And so our next boondocking vacation begins! Maps of free camping areas are downloaded and printed out for the Sedona, AZ area, everything is ready to go, the Jeep is loaded up and ready to attach to the tow bar, and we leave in the morning!
First stop is the Flying J in Phoenix to gas up, propane up, and dump the grey water tanks. Then its off we go! Should be a great time!
3 weeks until we have to be at our next faire in Oklahoma...going to try to arrive there on April 27th. So for a week or so we'll be boondocking near Sedona and exploring the town, then we'll slowly head east. Gonna check out the meteor crater along I-40, and of course see the Petrified Forest and a place called the painted desert...not sure if its THE painted desert...just saw it on the map today...but it will be fun no matter what!
Kev
YEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Think its Red Planet Diner... was on main drag in Sedona.. Best hand mixed sodas... they blend the syrups in to order with flavors etc... total tacky alien themed... yummo food...
Tina
Did Someone say "Aliens"!?!?! :)
Just enjoying our morning coffee before hitting the road. Should be out of camp and hooking up the Jeep by around 9am, then its off to the Flying J. Supposed to get VERY hot today in the valley, up in the 90s, so we are hoping to get to higher ground before it gets too hot. Only supposed to be in the 70s in Sedona today! Woohoo!
Kev
56 here right now, clear and sunny, about 45 mi. ss/w of Sedona.
I've been to the painted desert and petrified forest when I was about 13yo. It's beautiful there
Your in for a real treat!!!
The Crater (They have a nice museum too)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthenetbytes.com%2FPIX%2FFamily%2520Pics%2F2000%2FMeteor%2520Crater%2FC63.JPG&hash=64d11d7b963a9c1a062e7c4167bde633e4d849fe)
The painted desert (My camera did not catch the colors!!!)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthenetbytes.com%2FPIX%2FFamily%2520Pics%2F2000%2FPainted%2520Desert%2F10.JPG&hash=5da5a173c96ef0e731bed28768608686a2b697d8)
Petrified Forest
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthenetbytes.com%2FPIX%2FFamily%2520Pics%2F2000%2FPetrified%2520Forest%2F17.JPG&hash=bbc861155d1aad0ef91912c13a937b5e7f673f36)
On I40 outside the petrified forest is a rather peculiar rock shop. 10 years ago or so they use to have mannequins and fake dinosaurs out front of the shop, later they added an ostrich farm. I always stop and stock up on rocks for my aquariums. The place is called Stewart's. :D
Safe arrival at the Cococino National Forest campground, the Pine Flat campground, along 89A North. About 14 miles north of Sedona, and 14 miles south of Flagstaff. We'll be here for 7 days, so that works out great! We'll be able to check out both towns before moving on to the Crater/Painted Desert/Petrified Forest area for another week of adventure.
Today we are just hanging out and staying warm in the RV...we are 5500 feet, and its darn chilly today, in the low 50s. I drove the Jeep to Flagstaff this morning to get smokes, and its at 7000 feet or thereabouts, and most if it is gained in the first 4 miles of leaving this campground. VERY steep 7% grade of switchbacks. Remember the Long, Long Trailer? Yeah, its like that! Patti will be following in the Jeep for those first 4 miles until we crest the mountain. There is a pulloff at the top where I can pull over and hook the Jeep back up to the tow bar.
We decided to stay here at the National Forest campground because the so called free camping in the Sedona area is all designed for tents. No way to get an RV in there...at all. So we drove on, picked up 89A north, and luckily found this nice little campground. Not too expensive though at all...just 9 bucks a day with the Senior Access Pass. 7 day limit, which also works out perfectly!
Got the catalytic heater running, and am about to start reading a new book written by an ex CIA operative called, The Snubby Revolver...started it a couple of days ago. Looks like it will be a good read!
Kev
Cold, windy, and raining today, so we are in for the day.
Very windy here.
I checked where you are staying on Google Maps and did a little drive through the countryside on StreetView of Google Maps. I sure don't envy you on your departure from Pine Flat. That is one curvy, steep, climb to Flagstaff. But the view is magnificent. Enjoy your vacation. Wish I was there.
100 ft el. gain. per mile to Flagstaff (14mi). Beautiful up there.
Don't miss the crator. I was shocked by the size of it and the impact story. ???
Quote from: ClydesdaleKevin on March 27, 2013, 11:08 PM
Sorry about my lack of posts and how boring they have been. Very busy over here! Last weekend of faire coming up, so I'll have more free time to post coming up shortly. After this weekend, we'll still be here building catapults and doing RV and Jeep road prep stuff, and then its a boondocking vacation for a couple of weeks where I can have more time to post. My plan was to go to Tonto National Forest...Patti wants to check out Sedona, which means that is probably where we go...lol!
Be patient my friends...it will get more interesting soon! No matter where we end up!
Kev
Looks like Patti won out on destination. :angel: I'm sure the lack of posts is that Kevin is out of Internet range. i?? Surely he isn't having so much fun exploring the wonders of nature that he has pushed us aside. However, Kevin "withdrawal" is a serious condition that could require rehab or counseling. :'( Come on, Kevin, give us an update and maybe some pictures. At least post some pictures to your Photobucket account.
LOL Dan! Pictures will have to wait, since our internet connection here is spotty and slow at best. The Pine Flat camp host said we are lucky that we are using Verizon, since its the only service that works at all out here. We are taking a lot of pictures though...its beautiful around here!
The day before yesterday Patti and I took a drive up to Flagstaff, and drove around checking out the town. Pretty nice Alpine atmosphere, and lots of gun shops to explore...lol! In fact, at the last gun shop we stopped in Patti noticed me drooling over a Cobra Firearms .38 Special over and under derringer with a brushed nickel finish and nice walnut grips. Only 150 bucks new, but I wasn't about to buy it on vacation...but she bought it for me...SWEET! I can't wait to fire it at the gun range in Oklahoma. Definitely an extreme close quarters kind of gun, but looks like fun to shoot!
We also walked around the Flagstaff Mall, and stopped in a Visionworks that was having a big glasses sale. I haven't had an eye exam in 6 years and my glasses are pretty scratched up by now, so the exam was cheap (my eyes haven't changed much in 6 years thankfully), and a pair of Aviator type frames with yellow polycarbonite lenses was pretty cheap as well and they made them on the spot. They can't do glass lenses there, so I got the one pair...which will make great shooting and driving glasses...and will wait until Muskogee or New York and drop off my frames that I have to be fit with new glass photogrey lenses in my current perscription.
