retiredruralmailman
New member
always enjoy your pictures and dialog
2021 RAM 3500 Tradesman | AEV Prospector | FWC Grandby
- Thread starter ramblinChet
- Start date
ramblinChet
Well-known member
POSTED 08-Nov-2024
On my last day in Sheridan, Wyoming, I took time to roam the streets that had "been home to outlaws and icons such as Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and Buffalo Bill Cody." One particular store, King's Saddlery / King Ropes, caught my eye so I stopped in and boy, did I stumble upon a gem. Up front was a Western tack store the likes that I had never laid eyes upon before while in the back of the building was the world famous Rope Shop. I spent time with the men and they taught me all about how to select a rope by asking me questions like; are you going to use this for competition or ranch work? Or, will you be roping solo or on a team? And, are you looking to rope horns or hoofs? Along with countless others. It was really fun to peer into this world and learn a bit about this particular profession. In the end, they recommended I begin my roping career with a "chicken rope" and buy some chickens to practice on.
Out back across the alley is The Don King Museum where I could have spent an entire day. The picture below represents maybe 10-15% of what the museum contains and everything is interesting. There are hundreds of saddles from spanning a few centuries from all around the world, stuffed animals and birds of every kind imaginable, countless pistols, rifles, and shotguns; Indian artifacts, cowboy memorabilia, etc. In all honesty, if you spent an entire day back in the museum you still would only see maybe 50% of what it contains. I am already looking forward to visiting again sometime in the future.
I guess after talking and asking so many questions the folks upstairs in the Rope Shop wanted to get back to work so they suggested I go downstairs and take a peek to learn how their ropes are manufactured. The men downstairs were awesome and I spent a full hour downstairs where they were twisting and waxing ropes that had recently been brought in from the rope farm. I asked what the rope farm was and they went into great detail explaining how they have a farm outside of town dedicated to exposing the ropes to many days worth of exposure to the warm sunlight during the day and cool dry nights. This is all done prior to winding and eventual waxing. Such an interesting a detailed process!
The picture below was one of many on the wall at King's - here is a condensed explanation:
Just in case you are passing through Beulah, Wyoming - you might want to stop by the Sand Creek Trading Post and snack on a plate of Rocky Mountain Oysters.
This may sound goofy but I am just so impressed by the Stäubli MC4 connectors that I used to upgrade the failed Renogy connectors on my solar system. To give you an idea what I am talking about - you know what you examine something, and operate it, and you just are convinced it is a premium product? It's like pushing a button on the dashboard of a Mercedes or BMW - they just feel and sound different. Well, as picky as I am, I feel much the same way about these Stäubli MC4 connectors and am glad I spent the extra time and effort on installing them.
By staying off the interstate system and sticking to the backroads I regularly come upon places I have never heard of. This time I was passing through Gillette, Wyoming, and noticed this massive dragline bucket. I soon discovered that the local Eagle Butte Coal Mine produces approximately 41% of all coal produced in these United States. They do offer tours during the summer so I marked this spot on my map and have plans to return. And how about the tire off to my side!?!
This picture was taken in the Thunder Basin National Grassland - I had been driving for hours and had not seen another person. Some of the prairie dogs watched me drive by while others continued to scurry about, the free-range cattle stood and stared, a herd of pronghorn ran along side of me at an amazing speed, just feet away. I was amazed at their coordination, concentration, how smooth their muscles flexed, it was beautiful to see and hear.
While taking this picture, a particular song came to mind. My eyes teared up so much it was difficult to see what I was taking a picture of so I just snapped and walked back to my truck. Driving away I rolled down the windows, turned up the volume, and played Heartland, by U2. For many reasons it reminds my of my father - he loved the west, he loved adventure, he loved nature. He loved me...
If you don't have a son - make some. If you do, take him out with you and spend time together. He will cherish his time with you forever.
On my last day in Sheridan, Wyoming, I took time to roam the streets that had "been home to outlaws and icons such as Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and Buffalo Bill Cody." One particular store, King's Saddlery / King Ropes, caught my eye so I stopped in and boy, did I stumble upon a gem. Up front was a Western tack store the likes that I had never laid eyes upon before while in the back of the building was the world famous Rope Shop. I spent time with the men and they taught me all about how to select a rope by asking me questions like; are you going to use this for competition or ranch work? Or, will you be roping solo or on a team? And, are you looking to rope horns or hoofs? Along with countless others. It was really fun to peer into this world and learn a bit about this particular profession. In the end, they recommended I begin my roping career with a "chicken rope" and buy some chickens to practice on.
Out back across the alley is The Don King Museum where I could have spent an entire day. The picture below represents maybe 10-15% of what the museum contains and everything is interesting. There are hundreds of saddles from spanning a few centuries from all around the world, stuffed animals and birds of every kind imaginable, countless pistols, rifles, and shotguns; Indian artifacts, cowboy memorabilia, etc. In all honesty, if you spent an entire day back in the museum you still would only see maybe 50% of what it contains. I am already looking forward to visiting again sometime in the future.
I guess after talking and asking so many questions the folks upstairs in the Rope Shop wanted to get back to work so they suggested I go downstairs and take a peek to learn how their ropes are manufactured. The men downstairs were awesome and I spent a full hour downstairs where they were twisting and waxing ropes that had recently been brought in from the rope farm. I asked what the rope farm was and they went into great detail explaining how they have a farm outside of town dedicated to exposing the ropes to many days worth of exposure to the warm sunlight during the day and cool dry nights. This is all done prior to winding and eventual waxing. Such an interesting a detailed process!
The picture below was one of many on the wall at King's - here is a condensed explanation:
Just in case you are passing through Beulah, Wyoming - you might want to stop by the Sand Creek Trading Post and snack on a plate of Rocky Mountain Oysters.
