2021 RAM 3500 Tradesman | AEV Prospector | FWC Grandby
- Thread starter ramblinChet
- Start date
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Hello Jonathan and that you for your kind words. I am sure you have some very interesting stories to share regarding your time with USAF Security!
Great question regarding the regular cab and long bed configuration. In short, I love it. What I love most is the long bed and all the room I have back in my camper. Since my goal was to drive short distances and maximize my time camping I though it was logical to invest more in where I would be spending most of my time, in the camper. The regular cab has enough room for me as well as an occasional girlfriend and there is a reasonable amount of storage space behind the seats that can be used. I thought long and hard about a crew cab and figured if I did have it I would just carry more unnecessary gear with me.
My overall goal with this project was keeping things simple and minimal to a reasonable degree. This is the reason I opted for the shell version of the FWC, Tradesman with 6.4L Hemi, AEV Prospector, etc. I threw some aluminum cases in the back with a refrigerator and hit the road. Right now it seems that the aluminum cases in back along with the space behind and under the seats seems to be working. If I need to I can always add a few more cases for storage although I do not see that happening right now. In a pinch, the system is modular and I can pull the cases out and build a more permanent system.
One of the drawbacks with the regular cab and FWC is looking back towards the passenger side. Yes, there is a window on the side of the FWC but it is not as easy to see through. I imagine a crew cab would solve 80% of that issue but it is a minor one. In summary, I have enough room up front and have never even thought for a moment that I had wished I had opted for the crew cab. Again, it's just me most of the time with my goal to spend most time camping and relaxing. Hope this helps!
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
If you are ever passing through Mississippi, south of Jackson, I would recommend you take a moment to stop by the Lynyrd Skynyrd Memorial just off the highway in Gillsburg, Mississippi. It is a beautiful memorial and with part of it reading their "music speaks to life in the American South but touches on the universal themes of nonconformity, freedom, love, loyalty, betrayal, and loss." If you are interested in reading the official NTSB report on this unfortunate accident, see the attached AAR7806.pdf down below. Pay particular attention to discussion regarding fuel consumption.
Have you ever pulled over on the side of a rural road in the deep south, to enjoy some southern fried rabbit prepared and served by a bunch of cute girls with even cuter accents?
I spent an afternoon in the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum and plan to visit again and take even more time. It's a mid-sized museum although it is packed with information and historical pieces. Below I planned on posting a picture but will refrain from doing so until I receive permission from a site moderator. In today's world, as crazy as it is, some forums prohibit posting images that are historical in nature and this includes ones posted in a federal military museum operated on an active military installation. If a moderator would like to review, I will be happy to send one. I would hope that a picture titled "Kinder, Kirche, Keuche," of a beautiful young lady, who is proud of her country, is not offensive nor would we pass judgement on an entire group of people while referencing the actions of a select few. Out of respect for this forum, I will not post the picture unless given permission.
The museum contains several displays similar to this one. Each contains dozens of artifacts with some even containing personal references to who the item originally belonged to. Just an amazing collection and well worth a day.
Our beloved rotary-wing guys have no need to worry, they are well represented in this full size display. They did a great job and the best thing is you are literally standing a few feet away from everything. BTW - the first helo I jumped from was a member of the Huey family, it was a UH-1N. Very cool aircraft!
Many of the items and arms present are from foreign countries. It was refreshing to see M60s nearby MG34s and AK-47s. It offered a wonderful opportunity to study and compare the differences and similarities.
Outside are several dozen tanks, artillery, and a few aircraft. Here is a CH-54 heavy lift helicopter with a M114 armored reconnaissance vehicle slung underneath. Seeing this in real life makes it clear to understand why it was nicknamed SkyCrane. This beauty is a beast!
The Army OV-1B Mohawk observational aircraft has always had a special place in my heart. One on hand, I think it's kinda cute for a military aircraft. Then again, with twin engines and vertical stabilizers in back, I bet it would be really fun to zip around low and slow. Have you ever realized that our US Army has not had any fixed-wing combat aircraft since the late 1940s?
Bedding down for the night on base, adjacent to a lake. I do hope to catch the sun rise in the morning. Good night y'all!
Have you ever pulled over on the side of a rural road in the deep south, to enjoy some southern fried rabbit prepared and served by a bunch of cute girls with even cuter accents?
