Hot Camping How-Tos « Camping

How To: Dehydrate food for camping

This how-to video explains how to dehydrate food for backpacking or camping. This is very helpful, and could make meat last for up to 6 months. This could save a lot of money in the long run.

How To: Make leather string or thong from an old glove

You will use an old work glove to make the string. First cut the seems of the glove to the finger tips with scissors. Cut out the palm part of the clove. Remove the elastic off of the back with a knife. remove the hem with your scissors. Next, start cutting at the edge up around the shape of the glove. Keep going round until it starts turning into one long piece. Go back around the leather and trim up the rough edges and corners. He ends up with about seven foot of string. It's a cheep free w...

How To: Make an All-Night Campfire with Just One Log

The next time you're out camping, whether it's outdoors in the wilderness or right outside in your own backyard, try this hack out for an effortless campfire all night long. While there is definitely some prep work involved, it's well worth it if you don't need a huge bonfire, and more so if you plan on cooking meals over the flames.

How To: Tie the Miller's Knot (bag or sack knot)

In order to tie a Miller's Knot, which is also known as the bag or sack knot, you should begin by wrapping the rope around the object you wish to bind: the Miller's knot is a binding knot. It is used to bind things. Next, wrap one of the free ends around it. You are, basically, wrapping one end around a second time.

How To: Bind poles together with a Japanese square lash

This clip presents an introduction to the ancient Japanese technique of square lashing. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it's quite easy. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started doing square lashing yourself, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Use Diagonal Lashings to tie poles together

Diagonal lashings are a popular type of knot for building structures with wooden poles that allows you to join two poles at a 45-90 degree angle. It can replace a square lashing, but not vice versa. This video will show you how to tie a diagonal lashing yourself, which can be used in all sorts of outdoor construction projects.

How To: Lash a bamboo tripod

In this tutorial, we learn how to lash a bamboo tripod. First, you will tie a clove hitch by taking one piece of bamboo and wrapping the rope around it, then crossing the two sides of the string together to make a hitch. Next, you will secure the clove hitch around the third piece of bamboo. Now, you will rap all the pieces of bamboo together with the rope. Continue to do this until all the pieces feel secure together. Wrap the rope several times around each of the pieces, then wrap it in the...

How To: Start a fire without kindling

You don't need a stock pile of kindling to hold the flame and really get your fire started. There are a variety of creative yet effective substitutes. Leftover chips from lunch, an extra toilet paper roll, these are only a few ideas on how to start your next fire.

How To: Keep Mosquitoes & Other Annoying Bugs Away from Your Campfire or Backyard Fire Pit

I'll be honest—I've never been a huge fan of camping. It's not that I have anything against nature, I'm just partial to showering and sleeping in my own bed. In fact, the only part of camping I've ever really enjoyed is sitting around a campfire. Outdoor fires are perfect for socializing and cooking hot dogs, but they're also great at helping remove one of camping's biggest annoyances.

How To: How the Hookup or Connect a Battery to Your Camper or RV

Video: . This video will show you how to connect the positive and ground wire on the battery of your RV or camping trailer.

How To: Secure a Kayak on Car or SUV Using J Bar Roof Rack

Video: . This video will show you how to secure your kayak to a J bar roof rack carrier.

How To: Make a cheap woodburning stove for camping

Finding yourself in the wilderness where there is no chance of possibly making a fire outside is pretty dangerous. But you can avoid the danger by making your very own cheap woodburning stove for the inside of you shelter. Enjoy!

How To: Make clean burning fire starters with non-toxic materials

It's really easy to take lazy route and purchase fire starters at a grocery or hardware store to aid you in creating campfires, but storebought fire starters tend to have massive amounts of environment polluting chemicals and toxins that you probably shouldn't be anywhere near.

