04Ram2500Hemi
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@the deputy thank you for taking us along on your journey!
Alaska, finally.
- Thread starter the deputy
- Start date
the deputy
Well-known member
Yes, both apply (darn women anyway😆)
Granted, believe the last word in the second one should be...anything.
the deputy
Well-known member
It been a struggle at times, between coverting the majority of pictures to the right format and typing these posts...all while a ten week old pup attacks my phone, my fingers, my dictionary (just added to list)...the chair, the area rug, the televison cabinet, the etc, etc...
This is happening as we speak...
After a brutal attack...
He's attempting to eat a page from the 'l' section...
All that remains...
By the time he's through here...this infurnel infants inexorable infaliable and inferential infatution with indulging in inexplicable and infuriating acts will rise question to the inexperienced or inefficiency of my puppy raising inabilities...and when all's said and done...l'll most likely need to contact FEMA for disaster relief.
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the deputy
Well-known member
Oh, and where's my wife right at the moment...the one who thought l (luckily l can spell l without dictionary...but beyond that) so desperately needed a puppy...sleeping.
ITTOG
Well-known member
Wow, I feel like our wives know each other. For the most part spot on, only exception is the bear feasting on me. LOL
the deputy
Well-known member
Commenting about your wife or women in general...is like walking around on thin ice with cement shoes...sooner or later...you're seeing the bottom of that lake...
the deputy
Well-known member
Made a few necessary repairs. Had the exhaust manifold gasket start leaking in Tok, on the way back. And didn't like the way the rear shocks felt about a 1/3 of the way into the trip.
Yesterday, tackled the exhaust/intake manifold gasket. Ends up, the very rear bolt was gone...which lead to gasket blowing out.
Old gasket...
All back together, after a lengthy battle. Still has a slight leak at turbo down pipe; put that on a couple years ago and chinched out and bought a cheap(er) aftermarket brand. And like they say...
Changed the rear shocks today. Went with Big Bore Terrafirma's X2". The Bilsteins had there day in the sun.
Seems much better now.
Have to do these projects while the weapon of mass destruction is sleeping.
Next nap Dalton takes...it's an oil change and pulling that turbo pipe and seeing if something can be done with it.
EDIT: Day 2 -of repairs.
Pulled turbo pipe and worked it over on inlet side, so it fit better. Perfect, it's the quietest the rovers ever been and fumes free. A project that probably 'should have done' before the trip.
Then...the clutch fan. Mention earlier about Victoria not liking the heat and running warmer than acceptable. Well, when l'd open the hood to let her cool down in route, you could tell the viscous/clutch fan was not engaging (which helps pull air through radiator), just free-wheeling. Thought, boy...l have a brand new one...in the garage at home that l'd always planned on changing. Another, 'should have done' before leaving. It pulls air now like a tornado...now.
Yesterday, tackled the exhaust/intake manifold gasket. Ends up, the very rear bolt was gone...which lead to gasket blowing out.
Old gasket...
All back together, after a lengthy battle. Still has a slight leak at turbo down pipe; put that on a couple years ago and chinched out and bought a cheap(er) aftermarket brand. And like they say...
Changed the rear shocks today. Went with Big Bore Terrafirma's X2". The Bilsteins had there day in the sun.
Seems much better now.
Have to do these projects while the weapon of mass destruction is sleeping.
Next nap Dalton takes...it's an oil change and pulling that turbo pipe and seeing if something can be done with it.
EDIT: Day 2 -of repairs.
Pulled turbo pipe and worked it over on inlet side, so it fit better. Perfect, it's the quietest the rovers ever been and fumes free. A project that probably 'should have done' before the trip.
Then...the clutch fan. Mention earlier about Victoria not liking the heat and running warmer than acceptable. Well, when l'd open the hood to let her cool down in route, you could tell the viscous/clutch fan was not engaging (which helps pull air through radiator), just free-wheeling. Thought, boy...l have a brand new one...in the garage at home that l'd always planned on changing. Another, 'should have done' before leaving. It pulls air now like a tornado...now.
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the deputy
Well-known member
Final Summary of Trip.
Alaska...and the entire route from Michigan.
In a nutshell...it was a mind blowing experience. Alaska, though, not nearly as "last frontier" as in the past...it is still something to behold. It is just so vast and some portions, naturally, are still unadulterated by mankind. It's a trip that every person should experience. Especially, while you're young...don't wait. Be that son or daughter that breaks the mold...don't fall head first into societies...this is what you should do. We're all not cut from that cloth...and years from now...and take it from me...you'll understand how it crippled your life.
And above all...
First and foremost, l'd like to thank all the folks here that keep chasing their dreams and this site, Expedition Portal, for inspiring me to finally take this journey. There were times when my mind, body and soul had truly given up. But, l'd visit this site and be restimulated.
Highlight of the trip was the Dalton Hwy. It gives you a small taste of Alaska's past (in my opinion). There were four or five good climbs, third gear in the rover, where it gave you a birds eye view...and they were simply breathtaking. The vastness, valleys would runout of eyesight, mountain ranges that just kept going on and on and beauty everywhere you cast your eyes. Highly recommended, don't pass this up if you go. Oh, and the mud...it's the best!
