Hot Outdoor Recreation How-Tos


How To: How the Hookup or Connect a Battery to Your Camper or RV
Video: . This video will show you how to connect the positive and ground wire on the battery of your RV or camping trailer.

How To: Tie an Icicle Hitch knot
Learn how to tie an Icicle Hitch - A superb gripping knot that strongly resists slipping, stainless steel or other smooth surfaces, when the pull is parallel to the object to which it is tied. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Use the Honda TRX 250X SportClutch - What Does It Do
This video will explain what the Honda TRX 250X, 250 EX SportClutch does and how to use it. This video will help to answer what does the Honda SportClutch do; do I need to know how to use a manual clutch to ride the 250X, or is it an automatic. We answer these questions in this video for you.

How To: Tie a permanent knot
This is not magic but a very useful and very easy way to tie two pieces of rope together without them ever slipping apart. This simple how-to shows how to tie two pieces of rope together without them ever coming apart. This could be very helpful for sailing or anything you need to tie a knot.

How To: Tie a twisted dropper loop fisherman's knot
Know your knots! Learn how to tie a twisted dropper loop knot with this free video tutorial. The twisted dropper loop is great for fishing line and requires about 10 twists to get the right feel. For an easy-to-follow, step-by-step overview of how to tie this useful fisherman's knot in a minute's time or less, watch this free video knot tyer's guide.

How To: Set up a tent when camping outdoors
In order to set up a tent, for a camping trip, you'll need to lay out all of the parts of the tent. Place the poles at the end of the tent. Work on opposite sides. Inserting the pole on both sides. It may be easier with two people. Once you insert the pole, then you'll need to snap it, fastening all the snaps. After you have completed this step, lay the fly over the tent. Snap it in place, in all four corners. Make sure that sides are below the mesh. Now, you can stake the tent. Staking the t...

How To: Tie a cleat hitch
Need help with your knots? Ann and Matt from BoatUS teach new boaters how to tie a cleat hitch at the dock. Know your knots and practice tying a cleat hitch knot by watching this instructional knot tying video. Improve your skills and tie knots like a pro.

How To: Keep Mosquitoes & Other Annoying Bugs Away from Your Campfire or Backyard Fire Pit
I'll be honest—I've never been a huge fan of camping. It's not that I have anything against nature, I'm just partial to showering and sleeping in my own bed. In fact, the only part of camping I've ever really enjoyed is sitting around a campfire. Outdoor fires are perfect for socializing and cooking hot dogs, but they're also great at helping remove one of camping's biggest annoyances.

How To: Clean your skateboard griptape
In this tutorial, we learn how to clean your skateboard grip tape. To do this, you will need: window cleaner, an old toothbrush, and paper towels. After this, you will spray the area with the window cleaner and then scrub it with the toothbrush. Scrub it until it comes up clean and there is no dirt left on the surface. From here, you will need to use the paper towels to clean the residue off of your board. Make sure to dry it off completely so you don't waterlog your board. do this to all the...

How To: Remove and install the gears on a mountain bike easily
If you need to replace the spokes on your rear wheel, change the gearing, replace certain parts, or just clean it, this video is going to show you how to do just that.

How To: Make an All-Night Campfire with Just One Log
The next time you're out camping, whether it's outdoors in the wilderness or right outside in your own backyard, try this hack out for an effortless campfire all night long. While there is definitely some prep work involved, it's well worth it if you don't need a huge bonfire, and more so if you plan on cooking meals over the flames.

How To: Remove a turkey tail fan
In this tutorial, we learn how to remove a turkey tail fan. Get the tail fan and spread it out, then hold the secondary tail fans and cut the tail fans out. You will want to cut at the base of the turkey where the but is, skinning a little bit to get it out. The removal should be pretty quick and simple. Before you do this, you should prepare the turkey by hanging it upside down on a tree. Keep the tail fan in borax powder until you're able to properly store it to make a trophy out of it. Thi...

