2021 RAM 3500 Tradesman | AEV Prospector | FWC Grandby

[ramblinChet]

Is the 'failure of AEV differential cover' the loose bolts you described back in your post #614 or is/was there another issue? I was getting ready to buy the front one, and you certainly have given them a real world test, so a very good source for a testimonial (good or bad).

You are correct - the design failure I am speaking of is the unexpected loosening of the bolts securing the AEV differential cover to the axle. Following a lifetime of working in the military aviation and space industries along with a significant dose of automation and robotics one thing I can say for certain is that I read all manufacturers instructions and install a component using premium tooling. In this case my torque wrench had only been used twice since it had been calibrated at a NIST traceable ISO 17025 metrology laboratory.

What is most disappointing is that AEV spent more time and effort discussing how to properly apply the sticker compared to anything else. Of course, a differential cover installation is a simple event but the key point to remember here is that the AEV covers are very thick nodular iron and weight maybe ten times what the stock covers weigh. With that in mind, maybe using the stock fastening method and values would not be sufficient.

I am pretty certain AEV never performed any significant testing on the covers regarding is they remain in place while being exposed to hundreds of thousands of miles of rough terrain. My front and rear differential covers became loose and the front was loose enough that it permitted water to enter while still retaining all the differential oil - I discussed this with AEV and the person I spoke with was entirely unable to understand the significant difference in viscosity between water and 80W-140 gear dope and how a seal may permit water to leak in but not permit heavy gear dope to leak out.

In the end, I am out around $2,000 to replace the front differential, gears, and bearings, and AEV states they have nothing to do with it. The technician I spoke with at AEV danced around in circles, changed his story, and generally left me wondering if AEV has been bought by another investment group and is not being managed and directed by them. The customer service is certainly not the same as it was years ago.

I still think the AEV differential covers are the finest available but with one caveat - you must check them regularly to verify the bolts have not come loose. To me, this is a design failure since when was the last time you have been required to check the bolts on your OEM differential covers?

For reference - see the attached AEV instructions which are poorly written and conflict with themselves and each other.

 

[mog]

You are correct - the design failure I am speaking of is the unexpected loosening of the bolts securing the AEV differential cover to the axle.

I would laugh at the page and a half on 'sticker installation' with the related 'sticker hazard warning' if it were not for your experience. You would think with a sticker that dangerous, they would installed that at the factory in a controlled environment by highly trained personnel using the proper PPE

So what would be your recommendation.
A. Still use the AEV covers (besides the strength of the nodular iron, I certainly like the fill/inspection port and easy drain), or go with perhaps a diff guard instead?
B. If using the AEV cover, perhaps upgrade the hardware on installation to something that could be safety wired, or torque-strip and routinely check the torque at xxxx miles?
Thanks,

 

[UglyViking]

AEV makes a fantastic looking product, but I'm starting to wonder about design decisions they are making. I installed the snorkel on my 2019 and I can't believe the design of the thing. From where it comes out of the fender, it looks great, but there are numerous serious design issues I've got with it, which I won't list on your page unless you would like me to.

I don't understand how AEV doesn't just apply the decal themselves if it's such a specific endeavor. Surely all that buy the cover will put the sticker on considering the design of the housing.

Also kind of odd to me that AEV calls for a 25ft-lb torque spec, when my understanding is that the OEM is 30ft-lbs. I realize that by raw numbers it's not a big difference, but it's almost 20% change in value from the OEM spec.

Did you use any loctite on the bolts? I presume no, but figured it's worth asking.

 

[ramblinChet]

So what would be your recommendation.
A. Still use the AEV covers (besides the strength of the nodular iron, I certainly like the fill/inspection port and easy drain), or go with perhaps a diff guard instead?
B. If using the AEV cover, perhaps upgrade the hardware on installation to something that could be safety wired, or torque-strip and routinely check the torque at xxxx miles?
Thanks,

This is a difficult question to answer since we all have different applications for our trucks. The feature I like most about the AEV differential covers are the large port up top for filling or checking along with the drain at the bottom. The additional protection provided by the thick nodular iron can be argued as overkill although I have personally never witnessed a differential being rendered unusable due to damage received by a stock steel cover. I'm sure it has happened but how often and under what circumstances?