I spent an afternoon in the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum and plan to visit again and take even more time. It's a mid-sized museum although it is packed with information and historical pieces. Below I planned on posting a picture but will refrain from doing so until I receive permission from a site moderator. In today's world, as crazy as it is, some forums prohibit posting images that are historical in nature and this includes ones posted in a federal military museum operated on an active military installation. If a moderator would like to review, I will be happy to send one. I would hope that a picture titled "Kinder, Kirche, Keuche," of a beautiful young lady, who is proud of her country, is not offensive nor would we pass judgement on an entire group of people while referencing the actions of a select few. Out of respect for this forum, I will not post the picture unless given permission.
The museum contains several displays similar to this one. Each contains dozens of artifacts with some even containing personal references to who the item originally belonged to. Just an amazing collection and well worth a day.
Our beloved rotary-wing guys have no need to worry, they are well represented in this full size display. They did a great job and the best thing is you are literally standing a few feet away from everything. BTW - the first helo I jumped from was a member of the Huey family, it was a UH-1N. Very cool aircraft!
Many of the items and arms present are from foreign countries. It was refreshing to see M60s nearby MG34s and AK-47s. It offered a wonderful opportunity to study and compare the differences and similarities.
Outside are several dozen tanks, artillery, and a few aircraft. Here is a CH-54 heavy lift helicopter with a M114 armored reconnaissance vehicle slung underneath. Seeing this in real life makes it clear to understand why it was nicknamed SkyCrane. This beauty is a beast!
The Army OV-1B Mohawk observational aircraft has always had a special place in my heart. One on hand, I think it's kinda cute for a military aircraft. Then again, with twin engines and vertical stabilizers in back, I bet it would be really fun to zip around low and slow. Have you ever realized that our US Army has not had any fixed-wing combat aircraft since the late 1940s?
Bedding down for the night on base, adjacent to a lake. I do hope to catch the sun rise in the morning. Good night y'all!
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
I did not try the fried rabbit although I do plan on trying next time I am in the area. I had a taste for a nice juicy burger and the price for the rabbit was $13 which was beyond what I felt like spending. Heading back to Virginia for Christmas and handing over much money to energy companies right now.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Spend one night on Camp Shelby at Lake Walker. It seemed like many of the campers there had been there for an extended period of time - like weeks, or months. It was a really nice campground overall though and I would not hesitate to stay there again. Although they had hot showers and free laundry, I was not able to take advantage of either since I was motivated to depart Mississippi.
Here is Lake Walker an hour or so after sunrise. It was a cool crisp morning and the warm sun felt great. Off to the right of the frame was a dock. Since there was no movement I didn't pick her out immediately, but there was a pretty young lady with her dog sitting facing the rising sun and soaking it all up. It was a very peaceful morning after a very chilly night.
The strangest thing about this base was the fact that there were thousands of pieces of equipment and hundreds of buildings, but the entire time I was there I only saw maybe two or three other vehicles and just maybe three of four people. Lights were on, building HVAC fans were spinning, but it was deserted. The only other time I saw other people were the gate guards, the two folks at the museum, and all the campers. It was like driving around an abandoned city. Strange.
I am not sure what attracts me to them although I always want to photograph trees and water in various lighting conditions. These beauties were on the north side of Geiger Lake in the De Soto National Forrest.
So we hit 1k hours of engine run time with 85% being driven and 15% at idle. The numbers seem to be accurate, how do yours compare? And here is a riddle, is my average speed 33.7 or 39.4 MPH?
Many of the roads in the De Soto National Forest are identical to this one. There were some narrower ones but they seemed largely overgrown and a bit too tight for my rig. It was a smooth and pleasant ride.
It seems that the northern section of De Soto NF is used by the Army for tank and artillery practice. Up in that area I came across many signs like this and others ones warning of shells flying overhead. It would have been cool to be there during live fire exercises to hear the shells whistling overhead.
This picture was taken at 0511 in the morning, an hour or so before I normally wake up. While preparing to go to bed I opted for my intermediate sleeping bag since it was in the mid-50s. To my surprise, the temperature dropped like a rock and it was in the very low 30s when I finally decided it was in my best interest to crawl out of bed and pee in a bottle. Since I did not feel like dragging out my cold weather bag I decided to turn on my stove for 10-15 minutes to warm up the interior of my camper. It would be warm enough to keep me sleeping well for the next hour or so and it worked great.