This may sound goofy but I am just so impressed by the Stäubli MC4 connectors that I used to upgrade the failed Renogy connectors on my solar system. To give you an idea what I am talking about - you know what you examine something, and operate it, and you just are convinced it is a premium product? It's like pushing a button on the dashboard of a Mercedes or BMW - they just feel and sound different. Well, as picky as I am, I feel much the same way about these Stäubli MC4 connectors and am glad I spent the extra time and effort on installing them.
By staying off the interstate system and sticking to the backroads I regularly come upon places I have never heard of. This time I was passing through Gillette, Wyoming, and noticed this massive dragline bucket. I soon discovered that the local Eagle Butte Coal Mine produces approximately 41% of all coal produced in these United States. They do offer tours during the summer so I marked this spot on my map and have plans to return. And how about the tire off to my side!?!
This picture was taken in the Thunder Basin National Grassland - I had been driving for hours and had not seen another person. Some of the prairie dogs watched me drive by while others continued to scurry about, the free-range cattle stood and stared, a herd of pronghorn ran along side of me at an amazing speed, just feet away. I was amazed at their coordination, concentration, how smooth their muscles flexed, it was beautiful to see and hear.
While taking this picture, a particular song came to mind. My eyes teared up so much it was difficult to see what I was taking a picture of so I just snapped and walked back to my truck. Driving away I rolled down the windows, turned up the volume, and played Heartland, by U2. For many reasons it reminds my of my father - he loved the west, he loved adventure, he loved nature. He loved me...
If you don't have a son - make some. If you do, take him out with you and spend time together. He will cherish his time with you forever.
Todd780
OverCamper
Very cool pics and stories. So, I have to ask...did you partake in the festival? Don't think I could ever bring myself to try prairie oysters...😬
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Red Desert Wyoming BDR-X
It seems like it has been forever since I have been in the desert alone, exploring an overland trail. The region I am exploring is referred to as the High Plains and this trail begins at 6,300' with the highest elevation being above 7,500'. The daily temperatures are mostly in the 40s with the nights dropping down into the 20s and occasionally 30s - add to that an almost constant stiff westerly wind. The name of this loop is the Red Desert Wyoming BDR-X and was created by the fine folks at Backcountry Discovery Routes. This is a 149-mile loop with dispersed camping and although it can be completed in one day, I would recommend setting aside two.
If it appears that there is virtually nothing on the map its because there is very little in the surrounding area. My suggestion is to place a premium on water, fuel, and food, when venturing into areas like this alone since cellular service will be at best, limited, and it is reasonable to suggest that you may not see another person for days, or even weeks. The night before I began I slept in Rawlins, Wyoming, at the Carbon County Fairgrounds. I topped off my gasoline and did so once again in Baggs just for safety.
As suggested by the BDR folks I followed the route in a clockwise direction. The initial miles were generally smooth although the road surface was hard and slightly rough for stretches.
As the trail transitioned from a gravel road to two-track it became a bit bumpier and rougher. The pace slowed and I began to encounter washed-out areas that were a bit soft although two-wheel drive was still just fine.
The first obstacles in the rougher area consisted of large rocks breaking out of the soil. These were easy so long as you picked a good line - generally, I prioritize driving my tires over the highest sections and secondly, I do my best to keep the vehicle as level as possible the entire tire. Keeping tire on the high sections minimizes the chance of damage to the underside and keeping the vehicle level distributes the power to the wheels as equally as possible.
This is just a beautiful view of the terrain I was exploring. Although it was an overcast day and a bit on the chilly side it was still beautiful.
This is about as difficult as the Red Desert Wyoming BDR-X becomes. In an effort to slow things down and minimize any potential damage I elected to shift into four wheel drive low range for this short section. It really was not necessary but I like to shift into low range on occasion just to exercise the transfer case, associated solenoids, etc. It was quite fun slowly crawling a 9,000 pound full sized truck up and over these rough spots.
Nothing special here - it was just a nice overall angle and background so I though you might enjoy it also. In case you are wondering, I do not take a ton of photos when I am on the trail. What I generally do is stop the vehicle in a specific area that I wish to capture, set the parking brake, turn on the lights, and shoot a few photos from various angles around the vehicle. Many times my primary photo ends up being the one I select although sometimes an unplanned shot from an odd angle ends up being more appealing to me.
Here is a good example of what I was just talking about - this is the same spot as the previous one but shot from a different angle. Yes, I like the photo above but I like this one even more - it displays more details in the rocks in the background along with some additional texture and color provided by the vegetation in the lower left. I also enjoy the additional detail of the obstacle which clearly depicts the ledge and rocks I was crawling up and over - the picture above just does not display the same level of detail.
This was taken from Delaney Rim Viewpoint which is a mesa around 800' above the desert floor. As you might imagine, this area was quite windy although I always enjoy watching the hawks working the updraft and gliding back and forth along the edge of the mesa. At 149-miles this was a relatively short loop but certainly an enjoyable one - if you are in the area or passing though I would definitely recommend you taking a few days to stop and explore this section of the High Plains.
There's just something special about the Red Desert - she's not the prettiest place I've ever been, she's kind of different, and I look forward to possibly returning once again during the summer. Over the next month I will be slowly moving back towards the east and hitting other trails along the way. In closing, I would like to thank the folks at Backcountry Discovery Routes for providing dozens of amazing routes throughout the country to include GPX files along with detailed descriptions, waypoints, and constant updates.
Anyone know where I can find a shave and hot bath around these parts?
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
Posted 15-Nov-2024
Gosh, I think Wyoming really wanted me to stay there. When I packed up and decided to depart Rawlins my plan was to head east on Interstate 80 for just a few miles and then turn south on back roads. If any of you are familiar with I-80 through Wyoming then you also know how frequently this road is closed due to snow and high winds. The fact that the interstate was closed immediately forced me south and then when I desired to turn east the only option was a dirt road through Vulcan Mountain. It was obvious that others had blazed the trail for me so I forged ahead and enjoyed the ride.
My immediate destination was Saratoga Hobo Hot Springs for a shower and some relaxation in a 109° F natural mineral bath. It felt so good I have now begun looking for other natural hot springs in my travels.
