Most of the major cordless tool companies have been expanding their lines to include some pretty nifty items that I have included in my Christmas wish list. Since I already have some of the tools and batteries, it only makes sense to add some toys to my camping trips.
Milwaukee has added a 18v fan https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/0886-20
and a lantern/floodlight https://www.milwaukeetool.ca/power-tools/cordless/2363-20
The lantern/floodlight can also charge a cell phone through a built in USB port. It is also available in 12v https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/2362-20
There is also a great 12v vacuum for those quick clean ups when company is coming over https://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless/0850-20
Unlike most camping accessories, these "tools" come with a 5 year warranty.
I have been seeing contractor type radios at campsites for years. It only makes sense that these accessories can join in on the camping fun.
Late last year I bought a cordless chainsaw. I found it on Amazon as a discontinued or factory refurbished Ryobi model for less than $70.
We camp in less developed USFS, NP or state campgrounds and in all of these you are allowed to pick up downed wood. I have never camped where I couldn't find some, but I must admit I sometimes had to drag it back a 1/4 mile to the campsite. It just goes against my nature to buy wood at the check in, although I admit to doing it once or twice.
The cordless saw makes it easy cut it up into fire pit size logs. It has a lithium battery and holds enough charge for a couple of days of camping. I need to figure a way to recharge while camping, maybe with a small inverter off of the TV.
I had been doing this with a small hand camping saw, but I just got tired of that and the electric one makes quick work out of that chore.
I know that chainsaws are prohibited in most campgrounds, but this one is so quiet it stays under the radar.
David
I have long been a fan of Ryobi's 18v One+ tools, and actually have darned near one of everything they make. We currently carry 2 of their LED lanterns for outside lights, and a nut driver for putting the stabjacks up/down.
I never considered bringing the chainsaw. David, is that the 18v, or the 40v ? I have both - the 18v I have found you only get around 20 cuts on big wood (12" or so). The 40v I have used to dismantle entire trees. It goes a good hour or more of continuous cutting, and I've cut 24" rounds with ease. With 3 fully charged batteries, I can do a lot of cutting and may never fire up my gas saw again.
I also use the 18v sawzall for general limb trimming and such. Much better than the 18v chainsaw for this, battery lasts a lot longer and can do a lot of cutting through about 8". And the 18v pole saw is just a sawzall on a telescoping pole. Since they all use the same batteries, I may well take along the sawzall when we finally end up in a USFS campground.
I think one of the reasons they don't like chainsaws is not only the noise, but people cutting down trees or limbs in the campground for firewood. The Oregon state parks (the only ones with which I am familiar) do not allow collecting firewood, even downed wood (though I've cleaned up some small downed branches for kindling - shhhhh!)
We don't bring along a radio while camping. I think we've used the stereo in the trailer once, just to make sure it works. Probably still tuned to local weather from wherever we were. I will admit to putting the iphone on Pandora's Count Basie channel from time to time.
Mine is the 18V model, and you are right it doesn't last long. But even at a couple of dozen cuts, that is enough firewood for a couple of nights. I get more cuts with rotted wood and as you say only a dozen or two with relatively fresh wood of 6-8".
I will have to measure the current draw of the charger and maybe I can power it with a 150 watt inverter. We usually only camp for two nights in one place and it would be easy to plug in an inverter to the TV to power the charger while moving to the next campsite.
David
that fan is pretty nice, as are the lights.
I've been keeping an eye out for one of the newer mini sawzalls. Something like this http://amzn.to/1T1vZtC. Part of me wants to get a 12v model so that I could "hack" one of the batteries and run it off the trailer battery while at camp. I figure if I'm trying to take out something that the saw cant handle, then its probably too big for the fire anyways.
[font size="3"]Keep in mind the 18V version will work much better than the 12V version. I've upgraded my tools to 18V and am really impressed with their performance vs the older 12V tools. If you want to use them on the road you can a) buy an additional battery, b) use a 12V to 18V boost inverter, c) use a small 12V to 120V inverter and the OEM charger.
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Dont get me wrong...I love my 18v tools and I know that in all honesty that a 12v sawzall isnt going to do much. However I dont see it needing to do much more than light weight deadfall material. Plus I was really thinking of the simplicity of using it off a standard 12v system rather than dealing with chargers, or converters.
It pays dividends to compare the strokes of recip saws. Recip saws are the real power hogs of the cordless tool line-up. My Dewalt one is the last tool remaining in a set I bought 11 years ago. It just won't die and it is used every work day.
Makita has the efficiency medal at the moment. The amount of work I get done with their impact driver is double that of Dewalt's with more torque to boot. I constantly don that impact driver. It gets 8 hours of steel working most every day. More rpm's, ipm's and torque. I get around 18 months from one of those.
Efficiency today is won by tools with brushless motors. Using the same battery, a brushless tool can gain an easy 30% run time.
Most "tool company" lights and lanterns have switched to LED and have several settings. Depending on the amp size of battery, a lanter can last an entire weekend without charge.
The large tool companies all have AC/DC or 12v chargers. Much more expensive, but it may be worth the expence.
I found the easiest way to double my battery life is to buy a second battery.
I received the Milwaukee M18 lantern for Christmas and I can't wait for the campgrounds to open here. On it's brightest setting, it may be able to light up the entire site :D
This would be cool gear to take to the campground! (Its aluminum too!)
[video size="large" src="https://youtu.be/uxBlT1HcyZY"][/video]
And here it is at a campground!
[video src="https://youtu.be/Rml7wkKx5t4" size="large"][/video]
Ouch , 1300 bucks + Drill for it ?
http://www.dpxsystems.com/shopping/dpx-drill-powered-aluminum-mini-bike/
[quote source="/post/17827/thread" timestamp="1453002893" author="@clyde"]Ouch , 1300 bucks + Drill for it ?
http://www.dpxsystems.com/shopping/dpx-drill-powered-aluminum-mini-bike/
[/quote]But its aluminum. 8-) and money grows on trees and you only live once and you can't take it with you (the money that is) and besides those dewalt drills are really high quality...
Dewalt Safety Video about being careful with hand tools:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BerZ4M-yng