Yesterday we went to Sedona and walked around the town all day. I think even the restaurants try to sell you time shares...geesh! A lot of touristy crap, but the food was good at the Cowboy Lounge...I think that was what its called anyways...we have pictures.
The views in Sedona are incredible, and we got a lot of free maps to get to the so called Vortexes today, and some Indian ruins with petroglyphs. Dirt roads to most of them, but we have a Jeep!
So that is today's plan...we are loading up the pups and a picnic lunch, and going on a Jeep adventure! The plan is to drive to all 4 vortexes today, but we'll see how much time we have.
Pine Flat campground is spectacular. The towering cliffs with their spires on either side of us, the trout brook bubbling outside the RV, the swaying Ponderosa Pines rising above, and the nest of Bald Eagles in the heights sure make this one of the prettiest places we've been so far!
And amazingly, even with the limited sunlight through the trees and the abreviated daylight from the cliffs, the solar power system is keeping up with out demands. 2 nights in a row we have brought the batteries down to 12.4 volts, and by the end of the day they have been fully charged. SWEET!
Okay folks. Time to feed the pups their breakfast, take the rear seat out of the Jeep so they'll be comfy in the back, and then off we go in search of the mysterious vortexes and Indian ruins!
Kev
Oh, What a relief. Thanks for the update. I can skip rehab today! You know we are right there with you looking over your shoulder.
We had a great time with the pups yesterday...although my Jeep is now FULL of dog hair...lol! We drove the Jeep out to the first vortex off of Dry Creek road, and hiked as far as the Cochino Woman...where Sheba made it clear she had had enough of climbing and hiking up the steep trails...lol! So we hiked back down and had a picnic lunch with the pups, who were delighted to get an extra meal. Then we drove the Jeep out to the local native american petroglyphs and cliff dwellings...and long rough dirt road, but hey, we have a Jeep YJ! Got out there, and found out pets aren't allowed. The cliff dwelling side was already closed for the day, but the petroglyphs were still open, so Patti and I left the pups in the Jeep and checked them out...it was a short hike. Then we drove to another of the so called vortexes on Airport Road and hiked up with the dogs...a load of bunk if you ask me, but the view was spectacular and many pictures were taken! Then it was back to camp. By the time we got home, the dogs were too pooped to poop! Talk about sleeping dogs...lol! Today we are taking them up to Slide Rock State Park...another picnic too. They are loving all the extra puppy play time!
Kev
Yesterday ended up being a rest day for both Patti and Sheba...and today we were supposed to go to Slide Rock State Park...which also didn't happen. Today ended up being a "fix it" day! First I decided to fill the freshwater tank from a 3.5 gallon bucket hauled from the nearest faucet...which is powered by fresh spring water. 63 gallons later, it was full. While this was going on, I decided to fire up the genny and fully charge the batteries, which have been down to around 12.1 volts in the morning lately and not fully charging in the bad sun...not bad for the first time running the genny, surrounded by cliffs and under the shade, in 6 days! So in between filling...waiting for the water pump to transfer the water from the bucket to our holding tank...I worked on the genny. Wanted to start, but wouldn't stay running. Adjusted it to our current altitude and turned the spring loaded bowl screw in, and got it running fine. Tested the volts before plugging in the RV, and it was at 168 volts! Idle too high. Adjusted it down to 124 volts, the lowest it would go. Plugged in the converter and let the batteries charge...and found the Boondocker converter wasn't working. Got it to work after fiddling with it and unplugging it several times. Charging at 13.2 volts...good. Cabinet door broke going to the power compartment...glue and bungee cords repaired it, so now its drying to be reinstalled in the morning. Late afternoon when all was said and done, and leaving before noon tomorrow. Batteries fully charged now at least, and everything working the way it should.
A quick packdown of the Jeep in the morning, and then Patti is going to drive it up the steep switchbacks while I follow in the rig. We'll hook up at the top of the mountain, then its smooth sailing after that.
Next stop, Meteor Crater!
Kev
I got to see meteor crater when I was in high school. Pretty neat. Have fun, it is fun for me to follow along with your adventures!
Coffee is almost done, then its time for the packdown. I have to reinstall the repaired cabinet door as well, but that will only take a minute.
I'm a little nervous about driving up the steep switchbacks, but at least I won't be towing the Jeep up them. Over 1000 feet of gain in less than 3 miles...oi vey! And tight windee switchbacks overlooking deep gorges. If the rig makes it up them with no problems, I won't be afraid to take the rig almost anywhere after this!
After that its another 9 miles or so until we pick up I-17 North to Flagstaff, and mile or so after that to pick up I-40 East, and then less than 60 miles after that to Winslow, AZ to the nearest Flying J to fill up the gas and dump the grey water. It also happens to be the same exit for Meteor Crater.
We are going to bite the bullet and stay in the Meteor Crater RV Park with full hookups for a couple of days, only because its right there and convenient. There aren't any state parks or national forests close enough otherwise.
After a day or so there, its off to see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. Going to probably stay at another RV park, since there isn't any RV camping at either state park. Ah well...thems the breaks!
I want to be all settled into camp before 6pm tonight...going to try to snipe some full soft doors for our Jeep on eBay, and the auction ends around then.
Alrighty then! Time to get started on the packdown!
Kev
QuoteIf the rig makes it up them with no problems, I won't be afraid to take the rig almost anywhere after this!
It'll make it!!! When going up hills in my 72 I use to play Puff n Toot on the radio....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgOx8w_3Bzw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgOx8w_3Bzw)
Going back down the hills trying not to burn up your brakes is way more fun than going up!!! Hm?
Keep a close eye on the temp If you have to run in the lower gears They tend to heat up fast with slow air circulation thru the rad & Trans temp also Frank
The big mountain switch backs were a piece of cake! Patti left before me to meet me at the top in the Jeep...she's afraid of heights and just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible without being stuck behind me...lol!
As soon as I hit the base of the climb I hit the switch on my dash to power on the radiator fans and transmission cooling fans, put the transmission in 1st gear, and rode up the whole way in 1st going 15 mph tops. Could have went faster, but didn't even have to open up the secondaries in first, and the road is super narrow and the turns sharp! Made it to the top no problem, engine temp never hotter than 190, transmission temp never hotter than 170...SWEET!
At the top, I passed Patti pulled over, and drove on to a pull-off a couple miles down the road, and hooked up the Jeep. Then drove with Patti all the way to Flagstaff on 89A, then picked up 17 North, then 40 West...and onwards towards Winslow, AZ and the Meteor Crater.