Later the next day I decided to take a chance and climb over Sugarloaf Mountain which resides in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in SE Wyoming. It was a beautiful drive although slick as you know what. What I experienced around 50% of the time was a road surface that "felt ok" but as soon as you touched the brakes or turned too quick you began to slide and barely notice any deceleration or change in direction.
It's always fun to see how drastically the weather changes as you ascend or descend a mountain. Just a few hours earlier it was a beautiful blue sky and such - now I was in the clouds and the winds began to pick up. I came upon one full sized truck off the side of the road pretty far and stopped to make sure everyone was ok and consider possibly helping them. Fortunately, they had already called a wrecker service and expected them to arrive soon.
There was an interesting place south of Cheyenne that I decided to visit the one event and let me tell you, getting there was quite the experience! My guess is that Interstate 80 was closed once again and much of the truck traffic was being rerouted to the backroads which were thin sheets of ice mixed with excessively high winds. I'm not sure how those drivers were able to keep their rigs on the road but of you can imagine a chain of lights slowly crawling through the mountains at 5-10 MPH that exactly what I was inside of.
A day and a few miles later everything changed to warm weather and blue skies. I want to make sure and mention that I stumble upon interesting places to shower and spend a day or two - one of which is a roadside park in St. Francis, Kansas. Whenever I encounter great little stops like this I also make sure to spend money in the local community such as stopping for a healthy meal, visit a small museum, or fill up my tank of gas. The shot below is of Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park in Kansas.
Just a bit to the east in Oakley, Kansas, are Monument Rocks. It's always fun to stop by these strange little places in the middle of nowhere since it is common to bump into other adventurers at the same places. Sometime its just a simple wave and smile, other times you may talk for hours, sharing stories, recommendations, etc.
I pulled in late in the day at Castle Rock Badlands so I decided to fix some dinner and spend the night. As I fell asleep I initially heard free range cattle mooing - it didn't sound like too big of a deal so maybe it was a cow calling for her calf or something. A bit later I drifted off and listened to a few packs of coyotes begin to move into the area yipping, yapping, and howling. It was a bit windy so the rocking of my camper had me sleeping like a baby. I snapped the picture below and hope you enjoy it - I would have never expected to see features like this in Kansas.
If you imagined this is what most of Kansas looked like when driving you would be correct. But, there is something beautiful about driving a regular cab longbed pickup with the windows down along a long dusty country road...happy trails y'all!
Gosh, I think Wyoming really wanted me to stay there. When I packed up and decided to depart Rawlins my plan was to head east on Interstate 80 for just a few miles and then turn south on back roads. If any of you are familiar with I-80 through Wyoming then you also know how frequently this road is closed due to snow and high winds. The fact that the interstate was closed immediately forced me south and then when I desired to turn east the only option was a dirt road through Vulcan Mountain. It was obvious that others had blazed the trail for me so I forged ahead and enjoyed the ride.
My immediate destination was Saratoga Hobo Hot Springs for a shower and some relaxation in a 109° F natural mineral bath. It felt so good I have now begun looking for other natural hot springs in my travels.
Later the next day I decided to take a chance and climb over Sugarloaf Mountain which resides in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest in SE Wyoming. It was a beautiful drive although slick as you know what. What I experienced around 50% of the time was a road surface that "felt ok" but as soon as you touched the brakes or turned too quick you began to slide and barely notice any deceleration or change in direction.
It's always fun to see how drastically the weather changes as you ascend or descend a mountain. Just a few hours earlier it was a beautiful blue sky and such - now I was in the clouds and the winds began to pick up. I came upon one full sized truck off the side of the road pretty far and stopped to make sure everyone was ok and consider possibly helping them. Fortunately, they had already called a wrecker service and expected them to arrive soon.
There was an interesting place south of Cheyenne that I decided to visit the one event and let me tell you, getting there was quite the experience! My guess is that Interstate 80 was closed once again and much of the truck traffic was being rerouted to the backroads which were thin sheets of ice mixed with excessively high winds. I'm not sure how those drivers were able to keep their rigs on the road but of you can imagine a chain of lights slowly crawling through the mountains at 5-10 MPH that exactly what I was inside of.
A day and a few miles later everything changed to warm weather and blue skies. I want to make sure and mention that I stumble upon interesting places to shower and spend a day or two - one of which is a roadside park in St. Francis, Kansas. Whenever I encounter great little stops like this I also make sure to spend money in the local community such as stopping for a healthy meal, visit a small museum, or fill up my tank of gas. The shot below is of Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park in Kansas.
Just a bit to the east in Oakley, Kansas, are Monument Rocks. It's always fun to stop by these strange little places in the middle of nowhere since it is common to bump into other adventurers at the same places. Sometime its just a simple wave and smile, other times you may talk for hours, sharing stories, recommendations, etc.
I pulled in late in the day at Castle Rock Badlands so I decided to fix some dinner and spend the night. As I fell asleep I initially heard free range cattle mooing - it didn't sound like too big of a deal so maybe it was a cow calling for her calf or something. A bit later I drifted off and listened to a few packs of coyotes begin to move into the area yipping, yapping, and howling. It was a bit windy so the rocking of my camper had me sleeping like a baby. I snapped the picture below and hope you enjoy it - I would have never expected to see features like this in Kansas.
If you imagined this is what most of Kansas looked like when driving you would be correct. But, there is something beautiful about driving a regular cab longbed pickup with the windows down along a long dusty country road...happy trails y'all!
dstefan
Well-known member
I love how you find interesting places in some areas that many wouldn’t think of going. That’s the beauty of this vast landscape we inhabit.
I have been on that same route through the Medicine Bow NF and am happy to not try it in the conditions you did. Did you have chains?
I have been on that same route through the Medicine Bow NF and am happy to not try it in the conditions you did. Did you have chains?