The Loctite is another interesting issue - the front does not call for it while the rear does. And the instructions for the rear only mention the Loctite in one easy to miss sentence - they don't even specify a particular type. And Loctite is not normally used in automotive applications so it is a strange fix to an engineering problem. Safety wire and such would be nice but now you would have bolt heads protruding beyond the cover in the lowest of places that are most likely to contact a rock.

AEV makes a fantastic looking product, but I'm starting to wonder about design decisions they are making. I installed the snorkel on my 2019 and I can't believe the design of the thing. From where it comes out of the fender, it looks great, but there are numerous serious design issues I've got with it, which I won't list on your page unless you would like me to.

I don't understand how AEV doesn't just apply the decal themselves if it's such a specific endeavor. Surely all that buy the cover will put the sticker on considering the design of the housing.

Also kind of odd to me that AEV calls for a 25ft-lb torque spec, when my understanding is that the OEM is 30ft-lbs. I realize that by raw numbers it's not a big difference, but it's almost 20% change in value from the OEM spec.

Did you use any loctite on the bolts? I presume no, but figured it's worth asking.

I agree with you regarding the AEV snorkel - overall it is not an ideal design and parts of the assembly are poor examples of engineering. The air-filter box is disappointing since half is plastic and half is metal, but you are expected to rivet the pieces together when partially installed with many of the rivets requiring to be installed backwards. There is the vertical piece of the inner fender structure that must be ground down which reduces the strength - not good. And the two piece snorkel tube just does not seem to fit tightly enough together to prevent water from being ingested - I had none of these problems with my ARB Safari Snorkel installed on my Jeep TJ over two decades ago.

Good catch on the torque specs and yes, that is strange that they specified an alternate torque with no explanation. My guess is that it was an error and no one caught it except for you.

No Loctite used - I called AEV when installing the covers and the technician I spoke with stated that even though the instructions for the front did not specify the use of Loctite whereas the rear did - it was optional for me to use it or not.

 

[ramblinChet]

I stopped into a nearby sporting goods store to stretch my legs and pick up a few pieces of gear. The flashlight I use is a SureFire 6PX Pro and it uses two 123A lithium batteries which each contain 1,550 mAh of energy. These batteries last quite long but as you might have guessed, they run out at the most inopportune time, so I decided to try rechargeable 123A lithium phosphate batteries that each contain 450 mAh but can be recharged several hundred times. It will be interesting to see how these work out.

I also picked up some replacement shoe strings for my boots and flexible straps to help keep the 40' extension wire for my solar panels tidy. I have never used this type of strap before so it will be interesting to see how it works.


The team departed Loveland, Colorado, but I remained behind waiting on a package. I took time to do laundry and clean the interior of my camper - a good wipe down goes a long way towards cleanliness. Since I wanted to stay in town and not drive to and from the mountains each day I decided to stop by a local Walmart to see if I was able to park there. Usually, if I see other RVs in a remote area of the parking lot that's a sign it will be okay to stay. In this case I parked adjacent to a sign that clearly said I was not allows to stay but no one chased us out that night. If they knocked, I would have simply packed up and left - it's their property after all.


Once I left Colorado I began to head west first passing through Wyoming, touching Utah, and ending up in Idaho. This is Shoshone Falls and is referred to as the "Niagara of the West," by many. There was not much water moving down the Snake River this time of year but it still was pretty. If you are as old as me you might remember watching Evel Knievel attempt to jump the Snake River just a mile west of here one Sunday morning in 1974.


A day or so later I would cross into eastern Oregon heading westbound along the Central Oregon Highway. I'm not quite sure how to describe those first hundred miles but if you drive it someday you will know what I am talking about - it was a strange beauty, like nothing else I had ever seen. The picture below was taken many miles later as I began to enter the mountains in the western half of the state. With 50+ fires burning there was smoke everywhere. Again, this was a special type of beauty that I was not accustomed to seeing but I loved it during that day and especially driving through it at night. It was like a heavy fog.