That is when we got hit with the biggest gust of wind I have ever encountered, driving 55! It almost knocked me off the road completely! Never experienced anything like it. Slowed down to 40mph!
40mph all the way to Exit 255 and the Flying J, where we fueled up and dumped the grey tank.
A quick backtrack to Exit 253 and the Walmart and we bought some groceries, etc.
Then we backtracked to Exit 233, again 40mph all the way, where the Meteor Crater and the RV park is.
And thus we are safely moored in the RV park, wind rocking the rig, and Patti quite happy that we get channel ABC here so she can watch her favorite show, Once Upon A Time, tonight.
Going to rest the rest of the night, then check out the Crater and museum tomorrow, then hit the road the next day to check out the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and stay in an RV park near there...over 45 miles away, which is too far to leave the pups for adventuring.
Okay...gotta go! Have to get back to eBay to score my soft doors for the Jeep YJ! Going off soon!
Kev
Score! I was hoping to pay less, but got them for 60 bucks less than my maximum bid I was willing to pay (300 bucks). 240 was a very fair price to pay for me to have lightweight doors in the back that I can put on in a pinch if Patti is cold or doesn't want her hair messed up if the hardtop is off and all we are running is the bimini top...or if it starts raining like heck and its windy. Still have to get the so called "windbreaker" from Smittybilt or the so called "windjammer" from Bestop to seal of the passenger compartment in a pinch, and will probably get the hardware and cover for the rear bed as well, but one thing at a time as we have money for it. Debt free here, and plan to stay that way.
About the wind gust that hit us on the way here...OMFG!!! Scary! My heart leaped into my throat, I'll tell ya! Glad both hands were on the wheel when it hit! For just a fraction of a second, I thought I was losing control of the RV! Foot off the accelerator, tight grip, speed down, and all was well...but it was dodgy for a few seconds!
Going to check out the Meteor Crater tomorrow and the museum, then we are off to Holbrook, AZ to check out the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert...3 RV parks there including a KOA, and no state park or national forest camping or BLM lands...Teddy Roosevelt would be rolling in his grave!
Then its a mere 900+ miles of meandering traveling to Muskogee, OK down I-40. Gonna try to find some neat things to see along the way!
Kev
Glad you kept control in the gust of wind, that was how I felt when I went over that bridge in the sky on the way to Georgia.
Your trip in the West makes me miss home :( We really miss the BLM lands, you cant camp any cheaper than free. lol
About to hop in the shower, then we are off to see the crater and museum! Then its back to camp for a quiet night with my Patti...then onward tomorrow to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest!
Kev
So the Meteor Crater and museum were amazing, and we relaxed the rest of the day...but we aren't leaving ANYwhere for a day or two! The wind is blowing so hard they closed I-40!!!
The rig is rocking and shaking violently, and we think we are getting a bit seasick...lol! I had to lower the TV antenna since it was in danger of being ripped right off...I just hope the solar panels stay put!
I'm going to feed the pups breakfast, than go pay for another couple of nights at the office...if I don't go sailing away like a kite!
Kev
Yep stay put. You do not want to find out the hard way that this wind is kicking up tornadoes in Oklahoma.
Dave
Wait a minute, the might seafaring submariner is getting sea-sick?
LMAO Dave! I just conjectured to my wife today that I bet this is where the winds build up speed before racing off to form tornados in Oklahoma! GMTA!
And LOL Dan! Patti was getting sea sick. I think my slight nausea was brought on by a wee bit too much whiskey last night combined with eating a lot of Serrano peppers sliced up on extra sharp cheddar cheese while we were re-watching season 2 of The Walking Dead...it passed pretty quickly once my coffee kicked in this morning. And in a submarine, if the sea states get too bad and are rockin' the boat too much, you just go deep and get under it!...More sub sailors get seasick in port than ever get sick out to sea...and boy did we love messing with the tender tummies!
The wind has finally subsided to something reasonable, although its still pretty breezy out there. The rig isn't rolling anymore, and the solar panels did indeed stay put! I'll inspect the mounts in the morning to make sure all is secure before we hit the road.
I made the decision to only pay for one more night here this morning...weather reports said the unusually high winds would be over by this evening, and that tomorrow would just be "breezy." Since out next stop in Holbrook, AZ at the OK Campground is only 39 miles away, as long as its only as windy as when we drove here, I'm okay with that. If its as windy as today, no way! We'll stay another night! But its pretty boring here...the ONLY thing to see is the meteor crater and museum, and that only took a few hours. If you don't have elderly dogs that need to go out every 4 hours, this wouldn't be a bad campground at all to use as a base of operations to see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert as well, but we do, so onward we go tomorrow!
We lost power today as well...right after I paid for tonight at the office. It didn't come back on until about an hour ago, so we ran off the inverter and batteries, and I put the solar panels back into play. The converter has been functioning perfectly today, so I'm glad I didn't mess anything up with the genny the other day! I'm also in the habit now of shutting the solar down when hooked to shore power...no need to put them into play when the converter is charging the batteries. And of course, when running on batteries I unplug the converter before turning on the inverter.
Hopefully tomorrow we'll be on our slow way to Holbrook, AZ and the Petrified Forest and part of the Painted Desert! Patti wants to stop at the Walmart on the way and pick up a new comforter...ours is getting pretty ratty...so that won't take long...and then we are on to the next part of our adventure!
After Holbrook? Not sure yet! We can't really arrive in Muskogee before the 27th, and will have to pay a fee for a couple of days if we get there any earlier than the 29th. I'll be looking at the maps of BLM lands and National Forests along I-40 through New Mexico as soon as I conclude this post...which is now concluded.
More in the morning!
Kev
what ren fair are you going to in ok. what are the dates of it rusty
We are about 150 miles east of Muskogee, and the wind has been really high, for the last two days , right on a frontal boundary. Hot, 84, then cold, 50's then hot again. Lots of changes and very windy.
The Oklahoma Renaissance Faire, in Muskogee, OK...every weekend in May...sometimes spills into June to make it a full 5 weekends.
So yesterday, actually starting the night before, I became violently ill! So I guess the queasiness I thought might have been brought on by the wind was some kind of bug that had only just started! Violent vomiting out on the porch, many trips to the toilet...chills, aches and pains...I was in bed all day yesterday while Patti nursed me back to health with some good old chicken noodle soup (once I could keep anything down, which was yesterday afternoon by the time my stomach settled down enough to eat anything.)