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
I always want to stay in Wyoming! I remember when Saratoga was just a hot spot next to the river and some cattle guards, those were the days. Some good memories.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Since I am slowly heading back east and will be passing through my home in Virginia, it seemed like a good time to finalize details regarding upgrades I have been considering over the past year, and place the respective orders.
Over the past few years one question has really been on my mind quite frequently: should I install some running boards that attach to the rocker panel or should I opt for heavier, and more expensive rock rails, that mount directly to the frame? I guess my main decision gate centered around how often my rocker panels would be in contact with sand, dirt, and rocks. Based upon my last three years of experience on overland trails throughout these United States, the rockers have only made contact a few times and sustained very minor damage, so running boards would be fine for me.
My next questions to answer would be: should I select a 48-60" option that would cover the cab area or a 98" version covering wheel-to-wheel? What material: steel, aluminum, or plastic? How will the running boards be mounted: to the rocker panel, a body mount, or directly to the frame? What type of surface would be best for my application: smooth, textured, or rough metal grating?
Ultimately, I selected the Luverne Grip Step 7" x 98" aluminum wheel-to-wheel running boards, which mount to the body bolts that attach to the frame. The surface is a very rough metal grating which is perfect for my needs and even though the 60" version would be sufficient I selected the 98" one since it utilized three mounts instead of two. Interestingly, the Luverne site shows this model available for a 2019 RAM 3500 regular cab long bed, but not anything manufactured after that such as my 2021 with the same options. I spent time downloading the factory PDFs, comparing parts, and even spoke with a factory representative.
Although the factory representative said this kit would not work with my 2021 the parts listed give me the impression that everything would be fine. At worst, I may be required to modify the rear-most bracket that attaches to the forward leaf spring mount. While searching for the retailer with the best price, I came upon the NAPA site which verified this kit would work with my 2021 so I decided to roll the dice.
This next modification has been on my mind since upgrading my OEM halogen headlights to OEM LED Projector headlights with the Adaptive Forward Lighting System. It seemed logical to upgrade the halogen rear tail lights to OEM LED ones at the same time but I just had a tough time justifying the expense. In the end, this was one of those upgrades that cost a few dollars and is really not necessary, but after following my buddy Paul around in his tricked out Power Wagon, I fell in love with those OEM red and amber LEDs.
Based upon my research, the OME LED tail lights manufactured from 2019-2023 use a red brake light and amber turn signal whereas the 2024+ now use red for brake and turn signal. Both red/amber and red/red are available with, or without, blind spot detection and I decided to keep my truck as is, without blind spot detection. Also, note the two OEM jumper cords that will be used to connect the new LEDs. All that is necessary after that is a quick change to the body control module using AlfaOBD.
My final expense today has weighed on my mind beginning back when I selected the initial specifications for my AEV Prospector at AEV headquarters up in Wixom, Michigan. At that time I was not sold on the necessity of the AEV/Bilstein XP8100 Remote Reservoir Shocks for my application so I figured I would give the 5100s a try for a few years and then upgrade if I was not happy. Overall the 5100s have performed fine on the street and maintained roads, but are just okay when it comes to rougher surfaces and higher speeds, which is common out west. It will be interesting to tackle some of the same trails with everything being identical except for the shocks.
And yes, I already have Coyote tire deflators re-calibrated to 15 PSI, but these OK4WD tire deflators were 50% off so I decided to purchase them and set them for 25 or 30 PSI for trails that are not as rough. Basically, I will have two options for quickly airing down all four tires: OK4WD for 30 PSI applicatoins and Coyotes for 15 PSI ones.
Just in case you are interested, I already have two of the AEV anchor shackles that came with my AEV full size recovery gear package, but it's always nice to have just one more. Nearly one year ago I became stuck on the El Camino del Diablo trail in Arizona near the Mexican border. There was no cellular service, I was in the middle of a 150-mile three day trail, and there was noting available to connect my Warn 16.5Ti winch to. After freeing myself and reconnecting with cellular service a few days later, I decided to invest in a Ruggedized Deadman V2 earth anchor. I imagine there may be an event in my future where I am required to utilize several recovery tools simultaneously such as the AEV snatch block and Deadman earth anchor. One more anchor shackle might be worth it's weight in gold.
Over the past few years one question has really been on my mind quite frequently: should I install some running boards that attach to the rocker panel or should I opt for heavier, and more expensive rock rails, that mount directly to the frame? I guess my main decision gate centered around how often my rocker panels would be in contact with sand, dirt, and rocks. Based upon my last three years of experience on overland trails throughout these United States, the rockers have only made contact a few times and sustained very minor damage, so running boards would be fine for me.
My next questions to answer would be: should I select a 48-60" option that would cover the cab area or a 98" version covering wheel-to-wheel? What material: steel, aluminum, or plastic? How will the running boards be mounted: to the rocker panel, a body mount, or directly to the frame? What type of surface would be best for my application: smooth, textured, or rough metal grating?
Ultimately, I selected the Luverne Grip Step 7" x 98" aluminum wheel-to-wheel running boards, which mount to the body bolts that attach to the frame. The surface is a very rough metal grating which is perfect for my needs and even though the 60" version would be sufficient I selected the 98" one since it utilized three mounts instead of two. Interestingly, the Luverne site shows this model available for a 2019 RAM 3500 regular cab long bed, but not anything manufactured after that such as my 2021 with the same options. I spent time downloading the factory PDFs, comparing parts, and even spoke with a factory representative.
Although the factory representative said this kit would not work with my 2021 the parts listed give me the impression that everything would be fine. At worst, I may be required to modify the rear-most bracket that attaches to the forward leaf spring mount. While searching for the retailer with the best price, I came upon the NAPA site which verified this kit would work with my 2021 so I decided to roll the dice.
This next modification has been on my mind since upgrading my OEM halogen headlights to OEM LED Projector headlights with the Adaptive Forward Lighting System. It seemed logical to upgrade the halogen rear tail lights to OEM LED ones at the same time but I just had a tough time justifying the expense. In the end, this was one of those upgrades that cost a few dollars and is really not necessary, but after following my buddy Paul around in his tricked out Power Wagon, I fell in love with those OEM red and amber LEDs.
