My Journey

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

M1078.....well, I actually am having the dealer have a look at removing the porch / step that you like. I just felt it was too big and that it's going to be a nuisance when I'm hooked up to the Jeep. I guess we will see where that goes. I never gave much thought to hanging out on it and watching life go by.....

asken.....thank you.....it's been a real struggle since that camper fire this past summer.....

Littlehouse.....yep, dogs are the best companion you can possibly have.....no matter where you are or what you're doing.....

galvyork.....thanks and yes it sounds like you've missed a lot (not much travel but lots of me trying to figure out life). Thanks for the invitation.....

So I'm continuing my pursuit of freedom from the massive rig that I bought in November, 2017. I struggled to find the perfect truck to haul my new Northern Lite truck camper. I was looking all over the southwest for that truck and it was hard to believe that the Yuma Ford dealership got a truck load of F350's in and lucky me, one of them had most of the “must haves” on it. I think it was on Wednesday that I bought a 2018 F350, crew cab, 4WD, 20” wheels, off road package, towing package, long bed, white with camel interior. Here it is.....





Next week it'll go into the shop to get off road tires, sprayed in bed liner, and Firestone Air Bags with a compressor added. After purchasing the truck, I headed over to RV World of Yuma to sign a consignment agreement. I think they're fair people and they offered me more than what I asked for. So hopefully that will all end well.....

I never forget my dogs and their reward for waiting on me while I wheel and deal, is a trip to the Colorado River.....



And we finally left Yuma and drove east to Phoenix. Waiting in line at the checkpoint.....



Stopped in Gila Bend at a little pizza joint that everyone in Yuma raves about.....





Not much in Gila Bend, Arizona. Cool little abandoned church.....



With a full stomach we continued on to Phoenix. I'd been told that it was illegal to overnight in the city but of course I did it anyhow. At 7:30 a.m. this morning there was a knock on the door and it was the police (with a ticket in hand). Thankfully he was a good guy and he let me off with just a warning. Now I've got business to do in Phoenix before I'm back on the road.....

 

[longhorn1]

Now with an F-350, get a Ravelco anti-theft system. There is a faub that plugs in to allow you to start the engine. All wires are hidden, $400 for peace of mind. Ravelco is a Houston Company with dealers. F-250/350 high on the theft list. You don't need more headaches.

 

[Ovrlnd Rd]

Now with an F-350, get a Ravelco anti-theft system. There is a faub that plugs in to allow you to start the engine. All wires are hidden, $400 for peace of mind. Ravelco is a Houston Company with dealers. F-250/350 high on the theft list. You don't need more headaches.

That would have been nice to have when my PAID OFF F250 got stolen. Had to get another car payment and it's been all down hill from there.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

The last week was spent in Phoenix waiting for my turn at the RV repair shop. I had hoped for a cancellation but no such luck. My appointment was for Thursday morning and that's when my unit went into the shop, and was out that very afternoon.....most issues unresolved and a few made worse. The dealer handling the consignment will be left to deal with the issues.....

But we had a few nice desert sunsets while we waited.....



And we did some hiking in the Superstitious Mountains while we waited.....





It's hot in Phoenix and Tanner found relief from the hot sun in this small “cave”.....



Last night we returned to Yuma to begin the transition from RVing back to camping. Yes.....that's the difference I think.....big rigs allow you to go RVing.....and truck campers allow you to go camping.....at least that's how I see it. I'll take possession of my new truck today.....and then it's off to get the new truck camper.....

 

[calicamper]

My neighbor just bought the 250 nearly the same layout. Those new Fords are crazy regarding the load numbers and power figures.

 

[chet6.7]

Hope your new rig works out for you.
Are rattlesnakes active this time of year?

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Chet.....Not too sure about those rattlesnakes but we haven’t seen any here. I did ask around and was told it’s rare to encounter one. In all my years of hiking, I’ve only had an encounter with 2 rattlesnakes. One was in the mountains of Virginia and he bit Montana, and the other was in the mountains of Utah, and he gave us plenty of warning. And yes, hoping the new set up is the one.....

Calicamper.....the numbers are impressive and I’m interested to see how it handles the new camper. I’m told it’ll do well....

Well.....up quite early this morning and am transferring all of my belongings from the Renegade to the new Ford F-350. I’ll be handing the Renegade keys over shortly and we’re off to Portland, Oregon to pick up the new Northern Lite truck camper. Weather forecast is looking good.....