Wow did that suck! Obviously we stayed another night in the campground in Winslow, AZ, which is just as well since the wind is totally gone now.
It got so cold last night the freshwater hose froze! Weird weather for this time of year...and apparently we were right about the winds gathering force here in the upper desert before slamming east into Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas! All kinds of tornado warnings there yesterday.
Today is the day we take the 40 mile drive to Holbrook, AZ for a couple of days to see the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. We'll be staying at the OK Campground for a few days, which puts us by the North Gate of the National Park. We'll be driving through the park in the Jeep and taking many pictures!
So for now I'm feeling much better, and thankfully Patti doesn't appear to have any of the symptoms I had. I'm going to guess it was the frozen gas station burritos I had a few hours before I got violently ill.
Now its time to feed the pups breakfast, hook up the Jeep, dump the greywater, and get on the road to Holbrook!
Kev
High 30s this morning even at 4000 ft.
Bon appetit Kev. Stick with home cooking!!
Feeling right as rain now! But wow, did that suck! I rarely get sick, and when I do it hits me hard.
Left the campground in Winslow pretty early this morning, and then drove slowly (45mph again...windy as heck, just not as bad as the other day!) along I-40 to exit 253 where the Walmart is, and Patti got her new comforter.
Then we arrived at the OK Campground in Holbrook in the early afternoon, and I unhooked the Jeep, hooked up the RV to the power, water, and sewer (just grey water, but figured I might as well hook it up!), and then was delighted to find out we have free cable. We paid for 4 nights, since its only 24 bucks a night after our discounts.
And lo and behold! The free wifi in the campground is wicked fast!!! With no time or data limit! Since we are here for 4 days, I'll be uploading all our pictures to Photobucket and sharing them with you fine folks! Won't affect my data limit with Verizon, and won't drive me crazy waiting for pics to load and losing hours when the connection times out...SWEET!!!
Not a bad deal for 24 bucks a night!
Nice looking campground too. Flat and boring like everything here in the high desert, but well kept, and they have a pretty neat petrified wood exhibit...plus laundry facilities, showers, etc.
Tomorrow its off to the Petrified Forest and Painted desert in the Jeep...got the Jeep totally emptied out and ready so the dogs can go with us and have fun too. Poor cat just has to wait until we get to Muskogee before he can run free.
I explored the whole town once we got here and all was set up...took all of 20 minutes. Lots of fast food joints, TONS of mexican food restaurants, a couple of steak houses, tourist traps and antique stores, and very well fed Native Americans...lol! Only one real grocery store, a Safeway, so I bought some fried chicken and other goodies for dinner tonight, got back to camp, and that is it for our day. Time to relax!
Kev
So yesterday it was Patti's turn not to feel well, although she didn't get nearly as sick as I did. Another day relaxing and doing nothing. Today, however, we are both feeling just fine! Just waiting now for Patti to finish her hair and makeup, then its time to load up the pups and go see the sights!
Last night was fun...we watched several episodes of Sons of Guns on the Discovery channel. Pretty neat! Lots of shooty stuff and booms! They made a flame thrower cannon that was REALLY cool....lol!
Kev
WOW the Petrified National Forest and Painted Desert are beautiful and amazing! We all had a great time, although its bigger than you would expect. The tour in our Jeep, round trip, was over 70 miles! The pups and Patti had a blast!
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FSpring%2520Vacation%25202013%2FSpringVacation2013192_zpsa6cb1876.jpg&hash=4056b72f646af39e0da61ef432d47575cb742348)
Did I mention how much I love our Jeep?
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FSpring%2520Vacation%25202013%2FSpringVacation2013305_zpsefed5ed1.jpg&hash=80ee33ac367cfd519dfda9ad07d6738182cf6796)
Here's a picture of Patti at the Meteor Crater from our trip the other day:
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FSpring%2520Vacation%25202013%2FSpringVacation2013126_zps2e8893ec.jpg&hash=908e646013885bbbbb7a1e59d829226974632d5e)
And I'll even throw in a picture of me from yesterday...the pups had a GREAT time!
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FSpring%2520Vacation%25202013%2FSpringVacation2013131_zps334b5802.jpg&hash=98b3e418c0af69bdaf1978059e93be0d4b8cc0a3)
So if you want to see a lot more pictures, just go to my Photobucket album and look at the pictures I loaded yesterday in the album Spring Vacation 2013. http://s1114.photobucket.com/user/ClydesdaleKevin/library/Spring%20Vacation%202013 (http://s1114.photobucket.com/user/ClydesdaleKevin/library/Spring%20Vacation%202013)
They aren't all in order yet or titled, but what an amazing vacation we are having so far! Today we are probably going to check out the antique stores in town, then tomorrow its back on the highway, heading East!
Kev
So Patti and I are relaxing watching television this morning, and flipping through the channels we landed on the Home Shopping Network demonstrating the new Dyson Animal canister vac, with all the attachments. This thing was picking up dog hair...copious amounts of dog hair ground into the carpet...thick carpet...like it was nothing! And wasn't even clogging up the brushes! Wow!
I saw the look in Patti's eye, and knew she wanted it but wouldn't shell out a lot of cash for herself...so I bought it for her. It will be delivered to the Muskogee, OK faire on the 30th. Another selling point was that they let you spread it out over 5 monthly payments with no interest, and there were no shipping and handling fees...and it was about 200 bucks cheaper than Best Buy. Yep...we'll see how it works!
So that's it for today...just chillin' with the pups and watching the telly...tomorrow I gotta pack everything up, and we'll be back on the road. Next stop? Who knows!
Kev
Wow, those are some handsome sheps. You'd have loved a couple of my K9 partners I had during my tenure as a handler. The crater as cool as I think it is to see?? Also, do you ship trebuchets? :)
Oh, nearly forgot, have you ever done the Ren Faire near Watertown, NY?
Fredric
Thanks Fredric! They are our babies! The slimmer darker one is Barnabas. He's almost 10. Sheba is Daddy's girl...my little chuncky monkey. She's almost 13 now. Best dogs in the world! The Crater is every bit as amazing as it looks in the picture and more, and the museum is pretty awesome. And yep, we ship trebuchets...lol! And the Renfaire that we do in NY is in Tuxedo Park, NY. No idea where Watertown, NY is.
So today we have to ship out some catapult orders, then its off by around noon, heading East on I-40. We are hoping to make it as far as the Flying J near Albuqurque NM by this evening. We'll see!
