We speak with Noah from Camco about some ideas for holiday gifts that can be a big deal at this time of year. From simple to sensational Camco’s got some great tips for fun and functional finds.

Other places to hear the podcast

Mentioned on this episode

FasTen Leveling Block, with the addition of the BIG BLOCKS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSd55oLNfR4&t=6s , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps9UIZ8B5kg

• Portable Campfire/BRC/LRC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHGSZSiRUfA&t=16s

• Tote Tank https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaRnRTmc4jk&t=1s

• Water Hose – Drinking Water Safe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT99my9FbIo

• Water Filter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzKjb2THZBk

• TST PRO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJCVtV1ij-Y

• Power Grip Voltage Protectors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR12Q13Awfg

• Water Pressure Regulator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ9jN--BTYw

• 15 to 30 or 50 amp plug adapter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6Z0LJ7mtM

• Rhino Wrench https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k__fsgIE8yA

• Rhino Cleanout Plug Wrench https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paDsxB2G3JE

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If you’re confused about solar, battery power or just want to upgrade your RV we have found the solutions from ABC Upfitters are both reliable and exceptional.

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Automated transcript of StressLess Camping RV podcast episode 282

Tony Barthel

This week on the Stressless Camping RV podcast, we get to speak to Noah from Camco about some of the great gadgets that Camco makes right here in the United States. And, you know, with the holidays approaching and Black Friday coming, now might be the best time to pick up some of those things you've been eyeballing. 

Peggy Barthel

Yep. I'm Tony. I'm Peggy. And we're 2 RV industry veterans who travel part time. 

Tony Barthel

In a travel trailer. 

Peggy Barthel

Looking to share big adventures and help you with great tips Tricks. And discounts. 

Tony Barthel

Uh, you probably can't guess from our voices where we are, but if you are watching this on video, I hope you've figured it out. Yeah. For those of you just listening, we are at ABC Outfitters right now. 

Peggy Barthel

Yes. 

Tony Barthel

Our brand new travel trailer is behind us. 

Peggy Barthel

It's totally behind us and it's getting upfit. 

Tony Barthel

And it is getting its upfit. You can see that happening as we speak. And they were kind enough to let us come hang out in the office and we thought, well, we got some work to do. We might as well do it while we're here. 

Peggy Barthel

That's true. Um, and, you know, for all of you, a lot of people say, well, what are you up to? Where are you going? Uh, what you know, if you are looking to waste a whole bunch of great time, We have on our website, expressascampy.com, something we call the Journey Journal. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

And the Journey Journal is our somewhat infrequent, often occasional. 

Tony Barthel

Often occasional. 

Peggy Barthel

And even sometimes pretty interesting. Uh, stories about the things that we're up to and where we're going and where we've been and and that sort of stuff. 

Tony Barthel

So in theory, it's it's a story kind of a day to day journal of where we are when we're traveling. Now, if we're sitting at home for a couple weeks, we're probably not gonna write anything because we're not doing anything all that interesting. But when we're on the road, there's always something to tell you about. Yeah. And so that journey journal is, as Tony said, just a journal of when we are out there on the road and what it is that we're up to. 

Tony Barthel

So if you want to know where we are at any given time, just read the latest journal. You'll probably know. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

And a lot of times we'll share that on, uh, social media, but not always because, you know, it's us. So but we had said we're at ABC Outfitters and something that a few of you have remarked about is like, well, you you talk about ABC Outfitters and you really like the work that they do, but the trailer that you had was a factory option. And, yes, it was designed by ABC Outfitters, and the package was put together by ABC Outfitters, but it was installed by Rockwood. 

Tony Barthel

Mhmm. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, we bought a new trailer. 

Tony Barthel

We did. We bought a new trailer that didn't have the Rockwood. Rockwood didn't put the power package in it 

Peggy Barthel

Correct. 

Tony Barthel

Just so that we wait. Is that the only reason? No. So we could come and buy an APC outfit. 

Peggy Barthel

No. So what what happened is so because this is a different floor plan, it's not one that Rockwood puts the power package option on. But, obviously, we've had such great experience with our solar and lithium masterful components from ABC Outfitters that we literally went from the dealer, picked up the trailer, and 

Tony Barthel

Just brought it right here. And parked it right there. 

Peggy Barthel

What you see in the background is Mike and his team putting our new solar and lithium system in the trailer. So the, uh, as of at the moment, our solar panels have been installed. 

Tony Barthel

Yes. 

Peggy Barthel

And now they're working to put all of the battery and technical components. So you might be saying, well, I I only want maybe a a better battery. I I, you know, I'm I'm I just I don't really go off grid camping much. I just occasionally so you can get 

Tony Barthel

Just a better battery. 

Peggy Barthel

A bat oops. 

Tony Barthel

Oh, those things are light. 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. Well, okay. It's it's a sample. But ABC Outfitters can do just batteries. They can do crazy systems that'll run 2 air conditioners. 

Peggy Barthel

So really the one of the nice things about working with them is they listen to you, ask you questions, and put together systems that might be perfect for you. But let's say, we've had a few friends who bought a system and they're like, well, I'd I'd like it to do a little more. I'd like to accomplish more. Well, they can upgrade their own upgrades. And so it it's it's a really flexible system, but the good thing is it's all MasterBuilt components, which are all designed to work together and do. 

Peggy Barthel

They're reliable. They it it just works. So if that's the kind of solar and lithium upgrade you would like 

Tony Barthel

Give them a call at 574-333-3225. 

Peggy Barthel

574-333-3225 or visit their fancy website at abcufffitters.com. Yeah. Or just look at the show notes for this podcast episode, and we have links and videos. You can see more, and I'm sure we'll be shooting more videos of what's happening behind us. 

Tony Barthel

There will be lots of more adventure here. Yeah. Well, this week, we are super privileged to be able to speak to Camco, Noah Hout from Camco, and he is giving us a little shopping guide. You know, it's almost Black Friday, and we got to talk to Noah about some of the American made gadgets that come from Camco that are we really kind of talked essentials. I mean, there were a few things that were more fun items, but kind of some essentials for RV ing, you know, and and some of the things that we say before you even go on your first trip. 