Based upon my research, the OME LED tail lights manufactured from 2019-2023 use a red brake light and amber turn signal whereas the 2024+ now use red for brake and turn signal. Both red/amber and red/red are available with, or without, blind spot detection and I decided to keep my truck as is, without blind spot detection. Also, note the two OEM jumper cords that will be used to connect the new LEDs. All that is necessary after that is a quick change to the body control module using AlfaOBD.
My final expense today has weighed on my mind beginning back when I selected the initial specifications for my AEV Prospector at AEV headquarters up in Wixom, Michigan. At that time I was not sold on the necessity of the AEV/Bilstein XP8100 Remote Reservoir Shocks for my application so I figured I would give the 5100s a try for a few years and then upgrade if I was not happy. Overall the 5100s have performed fine on the street and maintained roads, but are just okay when it comes to rougher surfaces and higher speeds, which is common out west. It will be interesting to tackle some of the same trails with everything being identical except for the shocks.
And yes, I already have Coyote tire deflators re-calibrated to 15 PSI, but these OK4WD tire deflators were 50% off so I decided to purchase them and set them for 25 or 30 PSI for trails that are not as rough. Basically, I will have two options for quickly airing down all four tires: OK4WD for 30 PSI applicatoins and Coyotes for 15 PSI ones.
Just in case you are interested, I already have two of the AEV anchor shackles that came with my AEV full size recovery gear package, but it's always nice to have just one more. Nearly one year ago I became stuck on the El Camino del Diablo trail in Arizona near the Mexican border. There was no cellular service, I was in the middle of a 150-mile three day trail, and there was noting available to connect my Warn 16.5Ti winch to. After freeing myself and reconnecting with cellular service a few days later, I decided to invest in a Ruggedized Deadman V2 earth anchor. I imagine there may be an event in my future where I am required to utilize several recovery tools simultaneously such as the AEV snatch block and Deadman earth anchor. One more anchor shackle might be worth it's weight in gold.
Last edited:
FAW3
Adventurer
It will be interesting to see how the new shocks compare to the Blistein 5100's...which I run now.
Loaded up I'm scaling at about 9700 pounds on our Ram 3500. Have front/rear sway bars. On pavement and highway curves this rig is great. Off pavement rough road crawling is fine too....but running moderate rough roads at speed is rougher than I would like and I think overworks my shocks.
The "rough road test" in a FWC is finding your silverware after a hard run...'cause it all bounces out and goes everywhere in the cabinet structure.
Loaded up I'm scaling at about 9700 pounds on our Ram 3500. Have front/rear sway bars. On pavement and highway curves this rig is great. Off pavement rough road crawling is fine too....but running moderate rough roads at speed is rougher than I would like and I think overworks my shocks.
The "rough road test" in a FWC is finding your silverware after a hard run...'cause it all bounces out and goes everywhere in the cabinet structure.
ramblinChet
Well-known member
Black Hills South Dakota BDR-X
Part One of Two
Part One of Two
Years ago I stumbled upon the Black Hills of South Dakota, spent some good times with a fine young Lakota girl from the Pine Ridge Reservation, ended up attending the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, met some Hells Angels; and broke immoral, unethical, and unconstitutional laws that 99% of the world willingly obeys. All I can say is that I have always been looking for a reason to head back to those Pahá Sápa and explore some more. Fast forward to November 2024 and the fact that I happened to be just a few hours away from those hills where the Lakota believe there is a mysterious racetrack where a race took place between the two-legged and four-legged to establish who would eat who.
Spending four or five days alone between 4,000 and 7,000 feet in rugged and rocky mountains in November sounded like a great idea to me. In my mind, adventures such as this are a form of physical, mental, and spiritual exercise. As a modern man, it is rare that we face a challenging situation in life without seeking external support, which demonstrates our inner strength and resilience. I have spent a lifetime placing myself into potentially perilous situations alone, where I must rely solely upon my own abilities to survive and enjoy success. I would encourage other men to do the same.
My journey began in Spearfish and the direction traveled would be anti-clockwise. The first few dozen miles were through the scenic Spearfish Canyon passing by landmarks such as Bridalveil, Roughlock, and Spearfish Falls. At one point along the trail I crossed back over into Wyoming and found myself at Cement Ridge Fire Lookout Tower where a group of side-by-side riders stopped to enjoy the amazing view.
Attempting this particular trail this late in the season didn't seem like the best idea but since I was so close I figured I would give it a shot. If you're not afraid of dying, what's to stop you from trying?!?
What I began to notice right away was the difference in terrain and conditions as I ascended, descended, drove on south facing hills versus north facing, etc. The fact that there were other tire tracks simply confirmed that others had already passed through the area so I dialed-down my driving and tuned into the surrounding terrain. Focusing on the task at hand and allowing the vehicle to communicate with you and is very valuable.
Near the end of the first day I snapped this picture of the rear of my camper - it was covered with a thick layer of frozen gritty trail grime. And although it has been a long time since I took the time to perfectly reinstall my backup camera, I smile every time I place my transmission into reverse and use it. Some things take a little longer to accomplish in life but if you do it right the first time you will never regret spending those extra few dollars or taking a little bit longer. Do your very best each and every time.
Although they were quite beautiful, some of the trails were covered with jagged rocks that concerned me. Cellular reception was intermittent, at best, and I still was not carrying a spare tire. This is something that is long overdue and to be honest - I am acting irresponsible not carrying a spare. Tire repair kits and on-board air is great but nothing beats a full-sized spare. Damaging a tire beyond repair out here with no one else around would transform a small problem into a massive one - I need to resolve my spare tire issue ASAP.