Kev
Groovy. Lol, Chunky Monkey.. I may have to take a detour on my way to upstate NY. Watertown is in upper upstate NY next to Lake Ontario. I used to do security at that Faire.
Fredric
Oh, And what ever you do, do NOT take a wrong turn in Albuqurque, you'll end up in the south or north pole or a desert with a duck that will just test your patience...
LOL Fredric!
So we are still here in Holbrook, AZ. By the time I found all the catapults and parts in the storage compartments and made the mangonel ready to ship by making a sling for it, it was almost noon, checkout time. So we paid for another night.
We'll leave before noon tomorrow though, no problem. No hurry, that's for sure!
Had a weird high desert phenomenon hit us today as well. Nice calm and sunny...and suddenly this big wall of dust came up on the port side of the rig. I mean, a solid dark wall coming at us like that scene from the movie Mummy, minus the creepy face. WHAM it hit the rig, and rocked us hard! Blew all the porch chairs and furniture over and even knocked over a big propane cylinder. And then it was gone. Weird!
Yep...time to head East!
Kev
About to clean up the inside of the rig and get her battoned down for travel, load up the Jeep, and get back on the road. The goal today is to get as far as the Flying J in Albuqurque.
Kev
Micro burst. They can be very destructive.
So we left the campground before Noon, and headed East. The wind started out light, but by the time we hit New Mexico, it was VERY high winds! 40mph the whole way! No biggie...it was mostly a tail wind, but the side gusts were to scary to go any faster.
So we are driving along and driving along, we start to notice what looked like heaps of old asphault along both sides of I-40. what in the world? What a waste of resources!...Then there was just too much of it to be considered a dumping ground. Patti looked it up on the tablet, and holy crap! They are lava fields! 60 square miles of lava fields, and some of them not all that old...like 800 years old! Yep! We were near the El Malpais National Monument! By the time we realized what they were, we were almost to Albuquerque, but next year we are going to stay a few days in Grant, NM and check it out! There is even an ice cave that never melts...how cool is that?
The wind kept getting worse and worse, and we finally arrived at the Flying J and gassed up. And noticed a sign that said No Overnight Parking. what in the world? I went in and talked to a manager, and he laughed and apologized for the signs...he said they don't apply to RVs and corporate hasn't given them new signs yet. Whew! I was done with driving in the wind today!
And we are still at almost a 5800 foot elevation, and wondering when we are going to start going down...lol! I mean, Muskogee is at sea level! Gotta start going down sometime, right?
Only 680 miles to go! Gonna have to get late starts and make early stops to not arrive before Friday. Geesh!
Rig is running great, at last check MPG was 7.9, which I won't complain about, and we are enjoying the trip. Yes it was windy, but I'm tellin' ya, if you aren't in a hurry, 40mph is a perfect driving speed to check out the sights.
Kev
Quote from: ClydesdaleKevin on April 23, 2013, 10:29 PMThere is even an ice cave that never melts...how cool is that?
Best Guess, I'd say at least under 32 degrees F... :)rotflmao
LMAO Fredric!
Have to get an early start this morning. High winds predicted after noon. The goal is to get at least as far as Amarillo, TX today, about 289 miles.
Off we go!
Kev
300 Miles? Piece of cake :)
Hey Kev, your not traveling a highway are you? I havent found a highway that allows you to travel at 40mph. The wind is one thing that really worries me when taking the interstate, minumum speed is 45 and sometimes it's too scary to want to go that fast, yeah I know it's not really that fast but in a high wind it feels like 90.
How do you find all these cool places to visit, is there some sort of website or book that tells you where all the sites are?
Arizona and New Mexico, at least along the Interstates, don't have a minimum speed as long as you put your flashers on below 40...they understand the huge wind storms that come up.
And we find them on the internet...lol!
Kev
So we got all the way to Amarillo and gassed up, and found that its such a small Flying J they don't have RV parking at all, and all the semi truck parking is back-in spots, which we can't easily do towing the Jeep...would require unhooking and all that...no thanks!
Onward we went, drove another 120 miles or so, and are now safely moored for the night in Sayre, Oklahoma! Elevation 1800 feet...easier to breath but still a ways down to sea level...and only 260 miles from Muskogee...SWEET!
We'll get an early start tomorrow morning after gassing up and filling the propane tank, and make it there before the office closes to check in. Unless the winds are minimal, we'll get there fairly late, so we'll probably stay the night in the parking lot and roll into the campground in the morning.
At last fill up, our gas mileage was 8.36...SWEET!
Almost there!
Kev
The Flying J at Amarillo has some very bad reviews. Rude workers, bad food, and poor to no service. You were wise to keep moving on. Sayre is a much better place. Glad everything is going well. Maybe I'll come visit you again in Muskogee. I'm leaving in the morning for 10 days of trout fishing and exploring just east of Joplin, MO. The Scout troop is coming down for the weekend but a couple of us are staying for the rest of the week.
Dan
Nice Dan! Have a great time!
So we had a wonderful night's sleep last night, and are going to stay a few more hours. I just realized its only Thursday! I lost a day somewhere, thinking today was Friday...lol!
After a few hours I'll gas up the rig and top off the propane tank, then we'll hit the road and land for the night at the Muskogee Flying J...only 260 miles away. That will get us onto the faire site bright and early Friday morning where we can check in at the office and set up camp before the weekend. I love it when a plan comes together!
Kev
I noticed that too when traveling and stopping at any available spot for the night you can forget what day it is But its nice when you think its later than it is instead of the other way around !! :laugh:
Quote from: ClydesdaleKevin on April 25, 2013, 10:57 AM
I love it when a plan comes together!
So, Which of the pups is Mad Dog Murdock? And is the other Face, or B.A. Baracus?
LOL! The cat has to be B.A. That would make Barnabas the Face Man, and Sheba is a little touched, so she's Murdock... :)rotflmao
Kev
Lol!! My two could only be thought of as Abbot and Costello. The Malinois would be Bud Abbot, she's always the straight man, the Husky, definitely Lou Costello..
Fredric
Great, now I have "The 'A' Team" theme stuck in my head....
Here's a thought, Redo your rig in black with a red stripe?
Fredric
BTW, I was always told by friends I reminded them of Murdock.
Not new... guess what? Yup, there's a photo floating about with an eyebrow Winnie... black, A-Team red stripe on it... :)rotflmao
I loved that series when I was a kid...heck, I still do!
