Triple-purpose JK Build

[jsmoriss]

Hi everyone,

So quick update - I drove from Montreal down to New Mexico, meeting up with a friend along the way. From New Mexico, we drove and camped backroads to Arizona for the Overland Expo. Everyone split up after the Expo and I headed east to North Carolina to visit a friend. I've been here for about a week and heading out to Ashville NC to camp for a few days. After that, I'll be house sitting for a friend near Concord NC. Depending on the finances, I'll probably go spend the summer camping in Nova Scotia, before driving south again for the winter.

Anyone from Ashville NC here? I could use some suggestions on any primitive campsites in the area.

I usually post here as I travel: https://www.facebook.com/TheRoadtoMyself

And I posted some pictures here: http://trtms.com/2014/06/01/photos-from-2014-qc-to-az-to-sc/ -- though I still have to go through and write a little something for each. ;-)

js.

 

[Finatic Angler]

Js

Hey glad to see you back posting! Have followed your build in the past.

Do you know anything about the trailer with the Maggiolina or Baroud tent? Is that an xventure?

Thanks

Jim

 

[jsmoriss]

Js

Hey glad to see you back posting! Have followed your build in the past.

Do you know anything about the trailer with the Maggiolina or Baroud tent? Is that an xventure?

Thanks

Jim

You're probably talking about Vince's trailer -- the Raptor with a custom box on the back? That's a Campa trailer - same as mine. Their design is fairly good, though a few design choices are questionable, but the build quality is really average. The attention to detail is not a priority, it seems, so all the owners I've talked to have had issues with water infiltration, rot, etc. I've had to fix *alot* of stuff on mine. Luckily Campa still answers my emails.

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

Next stop, the Blue Ridge Parkway...

I'm near Charlotte NC for the next 3 weeks, and heading North when I leave. So far the plan is to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville on my way up (see http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.php). Using this site http://freecampsites.net/, I should be able to find a few primitive campsites along the way - hopefully with AT&T service so I can also work. ;-)

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

The rear coils on my JK are getting a little soft. Does anyone know of a 3" coil that's stiffer than the OME XHD coils? The OMEs also have quite a few loops -- I'd like to find coils that have fewer loops, and perhaps a larger diameter (the OME are quite slim). This would allow me to get more compression before bottoming out the coil, and also use some air bags inside.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

js.

 

[Ryan Matthes]

I'm near Charlotte NC for the next 3 weeks, and heading North when I leave. So far the plan is to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville on my way up (see http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/map.php). Using this site http://freecampsites.net/, I should be able to find a few primitive campsites along the way - hopefully with AT&T service so I can also work. ;-)

js.

Lived in Asheville during high school and college - have spent many nights camped right alongside the parkway or just off on a fire road. Beautiful area.


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[jsmoriss]

Taking a Leap — Will the Parachute Work?

I sold off or gave away all the big stuff and put everything else in storage… After a two month trip to Arizona in the Spring, and camping another two months on a horse farm this summer, I finally packed everything up and left Montreal for good — or at least for a good long while. ;-) It wasn’t my first choice, but things with Sophie had been going down-hill for the past two years, and we’d been going around in circles for even longer. There comes a time when you just have to face facts and move on — even then, you try again until even the trying becomes impossible… And so here I am, alone and on the road. Though I guess I’m not quite alone for the moment — I’m back on the farm in Nova Scotia until December 3rd or so, taking a few BodyTalk courses; working on myself as best I can. After that, I’m heading down the US east coast, down to North / South Carolina, and maybe even Florida. Ultimately I should end up in Costa Rica sometime in early January. I’d like to drive down, but the cost of gas — and a few sketchy countries along the way — probably means that I’ll have to store the truck and fly down instead.

The financial aspect is a huge worry, but I’m hoping things will work out…

http://trtms.com/2014/11/17/taking-a-leap-will-the-parachute-work/

 

[Lecoq]

Wish you all the best in your new endeavors!. Sometimes a fresh start is all you need.