I met the team at a staging area near the Deschutes National Forest - they were waiting for the next contract to be signed. Most of us are former military so we spent a few days playing in the forest, telling stories, laughing, eating fine meals, and just enjoying that unique bond that military men have. I blurred their faces not as a security issue but more out of respect for each one of them. These are good men with some interesting stories to tell.


Around 2200 one night a team leader announced that the contract was signed and we were all expected to be on site the next morning at 0700 and ready to begin work. The trouble was, that was only nine hours away and we were four-plus hours from the job site. Some decided to jump in their tent for a few hours sleep while myself and a few others packed up and began to drive immediately. My goal was to park 10-15 minutes outside the fire camp and grab as much sleep as possible. It was a tough drive but we did what had to be done. As the morning sun broke and 0700 rolled around, we all arrived at camp just outside the Whisky Creek Fire in Oregon. The fires are burning in steep and rugged terrain - this is an interesting area.


Driving along the Columbia River Gorge with Oregon to my left and Washington to my right. There is so much to see and learn about in the 80-mile long canyon I'm not sure where to start. This is what I really love about traveling with no specific destination or plan - I always end up in the most beautiful and interesting places.


Have you ever attempted to collect rainwater? A few days ago after it rained there were raindrops falling off the corner of my camper every few seconds so I figure I would set a jug there and see how long these drops would take to fill it. I didn't keep track of the time but when I checked I expected an inch or so of the bottle to be filled. To my surprise, it was nearly full! Now what I would like to do is learn more about collecting rainwater and the mathematical calculations associated with the practice. Do you collect rain water?


Here is something embarrassing that I feel compelled to share with you in hopes that this does not happen to anyone else. Some time ago, while in a hurry, I tossed this metal container into the same storage area which contains my house battery. Yes, I stopped and thought for a moment about the possibility of the metal contacting the positive and negative of the house battery at the same time but in my mind the chances were slim to none. Oh, how wrong I was - take a close look at the damage produced and then consider how close I was to catching my camper on fire. This was a really foolish decision on my part and I was surprised by the extent of the damage.


A closing picture for now - just another beautiful section of the forest that suffered damage due to fire. To some degree fires are unfortunate but then again they begin another cycle for a section of the forest so to some degree they are good. From what I have been gathering most wildfires begin due to lightening or some other natural event. And yes, some are caused by humans but it seems those are overemphasized by news to a great degree. Personally, I suspect that a good portion of the human related fires are ones that were intentionally started by some nefarious individual. I may be wrong but maybe now.

In closing, after the fire has passed, new life begins. It always has and it always will. Sure, we have some measurable impact but in the grand scheme of things, our impact is statistically insignificant.

 

[Wyo37]

Love the thread.

If you were to do it again would you get the aev conversion again?

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Welcome to my neck of the woods.

 

[ramblinChet]

If you were to do it again would you get the aev conversion again?

Great question and tough answer...I gave this much thought.

After 75+ thousand miles of driving this AEV Prospector mostly on back roads, in the mountains, on trails all around these United States, I must admit I am still entirely impressed with the overall package. The truck truly drives and handles like a stock one, even a little better at times. The engineering team who created the suspension, rims, and bumpers, should be congratulated for being able to do something that no other company has ever done. I have been lifting and creating suspension systems for Jeeps since the very early '90s and this is easily the finest system ever.

I suspect the additional accessories such as the snorkel and differential covers were engineered by another team, maybe not so skilled as the above-mentioned. They are good initial designs but do not contain the same level of refinement that AEV is capable of. They are disappointing and reflect poorly upon an otherwise impressive company.

If I was not occasionally focusing on rugged roads that were considered "high clearance 4x4" I most likely wold not require the AEV suspension system, bumpers with winch, etc. For now though, the system is the finest available for what I do. In a few years if I decide to only travel maintained forest service roads and tow an Airstream behind me, I will likely purchase a new truck and keep it stock since that's all I would require.