So we made it safe and sound to the Flying J in Checotah, OK, just 24.19 miles from the faire site.
Uneventful trip, albeit a bit windy. I wasn't looking forward to driving through Oklahoma City again, since last year the whole dang city was under road construction, but we hit it around 3:30, all the construction was done, and it was easy peasy.
Gotta say I really missed trees...give me a few months and I'll miss the cacti...but DANG this part of Oklahoma is pretty...reminds me of Pennsylvania and the rolling tree covered hills.
So we pulled in and gassed up...7.1 mpg this time...and I filled the freshwater tank and emptied the grey water while filling the gas. Nice thing about only having grey water: I used my garden hose drain hose, which means I just drained it right into the dump station drain without having to pay for a dump fee...lol!
We parked the rig, I took the pups out, and then went in and bought some stuff for dinner. And some beer. Yep...still 3.2 alcohol. No wonder Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of obesity in the country...you have to drink twice as much...lol!
Tonight its supposed to rain and possibly thunderstorm, with rain predicted for most of tomorrow. Its a short drive so no biggie. We'll get a fairly early start and check in at the office, and if its not too wet pull into camp. Otherwise we'll pull into camp on Saturday, which is supposed to be nice weather, and just stay in the parking lot tomorrow. I love being able to boondock so easily!
Almost there!
Kev
Arrived here at the Castle of Muskogee at around noon. Got all our mail and checked in, and then attended the vendor meeting at 2pm. Then had time to go down to the post office for a package that wasn't delivered, and then finally went shopping for dinner.
Tomorrow I'll get us parked in camp...in the parking lot now...and then go pick up the workshop from our booth and come back and set it up. The goal tomorrow is to set up the camp and workshop. We'll take Sunday off to hit the local antique shops and flea markets, then set up the booth on Monday. Sometime in the first few days I'll lay down a Sevin Dust barrier at our camp and set up the dog fence. And that still gives us pretty much all of next week off...SWEET!
Kev
If you like to go out to eat and enjoy Mexican food, I highly recommend Hamlin's. They give you two types of dip with your chips. Salsa and a white sauce, both are very tasty. My wife is from nearby Tahlequah and we bought our '72 Brave from near Tulsa.
Sounds good, Toby!
Decided to run out and get the Sevin dust first thing this morning, lay it down, THEN bring the RV into camp. Too cold here for the bugs to be bad yet, but if this year is anything like last year I'm going to nip them in the bud this morning.
Coffee is all kicked in, so time to go!
Kev
Sprayed the whole campsite with Sevin, drove the Jeep onto the campsite to make sure the ground was solid enough for the RV since its been raining, then went back to the RV to park it.
Yeah...the RV is a LOT heavier than the Jeep! Sank right up to the axles... $@!#@!
Site crew to the rescue! They brought over a chain and a tractor and hauled us out, then came back with 2 loads of gravel and tamped it down with the tractor. Backed right in no problem after that. No damage thankfully!
Patti loves her new Dyson Animal vacuum cleaner! Takes the dog hair right up. SWEET!
And that is pretty much all I'm doing today. Tomorrow if the site is dry enough to drive on I'll pick up the workshop tent and tools, set up the tent and load the tools into it...and that is pretty much all I feel like getting done tomorrow.
Vacation is almost over, but we're milking it out...lol!
Kev
Seven won't control chiggers!
You sure about that? The label says it kills ticks and other mites...chiggers are mites, right?
http://www.ehow.com/how_8192249_use-sevin-lawns-chiggers.html (http://www.ehow.com/how_8192249_use-sevin-lawns-chiggers.html)
Kev
So today the plan is to break down all the boxes our packages came in and bring them and the garbage to the dumpster, change the peat moss in the toilet, set up the workshop tent and set up the tools inside, then take Patti into town so we can pick out some fencing for the dogs.
We'll probably hit some of the flea markets and antique stores while we are at it.
Kev
Got everything done yesterday no problem...workshop tent is set up and almost ready for work, the porch is all set up, and we got everything we need for the dog fencing. I also went down to O'Reilly's auto parts and picked up a torx bit set for today's project!
The first thing I have to do today is set up the dog fence, then bring all of our stock and everything we need for the booth down to the booth so I'll have room in the compartments to store things from today's main project:
Removing the hard top off the Jeep, removing the doors, installing the relocation mirrors, the windshield rail for the summer bikini top, and then installing the bikini top of course! Woohoo! Goin' topless! :)clap
I need the room in the compartments to store the rear seat, the doors, and all the hard top hardware...and the ugly sound bar which is going to go on eBay. The hard top itself is going to be set on blocks next to the workshop tent...good place for the pups to get out of the sun or rain if we absolutely need them outside in inclement weather.
If I get it all done today, I'll set the booth up completely tomorrow, and we'll still have several days off before the faire opens...SWEET!
Kev
Do you happen to know a website for that vacuum? The dog hair is so bad on my carpets I dont think we ever get it up, and it doesnt help that they are constantly shedding. I dont think I will ever get another long haired dog.
Just look up Dyson Animal canister vacuum. Ours is model DC39. You can see them at www.dyson.com, but if you shop around you can find them a lot cheaper than directly from Dyson.
Decided to do the fence last, since it would be a pain in the butt loading up the Jeep through a gate instead of backing the Jeep right up to the compartments. Got all of our stock and everything needed for the booth up to the booth, then began the most important project of the day:
Got the Jeep top off today...woohoo!!! Took off the sound bar and the rear seat and seat belts too. Then installed the windshield channel and Smittybilt full bikini top and relocation mirrors. Looks great and the bimini top is easy on easy off if we want to take it off completely on warm nights! The protective cover goes on easily as well, very easily, so I'll just keep it covered every night, and on rainy days.
I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them.
The soft doors are problematic. They fit perfectly, but the latch mechanism must be made for soft tops with the hardware in place. There is nothing for them to latch onto to stay closed! I'm thinking a bungee cord around the roll bar will do the trick until I finally get around to getting a full soft top for this thing and 86ing the hard top altogether.
Once I got the top all unscrewed and unbolted, I found a couple of young fellows in the campground to help me lift it off the Jeep and put it where we want it...on wooden blocks of course. Then I had to position the rails over the windshield, drill the holes for them, and screw them down. Then it was just a matter of lining everything up and tightening it all down with velcro straps and buckles.
The road test was pretty awesome! Not nearly as loud as I thought it was going to be, and full air flow. I'm loving it!