How To: Bundle kindling

In this tutorial, we learn how to bundle kindling. First, gather up 25 pieces of kindling together and tie it together with a rope on two ends and in the middle. Before you do this, you will cut the tops off of the kindling so you are just left with the branches. The water will go through these and it will build the bank up, that is what these kindling bundles were created for. You can bundle kindling in larger groups or smaller groups, depending on what you need it for. These were once used ...

How To: Build a comprehensive chuck box for camping

In order to build a good chuck box, you will need to do a lot of planning in advance, in order to make sure that you have the essentials and keep the weight of your chuck box down.

How To: Use round lashing to build a flagpole or A-frame

Round lashing refers to a knot that you can use to hold two poles together easily and securely. This is useful for constructing a flagpole, as the creators of the video did here and building a-frames. This video will show you how to use round lashing quickly and easily for your next outdoor project.

How To: Make fire in multiple ways

In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to make fire in multiple ways. For this you will need either cigarette lighters or matches. There are also a variety of fire making kits available with fancy strikers to produce sparks and chemically coated paper strips or ropes that catch fire easily. Another method is a fire piston. Put the ‘O’ ring on the plunger and some charcoal powder on the tip of the plunger and bang it in. when you pull out the plunger, the charcoal will be...

How To: Tie two ropes together with different knots

For those who didn't learn any knot-tying skills in scouts, or have forgotten them all now, this video demonstration shows how to do knots from basic to more advanced knots such as Sheet Bend, Fisherman's Knot, Square Knot and Thief's Knot. Knot tying is essential for camping, sailing, fishing, and even when you least suspect it. Watch this video camping and outdoor preparation tutorial and learn how to tie two ropes together with several different styles of knots.

How To: Tie a basic lanyard knot

ITS Tactical demonstrates how to tie a Lanyard Knot in this weeks edition of "Knot Of The Week". This knot is most easily made by using your hand, held sideways and flat.

How To: Tie a Japanese MKII method of square lashing rope

Square lashing is a great way to hold two things together at a perpendicular with rope or cord. Like most any knot, there is more than one way to tie it, and in this video you'll learn how to tie the Japanese MKII version of square lashing.

How To: Carry your camping gear for cheap

Are you struggling to buy a high priced backpack for your wilderness trip? Fear not for there is this video out in the world looking to help you! In this video, learn how to carry your camping gear for cheap, without shelling out too many bones for an expensive camping backpack.

How To: Identify the parts of a compass

The parts of the compass are a base plate with different measurements for calculating mileage and distance. The magnifying glass is used to magnify things on your map. The arrow at the top of the compass is called the direction of travel arrow. To find the degrees on your compass, use the rotating bezel ring, with North being "0", East being "90", South being "180", and west being "270". The magnetic needle inside has a red magnetic north end, which is used to locate "North", and the black en...

How To: Set Up Popup Camper or Tent Trailer

This video will show you how to set up your popup camper also known as a tent trailer.

How To: Make a survival belt out of paracord using the cobra knot

All you need is a single long piece (at least fifteen meters) of sturdy paracord, as well as a clasp for either end. You can also use this technique to make a rifle sling or something else for which you will need a long length of woven paracord. The knot itself is not difficult - just watch carefully and make sure you've given yourself enough time to finish this project. A great project to make for yourself, or the survivalist in your life.

How To: Clean your dishes using dirt while camping

Using dirt for cleaning dishes? It can be done! If you're camping in the great outdoors and don't have dish soap, using dirt is a natural method of washing dishes. All you need is some dirt and boiling water to practice this valuable sanitation skill.

How To: Make a lean-to in the wilderness

Sometimes you need a little shelter when you are hiking or camping. If it starts to rain, or you need a little shade from the sun, it will help you very much to build a lean to. In this tutorial, learn how to make a lean to if you are stuck in the wild.

How To: Fix or Replace a Broken Clearance Light on PopUp Camper and Utility Trailer

This video will show you how to fix or repair a broken clearance light on your popup camper. This will also work on a utility trailer.