Here is Lake Walker an hour or so after sunrise. It was a cool crisp morning and the warm sun felt great. Off to the right of the frame was a dock. Since there was no movement I didn't pick her out immediately, but there was a pretty young lady with her dog sitting facing the rising sun and soaking it all up. It was a very peaceful morning after a very chilly night.
The strangest thing about this base was the fact that there were thousands of pieces of equipment and hundreds of buildings, but the entire time I was there I only saw maybe two or three other vehicles and just maybe three of four people. Lights were on, building HVAC fans were spinning, but it was deserted. The only other time I saw other people were the gate guards, the two folks at the museum, and all the campers. It was like driving around an abandoned city. Strange.
I am not sure what attracts me to them although I always want to photograph trees and water in various lighting conditions. These beauties were on the north side of Geiger Lake in the De Soto National Forrest.
So we hit 1k hours of engine run time with 85% being driven and 15% at idle. The numbers seem to be accurate, how do yours compare? And here is a riddle, is my average speed 33.7 or 39.4 MPH?
Many of the roads in the De Soto National Forest are identical to this one. There were some narrower ones but they seemed largely overgrown and a bit too tight for my rig. It was a smooth and pleasant ride.
It seems that the northern section of De Soto NF is used by the Army for tank and artillery practice. Up in that area I came across many signs like this and others ones warning of shells flying overhead. It would have been cool to be there during live fire exercises to hear the shells whistling overhead.
This picture was taken at 0511 in the morning, an hour or so before I normally wake up. While preparing to go to bed I opted for my intermediate sleeping bag since it was in the mid-50s. To my surprise, the temperature dropped like a rock and it was in the very low 30s when I finally decided it was in my best interest to crawl out of bed and pee in a bottle. Since I did not feel like dragging out my cold weather bag I decided to turn on my stove for 10-15 minutes to warm up the interior of my camper. It would be warm enough to keep me sleeping well for the next hour or so and it worked great.
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
Here is an example of the glamorous side of overlanding - spending the night in a parking lot across from the casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi. My adventure began earlier in the day with what I believed to be a possible unicorn. A short time later this unicorn easily slid through the wife zone and landed squarely in the date zone. At one point my primary brain fully engaged and I realized I was deep into the danger zone of the hot (8-9) and crazy (10+) matrix. If you would like more details they will be shared around a campfire provided you have no recording devices with you.
While praying for forgiveness and getting out of town as far and fast as possible, I landed in Bayou La Barte, Alabama. I hung around for some time checking out the dozens of working boats. It was here, around seventy five years ago, that Father Alex O'Neil held the first Blessing of the Fleet. This is an old world custom asking God for a bountiful harvest and protecting for the men while working out at sea. Lot's of fresh seafood in the area also!
Here we are on the Mobile Ferry departing from Dauphin Island and arriving in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I met the coolest dude who was riding a bicycle across country alone, unsupported, as fast as he could. He left San Diego, California, twenty five days earlier with his final destination being Saint Augustine, Florida. He had some great stories to share and I enjoyed listening to them for the better part of an hour.
Here is a super-secret project I have been working on at an undisclosed location in the deep south. This is an prototype amphibious attack submarine being built for the ultra-secretive North Coast Militia. NCM are charged with defending against the upcoming Canadian invasion. Reference Defense Scheme No. 1 for additional information and don't share this with anyone
Around two decades ago I frequently explored Elgin Air Force Base in Florida, more specifically, the thousands of acres of auxiliary fields. This is me rolling in late at night searching for Escribano Point which is a very special place with wonderful memories. Unfortunately, the exact location is gated off now and it appears my only means to visit would be from the water. I was able to get within a kilometer or so driving to the shore so maybe next time I will bring a kayak or just walk and swim over to the point. It is a super cool area and if I am able to get back and take pictures you will see why.
After bedding down for the night I enjoyed yet another storm which was mostly heavy rain with some gusty winds. This is the area I relaxed and prepared for my early morning shoot.
My eyes were opened to a strange sound I had never heard before. Two or three dozen pelicans crashed into the water just feet away from where I was resting. It was a crazy but cool sound and that's one of the things I enjoy most regarding camping deep in the forest and mountains. Hearing nature in a natural setting. The howls from a pack of coyotes in the distance closing in, the crash of dozens of pelicans into the soft morning water, the wind whistling through the trees...
