Hackney FG test update

[dhackney]

We're 9,500 miles and 101 days into testing the rig.

Probably the most unusual thing to happen so far was meeting an Earthroamer on Interstate 80 in Des Moines, Iowa, of all places. We were westbound and they were eastbound.

We also woke up one morning in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and found an Earthroamer parked about 100' from us.

Didn't manage to get a photo either time.

Considering how few of them are out there, we were surprised to see two within a few weeks.

Biggest dissapointment so far was missing the Horizons Unlimited Colorado rally by a couple of days.

Route and test results data are at:
http://www.hackneys.com/travel/index-fusotestmap.htm

Highlights included being in a parade back in Iowa.

Way too many great sunsets to count. This one was from along the Snake River in ID.

Occaisional road repairs.

Great mountain roads. (River of No Return Wilderness)

A few field repairs.

Some limit tests.

Some of my favorite signs.

And even a few water crossings.

We even found time for some walks along the beach.

I'll try to get some more photos posted the next time we get around some bandwidth.

Doug

 

[kcowyo]

Nice update Doug!

The Snake River and the River of No Return Wilderness area are about as raw as it gets. Beautiful country... isolated, scenic and remote....

You should be commended for having the discipline to do all that repetitive testing, instead of just saying, "We're done! Let's roll!"

I also enjoyed your 10 things we did wrong and the things we did right, lists. There are some valuable lessons there that we can all learn from. Good stuff -

 

[dhackney]

Thanks for the kind words, greatly appreciated.

I also enjoyed your ... lists.

Based on this: recommended reading - Mark of the Grizzly by Scott McMillion

I think you'd probably enjoy these lists too:

• Desert Island Books List
  
• Recently read books
  
• Current book inventory

 

[kcowyo]

More great lists Doug. Several of those titles caught my interest.

Thanks - :beer:

 

[articulate]

I totally dig going through your site and employing osmosis-via-mouse to take in the information. So I've got a question from your list of "things done right." Number 7, "Stud mounting everything to facilitate field service (this has already paid big dividends)"

What's stud mounting?

Another question..... when does the trip launch? 9,500 miles of testing? Holy crap. You're evidently on the road, so perhaps you're considering your domestic miles as part of the "final exam?"

 

[HMR]

You guys ROCK! Keep the updates coming.

 

[dhackney]

Number 7, "Stud mounting everything to facilitate field service (this has already paid big dividends)"

What's stud mounting?

I tried to mount everything on studs so that if I needed to remove a component for service all I had to do was to remove the nuts & washers and then the component. This way I don't have to worry about getting to the backside of bolts, etc. that could be buried underneath things.

Here's an example from album 19 on the rig web site of the box lights. The heads of the mounting bolts are between the storage box and the camper. I don't want to have to remove the camper, ever, hopefully, and certainly not to fix a box light.

Mounting bolt heads (I later changed these to button head cap screws that use an allen head instead of a phillips head)

Mounting bolts with locking nuts (I used lock tite on these)

Box light mounted on studs. I used this basic method on everything from heavy things like the inverter to semi-heavy things like the cab center console to light, little things like the box lights.

Another question..... when does the trip launch?

We'll ship out as soon as we get back down to SoCal and take care of some things. Probably head directly to South America at this point.

9,500 miles of testing? Holy crap. You're evidently on the road, so perhaps you're considering your domestic miles as part of the "final exam?"

Yes, probably more like "user acceptance testing."

The first six weeks or so were very oriented to testing all the systems, testing all the theories, finishing up some little things, field repairs, etc. Then we had about a month of seeing relatives. We're now in full time relaxation mode.

View from the camper door last night. That flat gray thing with the birds flying over it is what they call the Pacific up here.

 

[bigreen505]

Awesome!

 

[articulate]

I tried to mount everything on studs so that if I needed to remove a component for service all I had to do was to remove the nuts & washers and then the component. This way I don't have to worry about getting to the backside of bolts, etc. that could be buried underneath things.

Here's an example . . .

Brilliant! This kind of foresight must come from experience: like they say, "good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgment."

We'll ship out as soon as we get back down to SoCal and take care of some things. Probably head directly to South America at this point . . . We're now in full time relaxation mode.

I get the impression your route is going to be shot from the hip, more or less. "Probably headed to South America."
Que les vaya bien.

 

[dhackney]

I get the impression your route is going to be shot from the hip, more or less. "Probably headed to South America."
Que les vaya bien.

We are officially on the "no plan - plan."

Although, bo totally honest, neither of us does well if there is no structure at all. We travel best if we build a loose framework of "we really want to experience/explore/see this, this and this," and have a general direction and flexible timeline around those goals.

The key word is flexible.

 

[dhackney]

Here's a piece I wrote about the Dorymen of the Oregon coast:

http://hackneys.com/blog/2007/09/18/the-dorymen/

 

[VikingVince]

Doug,

Your rig looks awesome! I got a kick out of the contrast between seeing it in an Iowa pararde and the great outdoors. Finally, you get to enjoy the fruits of all your labors! I wish you and your wife exciting and rewarding, happy and safe adventures...and I look forward with much anticipation to your web updates.
Bon Voyage:jumping:

PS - I like your travel mantra of Exploring the World and Meeting Its People on the side of your rig along with the pics. I was half expecting to see the mantra in several other languages as well!

Where are those lists of things you did right and things you did wrong.?...can't find them...thanks.

 

[dhackney]

I wish you and your wife exciting and rewarding, happy and safe adventures...and I look forward with much anticipation to your web updates.

Where are those lists of things you did right and things you did wrong.?...can't find them...thanks.

Thanks for the good wishes, greatly appreciated!

The best way to stay updated is to subscribe to my blog. I will always post there when I add content to the blog or the web sites.

To subscribe to the blog, go to the blog site and click on the Subscribe - All Entries menu option. It is the top menu option on the menu along right side.

The right/wrong lists are on the BEV expedition vehicle build site. Look for the lists on the menu on the left side.

Main travel web site: http://www.hackneys.com/travel/
My blog: http://www.hackneys.com/blog/
BEV build site: http://www.hackneys.com/mitsu/

 

[VikingVince]

Thanks Doug...I attempted to subscribe to the Blog as per your instructions...didn't work...got the following message:

"The XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below."

Just thought I'd let you know...maybe something with my computer?...or something else...beats me...thanks.

 

[dhackney]

Thanks Doug...I attempted to subscribe to the Blog as per your instructions...didn't work...got the following message:

"The XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below."

Just thought I'd let you know...maybe something with my computer?...or something else...beats me...thanks.

Thanks for the heads up on this. I will check it out and get back to you.