How To: Build a shelter in the wild

In this tutorial, we learn how to build a shelter in the wild. You can use trees with a branch as the top to cover yourself from rain. You can also use tree branches and sticks to keep the shelter up. A shelter is great to store things in, or to sleep in. You can keep the fire close to the shelter so the heat goes into your shelter, but not too close so you don't set a fire. If you work quickly, it should only take a few hours to build this shelter. Also, place a tarp over the branches and le...

How To: Make a fire starter out of recycled candles

Cut an old sheet of news paper at about five inches in width. Roll it down to create a thick stick of newspaper. Get a roll of string that is specifically made of cotton or use a natural fiber string. Tie the string around your roll of newspaper to make sure it stays together or that it will not unroll. Submerge the rolled newspaper/s on a pot of hot and melted old candles. Let it sit for at least a minute or more as needed. Remove the rolled newspaper/s from the pot and let them dry out for ...

How To: Build your own sleeping bag

Learn how to make your own sleeping bag out of roll insulation. This is a redneck or ghetto way of keeping warm without spending hundreds at REI. The industrial insulation will work better than down. This idea has been employed by homeless people and survivalists alike. Enjoy some snowy camping with this uber cheap sleeping bag.

How To: Make a comfy DIY camping chair for less than 5 dollars

Not every camper is looking to totally "rough it" while they are in the woods. In this clip, learn how to make a comfy, folding camping seat out of cheap supplies for less than five bucks! This foam pad is far better than the ones you buy at those expensive camping stores and because you made it yourself, you know it will work. The best part? If you lose it or it gets ruined out there in the wilderness, it was so cheap and easy to make that you can just create another one!

How To: Make a stone rocket stove

To build a stone rocket stove, you will need the following: stones, wood, a tender pile, and lighter (or something to start a fire)

How To: Use a square lashing

Square lashing is a knot-making technique that has been made famous by the Boy Scouts of America's massive pioneering projects, and is really integral to any structure made out of poles like the one you see in the thumbnail. This video will teach you how to use square lashing to bind two poles together perpendicular to one another. You will need to know how to tie a clove hitch to make this work.

How To: Make a Swedish Torch (AKA Canadian Candle)

It's known that during the Thirty Years' War that took place in Europe between 1618 and 1648, soldiers used Swedish fire torches (also called Canadian candles) for heating, lighting, and cooking meals.

How To: Use a propane tree to operate a camp stove and light

In this tutorial, we learn how to use a propane tree to operate a camp stove. Start off with your propane tree that connects together simply. Attach this to the propane adapter so you can use the propane for both the stove and lantern. The lantern will be able to stay on around 10 minutes with the tree. Next, connect the eight foot adapter to the propane tree and place it on an attachment into the stove to use for heat. It only takes about five minutes to hook all of this up, and it will maxi...

How To: Build a solar powered water distiller

Build your very own solar water distiller to discover how nature filters water via the sun and evaporation. The correct term for this is distillation.

How To: Loosen or Unstick Frozen RV or Camper Stairs That Will Not Fold In

Video: . This video will show you how to free-up manual folding RV stairs that are frozen and will not fold in or retract for you.

How To: Create a rope ladder with a ladder lashing

This clip presents an introduction to ladder lashing. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it's quite easy. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started creating your own ladder lashes, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Splice a loop into the end of a three strand rope

Sometimes when you're camping it's necessary to pitch a little something called a tent after a long trek hiking and exploring the great outdoors. And when you're ready to call it a day, make sure you can do so peacefully without the fear that your tent contraption will fall down on you during the middle of the night.

How To: Put up a camping tarp

Learn how to put up a tarp for shade and protection from the rain in this video. First, find two trees with a nice flat spot in between them. Throw a rope up over a limb at least fifteen feet or so high. Now, tie the rope off to itself or to a smaller limb. Next, secure the rope on the other tree and leave the slack on the ground. Next, put the tarp over the rope evenly and anchor one end with a wire tie, small rope or bungee. Now you hoist the tarp up using one end of the rope and pull it to...