 

[Jkfisher84]

dang dude. itll work out and like Lecoq said. anyways keep going, been following this since i got my jeep day one. Quick ? how many miles you have on the JKu now?

 

[m(a)ce]

^^ agreed. I always enjoyed your build thread & ingenuity. wishing you the best on your path!


delivered by winged monkeys

 

[jsmoriss]

Thanks everyone!

@Jkfisher84 The Jeep has about 47,000 miles - a good chunk of that just in the past 2-3 years.

I'm finishing up some courses here in Nova Scotia, then heading down the coast on Dec 3rd. Hopefully the weather will warm up enough by the time I hit Virginia. I'd like to take the Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia, down to Asheville NC, and camp along the way -- if it's not too cold. That's the only drawback to my setup -- it's definitely an 'outdoor living space' kinda thing. There's not much privacy, and no heat. I sometimes look at the Sportsmobile and Earthcruiser, and think about trading the whole thing in for one of those (the Earthcruiser especially).

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

So my last post on this thread was in November 2014 -- lots has happened since then... I'll try and post a few pics etc.

I ended up driving down to Tampa FL where I put the truck & trailer into storage, then flew down to Costa Rica for the winter. I bought a Honda CB1 (125cc) bike down there and lived in Nosara for 4 months, selling the bike before I left.

Then I drove up to PEI in May, drove back to Mtl, then back to PEI and NS, camping in a few great out-of-the-way spots, and stayed in NS for a few weeks. Now I'm back in Montreal and thinking of where to go this winter... Everything is still in storage, and my plan now is to find a better long-term storage solution (heated, for one), before heading south again.

I have a few ideas... I could fly down to a Caribbean island - primarily to dive - but renting a truck for 5-6 months while I'm there is a bit pricey. I'm also thinking of flying down to Costa Rica and buying another bigger / dirt-bike to explore Nicaragua, Costa Rica (east side), and Panama. Or... I could drive all the way down with the Jeep and trailer. That's a bit more challenging since I'm driving solo and leaving the truck for 1-2 hours on occasion might be risky, and of course - it sucks a lot of gas.

If you know anyone driving down to Costa Rica / Panama in October or November, let me know. ;-)

Alright, so let me dig up a few pics from the last months...

js.

 

[Dan Grec]

Or... I could drive all the way down with the Jeep and trailer. That's a bit more challenging since I'm driving solo and leaving the truck for 1-2 hours on occasion might be risky, and of course - it sucks a lot of gas.

If you know anyone driving down to Costa Rica / Panama in October or November, let me know. ;-)

Absolutely drive down! it's not nearly as far as you think - from the middle of Mexico to middle of Colombia I only did 10,000kms, and I like to zig-zag alot!

You'll be camping for basically free everynight and cooking all your own food so you don't need to spend a ton of money - I did it for $1,200/month, everything included.

Everywhere you go you'll find paid secure parking for a dollar or two, so don't let that worry you.

Kerstin is driving down to South America right now in her TJ, solo. She's just entered Mexico, so you won't be far behind at all - you could easily catch up if you wanted to.

Here's her "in progress" thread http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...re-net-Alaska-to-Antartica-Kerstin-and-Jeepie

All the best,
-Dan

 

[jsmoriss]

Kerstin is driving down to South America right now in her TJ, solo. She's just entered Mexico, so you won't be far behind at all - you could easily catch up if you wanted to.

Here's her "in progress" thread http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...re-net-Alaska-to-Antartica-Kerstin-and-Jeepie

Thanks for the advice - I'm definitely considering it. I gotta figure out what to do about gas though... I average about 12 mpg, which isn't great...

I can probably leave mid-October, so a bit late to catch up w Kerstin. I posted on her thread though to wish her good luck.

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

As promised, a few pictures from the last (almost) year.

My campsite near Tampa FL before flying out to Costa Rica. There's plenty of free camping in FL - you just have to reserve ahead of time and get the padlock number to access the various protected nature parks.



Camping on the beach in FL after flying back to the US.



Camping along the Cascapedia river in QC.















js.