How To: Chop through dense forests with a machete
In this video, Chopping It Up, we see how some men camping and scouting in the remote central Brazilian jungle hack their way through the thick brush with machetes. We watch as they clear a path to the top of a mountain. It's a lot of work! We're told how they identified a route where the need for hacking would be minimized, on an old trail. The problem, however, is the sunlight on an old trail causes it to get choked up with vines and other thick growth. To clear the path with the machetes, ...

How To: Lash a bamboo tripod
In this tutorial, we learn how to lash a bamboo tripod. First, you will tie a clove hitch by taking one piece of bamboo and wrapping the rope around it, then crossing the two sides of the string together to make a hitch. Next, you will secure the clove hitch around the third piece of bamboo. Now, you will rap all the pieces of bamboo together with the rope. Continue to do this until all the pieces feel secure together. Wrap the rope several times around each of the pieces, then wrap it in the...

How To: Secure a Kayak on Car or SUV Using J Bar Roof Rack
Video: . This video will show you how to secure your kayak to a J bar roof rack carrier.

How To: Tie a "bowyers knot"
Watch this quick and simple video showing you how to tie a "bowyers knot" in a string ready to fit to your longbow.

How To: Check Transmission Fluid Level on a Honda TRX 450R
This tutorial will show you how to check the transmission fluid level on a Honda TRX 450R ATV

How To: Tie fishing jigs
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie fishing jigs. First, go through the eye of the jig with your thread, then make a fisherman's knot making seven to eight turns. Now, go through the loop with the end of the string and pull it tight. Then, cut the end off and make sure you have four to five feet of lead left. You can put a swivel on the end of it, then tie another fisherman's knot. When finished, this will go to your main line on your other rod and you will be ready to go! This is easy to m...

How To: Tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot
This video tutorial is in the Outdoor Recreation category which will show you how to tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot. Weld less rings are used as connection points for a variety of purposes. However, riggers quite often make tying a ring unnecessarily complicated. All that is required is a basic knot and a few hitches. For this you will need to tie the running overhand knot. Take a rope, bend it in half and tie it to a suspension point. Now pass both ends of the rope through the r...

How To: Tie a spinner bait on a fishing line
Spinner bait are good for attracting and catching bass when fishing. In order to have the lure and the bait working correctly when using this type of bait, you will have to attach the bait directly to the lure. This can be done using the improved fisherman knot. After threading the line through the bait, you should leave about 6-8 inches of line to tie the knot. Begin by making about 5 twists around the line and then thread the line through the hole created below the twists. After threading t...

How To: Tie the Miller's Knot (bag or sack knot)
In order to tie a Miller's Knot, which is also known as the bag or sack knot, you should begin by wrapping the rope around the object you wish to bind: the Miller's knot is a binding knot. It is used to bind things. Next, wrap one of the free ends around it. You are, basically, wrapping one end around a second time.

How To: Start a fire without kindling
You don't need a stock pile of kindling to hold the flame and really get your fire started. There are a variety of creative yet effective substitutes. Leftover chips from lunch, an extra toilet paper roll, these are only a few ideas on how to start your next fire.

How To: Seal and waterproof the belt housing on a Can-am
John Cannon shows you how to remove and seal your belt housing on a Can-am to make it waterproof.

How To: Adjust a Hayes sole brake
The Hayes sole brake is a type of sophisticated brake that has only one break pad instead of two. It thus requires different techniques to adjust it, and this video demonstrates that technique so that you can do it yourself if you are lucky enough to have a mountain bike so equipped.

How To: Tie a Prusik knot to secure a loop to a tight line
The Prusik knot is a great versatile outdoor knot, boating knot, or paddling knot, and is used widely throughout each. Mountain climbing is a big user of this knot. You can use this knot to secure a loop to a tight line. Also great for hitching boats.

How To: Tan a cow hide
Preparing a cow hide can be a bit trocky if you don't know how to do it properly. Lucky for you, that's what we're here for! Watch this two part tutorial on how to properly tan a cow hide. Enjoy!