While praying for forgiveness and getting out of town as far and fast as possible, I landed in Bayou La Barte, Alabama. I hung around for some time checking out the dozens of working boats. It was here, around seventy five years ago, that Father Alex O'Neil held the first Blessing of the Fleet. This is an old world custom asking God for a bountiful harvest and protecting for the men while working out at sea. Lot's of fresh seafood in the area also!
Here we are on the Mobile Ferry departing from Dauphin Island and arriving in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I met the coolest dude who was riding a bicycle across country alone, unsupported, as fast as he could. He left San Diego, California, twenty five days earlier with his final destination being Saint Augustine, Florida. He had some great stories to share and I enjoyed listening to them for the better part of an hour.
Here is a super-secret project I have been working on at an undisclosed location in the deep south. This is an prototype amphibious attack submarine being built for the ultra-secretive North Coast Militia. NCM are charged with defending against the upcoming Canadian invasion. Reference Defense Scheme No. 1 for additional information and don't share this with anyone
Around two decades ago I frequently explored Elgin Air Force Base in Florida, more specifically, the thousands of acres of auxiliary fields. This is me rolling in late at night searching for Escribano Point which is a very special place with wonderful memories. Unfortunately, the exact location is gated off now and it appears my only means to visit would be from the water. I was able to get within a kilometer or so driving to the shore so maybe next time I will bring a kayak or just walk and swim over to the point. It is a super cool area and if I am able to get back and take pictures you will see why.
After bedding down for the night I enjoyed yet another storm which was mostly heavy rain with some gusty winds. This is the area I relaxed and prepared for my early morning shoot.
My eyes were opened to a strange sound I had never heard before. Two or three dozen pelicans crashed into the water just feet away from where I was resting. It was a crazy but cool sound and that's one of the things I enjoy most regarding camping deep in the forest and mountains. Hearing nature in a natural setting. The howls from a pack of coyotes in the distance closing in, the crash of dozens of pelicans into the soft morning water, the wind whistling through the trees...
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
Much time spent off-road exploring trails in Florida the past few days. The pictures below begin in Eglin AFB and move eastward into Point Washington State Forest and finally ending in Apalachicola National Forest. If felt as if all I did was drive off road yet I barely even began to scratch the surface. Consider Eglin AFB is 464k acres with around 250k open to exploration while Apalachicola NF is 633k acres itself. My plans is to visit again and spend at least a week or two - so much to see over such a vast amount of area.
Here is a typical shot of the roads on Eglin AFB during the day. Some primary were paved but the majority looked like this. Beware, you are not permitted to just drive around where ever you desire. Eglin AFB is huge and many areas are used for bombing practice. I was working in the area when GBU-43/B MOAB was tested two decades ago and people could see the mushroom cloud from twenty miles away. Some areas also require you to attend unexploded ordnance (UXO) training since there is a reasonable possibility you may encounter UXO. Call base security and ask for additional information.
Of course, there were many trails leading off the roads with most looking like this. Some were pretty tight and would be perfect for an old narrow Jeep. And crooked trails again on flat land, just like before, lol.
Here is a shot on a secondary trail in Apalachicola NF. If you have no desire for east coast pin-striping, the secondary trails may not be a good choice for you. They did lead to some awesome primitive camping spots and were so secluded I felt they were very much worth it.
Your typical primary road in Apalachicola NF - wide and smooth with tall trees. Keep in mind there are only a few gas stations around the perimeter of this forest and all were at least an hour or more away. If you plan to visit I would recommend filling up just before you enter and carry additional fuel just in case.
Here is my only shot from Point Washington State Forest. It was right near the Gulf of Mexico and even though it is quite small at 15k acres, there are still places to camp, hike, etc. In this section I stopped and walked around for a bit. In a strange way this section of the forest looked like some sort of safari, lol. The panhandle of Florida is a very fun place and I am looking forward to exploring more when I have more time.
Here is a typical shot of the roads on Eglin AFB during the day. Some primary were paved but the majority looked like this. Beware, you are not permitted to just drive around where ever you desire. Eglin AFB is huge and many areas are used for bombing practice. I was working in the area when GBU-43/B MOAB was tested two decades ago and people could see the mushroom cloud from twenty miles away. Some areas also require you to attend unexploded ordnance (UXO) training since there is a reasonable possibility you may encounter UXO. Call base security and ask for additional information.
Of course, there were many trails leading off the roads with most looking like this. Some were pretty tight and would be perfect for an old narrow Jeep. And crooked trails again on flat land, just like before, lol.