The “old” and the “new”.....

 

[Sam Trimble]

Sam

Good for you. I look forward to your new adventures. Sam

 

[CSG]

Man, Jerry, you must have a lot of money to continue to make these changes. I think I'd get discouraged but am glad you're keeping on.

 

[chet6.7]

The forecast is looking good,your luck has changed.

 

[parkkitchings]

Jerry....wish I had known you were in Quartszite back in Jan. I hadn't checked the forum for a few weeks so I missed your posts. I stopped and camped outside of town for a couple of nights coming up out of Baja. Appears we were there during the same period. Would have been nice to finally meet up. I've got to get around to updating my blogsite as I spent about 7 weeks south of the border and had a great time. I'm almost as lazy as Petey. Soon as we get rested up I'm going to post an update. I take too many stinking pictures and it takes forever to go through them all. Oh yea, that's quite a new rig your sporting. She's a beauty.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Thanks Sam.....

CSG.....don't judge a book by it's cover and yea, I've been pretty darn frustrated. Sometimes I wish I could have justified an Earthroamer.....but I just can't get myself there.....

Chet.....indeed the weather has been good but damn the nights are cold.....

Park.....maybe someday we will cross paths. I've yet to meet my climbing buddy and XP member Vic Hanson except for when he caught me at home once. Can't wait to see more of your photography and love that pic. Baja is in my plans soon.....

And so it was that we headed north to Oregon to get that new truck camper. Rather than take the most direct route, through western California and along the interstate highways, I decided to take what I thought would be a more scenic route, and drive up Route 395 through eastern California and western Nevada. I was spot on with that decision.....the scenery was fantastic ! The first day we drove about 400 miles and stopped in for the night in Lone Pine, California. It was well into darkness when we pullled into town and made a stop at the local climbing shop, which turned into a tip on a spot to overnight in the nearby National Forest. We slept in the bed of the truck just outside of town, and woke up to this spectacular scenery.....





The dogs were loving getting back to our roots.....





As the moon was setting and the sun was rising, we were back on the road for another 400 mile day.....



We made a stop along the way to stretch our legs at a World War 2 Japanese Interment Camp (Manzanar). Wow....it's hard to believe that these things really existed.....







We continued north.....



We made plenty of stops to hike up forest service roads. Then it was pedal to the metal to get the miles in.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

The second day we almost made it to the southern border of Oregon. Again it was dark when we pulled onto a Forest Service Road and spent the night. We took a long walk along the road in the pitch darkness of night. Tanner totally freaked when a nearby pack of coyotes started to howl. We returned to the truck where the dogs spent the night in the cab of the truck, while I again spent the night in the bed of the truck. Two nights of viewing thousands of stars.....priceless !

We woke up drenched from the dew and frozen from the falling night temperatures.....we hit the road early. We found snow to play in as we crossed the mountain range, driving towards the coast.....



It's so odd to travel from the desert to the beautiful pine forests of Oregon in such a short period of time.....



We passed by so many amazing lakes but no swimming on this trip.....



And before I knew it, we had traveled over 1,200 miles and I was loading a brand spanking new Northern Lite truck camper onto my truck.....



I'm a truck camper guy.....and I travel with truck camper dogs.....that's what we are.....

 

[Sam Trimble]

Well-- as long as your dog buddys are happy, that's all that matters--Sam

 

[Socal73]

The second day we almost made it to the southern border of Oregon. Again it was dark when we pulled onto a Forest Service Road and spent the night. We took a long walk along the road in the pitch darkness of night. Tanner totally freaked when a nearby pack of coyotes started to howl. We returned to the truck where the dogs spent the night in the cab of the truck, while I again spent the night in the bed of the truck. Two nights of viewing thousands of stars.....priceless !

We woke up drenched from the dew and frozen from the falling night temperatures.....we hit the road early. We found snow to play in as we crossed the mountain range, driving towards the coast.....

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It’s so odd to travel from the desert to the beautiful pine forests of Oregon in such a short period of time.....

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We passed by so many amazing lakes but no swimming on this trip.....

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And before I knew it, we had traveled over 1,200 miles and I was loading a brand spanking new Northern Lite truck camper onto my truck.....

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I’m a truck camper guy.....and I travel with truck camper dogs.....that’s what we are.....

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Love following your story but bummed that all your pics show broken on my end. Like to see what youre putting out there. Any ideas? 99% of the pics on other threads show up fine. Any ideas?


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