It's always funny to look back at a picture and realize how many times the picture I take just does not accurately portray the totality of the situation. This section of trail was a somewhat steep downhill section and the soil was wet and clumpy with a bit of clay so it was also slick. There were several parts of this trail where my entire vehicle slid to one side and nearly made contact with a tree. The good thing was I always had my winch along with a full set of recovery gear to help pull the vehicle away from a bad situation if needed. The traction boards hanging on the side are also easily accessible and might be enough by themselves. It's good to have options on the trail. It's even better to have friends with additional options.
This was just one of the countless scenic shots along the way and to be honest - I could have taken so many more pictures to try and capture the beauty of these Black Hills. But my goal with this post is to encourage you to get out and visit somewhere you never have been before. And in the mid-west, the Black Hills are almost like an island paradise just waiting. The folks at Backcountry Discovery Routes have done an amazing job constructing this trail - thank you!
Around mid-day on my second day I stopped into a ghost town named Mystic, rolled into Hill City for a good meal, researched the BDR map and made plans for the next day. My goal was to spend a good portion of my third day enjoying places such as Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, and the Crazy Horse Memorial. What I was really enjoying about this Black Hills Discovery Route was the frequently changing terrain - at times I would be slogging through sticky mud, other times I was delicately crawling over jagged rocks, and some of the time I was enjoying a smooth ride over a well maintained dirt or gravel road. So far this trip was a little bit of everything and I was enjoying every minute of it.
Remember up above I mentioned the cute girl from the Pine Ridge Reservation??? Unfortunately it's the poorest county in the entire country and also has the lowest average life expectancy for men and women. My plan is to visit there someday and learn more. Never ever forget about your God-given freedom and the fact that, someone, somewhere, is counting backwards to zero...
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
Black Hills South Dakota BDR-X
Part Two of Two
Part Two of Two
What I really enjoyed about traveling the 355 mile Black Hills South Dakota BDR-X was the changing scenery and trail conditions. On short trails of one or two days its not that big of a deal if everything appears to be much the same but when you are off-road for three or more days straight it is really nice to transition between somewhat different areas. A mixture of well maintained gravel roads, some dirt two-track, add some miles of rocky ascents and descents, break up with a few miles of pavement, climb up the north face of a mountain and cool off, crawl down the south face and warm up, some straightaways, some gentle curves, I like it all and this Backcountry Discovery Route delivered. It's really a relaxing and enjoyable ride.
If you visit the area make sure to pick up the free 11"x15" Attractions Map provided by the Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association - there is so much valuable information contained on this one piece of paper you will be amazed. In all honesty, it would be easy to spend a month in the Black Hills and you would just begin to scratch the surface of how much there is to do. Don't forget to consider there are other nearby attractions such as Devils Tower National Monument, Badlands National Park, and Rapid City, just to name a few. If you're wondering if I ever plan to return the answer is a resounding yes! Next time will be my third time and I plan to stay even longer.
The heart-stopping Needles Highway is a 14 mile scenic drive that you must experience at least once in your life. Keep in mind this beautiful road closes down normally around mid-October when the first snow falls and remains closed until April 1st or possibly longer. I really was sure it was too late in the year for me to experience this drive once again and since it was part of the BDR it would bug me that I had not completed all of the route, but as my luck would have it, this beauty was still open and I slowly rolled through in my adventure rig with a massive smile on my face the entire time. If you are able to pass through when the sun is rising or falling its even better!
I'm not sure how this picture looks to you but I imagined this is what a fat girl feels like trying to squeeze into an old pair of jeans. There are three tunnels on the Needles Highway with one being 8'4" wide and another only being 10'7" tall. There were places where my tow mirrors only had a few inches on either side although the mirrors served as a good reference for the sides of my camper. In my case I had around two feet of clearance above but again, it felt quite a bit tighter than it actually was. I heard that local drivers squeeze full size tour busses through with no problems - wow!!!
Here was a bumpy section that lasted a few miles and although it was easily passable in two wheel drive, it still required you to slow down and pick a line. Again, it was nice to see a trail with a fair amount of variation in it - some sections on the dirt or gravel were 20-25 mph whereas others forced you to slow down to 3-5 or 5-10 mph for a period of time. The really cool thing about traveling where few others go is the fact that if you stumble upon a special place you can just stop in on the trail, roll your windows down, secure the engine, and relax for a bit. There is no need to "pull over" most of the time because the chances of another coming along are slim to none in some places.
Stockade Lake is a mile-high and just one of the beauties to stop by and visit in the area. Other popular lakes to camp, hike, and explore in these Black Hills include Sylvan, Sheridan, Horse Thief, etc. As mentioned, many have adjacent campgrounds and hiking trails that will leave your head spinning. I'm not sure what exactly it is but hiking around a crystal clear lake a mile high in the mountains and watching the sun set is beyond peaceful. I just wish I was able to take pictures that more accurately reflected what I actually saw, heard, smelled, and felt...
This was taken on my final full day on the trail just a few hours on the trail south of a city named Lead. As might have imagined there was much mining that tool place in these hills over the past 150 years or so. The largest, deepest, and most productive gold mine in the Western Hemisphere was located here up until recently and the deepest of it's mine-shafts stretched almost a full two miles straight down. It's a small town but it has it's own character and I look forward to spending more time in Lead during the summer sometime.
This is a shot of Main Street in downtown Deadwood, South Dakota - just a few miles up the road from Lead. Famous people such as Theodore Roosevelt, William Taft, John Wayne, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Babe Ruth, stayed at the famous Franklin Hotel on the left in this photo. This entire area seems to be centered around gambling and having fun.
This picture was taken on the last evening of my 355 mile journey through these historic Black Hills. The temperature dropped sharply, winds were picking up, and the sun was falling asleep. Moments later the moon began to rise and the stars began to shine - I turned on all of my accessory driving lights and pushed the final few hours through the darkness and rolled into Spearfish to complete this trip.
