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I’m in the market for a mid-sized extra cab pickup as an everyday driver and a desert traveler when I want. 4X4 automatic 6cyl of the 2005-2015 vintage and ~100K miles. Recently here in AZ they have been asking mid to high $20K’s and a new Tacoma access cab SR with 6’ bed and trailer package...

Sorry andytruck, I got Starlink WiFi just for this reason. With 200MB/S the problem has disappeared.

My Alpicool CF35 has been great for two years of extended use running off the Tacoma, or my homemade WATTBOX LiFePO4 54Ah battery tied to a 100 watt folding solar panel. $279. If I were doing it again I’d go with their C40 in the metal box at $299 at Amazon. The plastic is fine but I broke a bit...

Gas today is about the same price it was in 1978 in real dollar values! See https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/gasoline-prices-adjusted-for-inflation/ As for replica or remakes how about a Morgan plus four. Oh I forgot they are still making them! https://www.morgan-motor.com/plus-four/

Just watch out for the diterpenes! https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/whats-the-healthiest-way-to-brew-coffee Because we are older we use a paper filter. Aeropress, Chemex, grinder, fresh French roasted beans. Via if backpacking superlight.

Maybe this, no holes below the waterline to leak: Or these and a visit to the hardware store? Since you have added a spigot ths might work:

I’d try the hack w/o power first to see what it could do. You sound committed to doing it. I say go for it and let us know what you find out. All education is expensive and we all know the school of hard knocks it the priciest! Try a left hand thumb control for the third wheel and only use it...

I owned a 1985 Samurai for 10 years. Bought it for $800 and spent about another $800 for parts in the 10 years getting it perfected. That thing went everywhere! Soft top with roll up windows, heat, carried 4, legal on the road, cheap to insure, reliable, aftermarket parts, etc. I did sell it...

Back in the day 500cc and 600cc BMW's with a sidecar were run in races off road with a 150+ lb human rider in the car. They moved well and seemed to have power and speed even in quite rough terrain. They were 26-29 hp not far from the 24.3 hp of the Royal Enfield Himalayan and were similar in...

I’ve had an identical one since about 1980. Used it a lot even when backpacking if the trip was not too strenuous to carry an extra thingy. It makes a great muffin ring in the shape of a small bunt cake, johnycake, etc. You won’t make a normal pizza but could make a round ring shaped Calzone...

I’ve thought that about 1KW of solar might do it. 3-350 watt panels would fit on a long Euro style van. If you need 60-70 KWH to recharge after 250 miles then stay in the sun for about 10-12 days?? The problem is, no van we now have could get that much mileage/KWH. I’m thinking the desert SW in...

I have that AILI meter on my home made LiFePO4 WATTBOX portable power pack. It works great! Recommend.

The cheapest good battery in the US is sold by Sam’s Club and made by a reputable manufacturer called West Penn and sold under the name Duracell. They are built for golf cart use and last many years in my RV. The last ones I bought still had full 215 A-h capacity after 6 years. They cost less...

It depends. If you can get by with the more limited charge rate and discharge rate LiFePO4 is a great battery. I have a 54 A-h in a portable power box. The self discharge rate is almost nothing, it can handle only about 10 amp charge rate and perhaps 50 amps discharge rate. For me it was the...

Interesting! My USPS, and UPS drivers tell me they have no A/C and thats in SW AZ(!) and in NH. All of them say the heater is really non-existent too. If they use no electric power when stopped and travel at low speed most of the time I would have thought their energy use would have been like a...

I bought my daughter’s 2002 3rd gen. with 170K miles, 3.4 stock with auto, leather, moon roof and running boards. It now has 245K, the running boards are gone as are the origional bumpers from rust. The rest is rust free and it resides in the AZ desert now so it is safe- rust wise. I replaced...

Good reply. I prefer to test (seldom) with a SOC meter (which have become much cheaper recently) as voltage to SOC is non-linear. I have used the Sam’s Club Deka/East Penn FLA’s with great satisfaction over 5-8 years service and minimal capacity loss. Unfortunately for reporting here I gave the...

The bumper and winch can be an issue. My front bumper and winch were carefully weighed and the removed origional parts subtracted. Winch rope saves almost 20#. The changover added 100# I added new front springs w/new shocks to compensate and lift a bit. I also lost 35# myself, does that get...

Thanks for this. My desert overland vehicle is a 2002 4Runner, front and rear bumpers and a synthetic rope winch. Sleeping platform inside. One size up on tires and 2” lift. I have the winch to extract the folks I lead. I would go anywhere in it but use some caution about it’s capabilities. I...

I’ll get feedback on this but I bought a 2015 Ram Promaster HR-136", did a camper conversion inside ($4.5K) and used it for 5 years. NOT ONE issue. Front wheel drive and with good winter treads it goes well. Life sent a curve so I sold it for what I paid for the van with 85K miles.