Weight saving ideas - dual purpose "stuff"

delicagirl

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i am redoing my spreadsheet for weight ready for the next trip. i am trying to be ruthless and looking at each item and thinking - does this have at least one use? is it really essential?

have our community got some interesting dual-triple-purpose items in their vans?

Tips for getting weight down.... thank you
 
To be a "Motor Caravan" you have to have a table that can be fixed to a wall or floor. So I added a pole mount to a standard 4-legged folding table.
Now I have a table that can be fixed in position; freestanding inside the camper; OR used outside to save having indoor AND outdoor tables. It is also a plastic table that is a LOT lighter than a wooden one of the same size.

Not sure how is going to work, but took a look at the cooking stuff in TK Maxx (thanks for the tip, Marie :) ) and bought a medium sized Wok that I think will do double-duty as a high-sided frying pan (hells with splashing) AND as a saucepan. Not all at the same time of course, but cuts down on cookware.

General weight.
How much water do you really need to carry? Most here seem to carry 100+L as a minimum? I have 2 X 25L containers and I don't think I have ever used just one of them completely. And it would not have been hard to refill at every place I have been anyway.
 
String = multi purpose.

Hanging rod in shower = wardrobe rail,

Steaming pan = colander.
 
wildebus said:
To be a "Motor Caravan" you have to have a table that can be fixed to a wall or floor. So I added a pole mount to a standard 4-legged folding table.
Now I have a table that can be fixed in position; freestanding inside the camper; OR used outside to save having indoor AND outdoor tables. It is also a plastic table that is a LOT lighter than a wooden one of the same size.

Not sure how is going to work, but took a look at the cooking stuff in TK Maxx (thanks for the tip, Marie :) ) and bought a medium sized Wok that I think will do double-duty as a high-sided frying pan (hells with splashing) AND as a saucepan. Not all at the same time of course, but cuts down on cookware.

General weight.
How much water do you really need to carry? Most here seem to carry 100+L as a minimum? I have 2 X 25L containers and I don't think I have ever used just one of them completely. And it would not have been hard to refill at every place I have been anyway.
Click to expand...

my table is very heavy and i have frequently thought about replacing it with a lighter one... but it forms the bed base if i sleep downstairs in the winter, and i enjoy it for my laptop of writing... this winter i will sleep in the cab and see if i actually need to sleep downstairs again (i have double insulated the cab and have not taken in out in winter conditions since then)

i am looking at my water weight as we speak....
 
A proper carpenter

delicagirl said:
my table is very heavy and i have frequently thought about replacing it with a lighter one... but it forms the bed base if i sleep downstairs in the winter, and i enjoy it for my laptop of writing... this winter i will sleep in the cab and see if i actually need to sleep downstairs again (i have double insulated the cab and have not taken in out in winter conditions since then)

i am looking at my water weight as we speak....
Click to expand...

Will be able to advise if you can lighten up the table with
MDF
Ply and strengthening slats
Or ???

For ideas look in a kitchen shop but I appreciate normal kitchen worktops are too heavy
 
delicagirl said:
my table is very heavy and i have frequently thought about replacing it with a lighter one... but it forms the bed base if i sleep downstairs in the winter, and i enjoy it for my laptop of writing... this winter i will sleep in the cab and see if i actually need to sleep downstairs again (i have double insulated the cab and have not taken in out in winter conditions since then)

i am looking at my water weight as we speak....
Click to expand...

Given heat rises, would the overcab sleeping area not actually be warmer anyway and so nicer in Winter?

Might have been suggested before but you could drill/route loads of holes in the table/bed base without compromising its strength in any significant way - giving you both a good weight saving AND improved ventilation under the mattress. (use table cloth over holey table if you don't want to see holes)
FWIW, I use the IKEA Bed Slats as a mattress support. maybe covers 1/3rd of the total mattress area and are very light as well considering their purpose.
 
Last edited:
wildebus said:
Given heat rises, would the overcab sleeping area not actually be warmer anyway and so nicer in Winter?

Might have been suggested before but you could drill/route loads of holes in the table/bed base without compromising its strength in any significant way - giving you both a good weight saving AND improved ventilation under the mattress. (use table cloth over holey table if you don't want to see holes)
FWIW, I use the IKEA Bed Slats as a mattress support. maybe covers 1/3rd of the total mattress area and are very light as well considering their purpose.
Click to expand...

it may well be warmer now that i have insulated it. When i was in Scotland a couple of years back in winter at -6 with no insulation i needed to sleep downstairs so i could reach the gas fire from my bed and switch it on before getting up.
 
Is your Deli like mine, and have separate front and rear aircon systems?
If so, and they dont work, and you wont ever need them again, you could strip out the compressor, radiator, piping, airbox etc.
Dave.
 
Madam has already made a good start in weight loss department, 11 Kilos.

She is down from 71 to 62 since christmas and is as fit and speedy as a greased racing snake.

Dezi
 
Chuck your mattress out and use a self inflating mattress, save loads of weight and volume and can be very comfortable.
 
Ruthless eh?

Nitrogen in the tyres, air out.
Weigh wheels change to steel if alloys are lighter, or vice versa.
Spare wheel, out it goes, along with the jack and tools.
Run on bald tyres, tread weighs kgs.
Balance weights (if any) remove.
Keep oils and coolant at minimum levels.
Any radio, or headset dedicated satnav.etc, out, you can get everything via internet on the phone.
As for books? well enough said.
Carry only as much fuel as strictly necessary, phone will show fuel stations at destination.
Carry no water, with a bit of planning bound to be a supermarket source at journeys end,
might as well remove the water tank itself.
Grey water tank, out that goes, hose or basin (bean can better) straight out on wherever.
Leisure battery, obviously out, the starter will be more than enough.

Pots and pans.... sling out. Buy as much canned grub as possible, you can heat beans and the like in the
opened can. Dehydrated food when you fancy a slap up feed, but only after a can or 2 becomes available.
Toaster, ridiculous item, bread can be toasted over stove stuck on the end of a lightweight aluminium camping fork.
Kettle? What's wrong with an empty bean can.
Cups, yep the old bean can does it.
Fridge, out it goes. With canned food only carried, it's entirely unnecessary.

Could go on with suggesting more weight saving tips, but I have an idea they won't be appreciated!
 
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