Patti was torn between loving it on the test ride, and being annoyed with her hair flying up her nose... :)rotflmao . Gotta get those soft doors working and the Windbreaker and Tonneau in place soon! Going to order them on the 1st.
By the time it was all done and the HUGE mess outside the rig was cleaned up from compartment shuffling, it was 4pm. Everything is staged for the fencing, so it will get done tomorrow morning first thing.
I'll definitely post some pictures tomorrow, and then more once the rear tonneau cover arrives and the rear Windbreaker arrives. What a fun little vehicle!!!
Kev
Fence all set up with the doggie watering dish hooked up to a hose...and as promised, pictures of the topless Jeep!
Here it is from a 4 different angles...ain't it sweet?
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March010_zps18f21d80.jpg&hash=f3ed0dc1b76326d14aeebe51fe067a58efe7718e)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March009_zps7d4b60ad.jpg&hash=4bbf9ae1182fadc095719885904dd562b126445b)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March007_zps28e017ad.jpg&hash=440c321f5ad998711a5f01a674df4885535bb5ba)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March006_zpsc22d3a33.jpg&hash=f01d9956ec412fa3997ab71bef26686a4d70aae2)
And here is my silly bum doggie Barnabas immediately claiming the hard top as his personal dog house!
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March003_zpsd9be0b78.jpg&hash=e07409a61117b7bb5330ea5a40e374e86ca3183a)
He loves that pinky piggy!!!
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March002_zps0094a67f.jpg&hash=a15f7e570bf8d896fe6d02c917aca793a6c3d26d)
Internet connection is ridiculously slow here, so pics will be just a few here and there.
Kev
I like the new look of the Jeep. Nice doghouse too!
I want to do something like that with my poptop '79 Dodge Ramcharger but the parts market is pretty slim for those compared to Jeeps. I did find a bikini top from the windshield to the rollbar that looks pretty good.
I've got a rain cover that goes over the Jeep as well...I put it on every night just in case, and of course will keep it on the Jeep whenever they forecast rain. I ordered the tonneau cover and Windbreaker...both by Bestop...so that will keep the whole Jeep pretty dry. Once I align the soft doors and figure out how to keep them closed (probably with a bungee cord setup) I'll still be able to use it in the rain and or cold.
So first thing this morning I went to the booth and set off bug bombs under the counters...too many bitey sting-ee critters around here! Now I'm off to set up the booth. Supposed to rain for the next 2 days starting this evening. Supposed to be nice this weekend though...woohoo!!!
Kev
Nice Jeep. I'm a snob, I like my Land Rover. Best off road vehicle in the Universe. ;) When I'm up in Weaverville it get's me to me n my dads gold claims. It has a snorkel so I can traverse a couple of deeper creeks. And it's got enough room inside to put a cot and small dresser in it for weekending. Beautiful pup btw, love the doghouse..
Wantawinnie, I have seen a couple custom stretch tops for the Ram, they go all the way to the rear. Sort of gave them a Hummer look due to the downward angle of the cover from the rollbar to the rear gate.
Fredric
Hey Kev My sonin law has a bunch of brand new crome stuff he bought for his jeep then totaled it If your interested ill put you in touch with him Frank
LOL Frederic! I'll take my Jeep any day...I would have added a quip about buying American in there as well, but my Jeep was made in Canada... :)rotflmao 1992. I plan on adding a snorkel, a tail pipe mod to bring the exhaust above water level, a small lift, and bigger tires, although nothing crazy. What year is your Land Rover? I love the old ones!
Hey Frank...not a big chrome fan on anything but a Harley...lol! I plan on keeping the colors on this Jeep just as they are, even when we have it repainted. BUT...what year was his Jeep, and how badly was it totalled? Still looking for a good frame I don't have to weld, as well as all the soft top hardware. I plan on selling the hard top and going to a full soft top sometime in the future. So if its older than 96 (a YJ) I'd be very interested in other parts off of it, including the frame and maybe even the axles.
Kev
Got the booth all set up...and man does it look sweet!
Then worked on the Jeep soft doors. It took a lot of bending and reshaping to get the frames to work and align as best as they possibly could with the bimini top, but I took it for a test drive in high winds, and they do the trick! Should keep the cab pretty dry in even the windiest rain storm too! Color is slightly off, but they won't be on most of the time. They'll be stored in the back under the tonneau cover.
Here are some pictures of the soft doors, along with pictures of the bungee cord setup I made to keep them closed and tight:
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March001_zps0fc16193.jpg&hash=95dbac4c3253a89c0c1f2a1fb11be4dcb54a9394)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March002_zpsdf7dcdc9.jpg&hash=2e8c03644d1cffd1e120ba97f95eb6ac76f53870)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March003_zps8840a868.jpg&hash=96d1f167ace76fced8769d84099cbe0057920910)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March004_zps392d533e.jpg&hash=4b7e5e72b0c4fd458bf2179ed7b68b84e8a75380)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March005_zps2f12f037.jpg&hash=5b82117827e5c17e707fb7048026a0c50eadb9b9)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March006_zps94df62ec.jpg&hash=a96dc3c8d16a3fe3eb1f502e066486fa4ddac8cf)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March007_zps43257b5f.jpg&hash=de4879b106c38efdb4d41283be67abfd923ec3ea)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March008_zpsd0b6fae9.jpg&hash=1a0666e55bc2da4f2e24099778be92c2cabb39d4)
And here are a few pictures of the rain cover. Made by Smittybilt. Goes on and off literally in under 2 minutes with quick release straps. Very well made and a very good price on eBay!
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March009_zps0617dcc3.jpg&hash=447049d23866c87b65a9fae01d1bf8eb56536d1a)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March010_zps51f5b411.jpg&hash=66fe09c3f7c0324879dc639f6b5d2faf2aebb6cf)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March011_zpsa66ec3ca.jpg&hash=ba9b7ea5293f22a3026ad01d813e22d0e692f664)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March012_zps2675538f.jpg&hash=a92b9befd9f723c609ad1aedbba24eb088f563cf)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1114.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk526%2FClydesdaleKevin%2FOklahoma%25202013%2Febay2013March013_zps3a99d66e.jpg&hash=3bbe0721dc2f74fe62f2e073c976904861c79ed8)
The rain cover will fit better once I get the tonneau cover and install the belt rails to hold it down, but it fits pretty darn well just as it is. One modification I really need to make is to the front...I need to slice it and sew it along the front corners where they hit the mirrors. If it wasn't for the relocation mirrors on the windshield hinge, it would sit a lot tighter and lower and protect the open doors a lot better.