And this is just my opinion and not to sound preachy...but make the adventure difficult. Could l have jumped in our new SUV or truck and drove this? Well, as they say in North Dakota..."You betja." But, the old rover added a real sense of accomplishment. Which, the trip needs...since it's not as difficult, in the least, compared to olden days.
But, if this isn't a possibility...still go!
As l made repairs on Victoria over the last few days...my mind is already on the road again.
Thank you, again...to those that motivate others and share their stories here...you really have no idea what it means to others.
Alaska...and the entire route from Michigan.
In a nutshell...it was a mind blowing experience. Alaska, though, not nearly as "last frontier" as in the past...it is still something to behold. It is just so vast and some portions, naturally, are still unadulterated by mankind. It's a trip that every person should experience. Especially, while you're young...don't wait. Be that son or daughter that breaks the mold...don't fall head first into societies...this is what you should do. We're all not cut from that cloth...and years from now...and take it from me...you'll understand how it crippled your life.
And above all...
First and foremost, l'd like to thank all the folks here that keep chasing their dreams and this site, Expedition Portal, for inspiring me to finally take this journey. There were times when my mind, body and soul had truly given up. But, l'd visit this site and be restimulated.
Highlight of the trip was the Dalton Hwy. It gives you a small taste of Alaska's past (in my opinion). There were four or five good climbs, third gear in the rover, where it gave you a birds eye view...and they were simply breathtaking. The vastness, valleys would runout of eyesight, mountain ranges that just kept going on and on and beauty everywhere you cast your eyes. Highly recommended, don't pass this up if you go. Oh, and the mud...it's the best!
And this is just my opinion and not to sound preachy...but make the adventure difficult. Could l have jumped in our new SUV or truck and drove this? Well, as they say in North Dakota..."You betja." But, the old rover added a real sense of accomplishment. Which, the trip needs...since it's not as difficult, in the least, compared to olden days.
But, if this isn't a possibility...still go!
As l made repairs on Victoria over the last few days...my mind is already on the road again.
Thank you, again...to those that motivate others and share their stories here...you really have no idea what it means to others.
the deputy
Well-known member
And, I should thank my wife for understanding my need to do this. Now, to convince her...more is in order.
the deputy
Well-known member
I'd look that up...but...
Thank you, it was a interisting...intearesting...entatresting...eeerrr...wonderful adventure.
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the deputy
Well-known member
I'll probably take my wife west next year. Me, l'd like to be on my way south right now, way south...like as far as you can drive south.
And l apologies...you asked for more pictures of the 110...l'll see what l can find.
the deputy
Well-known member
And, at first sight...one would think...what could possibly go wrong...
But, to quote someone well respected here...
"One of the first questions that comes to a mans mind when he gets a puppy is....'what was l thinking?' "
That's sage advice right there...lol.
Why, l didn't read it earlier...to refresh my "thinking" is beyond me...
Oh, and if you're wondering what Dalton is thinking at this moment...that look is warning me that if l ever try to put a collar on him again, he will kill me, my immediate family and friends and chew every shoe in the house into tinny pieces...
But, to quote someone well respected here...
"One of the first questions that comes to a mans mind when he gets a puppy is....'what was l thinking?' "
That's sage advice right there...lol.
Why, l didn't read it earlier...to refresh my "thinking" is beyond me...
Oh, and if you're wondering what Dalton is thinking at this moment...that look is warning me that if l ever try to put a collar on him again, he will kill me, my immediate family and friends and chew every shoe in the house into tinny pieces...
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the deputy
Well-known member
l'd look that up...but...
Funny story...
Well, besides Dalton we have Marley, a rat terrier/blue heeler mix. (Now, there's two breeds even satan wouldn't mess with...lol)
Well, between the two of them...it's pretty much a continuous dog fight/wrestling match when they are awake. When they're both sleeping...it's not quite so bad...lol. Anyhow, l have to call my medical provider about changes, since l'll be turning 65 soon. Both dogs are sound asleep, what better time to call, right? As soon as it starts ringing on the other end, l see movement, then an eye opens, by the time l get through all the prompts, he's awake and already mixing it up with Marley. A young man answers the call, finally, and starts to ask for detailed information, which l have laid out beside me on end table. Well, no sooner do l start giving him info...and a full-force, with matching sound effects, wrestling battle commences. Dalton is very vocal when these battles start, growling and barking at Marley, basically to get her attention. Well, all he** eventually breaks loose and Dalton's in rare form, growling like a timber wolf fighting over its last meal. They end up knocking all of my papers l had laid out on the floor, then l dropped my phone trying to stop them from destroying the papers, l'm now yelling at them to stop and l'm bent over collecting my stuff, so now Dalton thinks l want to get into the fun and starts jumping on me...so l'm now yelling at him to get off me and some profanity may have been uttered. Finally get him off me and gather my phone and the young man asks me if l need medical help or if he should call 911. I apologized for the interruption and told him it was just our new pup wrestling with the older dog. He said, "It sounded horrible, as if they were tearing you to pieces!" "No, every thing's fine, it's just the new normal around here." He says, and this cracked me up, "Well, l'll get these changes pushed through as soon as possible...in case you do need them in the near future...lol."
Darn dogs anyway...