So I guess my answer depends upon what I am planning to do and right now the base AEV system suits me quite well. My only planned change to the suspension would be upgrading the AEV Bilstein 5100 shocks to the 8100 series. My goal is to smooth out the roughest of trails by utilizing a shock with a larger diameter piston - 46mm versus 60mm. It will be interesting to see how much of a difference there is.

 

[ramblinChet]

Using the next three photographs I will provide you with a peek inside a Wildland Fire Camp. Let me begin by saying that a fire camp is essentially a mobile town that to a very large degree is self-sufficient. Generally a large field is selected and organized to support 500-1,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel. This field will include a large area for tents to sleep in, another area for operations tents, specialized trucks to provide food, showers, laundry, a supply area, communications, etc.

Below is the shower truck and associated wash stations at the fire camp I am currently at south of Hood River, Oregon. The shower section, to the rear, is a modified 18-wheeler containing 20+ individual hot showers that are accessed through the side. A large aluminum patio with steps is erected so you are able to step up, walk, and enter the shower. There are separate water storage and containment systems for fresh and used water. The trailers with wash stations have seven stations on each side and are plentiful. Hot water is unlimited and after a long day outside a good shower will boost your morale.

Showers open at 0500 and close at 2200 - they are free.


Here is a laundry truck with a attendants playing cards. In summary, you drop off your clothes and they will be washed, dried, folded, and returned to you in a sealed bag. Laundry is professional and free.


Here are some of the communications and meeting tents. Different teams such as operations, logistics, communications, emergency, etc., use these tents while working the fire. The tents usually contain tables and seating for dozens of people, are air conditioned and heated, and have reliable electrical power usually provided by large portable diesel generators. It's really an impressive set up and with one phone call these mobile wildland fire camps can be operational or demobilized within 24-48 hours. It's really an impressive operations and reminds me of military operations to some degree.


Every few weeks we are required to take a mandatory day off for rest and recuperation - on my recent day off I decided to visit the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automotive Museum in near the Columbia River Gorge. They have 160 antique aircraft and 180 antique automobiles along with an assortment of tractors, motorcycles, military firearms, etc. What is truly amazing is the fact that all of the aeroplanes and automobiles are operational and regularly flown and driven. Truth be told, this is the most amazing collection of antique aeroplanes I have have ever seen.

This is a Saint Louis Cardinal C-2 powered by a Ken Royce 90 horsepower 7-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine, manufactured in 1929. Only twenty-two were ever built - this was the age of experimentation and advancement in aeronautics.


Here is a beautiful example of a Ford Tri-Motor. I'm not sure exactly what it is, and maybe it is only me, but walking up near the old beauties, examining the craftsmanship, smelling the metal and oil, hearing their radial engines backfire, sputter, and then roar as they wake up from the dead, it's a beautiful experience.

These were the days when man and machine communicated with each other, the two had a relationship, a mutual respect, a sort of love for one another. What an adventure those days must have been...


With a 3.5 acre indoor hangar facility you really should plan on spending a full day enjoying this amazing private collection. I could take dozens of pictures but none of them give the museum the proper credit it deserved. If you have any interest in machines or mechanization in general, I would recommend you stop by if you are in the area. It's just a beautiful collection and everything is in immaculate condition.


When I happened upon a 1932 Willys Overland Model 6-90 my pace slowed and I smiled as I examined this classic and thought of our group of adventurers. Rumor is this particular vehicle was used during the filming of Hopalong Cassidy and contains a few bullet holes that were later patched.


This is a Curtiss Wright P-40N Warhawk used early in World War Two. When I was very young I saved up and purchased model airplanes to build and this was one of the first I ever completed. The paint markings on my model had the classic "Flying Tigers" design which I still love to this day.


Back to work - here I am at the Eagle Creek trailhead hanging out with a group of northbound Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers. The PCT is a 2,650 mile long trail that begins at the border with Mexico and ends at the border with Canada. Don't take this as a derogatory remark but after 2,000+ miles you will smell these hardcore hikers before you see or hear them. What I found most interesting is that around 30% or so of the hikers were from Europe. Each of them has a story and all are interesting people who possess that desirable can-do attitude despite austere conditions and never-ending obstacles.


