My Grandfather and Great-Uncle toured the country in a home-built truck camper. It was basic, having no frills (TV, A/C, or other luxuries). Still, it served them for decades and was solidly built on the back of my Great Uncle’s Dodge pickup.
We never failed to have ideas for Christmas gifts to give them, even though they always said they didn’t need anything. Christmas and birthdays weren’t about “needing” anything, we’d reply. They’d just look at us and say being with us was present enough. Still, we found gifts to give and for years, we knew they took them with them because they were in use in the camper.
1. Handmade custom curtains
My mother sewed custom curtains by hand for their camper. She mixed and match fabric and dyes to produce their favorite color. When they would arrive for their annual visit, the curtains washed, dried and proudly placed back in the camper.
If you don’t sew, perhaps you have a friend that does. Custom curtains aren’t hard to make. Purchase inexpensive curtains on sale, and make your new curtains from them.
These can make a difference when traveling. Wal Mart, Home Depot, Amazon, Target and more all have gift cards redeemable throughout the country. How wonderful to have these on hand when shopping instead of hoping there are more checks in the book?
The recipient doesn’t have to use credit cards or debit cards to make a purchase. And they can send a card letting the giver know they used it to make the “perfect” purchase.
3. Prepaid Debit or Credit Card
Everyone is feeling the “pain at the pump” these days, and a Prepaid Debit or Credit Card will help with gas expenses. This helps friends and relatives visit, helps those who need to move from one job to another about and provides security. Instead of traveling with large amounts of cash to worry about, no one can peek inside a wallet.
Choose from one of many cards online, or ask your local bank for suggestions. An account that friends and relatives can load money into during the trip would be especially helpful.
The cards not only purchase gas, but campgrounds, food and more.
4. Prepaid calling cards and cell phones
Nothing sounds as good as a call from someone you’d like to hear from. If money’s a little tight for the Grandparents, a prepaid calling card allows them to call and speak to everyone.
Cell phone providers have family plans and 800 numbers so everyone can keep in contact with each other. Depending on the provider, many plans can be tailored to individual families and provide nationwide service.
5. Campground and RV club memberships
There are RV club memberships for everybody. Men, women, veterans, RV or trailer brand specific clubs (such as Teardrops, Casitas, Yellowstones, Vintage trailers and more), there is a group or club for everyone. People with like interests can get together, enjoy group discounts, tour, and have fun.
Follow this link for a list of RV and travel groups.
Campground memberships, such as those offered by the chain Jellystone Parks, are also a wonderful gift.
Discounts are available for members of different clubs, and campgrounds. A one, two or even three year membership is a welcome gift.
6. Restoration or repair manuals
Everything ages, including the best, biggest and most expensive RV’s and trailers. Out on the road, if something breaks a couple hundred miles from the nearest service center or the insurance won’t cover it, finding someone who knows how to fix it could pose a problem. If the problem is in, say, the water lines, your problem won’t wait a few days.
A generic repair manual, or better still, a manual from the manufacturer (harder to get), is a wonderful gift.
Look for repair manuals in RV supply stores, or online at places like Amazon. Check forums for the manual(s) most other RV’ers recommend- you’ll be happy you did.
7. Tool sets
Now, your RV’er may have tools, but every mechanic knows you can never have too many.
Tools such as socket-style screwdrivers and ratchet sets allow maximum use with minimum storage space. I love a little “stubby screwdriver” I bought at Wal Mart several years ago for my bicycle. The screwdriver heads fit in the handle, and the entire tool is no more than 3-4 inches long, and weighs only a few ounces. While working on the car and house, this little tool allows me to get into places longer tools can’t reach- say, that’s perfect for an RV! It costs less than $5 (including tax).
A basket or inexpensive toolbox filled with tools like this will warm the heart of any RV’er. I found sets in places like dollar stores, “Factory 2U,” Wal Mart, and more.
8. Give or make an awning
Make your RV’er a custom awning by following this link. Customize the size for the entire side of the RV, or smaller for each window. Hang solar fabric or outdoor screen fabric on the sides and create an inexpensive outdoor room.
If you’re not handy about building, RV supply stores and online shops offer awnings for specific makes and models, as well as generic awnings.
Awnings can turn Grandpa’s vintage trailer into a new camping experience.
9. New digital camera/video camera
Some of us older folks (okay, I’m still under 50 for a few weeks), still enjoy using the “old-fashioned” point-and-click cameras with film inside that needs processing. For some of us, digital cameras and gadgets seem complicated, or so small that glasses are needed to figure out which button to push.
A new digital camera geared towards simplicity, or a video camera would be a welcome gift for any RV’er. Get special pictures of trails and places few people get to see.
10. Home made gift certificates
This is something we did as kids. We had no money, so we got out crayons, glitter and anything else in my “craft box” that we could find. We made gift certificates for my Grandfather and Great Uncle who lived in their home-built truck camper.
One certificate was for a “spring cleaning”- today’s equivalent would be “detailing.” Another gift certificate was for us kids to cook a gourmet dinner, another was good for us taking on the chore of going to the grocery store for them, and so on. You get the idea.
Somehow, the grown-ups always seemed to want to redeem these certificates right in the middle of cartoons. Oh, well. There never was a clause stating cartoon time was off-limits. Of course, we didn’t know about exclusionary clauses back then- couldn’t spell it either.
One Christmas, we set to work filling a “spring cleaning” coupon- the camper insides were papered with our certificates, decorated envelops and hand-made stationery, and custom home-made wrapping paper. We were stunned. They kept every scrap. We didn’t get much under the tree that year, but we didn’t need it. Priceless is better.
No matter what you get your RV’er for a gift, only follow a few simple rules. Unless they put a dollar figure on it, spend what you can afford. Make sure it’ll fit inside the rig. Make sure it’s useful (okay, wrapping paper isn’t necessarily useful, but who defines use?)
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects and more.