Tony Barthel

These are things you must, must have. And so let's hear from Noah about some of the things that he thinks you must, must have. 

Peggy Barthel

We have the privilege of being here with Noah Hout, who's the vice president of creative of Camco. And if you haven't heard of Camco, just go out bed. Yeah. Go out to your RV, open the baggage door, and probably the majority of what's in there comes from Camco. And something else that really makes me happy about Camco is a lot of what you make you make here in the US. 

Peggy Barthel

So, Noah, welcome. 

Tony Barthel

Thank you for spending some time with us today. 

Noah Haut

Yeah. It's great to be here, um, and it's great to be on the show, and it's great to I love the name, the right the stress less. Right? Because that's essentially, at Camco, that's what we're trying to do for our consumers is, um, bring solutions, right, that that help you guys, uh, go out there and help myself as well when we go to the campsite is to be able to stress less at the campsite. But taking care of all of those those products, the innovation, bringing that in the solutions. 

Noah Haut

And, um, yeah, with Camco, we've been around since 1966 love the shirt there Tony you got 66 on 

Peggy Barthel

there so 

Noah Haut

yeah we've, um, you know, like you said if you've if you've been camping, uh, last 58 years I mean you've used you've probably heard of Camco whether you know it or not you've used a lot of our products. Um, we were started in in Greensboro, North Carolina and we're still here, uh, today that's where our headquarters are at and we still make a ton of product product that we'll talk about today uh, here in Greensboro. It's just a really cool experience to be just just hands on, um, with the products and be able to, you know, market the products, talk about them, yet go on the other side of the wall and see them being made. Um, and that that's just really really neat for us. Um, that's way that when we're making the, you know, water hoses and filters and products like that, you know, we have water going through that we're gonna ingest and just having that the certifications and the manufacturing, um, just quality behind that is just really important and, um, something that we, um, we're we're proud of. 

Peggy Barthel

I should take notes because I just remembered you guys introduced some new stuff recently to that end. So we'll I'm sure we'll talk about that. But we you guys had a great idea of with the holidays coming, it you might not be thinking of your camper. It might be out in storage, under a cover, or whatever, but now is actually a really good time to think about either gifts for yourself, or gifts for your camper, or gifts gifts for others who have. Gifts for others. 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. 

Tony Barthel

So I think that one of my goals is to have us learn some things or talk about some things that as maybe even your your non camping family wants to buy you a gift, and they don't know what. So we're gonna we're gonna make this a conversation that you should share with your family so that they know what to buy you. 

Noah Haut

Send them the podcast and say, hey. 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. We have to 

Tony Barthel

do this. 

Noah Haut

That's number No. That's a great point. No. It's a great point, Tony. I mean, essentially, we've just winterized or a lot of people have. 

Noah Haut

I mean, if you're in the northern states or anywhere else, I mean, you're you're thinking about it. Granted it's been a warm season right now. I mean, it's it was a beautiful day outside of North Carolina, not thinking about winterizing. But that's our thought process. But as these deals, um, you know, the the all of the cyber deals that are happening right now and the Black Friday deals, even though we're not camping right now, you can get a really good deal on something that you're gonna want in the springtime. 

Noah Haut

And so maybe there's a large purchase that you've been thinking about whether it be that tote tank or that new sewer hose or a campfire or something like that where you can go out and actually get the deal now or stock up and getting ready for spring because, I mean, it's gonna be here before we know it. Sure. It's the holiday season, but, um, I'm thinking about camping. I mean, we've got we've got, um, Memorial Day already, uh, planned out, you know? You gotta get the site ready. 

Noah Haut

Right? Yeah. That's right. So yeah. So a great point there, Tony. 

Noah Haut

Great point. 

Peggy Barthel

So what are some of the things that you guys have in mind that perhaps might get onto our list here? 

Noah Haut

Yeah. Well, we can break them up into a few categories. Right? And so, I mean, you you talked about somebody who'd share this this podcast, so obviously, there's a lot of RV enthusiasts, um, here and they're wanting to send out maybe some gift ideas. Um, maybe you don't know what to get an RV'er and you know, always think about the the consumables and those useful items. 

Noah Haut

Right? And so, you know, when you talk about toilet treatment, even though it it might be like the socks and underwear gifts that, you know, is useful things. Right? But when you think about a water filter that that's consumable or a toilet treatment that that's consumable, those are great gifts. And, um, Tony, you talked about new products. 

Noah Haut

Um, what we have, uh, new product, a new toilet chemical, our TST Pro and it is just an innovative I think I have a bag around here well I've got an actual TST Pro here it's a new pod and it's a drop and it's like nothing you've seen before and so this is an enzyme pod that not only has an enzyme in it but it also has a feeder for that enzyme so essentially you're putting the enzyme in there to break down the waste and tissue you're feeding that enzyme and you're just creating that environment down there to break down waste and tissue very very fast so that's the TST Pro so that's an innovative it's something that you can find that maybe somebody's like wow you got me the best toilet chemical and you didn't break the bank you got them something that they can use And then there's always the trusted the water filter. Right? 

Peggy Barthel

So Well, you have just completely redone that. Correct? 

Noah Haut

The Tastes Pure? Yeah. The Tastes Pure, that was for last year. It was, um, we updated that water filter, and, um, it is the made in USA item. We're making it in Greensboro. 

Noah Haut

Um, the TST is made in USA. And so those are some great consumables. But my favorite all around, like, even if, you know, somebody doesn't have a use for the water filter, which I think you should carry, everybody has a use for toilet chemical, is, um, the our water hose. And I love this water hose. And this is the Evoflex, um, water hose. 

Noah Haut

And so this is another, um, made in USA item. Um, this is my favorite water hose, and we wanted a hose that was pliable, all weather pliable, and it didn't have memory. And so the idea was that we had something that was drinking water safe, something that had all of the features we loved on the water hoses. But coiling that hose up was, like, a problem. If you didn't coil it in the right way or it got a kink and it was, like, flopping over this way or that way, you had to it had all this memory, if you will. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. 