The soft doors are super light and fit pretty tightly after some bending. They also fit perfect above the rear wheel wells, so once the tonneau cover is in place, that is where they will live...covered and out of sight when not being used, with plenty of grocery room under them! I have dubbed them the Emergency Storm Doors!
Tonight we have guests for dinner...Patti made her incredible homemade lasagna...YUMMMM!!! Sometimes you just gotta break your diet!
And then later tonight, my rain cover will get tested in real life. Huge storm coming in, temp is supposed to drop from today's 85 degrees to the low 40s, high winds and rain, then rain for the next 2 days. Glad the weekend is supposed to be nice!
Kev
You definately need to get some bling on the wheels though. They look out of place - stock.
Lol oldrockandroller! I'm going to go with black steel wheels, nothing fancy, but strong and the right width for 31s.
Kev
Kev,
Rover D2 2000MY. Before they soccer mommed them, $@!#@! Can't stand the new ones. My particular model has the hydraulic suspension that auto rights the body in high speed turns, and automatically lifts if it should get caught on a rock. I'll post a scan of the relevant page in the manual that describes it better. :)
Wouldn't mind getting my hands on this one LR Defender I saw when I was in London and one I drove in Afghanistan.
I could only find this one pic for now, but I have a couple more somewhere that has the cot and small dresser/desk and will post when I find 'em.
Fredric
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1296.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag2%2FCWVRV%2FCoachmanm500%2FSpring%2520Vacation%2520Boondocking%25202013%2F2012-01-24_08-43-30_81_zps1bb4f040.jpg%7Eoriginal&hash=ab37281248e48c6ffd6abdf2f59f4da7a2ecb621)
Sweet Frederic! I like the REALLY old ones like this:
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrfaq.org%2Fimages%2FLandRoverSeriesIII.jpg&hash=1c163d306b55b45fafab154ffa7e620429f6033e)
I like the older Jeeps better, but one of these would definitely be my second choice!
Its a rainy day. I have to brave the rain soon and go get some cigs and pick up the mail at the office, then take some pictures of stuff for a small eBay auction I'm putting together. Other than that its just going to be a lazy day in the warm RV. Did I mention how well the Wave 8 catalytic heater works?
Kev
Here is my Ramcharger, it is a replica of the one I had back in High School that dad bought new. I restored it 2 years ago. Trying to figure out a way to make a toad out of it. :)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi880.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac1%2FChargerman1969%2F1978%2520Ramcharger%2FStripes%2F0731111947b.jpg&hash=eb326888a5d2a0d9e4745f9e22dea928e9c9e994) (http://s880.photobucket.com/user/Chargerman1969/media/1978%20Ramcharger/Stripes/0731111947b.jpg.html)
Kev,
That's a Defender, lovely thing ain't it? :)
I nearly bought the one in the pics, but $30k for a LHD Defender is too high IMHO, plus they put modern Rover rims on it and that just made it look ugly. I do like the green though.
Wave 8, going to have to look into that thing. Might be worth investing in.
Stay safe,
Fredric
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1296.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag2%2FCWVRV%2FCoachmanm500%2FSpring%2520Vacation%2520Boondocking%25202013%2F2012-08-02_12-45-48_428_zpsaa5e6f1a.jpg%7Eoriginal&hash=1bc0e5120365c55bb0b7b4e6b1959831cddc7536)
(https://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1296.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fag2%2FCWVRV%2FCoachmanm500%2FSpring%2520Vacation%2520Boondocking%25202013%2F2012-08-02_12-45-59_668_zps8e06e020.jpg%7Eoriginal&hash=b0c608262fd183968f8d495d17db4deea45874ea)
Nice Ram! My stepdad had one just like that. He replaced the front bumper with a bumper he made from a Railroad tie. Custom cut it and routered some letters in it (dun remember what it said :( )
He took that thing off roading any chance he had.. :) By the way, that is the same model I was talking about with the custom top.
Fredric
EASY and cheap to make a Toad out of it! Its an old school thick steel bumper! Even Blue Ox bumper mounts are cheap...its what we have on the Jeep. If its an automatic it becomes more problematic. If its 4 wheel drive, can it be towed with the transfer case in neutral? If its a standard its a no brainer, 4x4 or not for that year.
If its an automatic, you have 3 choices...either disconnect the driveshaft for towing and hang it under the frame ( a big POA, but we used to do it and its not a super big deal), or buy a driveshaft disconnect or transmission pump.
VERY nice by the way! I love the old Dodge Rams!
Kev
The Bestop Windjammer came in today, just in time! I didn't install the bottom channel frames yet because of the weather, but strapped it onto the roll bar and sealed off the front compartment...SWEET! Cold and rainy all day, and my trip to the store was dry and warm!
I'll install the channels once the tonneau cover comes in...do all the drilling and whatnot at once.
Other than that, it was a very COLD and wet rain day today! Got up this morning, and it was 50 degrees. Later this afternoon it got to 40 degrees. Its now in the 30s...
Gotta love global warming!... :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao
Kev
The Ramcharger is a 4wd automatic. I am planning to swap a fuel injected 5 speed in it.
My main concern is the weight. It is somewhere in the 5000# range.
With that new diesel you are putting in, you won't have to worry about a measly 5000 lbs...lol! I used to tow fullsize vans LOADED with crap with our first RV, the Ark, with a 413, and the Itasca with a 454, and had no problems. Glad I have a lighter vehicle now, but those engines handles the weight. I don't think you'll have a problem at all towing it 4 wheels down. Heck, since its 4x4, even leaving it as an automatic you should still be able to tow it with the transfer case in neutral and the transmission in any gear.
Kev
Finished setting up the booth today, went to the ATM and pulled out cash for a bank, took our costumes out of the storage compartments, and then decided to rig up something better than a bungee cord for the soft doors on the Jeep. Bingo! I used some camo ratchet straps I already had, up over the roll bar and down to the loop that holds the bottom of the seat belt. Its puts a strap right where the door latch goes, and the door latches even work for opening the doors! You have to help the straps into place for closing them, but its way more elegant than the bungee cord. And they are quick release, so I can take them off quick when the doors are off, and put them on in a jiffy when I need the doors back on.
So all is prepped for tomorrow, and I think this is a good time to conclude this chapter of our adventures! Spring vacation is officially over. Let the new chapter begin!
It will be called Oklahoma 2013. Yep...creative and all I know... :)rotflmao
Kev