Since I spend time at the trailhead in my AEV Prospector and Four Wheel Camper dressed in a Yellow Nomex Wildland Fire Shirt and 5.11 Tactical "Battle Brown" Apex pants, it should not be surprising that I am in a word...irresistible. These two young ladies had been hanging out for some time flirting with me, complimenting me on my Prospector, etc. After endless eye contact, countless ooh's and ahh's, playing with their hair, etc. they finally mustered the courage to ask for a ride in my adventure vehicle.

Just kidding, they needed a ride into town and if you have ever hung around the Appalachian Trail, or in this case the Pacific Crest Trail, you know that a simple ride into town for supplies is helpful and very appreciated. These girls, and all the others I met, only have maybe 500 or so miles to go until they reach Canada. There are some even larger fires up north in Washington, I hope and pray they an unharmed and able to complete their adventure.

 

[FAW3]

The sprinkling of these locations/finds within your reports is so enjoyable. Another "want to go" placed on my map.

Home - Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

WAAAM - Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum

www.waaamuseum.org

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

I love the gorge! I have spent countless hours in fire camps, and other "portable city’s".

However at this point in my life, I am usually in C&G, or Medical. Depending on the contracting officer, and fire size. I have set up mobile medical basis that even have imaging. It usually just sick call stuff, I was running them during the C-19 years. And we had to up our capability, to some impressive levels. Including blood tests,tele medicine, sutures, Rx, etc.

Most the med staff are pretty cool folks.

 

[ramblinChet]

The past few weeks have been very relaxing - when people ask what I am doing I most often reply that I am taking a vacation from my vacation. Don't get me wrong, travel full time is fun and I wouldn't trade it for anything at this moment but when you are moving all the time you are also constantly identifying locations to camp, top off on gas, purchase supplies, and visit local attractions. Sleeping at fire camp each night, enjoying a hot meal with the men, relaxing in a hot shower at 0530 each morning, and plugging in to charge my house battery overnight, has been very relaxing. This could never last too long though, I am already itching to get back on the road.

If you recall, I recently has my oil changed at Prestige Chrysler Dodge near Loveland, Colorado. Everything went well and I much appreciated them squeezing me in just before I began my trip to the next fire out here in Oregon. During a mandatory day off I decided to venture west and explore a bit of Portland. While walking out to my vehicle after lunch, I noticed a small puddle of fresh oil under my rig and although I was sure it was not from me - I peeked underneath and discovered it was. The oil drain plug could be spun with my finger so the first thing I did was snug it up and check my oil level.


My next step was to call the Service Manager at Prestige and discuss. He did a great job and within minutes asked me to drive 1.4 miles over to Gresham Dodge, pull directly into the service area, and let them check everything. A few minutes later I rolled in and greeted by a fellow veteran - a technician then inspected my vehicle, tightened the drain plug to the appropriate torque, added approximately 1/2 quart of oil, sprayed off the underside, and returned the vehicle to me. Although this has never happened previously, I will be inspecting underneath on a regular basis. This could have turned out far worse if that plug would have dropped out while exploring the desert or mountains. Yikes!


Here is an early morning shot from the Eagle Creek Trail where I spend much of my time. If you are near Cascade Locks east of Portland my suggestion is to stop in for a few hours and enjoy a hike - there is parking at the trailhead. It seems most folks opt for a two mile hike out to Punch Bowl Falls while others opt for a six mile hike out to Twister Falls. There is so much to do outside in this area of the country you will never become bored if you enjoy the outdoors.


Well, it's fall spawning season for the salmon and what a beautiful sight to behold. It's really something special to watch these large fish fight the current and shallow waters to move upstream, spawn, and then die. At the head of the creek is the Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery and yes, they offer tours.


Just across the highway from the hatchery is the Eagle Creek Overlook which was "developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's as a place to view construction of the Bonneville Dam." I love visiting the old CCC facilities and viewing what ten-of-thousands of young men built in such a short period of time. Dams, bridges, buildings, roads through the forest, etc. - I'm not quite sure if any of those men working for $30 per month realized what a treasure they were leaving future generations. Thank you men.