Noah Haut

And so when we made this pliable hose, it's it was just incredible that it it didn't have any memory. So you wind it the other way, and it'll go right into the storage bay. And it was so convenient, but I use this at the house. I mean, I I have said, okay. It, uh, you know, it doesn't matter. 

Noah Haut

It's a drinking water safe, but that's great. I love this hose for any. So if you think about it, I got the RVer in my life, this wonderful drinking water safe hose. They can use it at their house. They could use it anywhere. 

Noah Haut

I mean, uh, it's a practical, uh, gift. 

Peggy Barthel

So that's always, uh, you know, like a badge of honor for people of a certain age. They're like, oh, well, I grew up drinking out of the water hose. Well, apparently, you still can. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. Go right ahead. 

Noah Haut

Yep. You can. And now you can trust that that drinking water safe hose with the certifications and the made in USA, um, item as well so that's great um, now you know so that's the the RV enthusiast you know, you can get anybody. But if you start talking about something maybe that where they are a little bit they're gadget oriented. They want something a little bit little bit higher that's up at the tip. 

Noah Haut

Right? So there's 2 there's 2 products that kind of stuck in my mind when I started thinking about that and, um, I know that you guys are based you're based out west, right? And maybe there aren't there might be burn restrictions or there might not be a lot of firewood available 

Tony Barthel

Right 

Noah Haut

Um, you know and I've watched firewood prices increase just here in North Carolina where we have tons of trees and trees down and I've just watched that firewood go up so we've got our big red and our little red campfires and that gives you the ambiance of a campfire feel but running off of LP. And so it is a great way to it it's got the beautiful red can that it's all contained so it's easy to store and you're not storing but putting the, you know, any of the the soot or the the the anything that's burning, you put it right over the lid and you put that into the bay. But it runs off of LP gas so you can have a fire like that you don't have to worry about fire starters you don't have to worry about fire buying firewood or anything like that and I think that's a great holiday gift especially this time of year right? 

Peggy Barthel

Well, to your point of these things are all on sale I mean, I have to admit, I've eyed the the big red campfire because you can cook on it too. Right? You have provisions to use that for cooking. 

Noah Haut

Yeah. We do have a a a burner attachment that goes on the top that you can put like a a pan on the on the top of it. But, um, yeah, it's it's more of that ambiance thing. Oh, yeah. We've got so many of the, you know, the the the other, uh, grills and griddles and things like that. 

Noah Haut

Much more efficient and easier to use. So this is just like 

Peggy Barthel

That's kind of a want item, but it's like, ah, should I buy that? Because it's not it's not inexpensive because it's not cheaply made. But it's one of those things where you kinda want one, and you're like, but if you get a good sale on it Mhmm. And you can use it over the winter maybe on your back deck or something like that as well. 

Noah Haut

Absolutely. That's the dual purpose, and we've seen that. Like, somebody has a small patio, and you don't really don't have that room for, like, a solo stove or you have a burn band, like, you can't put something on a wooden deck. But you can do this, um, you can add a little red campfire. So you're absolutely right. 

Noah Haut

And that's a great point to the to the little red campfire and, you know, the water hose itself. I'm not using my RV right now, but I can still use the gear that I've bought from my RV to still have that outdoor experience and, uh, to make memories, uh, by a campfire. So Yeah. 

Tony Barthel

You know, another great thing about a propane campfire is it doesn't take a lot of work to keep it going. Right? No. Like, there are some people who love to play with the firewood, Cindy. But but, uh, you know, like, we don't have a fire very often because we it's just it's too much work. 

Tony Barthel

It's too much effort to keep it going and everything. There's not a whole lot of effort in 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. It's 

Tony Barthel

turning on a campfire Well, no. And then turning it off, like you said, put the cover on it, and you're done. 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. That's the other thing. You don't have to worry about burning down the forest with a stray ember. Mhmm. You just you turn it off, put the lid on, you're done. 

Peggy Barthel

And then next morning, put it back in your storage bay, and bing, bang, 

Noah Haut

boom. Yep. The other, um, gadget, um, and I hope that you guys do have one because I know you're experienced RVers is having a voltage protector or some electrical protection before, you plug in your RV because essentially we don't know what we're plugging into and that I mean that's a safety issue, right? And so, um, our line of power grip, um, we have voltage protectors circuit analyzers and they give you various I mean, that's this is a budgetary thing, um, but you wanna protect your investment. It's it's very important to know and so our voltage protectors when low voltage hits and you can go I'm not an electrician but, um, I have seen either of the horror stories or, you know, see somebody and they take their investment, the RV, and you you need to know what you're plugging into. 

Noah Haut

And so it'll give you warnings whether it's not wired correctly or low voltage, it'll shut off and so that your RV won't, um, be damaged and your appliances won't be damaged and so that's a really important, um, it's a gear head gadget, right, that you can get so 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. But that is like number 1 when and someone says I'm going to buy or I just bought. What what do I absolutely need? That is number 1 always top of my list. I don't care what else you do, get get yourself your your electricity protected. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, and then here's a couple of aspects that we like to say about that. First of all, I like the portable ones because as you pull up to a campground campsite, you can plug it in and see if that space is actually wired properly 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

Before you even back in. And I had another point too, and my brain 

Tony Barthel

just said 

Peggy Barthel

to be my gosh. 

Noah Haut

Well, it it helps you stress less. Right? When you when you have that security. I mean, you know that if there's a surge and a spike, I don't have to do anything. That, you know the the power grid voltage protector is going to take care of that for me um, I can plug in and I don't have to check anything else because honestly our voltage the power grid voltage protector you plug it in and it won't connect your power until it knows it's right so you don t have to be an electrician you don t have to read the codes or anything like that if it s not right it won t connect and so, um, it s good. 

