Super Easy Camping Lights

We get questions all of the time: “Where do you buy those camping lights”? They weren’t purchased, we made them! So easy, just minutes to make, a short piece of recycled 4×4 post, a couple of hand tools, an inexpensive outdoor solar powered outdoor light and a couple of deck screws. For time sake, the video shows the actual construction taking about 7 to 8 minutes, but real time it took less than 15 minutes from start to finish. Here’s how to make your own camping lights.

You’ll need 27 inches of 4×4 post to make the base. This can be purchased at a local home improvement store or if you can find a short piece to recycle, all the better. For our project, we located a piece of 4×4 that had been thrown away. It was perfect, weathered, but not rotten or full or insects. If recycled, ensuring the lack of insects is very important to not introduce into your camper storage area. You will also need a solar powered, outdoor LED light. These can be purchased at the big box home improvements stores or Walmart for less than $7.

Tools and parts required for the project:

1. Saw, hand or powered
2. Drill with screw driver attachment
3. 1/2-inch drill bit to create countersink holes halfway through the posts
4. 7/8-inch drill bit to create a hole for the light base
5. Measuring tape
6. 4 -3 inch deck screws
7. 27-inches of 4×4 post
8. Solar powered, outdoor LED light

Construction:

• Cut the posts into three pieces – a 12”, 9” and a 6”. We didn’t want our light base too tall to prevent gusty weather from blowing over.
• Countersink holes half way thru the 9” and 6” post approximately 2” from the top and bottom.
• Place the 12” post on a flat surface. Lay the 9” post on top with the countersunk holes facing up. Make sure the bottoms of the two posts are even. Now screw the 9” post to the 12” post using two deck screws.
• Lay the screwed 12” and 9” post flat. Place the 6” post on top of the 12” post with the countersunk holes facing up. Using the remaining 2 deck screws to attached the post. Again, ensure the base of the 6” post is even with the bottom of the two other posts.
• Set 3 attached posts upright. Drill a 7/8-inch whole into the top of the 12 inch post. This hole could vary depending in the size of the solar LED light base post. Depth of the hole should be around 2 to 3 inches.
• Remove the tubular post from the solar powered LED light, exposing the short base. Insert into the newly drilled 7/8-inch hole and that’s it.

Super simple. Minutes to build. Using a couple of these makes a great addition, providing patio style camping lights around your site.

Products discussed in this video

Black and Decker Cordless Drill https://amzn.to/2wVlCUX This is a very handy drill for general installations plus those quick fixes – a loose drawer, replacing cabinet screws or just minor maintenance where a good cordless drill is needed.

Not sure about what RV accessories you need as you start RV travel? Check out our RV Accessories page where we have listed a wide range of products from essential items to those “nice to have” RV products to make RV life more enjoyable. Every item listed is being used or has been used by Joan and I as we’ve traveled across the country in our RV.
 

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