Speaking of being broke and not having a dime, it's sad to hear of the repeated break-in attempts by local individuals. From what local law enforcement tell me, groups travel out of Portland and make a loop to the east, then south, and then back to south-west Portland. They travel through the area smashing windows and stealing anything of value before hitting the pawn shops in SW Portland where they sell their stolen goods.

Below is a self-pay station where there was an attempted break in on Sunday night. The station is constructed using 1" thick steel which is anchored several feet into the concrete below. I though it was crazy that this was necessary until I saw first-hand how determined some people were to break in.


A quick call to the US Forest Service and a short time later a few Federal Officers arrived to investigate. Within minutes they were collecting bits and pieces of punches, drill bits, and saw blades. Without a doubt the increase in local crime can be directly attributed to legalization and proliferation of drugs throughout the area. Although it may seem natural to immediately separate oneself from "those addicts," as I grow older, and hopefully a bit wiser, I am trying to understand exactly what is taking place.

These people, are people - they are someones son, or daughter. They are brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles; possibly a father, or mother. As I sit here looking at this pile of broken tools laying on the dirty ground I wonder what else they might have been used to build. In a strange way these broken tools represent the broken lives of those addicts. If they were not broken, what else could they have built?

As a traditional Catholic, I pray frequently - and yes, we have a prayer for those addicted...

God of life, You made me in Your perfect image, to live in Your love and to give You glory, honor and praise. Open my heart to Your healing power. Come, Lord Jesus, calm my soul just as you whispered “Peace” to the stormy sea. St. Jude, most holy Apostle, in my need I reach out to you. I beg you to intercede for me that I may find strength to overcome my illness. Bless all those who struggle with addiction. Touch them, heal them, reassure them of the Father’s constant love. Remain at my side, St. Jude, to chase away all evil temptations, fears, and doubts. May the quiet assurance of your loving presence illuminate the darkness in my heart and bring lasting peace. Amen.

When you travel along the historic Columbia River Gorge Highway (U.S. Route 30) just east of Portland there are many beautiful waterfalls for you to enjoy. This is a visitors center at Multnomah Falls.


And here she is, standing 620+ feet tall. Stop by, check her out, and listen to her sing!

 

[ramblinChet]

My rear passenger brake light failed so I reviewed the owners manual and stopped by to pick up a replacement bulb. When I attempted to install the new bulb I noticed it the #3157 was incorrect and would not fit. What bulb does your manual show?


Since I had the OEM bulb out I looked at the number and it was #7443 which was nowhere to be found in my owners manual. Maybe I made a mistake although I returned the original bulbs and purchased the correct new ones.


I'm not sure what the proper name is for this tool but it is one that helped me out several times. It originally came with a set of Kobalt tools that I purchased as an extra set to carry with me while traveling and to be honest I never thought I would use it. In this instance I only had a few inches between my camper and the two T25 Torx bolts that held the tail light in place and it was the only tool that would work. It also has a ratchet mechanism inside so despite the tight space, it only took a few seconds to remove the bolts.


Since crews were demobilizing from the Whisky Creek fire it was time for me to leave and head to another fire. Here I am driving through the Spring Basin Wilderness approximately fifteen miles north of Mitchell, Oregon. My four hour ride was so beautiful and relaxing I almost turned back to do it again.


In one of my future posts I will spend time and go into greater detail although I will give you a hint: when the MC4 connectors began to fail on my Renogy 200 watt Solar Suitcase I began researching MC4 and other appropriate DC connectors. During my research I went deep down the MC4 connector rabbit-hole and quickly discovered that all MC4 connectors are not the same. Surprise!


My research lead me back to the company that owns the original design of the MC4 connector - Stäubli International AG. Let me summarize by stating that the difference between these connectors and the ones used on the Renogy seem to be night and day. Maybe the Stäubli MC4s cost more compared to ones made somewhere else that look similar but if the help minimize the potential of having a fire where I sleep, it's a small price to pay. And don't mix and match different brands of MC4s - more on this topic soon.


I was able to connect with the Stäubli field service engineer and he was able to recommend several companies in the area who stocked the specific components I was looking for. Don't be afraid to call manufacturers and spend time on the phone with them asking questions - they are the experts and that is what they are there for.


