra load weight combined with the loss of air and heated rubber can result in the characteristic boom, whoosh and flap, flap, flap of the tire. The first response to a "blowout" is to hit the brakes and head for the shoulder. This is a mistake.
![]() A 12-volt mechanic light can be hooked to a small battery.
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Let your light shine
A 12-volt mechanic’s light, available at most auto parts stores, makes a versatile tool when going afield. Clamped onto a 12-volt battery, the 40-watt bulb gives plenty of light for night fishing, illumination around the campsite or changing a boat trailer tire on a dark night. A small, lawn tractor battery (12-volt) can be packed and requires little space but sheds much light.
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From duct tape to duckling tape
Duct tape has been used for temporary fixes on everything from wrapping a leaking radiator hose, covering a hole in the tent or repairing a leaking canoe hull midway down the river. The tape can be a bulky thing to pack since the center core is so large. To remedy this, wrap long sections of duct tape around a pencil for your next emergency. The tape will unroll off the pencil easily, it packs small and you’ll have a pencil handy to jot notes or write a will if things get really bad.
Clean and store what you catch
To prevent freezer burn on stored fish, fill the freezer bag with the fish and submerge the
Be sure to include the youngsters on fishing trips whenever possible. Each of you will be sure to learn the art of patience. In addition, they just have a good time. Be sure to have them help clean the fish so they will have a greater appreciation for their supper.
John Howle is a freelance writer from Heflin.
Editor’s Note: All sketches shown in this article are by Jesse Limbaugh, produced from photos by John Howle.