Noah Haut

Obviously, you want to follow the instructions go through the plugging procedure and everything like that but it it takes the stress out and so and another thing too is our power grip. You'll see the big yellow handle there with the the great grip that makes that, um, connection very very simple and so um, that's that's the Power Grip line and I it it's a great like we said, I mean, this is a this is a serious thing to consider. Oh, yeah. That was 

Peggy Barthel

the other thing I remember. How many times in summer I know that seems far away now. But Really? In summer, you know, you plug in, you get to the campsite, you plug in, everything's good. And all of a sudden, the day gets hotter and hotter, and more RVs kick on that second air. 

Peggy Barthel

And now your your EMS is gonna shut you down to protect those, you know, the motors that are in your RV, the refrigerator, the air conditioner. Because low voltage is really what'll kill those. You know, spikes, I don't think, are as common as low voltage. 

Noah Haut

You're you're absolutely right. And it doesn't sound dangerous, but it is. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. Right? It is very damaging. Little, be bad. Right. 

Peggy Barthel

Right. Crushing motors, they don't like that. So very good point. 

Noah Haut

Abs absolutely right. And so then we move into the next tier of gift giving, and that is for somebody who is new to RV. And so it's kind of taken us back to what was the first time, you know, that we went RVing? What what were some of those horror stories that we potentially had? Right? 

Noah Haut

What are the mistakes, and how can we help our our fellow RVers, um, you know, just not have those same errors maybe. Learn from our mistakes that we made. So so what are some some good gifts that you get? Either somebody who's new to RVing or that you just wanna help them get the most out of RVing. And this is something that, you know, I feel strongly about, not just working at Camco, but just being an RVer in general is getting a quality RV sewer hose and a quality water hose as well. 

Noah Haut

Um, so those are those are just really important in my mind. I for the best bang for the buck, the Rhino Flex. Right? That's the sewer hose that makes the noise when you look for the orange fittings but, you know, when you're an RV or you understand, okay, storage and compression and stays compressed and it doesn't flop all over the place 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. 

Noah Haut

And it is a b line straight line straight from the RV straight to the outlet and the the least path that we can have straight there is is is a great thing and that's what the Rhinoflex does. Then when you wanna go above and beyond the Rhino Xtreme is that non crushable, still stays compressed. Um, it's got the exoskeleton so that when you drop it on the ground or you drag it, which it happens when you're at those, like, public dump stations, you put it on your I mean, you're not using a sewer hose support in that application. It's gonna get some abrasion. The Rhino Xtreme, it puts that wire on the outside so any of the abrasion is on the wire and not the vinyl that's holding the liquid in. 

Noah Haut

And so that's that's a great thing. So, I mean, sometimes a new RVer might just go out and, oh, I need a sewer hose. I just grab what's available, but go for the RHINO hose. That's going to be, uh, it's gonna help them get the most out of that RV experience. 

Peggy Barthel

Uh, it's it's coincidental that you say that because we we literally the reason we're here in Indiana is we just bought a new RV, and this is our 4th Rockwood now. We don't wanna give away too much just yet, 

Tony Barthel

but Okay. 

Peggy Barthel

This is our 4th one. But it came with the kit, right, that the every RV dealer with the hose that I guarantee you, if you are using that low budget RV hose, that fitting will pop off 

Tony Barthel

Oh, gosh. 

Peggy Barthel

Literally at the worst possible time. And then you will be that guy. 

Tony Barthel

So you 

Peggy Barthel

think that's the Rhino Flex hose means you won't be Yeah. That guy. 

Noah Haut

Yes. That's that's a good point. Like, yeah, if you got one of the starter kits and that's why that gift is is great. And even if somebody says, oh, I've already got one of these things, that's well, having a good quality is is different than just having one. So 

Tony Barthel

We almost stuck ourselves with that one, though, because Yeah. You know, we have all these little nooks and crannies of the camper to remember to transfer over. And that wasn't even on my list. All of a sudden, I said, oh, we better, uh, change you know, get the bumper cleared out. 

Noah Haut

Get the bumper. 

Tony Barthel

I was out of the bumper and put the 

Peggy Barthel

Well, and here's here's, you know, those gifts you may not think of for yourself. But if you already have, let's say, the RhinoFlex hose, Capco makes the niftiest magnetic bumper cap 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

That the hose, like, snaps into, and that's what we have. And it's so convenient that little I mean, it's you know, these little things make a difference. So that magnetic bumper cap to hold the sewer hose on is fantastic. And so that's what our RhinoFlex hose is attached to. 

Noah Haut

Yeah. I was surprised we put a video out on, um, Instagram just with that solution, exactly what you're talking about and the responses from it. I was like, wow. That's that's a really pop because it was a great solution. Right? 

Noah Haut

It's something that we didn't think about. And that bumper connects the sewer hose. You don't have to stick your hand into exactly what you're talking I I forgot the sewer hose. Well, you pull that cap off, and it pulls the sewer hose out with it. It's so Yeah. 

Noah Haut

It's so nice not to have to dig in the bumper and chase the sewer hose around. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, and those rubber caps that come with the trailer are just a pain in the neck. Yeah. That bumper cap is just boink. Yep. It's on, holds the hose. 

Peggy Barthel

It's, you know, it's it's such a a little thing, but it it again makes 

Noah Haut

the whole Experience better. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. 

Noah Haut

It's a great point. 

Peggy Barthel

2 other tools that you guys make that I really like. The sewer hose, there's 2 don't got it. I I should have gone to the trailer and gotten these. 2 little plastic, like, clamps to There was a separate. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

And then the sewer cap wrench. 

Tony Barthel

Yes. 

Peggy Barthel

Those are also I mean, if somebody doesn't have those in their RV, what a great and very inexpensive gift. 

Tony Barthel

Those are like stocking stuffers. 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. They really are. Yeah. Or sewer hose stuffers. No doubt. 

Noah Haut

It is. They are great gifts, and it's something that, you know, it's like us as RVers, we have no problem talking about these sanitation accessories. 

Tony Barthel

Right? Yeah. 