Since this was my third fire I figured it was time to step up to something larger than the previous 10,000 and 3,000 acre ones. For the past week I have been at the 167,000 acre Rail Ridge fire in central Oregon. This fire is so large we actually have a primary camp along with two Spike camps which is a smaller camp that is separate from the main camp.

To help put things into perspective regarding the size of the fire and travel - some of our team members are driving 1.5 hours to their location prior to beginning work. Consider that your work day begins at 0700 and ends at 1900, and you must depart camp at 0530 to arrive on time, and you return at 2030 each night. Also consider that chow and showers open at 0600 and close at 2200 and you can begin to see the conflict. Add in 700+ men showing up to eat and shower within minutes of each other and you can begin to understand why spike camps and disbursing teams becomes not just a good idea, but mandatory.


Here's a parting show of the sun obscured by the smoke just a day ago. Happy trails and check your MC4 connectors - you may prevent a fire

 

[ramblinChet]

Posted 22-OCT-2024

I'm not exactly sure how to describe the process but there is something about travelers being able to spot other travelers in a crowd and stopping to say hello. In this case we were both out in the middle of Oregon and happened upon one another although there have been other times where I have been shopping in a large store and have been approached and asked, "Hey, is that your truck outside?" It's always fun to meet other adventurers in random places, share a few stories and laughs, and slowly drift apart...sometimes we meet again.

This European adventure vehicle manufactured by Woelcke in Germany was being driven by a single Swiss lady. She was very happy to share all sorts of travel information regarding her recent Panamericana Tour which lasted 180 days, driving 30.000 km, and spanning 15 countries. And although its hunting season here in Oregon, she just wasn't my type. I wished her happy trails and will continue my own adventure - always looking, listening, and smiling!


Yes, I am still at the Incident Command Post here at the Ridge Rail Fire in central Oregon and as of yesterday she was 176,000 acres and mostly contained. A supply truck was rolling in and I noticed a dozen or so huge Zarges K470 aluminum cases identical to the seven that I own, only much larger. This put a big smile on my face in the middle of another long day - we don't recognize weekends out here and since arriving, I have worked thirty days straight. It's fun though and the guys in the delivery truck were entirely confused when I began taking pictures of the large shiny boxes.


Since many of these incidents take place in remote areas that do not have cellular service, or the ability to support a significant increase in cellular traffic, most every time a deployable cellular tower is erected on site. Here is an example for you guys who enjoy NotaRubicon Productions videos.


Just snapped a picture of my rig on a smoky day at fire camp. It's a large camp and when I arrived there were 1,200 people total. As I explained in an earlier post, large groups of people and much large equipment have been relocated to two spike camps and one equipment staging area even closer to the fire.


Every day at morning brief, revised forty page action plans are handed out and discussed. Let me summarize and say that there is so much going on it really impressive to see how well everything is organized with very specific and detailed information being updated and shared daily. Weather plays a huge role in planning with RH (relative humidity) and winds being key metrics in shaping the plan of the day. As you might imagine, communications are critical also with portable radios and repeater stations spread over many miles of back country.


There are many different maps used for specific purposes and here is one example. To put the size into perspective, the city of Atlanta is 132 square miles and this fire is currently twice that size and still growing.


Here is a close up of the map above showing additional detail such as drop points, helispots, division breaks, contained and uncontained areas, etc.


As the sun was setting I stopped to replay song in my head about that rumor spreading round in that Texas town, about that shack outside La Grange. I wonder where I will be in a few weeks...

 

[ramblinChet]

Posted 02-NOV-2024

It was 1400 and I was informed that I should prepare to demobilize and move to another fire approximately 1,000 miles to the east in northeast Wyoming. Things were really kicking up there and it looked like this fire would be wrapping up within the next week so after working for one month straight and not even leaving fire camp, I was ready to be on the road for a long day. A few hours later I decided to pack up my gear and depart before the sun fell - my goal was to get away from the fire and minimize my chances of hitting any deer, elk, horses, etc.