Here is a shot on a secondary trail in Apalachicola NF. If you have no desire for east coast pin-striping, the secondary trails may not be a good choice for you. They did lead to some awesome primitive camping spots and were so secluded I felt they were very much worth it.
Your typical primary road in Apalachicola NF - wide and smooth with tall trees. Keep in mind there are only a few gas stations around the perimeter of this forest and all were at least an hour or more away. If you plan to visit I would recommend filling up just before you enter and carry additional fuel just in case.
Here is my only shot from Point Washington State Forest. It was right near the Gulf of Mexico and even though it is quite small at 15k acres, there are still places to camp, hike, etc. In this section I stopped and walked around for a bit. In a strange way this section of the forest looked like some sort of safari, lol. The panhandle of Florida is a very fun place and I am looking forward to exploring more when I have more time.
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
Since I was passing through North Carolina I stopped at Main Line Overland. Over the past five years I have also visited their locations in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. They are a pretty cool company overall and I always do my best to support them and have purchased products from them in the past. Since I have a few outstanding projects to complete on my rig I figured why not ask for a labor quote. At $150 per hour labor the handful of small tasks I had them quote added up to thousands of dollars very quickly. I will pay myself, thank you.
Here is half of the front of their shop. They do carry a nice assortment of equipment that you most likely will not find elsewhere so if you are nearby I would suggest stopping in. They also host events that I have attended several times such as the Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival in Pennsylvania.
Another wonderful place to stop in North Carolina is Zarges. This is a German company who has been making the finest aluminum cases for over 75 years. They were originally used by the German military and are also currently being used by US armed forces. If you want the best, buy Zarges.
Here are two cases that have been used for decades and are still fully functional.
So I am heading down a country road in North Carolina and in the middle of nowhere I come upon this accident. It appeared to be recent so I stopped and looked round. No one was anywhere to be found so I assume someone else had picked them up already. This vehicle was buried in the brush and barely visible.
Ok, maybe I become excited over goofy things but I finally found the percolator I have been looking for. No, I do not drink tea or coffee - this is to boil water for hot showers. This is 18/8 stainless steel and has a capacity over eight cups along with a semi compact shape. The handle and spout are important also so this is perfect for my application. If you have not showered for 3-5 days and your only option is ice cold water, you will understand why I become excited over a shiny tea kettle.
Driving into another National Forest under cover of darkness. This is Uwharrie in North Carolina. Any x-rays on here ever attended Robin Sage in Uwharrie?
Here is half of the front of their shop. They do carry a nice assortment of equipment that you most likely will not find elsewhere so if you are nearby I would suggest stopping in. They also host events that I have attended several times such as the Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival in Pennsylvania.
Another wonderful place to stop in North Carolina is Zarges. This is a German company who has been making the finest aluminum cases for over 75 years. They were originally used by the German military and are also currently being used by US armed forces. If you want the best, buy Zarges.
Here are two cases that have been used for decades and are still fully functional.
So I am heading down a country road in North Carolina and in the middle of nowhere I come upon this accident. It appeared to be recent so I stopped and looked round. No one was anywhere to be found so I assume someone else had picked them up already. This vehicle was buried in the brush and barely visible.
Ok, maybe I become excited over goofy things but I finally found the percolator I have been looking for. No, I do not drink tea or coffee - this is to boil water for hot showers. This is 18/8 stainless steel and has a capacity over eight cups along with a semi compact shape. The handle and spout are important also so this is perfect for my application. If you have not showered for 3-5 days and your only option is ice cold water, you will understand why I become excited over a shiny tea kettle.
Driving into another National Forest under cover of darkness. This is Uwharrie in North Carolina. Any x-rays on here ever attended Robin Sage in Uwharrie?
ramblinChet
Well-known member
It was a cold and very windy night in Uwharrie National Forest. It was nice listening to thousands of trees singing as the high winds blew in throughout the night. When I arrive during daylight hours I always take a look at the trees in the surrounding area to make sure they all appear to be healthy and strong. That last thing I would want is for a weak tree to topple over onto my camper.
This picture does little to illustrate the actual conditions but Badin Lake was really rough with a mixture of white caps and swells. It was a treat to witness this naturally beautiful area during these unusual conditions.