How To: Rig a YUM craw bug fishing bait with Alton Jones
This video demonstrates how to correctly rig a YUM Craw Bug by 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Alton Jones. This is a great, realistic looking crawfish bait that's best for catching bass.

How To: Change Transmission Fluid Oil Honda TRX 450R
This tutorial will show you how to change the transmission fluid on a Honda TRX 450R

How To: Use a propane tree to operate a camp stove and light
In this tutorial, we learn how to use a propane tree to operate a camp stove. Start off with your propane tree that connects together simply. Attach this to the propane adapter so you can use the propane for both the stove and lantern. The lantern will be able to stay on around 10 minutes with the tree. Next, connect the eight foot adapter to the propane tree and place it on an attachment into the stove to use for heat. It only takes about five minutes to hook all of this up, and it will maxi...

How To: Do a foot plant on a skateboard
The foot plant is one of the easiest and most basic types of plant tricks to perform. You simply stand on a spine with one foot, hold the board by the trucks, then drop back in! This video demonstrates the trick and teaches you how to perform it yourself, adding some flair to any spine transfers you may be aiming to perform.

How To: Pop out the 6MM bearing spacer from your wheels
This is a quick look at how to get a 6MM bearing spacer out of a aggressive rollerblade wheel.

How To: Rig a 9-inch slug-go lure for fishing greatness
Steve walks us through rigging a 9" Slug-go. You can't deny that he knows what he's talking about. You just can't. See it in this two-part video.

How To: Rig a saltwater fishing pole
Take your fishing line and run it through the guides on the fishing pole. Of course, for you beginners, start at the bottom as the line in on the reel and work up. While doing this, release your bail. After you have finished running the line, pull the bail back over. This keeps the line from running out. Now we are going to do a overhand loop by making a loop which doubles the line. Make an overhand knot, about 8 inches up from the lower loop. You will twist the loop and then run the double l...

How To: Tie the basic knot design of a cargo net
In this video, we learn how to tie the basic knot design of a cargo net. First, tie a double overhand knot on a rope bent into two. After this, make cow hitching on the first loop that you created. Next, make a second double overhand knot followed by cow hitching the second loop. After you do this, you will be able to size up for use! To make this, you must have some prior knowledge of how to tie different knots. If you don't, you won't know how to make the shapes. Use a picture as a referenc...

How To: Rig a crankbait
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to rig a crankbait. It is so named because it floats on the water and does nothing until the crank is turned. The turning of the crank provides the action to the bait and attracts fish to it. To rig it, there is an attachment point on the diving lip of the crankbait; it can be a small hole for the line to be passed through or a split ring to attach the line. Tie the line to the lip with a clinch knot and you are in business. In case...

How To: Pan for gold in a lake
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to pan for gold in a lake. You will need the sand that you mined for gold. Put some sand in a pan, put water in the pan and mix it with your hands. Then stir the pan underwater. Loosen the sand with your fingers and keep stirring the pan. Gold being heavy, this will make the gold to settle down at the bottom of the pan and the dirt will remain on top. Then give the pan a good shake and tap it at the bottom. Now you pan the dirt out....

How To: Fully take apart a BMX bike
BMX is one of the most coolest sports out there and features some of the most difficult and dangerous tricks out there. So, if the time ever comes where you need to take apart your BMX bike piece-by-piece, you'll know how to do it thanks to this two part tutorial. Enjoy!

How To: Tie a simple crappie jig for fishing
Looking to do some fishing this weekend? Take a look at this instructional video and learn how to tie a simple crappie jig. This is one of the easier patterns to start off with for those with no fly tying experience.

How To: Bundle up prusik cords
What do you do with your prusik cords so that you can continue to climb or travel? Learn how to bundle up your prusik cords so that they're easier to manage and carry.

How To: Prepare a deer skull for mounting in the European style
You just shot a beautiful buck and you'd like to add his skull to your wall of trophies. If you're looking to mount the deer skull in the European style, take a look at this walkthrough and learn how to prepare the skull through boiling, degreasing, and bleaching.