Noah Haut

Their needs. And and when we have the right tools, it makes the experience better. But you're absolutely right. It's kinda funny to to think about somebody maybe outside the RV. Like, you wanna a cap that unscrews a sewer fitting? 

Tony Barthel

I was 

Noah Haut

like, yes. Yes. I do. 

Peggy Barthel

You know that Hercules was in the campsite right before now. Yeah. It's it's a great tool that a great stocking stuffer for any RVer. 

Noah Haut

No. That's great. So the last kind of, um, I guess, category, and I wanna hear what you guys have to say about this too because this was just what popped in my head. But, I mean, it's what item that every RVer should have should have either as a gift or maybe you gift yourself that you don't realize that you need it until it's too late and this is like it it's so important but one of the things that I didn't realize because all of my camping has happened in like the East Coast and North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia area. It's very beautiful, uh, area of the country. 

Noah Haut

But it was, like, 3 things stuck in my mind, like, right away, but, I mean, I would know that there's regional things. I'm loving to hear what you guys have to say, but things to carry with you at all times just in case even if you haven't used it, you might need to use it. And the first thing is leveling blocks. Right? So we have the fasten leveling blocks that we have a 10 pack with a handle but leveling blocks you never know what campsite you are going to 

Tony Barthel

Absolutely. 

Noah Haut

I mean you you can look on the map, you can see where it's at, is it lakefront, is it here or there but you do not know what angle that and that's a big problem over here where we camp and so you can never have enough leveling blocks to to carry with you. We've used them to level grills, picnic tables as well. I mean, tongue jacks, you know, jacks that go down and we do have some new products coming out with fasten. We have one that launched this year too. So we're building this whole system that kind of incorporates together so you can get more height out of different, um, capabilities. 

Noah Haut

But I think leveling blocks are great, uh, are great. And the ones with the handles, the fasten, it's that convenient storage. It's that above and beyond kinda, oh, okay. They they thought of everything. We haven't thought of everything yet. 

Noah Haut

But it's just that improved experience, right, that brings that that innovation and that that little bit extra that helps you stress less when you're camping. The other two items is a 15 to either 30 or 50 depending on what you have adapter. And what that does is that that is something that you can bring in. You can plug in pretty much anywhere, right? There is an extension cord And, you can't run everything on your RV, but at least you can get the, you know, the fridge running or the electronics started. 

Noah Haut

And, that was something that when we brought the RV home, I was like how am I gonna plug this thing in? Even to just, you know, either run the vacuum or or do this and that. And didn't have one and had one the next day. But I could only imagine if you're out there in 

Tony Barthel

a situation 

Noah Haut

that you needed to just have emergency power. How are you gonna get that if if batteries are are dry? So just having that small little adapter is is huge. And the last thing is a water pressure regulator. And I 

Peggy Barthel

can't 

Noah Haut

speak enough about that. It's a small little giftable item. If somebody has one, they don't necessarily need to or to upgrade or anything like that. 

Tony Barthel

Right. 

Noah Haut

But it is it's it's a must have because we don't know that's what I love about our water filter is you don't know what pressure and you don't know what water source. I mean, it's is the city? Is this well? Is there sediment in it? I mean, is it there's there too much chlorine in it? 

Noah Haut

You don't know all these things. You don't know the water system that is feeding your RV. And you also don't know the pump pressure, right? Or the city pressure and we know that the PEX is pretty sensitive in the RVs if it's exposed to too high of pressure you know, you can end up with a leak inside that you can't find, right? There's just water sitting in my kitchen and I don't know where it's coming from and it's because it's from some line that's back behind the wall so those gifts, the leveling blocks the 15 to 30 or 50 adapter, and the water pressure regulators are my you might not realize you need it until you need it and it's too late get those things. 

Noah Haut

Um, what are your gifts for the must haves? 

Peggy Barthel

That's that's a good one. Um, those step down plugs, I guess, the converters are good. And one of the things that we found, we have a 30 amp trailer. And a lot of times, that 30 amp plug at the pedestal is really wiggly and completely worn out. So we use our 50 to 30 Camco step down, you know, power thing, and then we get a really solid connection. 

Noah Haut

That's a good point. Yeah. You're getting 4 prongs in there to get that Yeah. Solid connection. You need their best use. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. They they seem like they aren't as used as often, so they're not as worn out. And so we're able to, you like, plug into the 50, but then we need to step it down to 30. So we use that fairly often. 

Peggy Barthel

Use that all the time. And you're right. So funny thing with leveling block with the Camco leveling blocks, we were at a boondocking site, and it was just an overnight site. And we were going to, uh, I wasn't you know, I'm lazy. I always say if you wanna know the laziest way to accomplish a task, I'm your guy. 

Peggy Barthel

And we weren't gonna unhook the truck from the trailer, but the nose of the trailer was a little bit down. 

Tony Barthel

Just a little bit. 

Peggy Barthel

And, um, I was thinking, daggone it. I don't wanna wait a minute. Why don't I just put the leveling blocks under the back tires of the truck? And that We 

Tony Barthel

lifted the pickup just by an inch Yeah. And that lifted the nose of the trailer, and we were fine for the night. 

Noah Haut

That's brilliant. I love it. That was, uh, that was efficient, because then you didn't have to do all the connection again. That's Right. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. Otherwise, we would've had to lift the the the trailer tongue up off of the truck. So, yeah, we just lifted the back of the truck. 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. We like the our our, uh, water pressure regulator is the adjustable one. 

Noah Haut

Yeah. Yes. Good. 

Peggy Barthel

You know, somebody might have the inexpensive, the simple one. Uh-huh. And maybe it's like, well, I could I could step them up to the adjustable one, and that's that you know, things like that, maybe a little nice upgrade or something. 

Tony Barthel

And, honestly, those, uh, non adjustable and the very simple one, it seems like they're somewhat they're, like, easy to forget. Yeah. Right? Because they don't look like a lot of something. And so when you're unhooking your water, someone's helping you maybe unhooks the water and doesn't realize that that's part of your water system, then you need an upgrade anyway. 