Four Wheel Pop-Up Campers are a great three-season camper but were never designed for four season use. Minus a constant supply of heat inside the camper, everything freezes within hours. If you are using propane inside for cooking and occasional heat, moisture builds up very quickly. Within a few days virtually everything has a thin film of ice coating it. I do have a diesel heater waiting to be installed but am also considering other options for maintaining an above freezing temperature while driving. As I was falling asleep it was -10° C (14° F) outside, when I awoke, it was -13° C (9° F). No heater, only a bag.
If you are carrying propane with you during cold weather a good place to keep it warm is in the floorboards of your vehicle. Reference Boyle's Law for additional information on why this is a good idea. There is nothing worse than finishing up a long day exploring in freezing conditions and not having your stove light off.
This is what most of the service roads in Uwharrie look like during the winter. There were a number of OHV areas with places to park that I came across in addition to some pretty narrow and tough looking Jeep trails.
It was refreshing to see some green in this section of the forest.
Dropping down Deep Water Trail heading towards Yadkin River. This will be my last update for some time since I am back in Virginia to celebrate Christmas with friends and family. Over the past year I have ordered parts and had them delivered to Virginia so my goal is to take time to have a few of them installed. Of course, the weather has been unusually cold so that adds difficulty.
This picture does little to illustrate the actual conditions but Badin Lake was really rough with a mixture of white caps and swells. It was a treat to witness this naturally beautiful area during these unusual conditions.
Four Wheel Pop-Up Campers are a great three-season camper but were never designed for four season use. Minus a constant supply of heat inside the camper, everything freezes within hours. If you are using propane inside for cooking and occasional heat, moisture builds up very quickly. Within a few days virtually everything has a thin film of ice coating it. I do have a diesel heater waiting to be installed but am also considering other options for maintaining an above freezing temperature while driving. As I was falling asleep it was -10° C (14° F) outside, when I awoke, it was -13° C (9° F). No heater, only a bag.
If you are carrying propane with you during cold weather a good place to keep it warm is in the floorboards of your vehicle. Reference Boyle's Law for additional information on why this is a good idea. There is nothing worse than finishing up a long day exploring in freezing conditions and not having your stove light off.
This is what most of the service roads in Uwharrie look like during the winter. There were a number of OHV areas with places to park that I came across in addition to some pretty narrow and tough looking Jeep trails.
It was refreshing to see some green in this section of the forest.
Dropping down Deep Water Trail heading towards Yadkin River. This will be my last update for some time since I am back in Virginia to celebrate Christmas with friends and family. Over the past year I have ordered parts and had them delivered to Virginia so my goal is to take time to have a few of them installed. Of course, the weather has been unusually cold so that adds difficulty.
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givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
Welcome home neighbor! Looks like you had a great trip!
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Merry Christmas to everyone from Yorktown, Virginia.
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
That's a great pic! Merry belated Christmas!
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Today I took a few minutes to resolve a minor issue which involved the rear door of my Four Wheel Camper contacting one of the 20 liter Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister manufactured by Wavian in Latvia. The door opened just fine but when I attempted to "lock it open" using the locking arm the door would contact the can. It was not that big of a deal although I decided a few spacers, washers, and longer machine bolts would move the mount out far enough to avoid contact. Here is the mount moved out 3/8 of an inch.
Here is a shot of the locking arm engaged with the mount. My cost for the four spacers, washers, and longer bolts, was around $15 and it tool about ten minutes of work. All the arm does is keep the door from swinging closed which is nice on a windy day or if you are parked with a bit of roll to the starboard side.
Here you can see where the lock on the door has around 1/4 of an inch clearance now. Previously, this is where contact would take place.
In a previous post I had mentioned how important and easy it is to repair expensive cold weather gear with a patch. This morning I work up and standing tall in the morning sunlight was a piece of goose down sticking out of my cold weather bag. It was time to dog around and find my patch kit.
It was not long before I located the repair tape which was was originally purchased 10-15 years ago. If you recall my previous post I had used this same packet of tape a decade ago to repair my three season bag in addition to a down jacket. I still used both pieces regularly and the repairs are holding fine.
Here is the repaired area on my cold weather bag. Problem solved in a minute - no more goose down will escape from this location.
Recently I left Yorktown, Virginia and crossed the York River over into Gloucester, Virginia. While driving through Gloucester I noticed a sign I had not seen previously; it was for Machicomoco State Park. A few miles later I entered the park which apparently opened just a few years ago so that explains why I had not noticed previously. This shot was taken from a "car-top boat launch" in the Catlett Islands area of the Chesapeake Bay which is managed by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Here is a shot of the locking arm engaged with the mount. My cost for the four spacers, washers, and longer bolts, was around $15 and it tool about ten minutes of work. All the arm does is keep the door from swinging closed which is nice on a windy day or if you are parked with a bit of roll to the starboard side.