The weather was calling for rain and sleet below 4k feet with snow above that altitude - here I am rolling along U.S. Route 26 between Prairie City and Unity just slightly above 4,000 feet. It had been some time since I had driven in snow so I frequently tested brakes and steering, and generally drove a bit on the cautious side.


The new fire I was heading to was the 98,000 acre Elk Fire just outside Sheridan, Wyoming. One of my buddies from a previous fire was leading the team at this event so I was looking forward to meeting up with him, sharing some stories and laughs, and slowly beginning to move back towards the east. My schedule was stacking up and I had adventure with other friends scheduled for late November and this next fire was conveniently on the way there.


After rolling into Sheridan and meeting up with the team, our initial fire camp was quickly relocated to the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. I want to take a moment to point out a difference most people are not aware of - there is a significant different between working out in cold weather for a few hours, even a full day, when compared to living in cold weather 24/7 for several weeks or months. Something changes in our body and although you just become accustomed to always being cold - a slight bit of occasional warmth, even one warm meal, makes you feel like a million bucks.

On that note, since we would now be parking at the fairgrounds which has utility poles all had power, I decided to splurge on a simple electric heater along with a 50' extension. I was heading into town anyway to finally order a ratcheting crimper so I considered the additional $60 for the heater and cord well spent. Note the inset in the picture I included information regarding which extensions are appropriate for a given length and load. Since amps = watts / volts, this 1,500 watt unit divided by 120 volts would create a 12.5 amp load - the 50 foot 16 gauge would handle 13 amps and be fine for this application.


Here are the Klein Solar Ratcheting Crimper for MC4 Connectors that I purchased for $40. I really though long and hard about purchasing the Stäubli ratcheting crimper for $500 since they were TÜV and UL certified but I decided to try these first. If I were doing this for a living I would not hesitate to purchase the Stäubli and if the Klein do not perform well, I will not hesitate to purchase the Stäubli. But for my application, I suspect the Klein make take a bit longer to align and crimp, but they should be just fine.


Receipts for my on-line digital record.


This picture was taken just off U.S. Highway 14 in the Big Horn National Forest. The temperatures are currently in the 50s during the day but slip into the 20s and 30s at night - the wind always adds a bit more bite. This area was once shared by the Shoshone and Crow Indian tribes. According to Crow oral tradition, a young boy was saved here by seven bighorn rams. While saving the boy, the chief ram spoke and told him the name of the nearby river was Big Horn and if it ever changed the Crow tribe would cease to exist.


Since I was in the Sheridan area I made it a point to stop by Weatherby, Inc. which is located just outside of town. Their iconic Mark V action has always been of interest to me so I wanted to stop by and learn more. If you are in the area and have an hour or so, I would recommend stopping by their showroom and manufacturing facility. BTW - next year will be the 80th anniversary so I would expect something special to be taking place at his location.


Below is a cutaway of their Mark V with it's 9-lug magnum action - reported to be the strongest action available. Note the inset which is a close-up of the lugs and bolt-locking interface. For reference, most actions use two large lugs with a 90° bolt rotation whereas the Mark V uses nine smaller lugs (with more surface area) and a much shorter 54° bolt rotation. It's really a classy piece of work and ideal for handling the entire line of Weatherby belted-magnum cartridges.


Off to the side of the showroom is a small "museum" with a wide variety of rifles to handle along with some amazing historical artifacts. Seeing a gold plated Weatherby custom manufactured for John Wayne put a big smile on my face. It was nice to spend time examining the rifles, working the actions, and comparing the various configurations. Some were steel receivers, barrels, and wooden stocks, whereas others used titanium actions, carbon fiber composite barrels, with carbon fiber stocks. If you have ever packed a heavy rifle around during a long hunt you know very well that ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain. This is like an adult petting zoo.


Today is my final morning watching the sunrise in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. This picture was taken in absolute silence above 8,000 feet on a cold and windless morning.

A new incident management team arrived and at the same time the weather was really beating down the fire - this is good for everyone. For me, this fire season has ended and although I have enjoyed the past few months, I have been dreaming of getting back out on the road again, exploring, adventuring, spending time with friends, and living life...