Peggy Barthel

And that's right when if you forgot it, that's right when you'll go 

Tony Barthel

That's right. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

Where it's a 100 PSI and you're blowing all your fittings in your trailer. 

Noah Haut

Yeah. Another another thing to mention though is as we're talking about, um, just water products in general. And I I think the same goes with electrical. And there's there's a lot of different options that we have as consumers these days but knowing that you're purchasing I mean this is something I do when I'm not I'm not talking about just camco in general and just purchasing in in general it's just knowing that you're buying something from a reputable company especially when it's the certifications, um, you know, for water I mean, you know, fresh water items and, you know, we wanna make sure that something is built right as well and that's where Camco brings value to uh, to that, because we we have a high standard for the the products that we make and sell. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, and I like again, so many of them are made here. And, you know, that that's always the big bring manufacturing back to the US is is kind of a a strong sentiment now. Well, here's your chance to support that. Yeah. And and with good products that your prices are I think they're fair for what you get. 

Tony Barthel

Mhmm. 

Peggy Barthel

So I know and during Black Friday, even better. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. 

Noah Haut

Yeah. I mean, it's it is it's so I mean, we talked about this, um, previously too. Just not even thinking in the what do I need for springtime? But now is the time to shop. I mean, it's just it is it's shopping season. 

Noah Haut

Um, so don't forget to to buy I mean, just take advantage of it. Shoot. That's, uh, you know, get the good deals, um, and so that you're ready to go go next year. 

Peggy Barthel

But but then also just some, you know, like, fun gifts. You guys have those life is better at the camp, uh, fire is it at the campsite? 

Noah Haut

Yep. Life's better at the campsite. We have some fun fun gifts there too. So we're not just all functional, you know, water in, water out electrical, um, but we have some fun gear that just, you know, brings a smile to my face because I I do know and and we do believe it too. Like, just being able to stress less, get out there, and just be with that RV community. 

Noah Haut

Um, it's just so important. I mean, my family has has has grown up out there, outdoors, um, enjoying that experience, and we've even seen it generationally, uh, now too. So, um, you know, as as as we get up in age and, um, the kids are adults now and they wanna still come be a part of that. Um, and that that truly having that community and knowing that life is better out there at the campsite is something that brings a smile to my face. But there there's a lot of gear there, um, that that you can get. 

Noah Haut

So even the little stocking stuffers, um, there, you can go to the Camco outdoors site and get some of those, uh, good deals on the life is better at the campsite goods. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, I'm here's here's another, um, it's a it's a weighted I know. Right? It's a weighted so we talked about sewer hoses. You have a weighted, uh, thing to keep the sewer hose in the receptacle that looks like a little trailer, and you fill it with water. 

Tony Barthel

Really practical and lots of fun. 

Noah Haut

Just it's practical. So there's a funny story that goes along with that too. And it's just it's it's how consumers so, I mean, even in the short time that you guys have RVed, this is kind of the trends that we've seen is that people used to buy sewer hoses and fittings and build their own kits. And now they just want kits. Right? 

Noah Haut

It's like the simplicity of just buy a kit all in one, make it easy, make it work. Right? But then there was all of the flushing of the tanks. I wanna know when my tanks are clean. And so now we started adding these these these clear fittings on the end. 

Noah Haut

So the elbows, like all of our rhinos, they have clear elbows. So it's really convenient. It's a nice thing for an RVer to know when everything is flushed out. But you've got something clear that potentially your neighbor is sitting at the picnic table right here. You go to dump your tanks. 

Noah Haut

Everybody's watching your waist go down this clear fitting because you wanna know when it so this this product that you're talking about, the the lovely travel trailer, you can put that right on the top, and it takes so for the you know, if you don't need to see everything, you know, it's it's not only a courteous thing to your neighbor to cover that up, but it keeps your sewer hose in place, and it has a reflective strip around it. So at night, you are walking and you don't wanna trip over this sewer fitting. It's got a little reflective on there too. We've seen people take them, and this is I love this one. Um, so girl camper, she she showed us this. 

Noah Haut

What they did to, um, to their RVs is that, you know, they love those retro RVs. A lot of them have these smaller campers. They started painting all of those sewer ways like their camper, and I thought it was just brilliant 

Tony Barthel

and just just wonderful. 

Peggy Barthel

It should 

Noah Haut

be. So they'll customize them and make it 

Peggy Barthel

look it's 

Noah Haut

just it's just I don't know. Made me smile. 

Tony Barthel

Those ladies with vintage campers are so amazing. 

Peggy Barthel

We have the privilege of working with Janine and Lisa. 

Noah Haut

Oh, Janine's awesome. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

They are just they're incredible people. And that what a great organization. Yeah. So, yeah, we we're big fans in that for 

Noah Haut

sure. Fans in education and just bringing, like, um, the hey. You can do this. Everybody can do this. Everybody can enjoy and just bring in that community again. 

Noah Haut

Um, that it's it's just all part of it. 

Peggy Barthel

It's 

Noah Haut

it's just great. It's great to see. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, where's the best place to find a lot of these great items? 

Noah Haut

Yeah. I mean, they're we wanna be everywhere the consumers are, and so you can find them online. You can find them at your favorite retail, um, outlet. Um, Camco products are found, um, from Camping World, Amazon, Walmart, RV dealers, like your favorite RV dealer. I'm sure that people have the favorite places to shop. 

Noah Haut

I mean, that's where the relationship, um, happens at the the RV dealer as well. Um, and so then we also have our Camco Outdoor sites. So, um, they're available and different retailers are having different deals right now. I mean, this is this is the season to buy right now. It's like the next 2 weeks. 

Noah Haut

This is this is where you can get the best deals. Um, so wherever you like to shop for for RV products is Camco, um, should be there. 

Peggy Barthel

Yep. Yeah. That's I mean, it's just such a staple of camping life 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

Or a staple of stressless camping. 

Tony Barthel

There you go. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, Noah, thank you so much for joining us in these these tips and ideas and such. And, gosh, we'd love to have you back anytime you, uh, you would like. So because, I I mean, yeah, as I say, Camco is just part of the RV lifestyle. So Right. Yeah. 