Here you can see where the lock on the door has around 1/4 of an inch clearance now. Previously, this is where contact would take place.
In a previous post I had mentioned how important and easy it is to repair expensive cold weather gear with a patch. This morning I work up and standing tall in the morning sunlight was a piece of goose down sticking out of my cold weather bag. It was time to dog around and find my patch kit.
It was not long before I located the repair tape which was was originally purchased 10-15 years ago. If you recall my previous post I had used this same packet of tape a decade ago to repair my three season bag in addition to a down jacket. I still used both pieces regularly and the repairs are holding fine.
Here is the repaired area on my cold weather bag. Problem solved in a minute - no more goose down will escape from this location.
Recently I left Yorktown, Virginia and crossed the York River over into Gloucester, Virginia. While driving through Gloucester I noticed a sign I had not seen previously; it was for Machicomoco State Park. A few miles later I entered the park which apparently opened just a few years ago so that explains why I had not noticed previously. This shot was taken from a "car-top boat launch" in the Catlett Islands area of the Chesapeake Bay which is managed by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
While home I procured three additional RotopaX two gallon water GEN 2 from my Jeep. This brings my water up to ten gallons stored in five RotopaX. What is even better is the fact that they fit perfectly behind my refrigerator up against the bulkhead so the center of gravity is low and between the front and rear axles. When you lift the top cover on the refer it rolls back on the hinges so you must install it three inches from the bulkhead to be able to open it fully. I love utilizing "wasted space" and storing other objects in there.
Recently, I was invited by a longtime friend to camp on personal property near Farmville, Virginia. This was a great opportunity to sleep in my vehicle each night within about 100 meters of a very nice log cabin. During the day, and many times late into the night, I was able to hang out with around a dozen absolutely wonderful people.
Since the weather was cool to nice at night this provided me with an opportunity to establish a mix ratio for my shower water. My initial ratio was ten cups ambient and six boiling - this was acceptable although the ambient temperature was on the cool side. A few other nights I went with eight ambient and eight boiling - since ambient was a bit warm this turned out to be a very warm shower, maybe a bit too warm. On colder days the eight and eight might be perfect but on normal days it seems ten and six works well. I will continue testing. And yes, a gallon seems to be enough for washing my hair and critical areas in addition to brushing my teeth.
We had some really night camp fires which lasted 6-8 hours each night.
We had a Polaris Ranger Crew 1000 available for play on the local trails. All the trails were very tight, very rough, and had significant elevation changes and many off-camper climbs and turns. If you have never been in one of the newer Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) you need to make arrangements to spend some time in one - they are very impressive. It was nice to know the 12 Vdc 100 Ah deep cycle AGM battery was enough to keep my 80 liter refrigerator at 0° C for three full days even though it was warm outside.
Here is a picture of where I "camped" each night:
Recently, I was invited by a longtime friend to camp on personal property near Farmville, Virginia. This was a great opportunity to sleep in my vehicle each night within about 100 meters of a very nice log cabin. During the day, and many times late into the night, I was able to hang out with around a dozen absolutely wonderful people.
Since the weather was cool to nice at night this provided me with an opportunity to establish a mix ratio for my shower water. My initial ratio was ten cups ambient and six boiling - this was acceptable although the ambient temperature was on the cool side. A few other nights I went with eight ambient and eight boiling - since ambient was a bit warm this turned out to be a very warm shower, maybe a bit too warm. On colder days the eight and eight might be perfect but on normal days it seems ten and six works well. I will continue testing. And yes, a gallon seems to be enough for washing my hair and critical areas in addition to brushing my teeth.
We had some really night camp fires which lasted 6-8 hours each night.
We had a Polaris Ranger Crew 1000 available for play on the local trails. All the trails were very tight, very rough, and had significant elevation changes and many off-camper climbs and turns. If you have never been in one of the newer Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) you need to make arrangements to spend some time in one - they are very impressive. It was nice to know the 12 Vdc 100 Ah deep cycle AGM battery was enough to keep my 80 liter refrigerator at 0° C for three full days even though it was warm outside.
Here is a picture of where I "camped" each night:
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