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These little store-bought additions don't hold a candle to the shower enclosure/side dinette/solar roof array-type stuff that the impressively mechanically inclined members have done here, but I offer them for the folks who need/prefer off-the-shelf solutions.

My most favorite one, because it was such an elegant but simple solution, was the Lumen 3 Pack LED High Output Spotlights with Remote Control from Amazon for $22.94. These are swivel-head LED spotlights that run on three AA batteries. They are dimmable and can be run with a nifty remote control or just by using the switch on the base of the lamp. I needed a reading light solution for two because we keep the bed made and that's where we do all of our indoor recreational readiing. The lights work fabulously, just like on an airplane, and you can customize the intensity of the beam for your own visual preferences. I'm trying as much as possible to make all my battery-powered devices use AA batteries so I can use rechargables or get spares anywhere. Since the package came with three spotlights, I mounted the third under the microwave shelf directly over the cooktop. Great task lighting and the beam can be directed at the sink if you are washing dishes. The lights mount with Velcro or with wood screws and use a press fit into the mounted baseplate. I used the screws, and the mount seems pretty solid. Here are some pix of the bedside and stove mounts:

Next up in the lighting category is a portable LED lantern that I just flat fell in love with after getting over how small it is. This lantern appears to be the rebadged (Chinese manufactured) Favourlight LTC-1613AA-W, which is a desirable lamp among "flashoholics." Has an aluminum body with rubber end caps and a CREE emitter. It produces true warm white LED light, which is rare indeed if you've spent much time in the cold blue wash of freezer-cabinet LED "white" light. This little marvel puts out 110 lumens and can actually light up the inside of my 14RB all by itself so I could see to get around, get dressed or do anything in the dark of night that required light. It lights up the picnic table well enough to prepare food and eat by, and it's really cute to boot. You ought to read the workup on this lamp on the candlepower forums. It's really famous. Here's a link. Here's a couple of pix, the second gives you some sense of scale (small):

Next up are three collapsible fabric boxes with lids and a see-through window I got at Costco for $12. Two pix:

Also from Costco for $15 is a set of 7 Rubbermade liquid or food containers that have really solid sealing systems. Four of the seven containers fit nicely in the Norcold refer and are spill-proof and breakproof. Here's a photo:

A standard Sterilite 3-drawer unit fits perfectly in the small pantry door. I'm going to Velcro another tube to the top to add additional storage there.

Found a coupon for the Big 5 Sporting Goods Labor Day sale for a Westclox travel alarm that also gives you the inside temperature for $8.

And finally, I added front stabilizer jacks, purchased at Amazon for $60. Easy task for a not-so-mechanical guy at about 30 minutes. Really useful addition.

Oh, and I found a bathroom door mirror at Ikea (a four-pack, actually) for $4.99 and mounted one on the outside of the bathroom door using hollow-core door anchors and heavy duty mirror clips.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Now I need to bust out of Camp Driveway and get into the mountains.

Jim

How about that!  I'm a CPF member too but haven't been hanging out there in a while… I went on a binge and bought way too many flashlights.  3 Maratac AAAs, a Quark RGB, 3 MGs, 2 Preons, etc etc. The reading lights look way useful, but is the output fairly neutral or does it tend toward blue?

Post edited 1:25 am – January 14, 2012 by kayaknut

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Mike: The Lumen Spotlight light is bright cold white. And I got about a half dozen of those plastic tubs at a Goodwill and am using them just like you have. Since  I leave the bed up all the time, I have a couple of latch-cover plastic tubs for my food that store under the bed. I've attached non-skid strips to the bottom of the tubs to keep them from wandering about.

Julie: I have the non-skid liner under everything. And I'm planning to do exactly what you did with an additional drawer above the 3-drawer unit.

Thanks for the additional great ideas. This is a really useful, helpful forum. One of the best I've come across. It's especially kind and helpful to inexperienced newbies. Some forums are dominated by experts who really disdain newcomers.

Jim

I bought a 3-pack of those spotlights and they really do illuminate well.  Very convenient for reading.  Thanks for showing those to us!  I put one over the bed and another over the sofa.  Haven't decided what to do with #3 yet.

Thanks for the compliment, but I'm not so sure about the skill part, LOL. 

Investment, hm, I should just keep telling myself that!  At least the Maglite looks pretty ordinary at a glance, so my wife hasn't a clue how much it cost… and I don't plan to volunteer the information!  There's a good chance, though, that I'll just play with the light for a few months and then sell it… maybe lose $30 or $40 on the deal.  Although if I still lived in Michigan I would have a great reason to keep it; it would be perfect for spotting deer before they jump in front of the vehicle.  This flashlight is considerably brighter than my (very good) Highlander hi-beams.  It makes my old Mountaineer's headlights look positively sick.  

You'll have to let me know what kind of headlamp you have there.  I use a Coast LED Lenser H7 which can focus pretty well for throw, but not sure it reaches as far as yours.