Where to next? Lord, I was born a ramblin' man...
ramblinChet
Well-known member
When I ordered my Four Wheel Camper back in late 2020, I did not see the need for camper jacks since I planned on having the camper permanently installed and never removing it. Well, one of the reasons I have been delaying my electrical upgrade has to do with me not being able to remove the camper and perform the necessary work. Sure, I could run the wires around here or there but I want to avoid sloppy shortcuts and perform the best installation. This same inability to remove the camper and perform work has also delayed the permanent installation of my on-board air system and diesel heater/stove. With this in mind, I finally bit the bullet and purchased camper jacks.
Along the way I considered purchasing used ones, identifying another manufacturer, or even making them myself. In the end, a set of four Rieco-Titan Convertible Jacks (black) appeared best for me. I guess my only consolation is the fact that if I had purchased the set of four originally from Four Wheel Camper, they would be white and not convertible (to electric). The great thing is now I will be able to safely uninstall and reinstall my camper when I visit my home and need to perform upgrades or preventative maintenance. It cost a few dollars but in the end, this is the safest and best solution for me.
And since I will be revising and upgrading my entire electrical system it was also necessary for me to purchase a few additional tools to support my work. As some of you may know, I am more of a mechanical guy than an electrical one, so I have never owned a good multimeter. Over the past year or so I have been planning what electrical upgrades, and maintenance, I would be performing, and what specialized tools would be required. Of course there have been various wire cutting and crimping tools I have purchased but at the top of the list has always been a respectable multimeter.
After much research and consideration it became apparent that for my immediate and future needs, a Fluke 87V MAX True-RMS Digital Multimeter would satisfy all of my requirements, and then some. This is a good tool for general automotive and home maintenance. I also ran my selection by a close friend who is an electrical genius and holds fifty patents for precision electro-mechanical devices and he assured me that this tool would deliver everything I required, and then some. I am also a big proponent of protecting sensitive instruments so I did not hesitate to include a Fluke C37XT Protective EVA Hard Tool Case in my purchase. This case has enough room so that I will be able to safely store my multimeter and other support equipment in the case.
One more small addition to my order was the Fluke ST120 GFCI Socket Tester and it was purchased so that I am able to perform a quick and basic test on electrical outlets at campgrounds or other power sources. Probably my worst nightmare would be plugging my upgraded electrical system into an unknown and untested power source and it becoming damaged or creating a fire. Yes, I realize the chances of either happening are small although quickly plugging in a $18 socket tester will provide me with some assurance. If I am still in doubt and really need the power, I can always use my multimeter to perform additional testing. And it will also help to identify if the circuit is live or not since there have been a few times where I have pulled up to a power source only to discover it was dead and this was after pulling out my extension, plugging it in, etc.
All things considered, these tools will help me during my upgrades and scheduled maintenance, but they will also be used to reduce the chances of damaging my system when plugging into an unknown power source. They are cheap insurance.
Here is a Fluke video with a general overview of the 87V MAX:
And here is a video detailing how to perform basic component checks with the 87V:
And finally, here is video discussing secret function on the 87V multimeter:
Along the way I considered purchasing used ones, identifying another manufacturer, or even making them myself. In the end, a set of four Rieco-Titan Convertible Jacks (black) appeared best for me. I guess my only consolation is the fact that if I had purchased the set of four originally from Four Wheel Camper, they would be white and not convertible (to electric). The great thing is now I will be able to safely uninstall and reinstall my camper when I visit my home and need to perform upgrades or preventative maintenance. It cost a few dollars but in the end, this is the safest and best solution for me.
And since I will be revising and upgrading my entire electrical system it was also necessary for me to purchase a few additional tools to support my work. As some of you may know, I am more of a mechanical guy than an electrical one, so I have never owned a good multimeter. Over the past year or so I have been planning what electrical upgrades, and maintenance, I would be performing, and what specialized tools would be required. Of course there have been various wire cutting and crimping tools I have purchased but at the top of the list has always been a respectable multimeter.
After much research and consideration it became apparent that for my immediate and future needs, a Fluke 87V MAX True-RMS Digital Multimeter would satisfy all of my requirements, and then some. This is a good tool for general automotive and home maintenance. I also ran my selection by a close friend who is an electrical genius and holds fifty patents for precision electro-mechanical devices and he assured me that this tool would deliver everything I required, and then some. I am also a big proponent of protecting sensitive instruments so I did not hesitate to include a Fluke C37XT Protective EVA Hard Tool Case in my purchase. This case has enough room so that I will be able to safely store my multimeter and other support equipment in the case.
One more small addition to my order was the Fluke ST120 GFCI Socket Tester and it was purchased so that I am able to perform a quick and basic test on electrical outlets at campgrounds or other power sources. Probably my worst nightmare would be plugging my upgraded electrical system into an unknown and untested power source and it becoming damaged or creating a fire. Yes, I realize the chances of either happening are small although quickly plugging in a $18 socket tester will provide me with some assurance. If I am still in doubt and really need the power, I can always use my multimeter to perform additional testing. And it will also help to identify if the circuit is live or not since there have been a few times where I have pulled up to a power source only to discover it was dead and this was after pulling out my extension, plugging it in, etc.
All things considered, these tools will help me during my upgrades and scheduled maintenance, but they will also be used to reduce the chances of damaging my system when plugging into an unknown power source. They are cheap insurance.
Here is a Fluke video with a general overview of the 87V MAX:
And here is a video detailing how to perform basic component checks with the 87V:
And finally, here is video discussing secret function on the 87V multimeter:
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mog
Kodiak Buckaroo
You will love the Rieco jacks. I used the 14042 (4) with my EarthCruiser GZL-300 and four of the Rieco Heavy Duty (2000 lb each) jacks with my Kodiak's 'fatpig' (4060 lb) composite camper. Awesome in both applications. And even handy for other applications where you need lifting capacity.
Installing my rear winch bumper (220 lbs + 95 lbs) on my Power Wagon.