Noah Haut

It was great to great to be here and to talk to you and to talk about to freely talk about these necessities that we have and the experiences with RV ing. Um, and, um, um, I just I just really enjoy it. Y'all been lovely and just been, uh, wanna learn more about it. Um, and so, um, thank you for for having me and would love to come back. 

Peggy Barthel

Oh, as as I like to say, we were flushed with excitement. 

Tony Barthel

Well, here we go. 

Peggy Barthel

I love puns. Oh, dear. 

Noah Haut

On that note 

Tony Barthel

On that note. Exactly. Right? Noah, thank you so much for hanging out with us, giving us some more information, and we look forward to speaking to you again very soon. 

Peggy Barthel

Indeed. Did that make a lot of sense to you with, you know, like, maybe your camper's in storage right now, but it's like, oh, but I could get a great deal on a the little red campfire or whatever it happens to be. 

Tony Barthel

Especially those things that are a little bit pricier. You know, like, maybe you don't care if you buy a a little wrench, $7 wrench on Black Friday. But those big things that have the big price tags that have a bigger sale, those are probably worth thinking about right now. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, or just if you have an RV'er and you want, like, a gadget, they they have some great ones. So, um, so this week, we had talked a little bit about the Journey Journal, and which is on stressescamping.com, and it's kind of the tales of our adventures. And one of the articles we have well, Peggy synopsized 

Tony Barthel

there's a lot of paperwork. 

Peggy Barthel

I looked that up, and I used it most our adventure getting here to Indiana in November, which, you know, your travel agent might not recommend. Might not. I mean, I'm wearing t shirts. It's really nice weather. But anyway, um, oh, I should not jinx myself, should I? 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

Um, but I talked about some of the places we stopped on the way here 

Tony Barthel

Mhmm. 

Peggy Barthel

And I called it eating Americana. And it's just some of the unique places that there are to stop and dine on the road because there's so much, you know, I mean some people travel and they go to all the places that we've all heard of, but we really like to find the unusual places. And we got to go back to Lambert's and see them throwing rolls. 

Tony Barthel

Rolls. Yep. 

Peggy Barthel

Uh, we stopped at a place that Peggy has wanted to stop at because it's her grandfather's family. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. My family name Robertson. There's a place called Robertson's Hams. They're a smokehouse. And so it just finally happened that we were in the area at mealtime, and so we stopped for lunch. 

Tony Barthel

We got ham sandwiches. They the ham was good because it's, you know, smoked ham, you almost can't be not good. Um, sandwiches were fine. Fine. Fine. 

Tony Barthel

And, you know, we're not gonna break our necks to go back. 

Peggy Barthel

I don't 

Tony Barthel

think. They're very they're pretty plain, but we've we did it. We finally got to do it. So I'm just glad that we did that. 

Peggy Barthel

And then we we tried to go for, I think, the 3rd or 4th time to the u stop in which is The 

Tony Barthel

u drop. 

Peggy Barthel

U drop in, which is in the Conoco gas station in 

Tony Barthel

In Shamrock, Texas. 

Peggy Barthel

Shamrock, Texas. And again, not open. 

Tony Barthel

Not open in like always. 

Peggy Barthel

Oh, it's so frustrating. There's so many places that really could you know, you gotta have a gimmick like the Lambert's is just nice American food. Right? It's it it it's Cracker Barrel 

Tony Barthel

but it's It's good comfort food. Great it is really good food. 

Peggy Barthel

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 

Tony Barthel

But it's it's just another great restaurant except for the fact that they throw rolls across the building to give you a roll. 

Peggy Barthel

And so they have a gimmick. And, uh, Robertson's hams has a gimmick. Uranus fudge factory which I mentioned in the article has, I mean, it's fudge. Right? But boy do they play up that game. 

Tony Barthel

Boy do they ever play up that game. 

Peggy Barthel

The mayor has a head again. 

Tony Barthel

That's right. You've been waiting for the mayor to get his head back after that really bad windstorm in June, wait no longer. Yeah. Because the 

Peggy Barthel

mayor has been reheaded. Reheaded. Just, you know, having a gimmick and and marketing properly is just a key to success. So Lambert's was packed, and it was a lot of locals. And it's yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

It's good food, and the price I thought was fair. But that gimmick of the throw of rolls is just so much fun. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

And there was a little dude who I think is 5th generation, 4th generation at Lambert's who, uh, last name is Lambert's, and he's throwing rolls. 

Tony Barthel

Oh. 

Peggy Barthel

So, anyway, there you go. 

Tony Barthel

So this week, uh, our gadget report, we're gonna kind of bundle all this stuff back together. 

Noah Haut

Oh. 

Tony Barthel

As you know, because we said it 20 minutes ago, we have a new travel trailer. 

Peggy Barthel

We've said it a million times. 

Tony Barthel

And this travel trailer the the travel trailer that we turned in, the 2205 s, we made the decision not to keep the hitch because we had to make a modification that Rockwood didn't love us making. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

They didn't like us cutting a piece of the frame out. 

Tony Barthel

So we decided not to do that again. So we left the hitch with the 2205, and we went back to our old Camco TR 3. 

Peggy Barthel

Yes. Easelift TR 3. Easelift. Yeah. I forgot how much I like this hitch. 

Peggy Barthel

I mean, it's quiet. Yeah. It has an adjustable, um, setting based on brake material for sway. Uh, it's very easy to set up, and so we'll be using that at least for a while. 

Tony Barthel

And now, we did use that t r 3 with our lighter weight trailer, and we had just before we stopped using it, we had got bars. Then one of the kinda cool things about the t r three is with whether you have a a lighter weight trailer or a heavier weight, you just change which bars you're using. And so we had just bought new bars and then stopped using it. But those so we have fresh brand new bars Yeah. That will easily hold the tongue weight of this Right. 