A suggestion for your FWC/Ram removal/install is to make some cross-braces to keep the jacks from racking. While not necessary and they can be used without braces, the prior owner of my EarthCruiser made X-braces (laser cut) along with the adapters (adding height and width) as his F350 was as high and wide as my Power Wagon. The GZL-300 is narrower than the bed sides (even with the bed sidewall tops), plus 4 inches per side for the AEV flares, and extra truck height due to 40s. The bracing makes it go from a 'it should be OK' to a 'rock solid no problemo' operation.
One other suggestion is to have 4 manual handles. It may not seem like a hassle to move the handle as you go from jack to jack, but having one on each jack is so much better, especially if you are doing the swap alone.
PS- I sure enjoy your travel 'blogs' and am saving 'your routes' for future RAM adventures.
ADD-
I am pretty sure your FWC is wide enough to not need adapters, but here is a reference photo of my GZL-300 (the AEV fenders add 4 inches per side, but are not visible in this photo due to the angle)
Installing my rear winch bumper (220 lbs + 95 lbs) on my Power Wagon.
A suggestion for your FWC/Ram removal/install is to make some cross-braces to keep the jacks from racking. While not necessary and they can be used without braces, the prior owner of my EarthCruiser made X-braces (laser cut) along with the adapters (adding height and width) as his F350 was as high and wide as my Power Wagon. The GZL-300 is narrower than the bed sides (even with the bed sidewall tops), plus 4 inches per side for the AEV flares, and extra truck height due to 40s. The bracing makes it go from a 'it should be OK' to a 'rock solid no problemo' operation.
One other suggestion is to have 4 manual handles. It may not seem like a hassle to move the handle as you go from jack to jack, but having one on each jack is so much better, especially if you are doing the swap alone.
PS- I sure enjoy your travel 'blogs' and am saving 'your routes' for future RAM adventures.
ADD-
I am pretty sure your FWC is wide enough to not need adapters, but here is a reference photo of my GZL-300 (the AEV fenders add 4 inches per side, but are not visible in this photo due to the angle)
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ramblinChet
Well-known member
Eastern Kansas Flint Hills Overland Route
Part One of Two
Part One of Two
Since the colder weather had begun to roll into Wyoming and South Dakota I figured it was time for me to continue heading towards the east and I might as well drop south a bit also in search of slightly warmer weather. Another benefit would be lower elevations since the mean elevation in Wyoming is around 6,500', the Black Hills ranging from 4,000' to 7,000', and Kansas having an average of 2,000' or so. Not many people associate Kansas with modern overland trails although historic ones such as California, Oregon, and Santa Fe trails pass through this hidden gem. With that in mind I located a newer 199 mile trail called the Eastern Kansas Flint Hills Overland Route that was only a few hours away.
Prior to hitting a trail I always perform a sort of pre-flight and systematically check off a list I have in my head. A full bag of gas, topping off all my water containers, checking perishable and non-perishable foods, and drinks such as milk, juice, and soda, are the first things I check. I then perform a walk around of my rig to visually check the overall condition, make sure all six camper top latches are secure, verify the four pins holding my Maxtrax are locked, windows and lights are clean, etc. I then jump inside my rig and fire her up making sure to check all temperatures and pressures. If my memory is correct I normally see 210° for coolant, 168° for transmission, 217° for oil, and 54 PSI oil pressure. Tires generally range between 40-45 PSI and vary quite a bit with temperature and elevation. I am pretty big on checking temps and pressures routinely while on the trail.
Everything checks good on deck so off we go, beginning a seemingly easy overland route in Kansas.
Throughout the first few hours my speed ranged between 5 and 25 MPH with most of the time being spent around 15 MPH. Some of the sections of the trail were farm roads whereas others were a bit rougher and infrequently used. Overall, I was just relaxing, taking my time, and enjoying the ride. To me, this is how most of my time on the trail can be described - just rolling down a dirt or gravel road, knowing where I am going but never having been there before, and seeing, hearing, and smelling, all sorts of places in different conditions. Occasionally, my leisure travel can be interrupted by an obstacle such as rocks, mud, maybe an overgrown trail, a washed out bridge, etc. Encountering problems and dealing with them is part of the fun, especially when you are alone, far away from civilization, and even farther away from home and friends.
Here is a beautiful section of two-track that ended up being quite interesting. The top layer was gravel but there was a sticky and somewhat slick layer of mud underneath which proved to be a bit more challenging compared to what I had expected. This seemed to be a seldom used trail splitting between two major fields mixed with some mild elevation changes and a bit of off-camber travel. The scenery was beautiful and my mind was wandering thinking about just how fortunate and blessed I was being able to travel and explore like this. Everything was going perfect and I was looking forward to meeting my buddies soon.
And then it happened - at first I thought the strange sound I was listening to was more of the sticky mud being flung up into the wheel wells. Since the trail was uneven and off-camber in spots the lean angle didn't cause any concern. My low tire pressure warning light did not illuminate since either AEV or possibly myself had disabled that feature - I really can't recall but I don't remember doing that specifically. Now I was having recollections of losing a tire earlier in the year while 1,358 mile Five tribes Overland Trail in Texas. Darn, new tires and once again a flat - I was beginning to wonder why after the last time, I had not immediately completed the design and fabrication for the rear spare tire carrier I had in mind. My thoughts over the past half-year have been, certainly experiencing an irreparable flat tire 50-100 miles away from a good sized city can't happen twice!
Well, I was wrong and here I was with an irreparable tire far away from civilization. A sharp rock that looked like a small dinosaur tooth was the culprit and I could easily push my thumb through the hole in the middle of the tread. So hear I am, fifty miles outside Topeka and the best thing about all of this is that I deserve it. Earlier I spoke of how I check this and that but here I am without a spare, again. Failure of a tire was always part of the equation that I conveniently ignored and I accepted it not once, but twice!
It's quite a long way to Topeka, it's getting late, and it looks like a storm is beginning to roll in. A half-century ago there were a half-dozen men from Topeka who foresaw that I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high...I love the mess I get myself into sometimes.