Tony Barthel

No. Those are the 

Peggy Barthel

bars to compensate for the weight of the tongue of your trailer. So 

Tony Barthel

Last week, our question of the week, we asked you if you do you use your outdoor speakers? Yeah. And as I what hi, Ben. Oh, hey. It's Ben. 

Tony Barthel

That was Ben, everybody. Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

He is the owner of ABCF 

Tony Barthel

ABCF Bitters. We got, uh, like, 50 answers. Yeah. And it was it was pretty well split. You know, people use their speakers. 

Tony Barthel

And remember I asked you, like, to be nice and not start a big fight with one another. It was all very nice, and there were opinions on both sides. We use our speakers, but we try not to bother other people. You know, some people said we do that by not really going to campgrounds. And some people said we don't use them. 

Tony Barthel

We've never used them. You know, and so it's kind of what I expected. Um, as I said, I, what I did not want to see was you're a jerk because you out 

Peggy Barthel

Well, yeah. 

Tony Barthel

Your outdoor speakers. And that did not happen. Thank you very much for being kind and just having the conversation. And you know what? If you're using your outdoor speakers and you're enjoying them and you're not bothering your neighbors, keep doing that. 

Peggy Barthel

Well, and something we've seen this week, we since we're in Indiana, what are we gonna do? Look at our V's. And some of them now are coming with, uh, portable Bluetooth speakers. 

Tony Barthel

Right. And no no no outside no outside speakers in on the wall of the car. 

Peggy Barthel

No trailer has something interesting that we haven't tried out yet, speaking of speakers. But we'll we'll get to that. Not this week, but in a But 

Tony Barthel

in a while. When we get around to 

Peggy Barthel

it. Yeah. 

Tony Barthel

So our question for this week to you is, what is your, like, absolute favorite food? Not thing because there's a lot of things that could be answered. What is your favorite food at Thanksgiving? You know, what is that tradition that you can't wait till next Thanksgiving to have it again? Or do you love it so much you don't wait? 

Tony Barthel

Do you, like, have pumpkin pie every week, or do you smoke a turkey all the time? 

Peggy Barthel

And how do you keep it lit? 

Tony Barthel

Good question. 

Peggy Barthel

And then, yeah, do you do this all year long or just wait for Thanksgiving to make it extra special? Whatever it is. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. 

Peggy Barthel

So you can answer that at our fun and friendly Stressless Campers Facebook group. 

Tony Barthel

Facebook group. 

Peggy Barthel

And, you know, just there on Facebook. And I know some people are not big fans of Facebook, but we keep it friendly and the people there are really great. Boy, we had a great discussion with Brian about batteries this week. 

Tony Barthel

Yes, we did. 

Peggy Barthel

God nerdy. 

Tony Barthel

Not batteries on the front of the trailer, but Right. Little, you know, a's and double a's and c's Yeah. And all that stuff. Yeah. Really good conversation. 

Tony Barthel

If you are in the market for some new rechargeable batteries, Go check that out at It was fun. Our Stressless Campers Facebook group. 

Peggy Barthel

And did you know that we do a once a week newsletter that is absolutely, positively, and completely free? Free. 

Tony Barthel

You can sign up on the website at on any page, and at the bottom of the page, sometimes in the middle of the page, you know, sometimes it pops up and won't let you move on. No. I'm kidding. We don't 

Peggy Barthel

do that. 

Tony Barthel

We would. We don't like that. 

Peggy Barthel

You know, I mean, I'm gonna okay. Watch out. Here comes 

Tony Barthel

my soapbox. Uh-oh. 

Peggy Barthel

Here's your soapbox. There are so many websites we've been to where that's just it's almost unusable with ads and pop ups and videos playing, and on and on and on. I just wanna get what I wanna get, and that's how we have been working on Stress Less Camping, is to make it just a usable website. 

Tony Barthel

So here, we will see ads, but they're not gonna pop up in NYU and and stick you, you know, freeze you from being able to see other things. Yep. But anyway, uh, we would like for you to sign up for the newsletter if you haven't already and every week. Basically, we just write and remind you that a podcast is coming out, and then we send you videos or links or other things that we see in the RV business that we think that you would be interested in meeting. 

Peggy Barthel

Yep. And you'll find the show notes for this episode. And typically, we do a transcript too, but didn't last 

Tony Barthel

week. Always. 

Peggy Barthel

Not always. But you'll find the show notes for this episode linked, uh, at our home on the web at stresslesscamping.com, and this is episode 282. Man. Um, don't forget that's also where you'll find discounts and deals for the best deals on the things you might need to help you with your stressless camping adventure. 

Tony Barthel

And, if you know of a deal or a, you know, great thing that we don't already have access to on our website, please reach out and let us know. We have no problem building that, that page even bigger with more deals for you. 

Peggy Barthel

Yep. Um, of course, if you don't wanna miss a future episode of the Stressless Camping podcast, it is free. 

Tony Barthel

It's free to subscribe. 

Peggy Barthel

Yeah. You find it on our web on stresslesscamping.com, on whatever podcast tool you have, or even on YouTube. Oh. I know. And, of course, reviews, likes, all of that really does help spread the word. 

Peggy Barthel

So if you appreciate what we're doing, and we hope we are able to serve you well, uh, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe. 

Tony Barthel

Especially share. And as I joked with Noah earlier, uh, maybe you're gonna wanna share this with people who aren't RVers because you have some things on your wish list for the holidays that they might want to buy you, and you can send them that list and that link, and then they can find out all about those things that you want. 

Peggy Barthel

Yes. Indeed. Well, we appreciate your being here again this week. Uh, we look forward to sharing more about what's behind us in the very near future. We have this week's podcast along with the notes, stories, and so much more at our home on the web at stresslesscamping.com. 

Peggy Barthel

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so you don't miss out on the adventure. We really appreciate you being here week after week. This is our 282nd episode. Oh my gosh. So, 

Tony Barthel

uh Stressless camping. And as I what hi, Ben. Oh, hey. It's Ben. That was Ben, everybody. 

Tony Barthel

Yeah. 

Peggy Barthel

He is the 

Tony Barthel

owner of ABC Upfitters