tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51231306564198334452024-03-04T22:36:52.997-07:00Mello Mike's Overland AdventuresA travel and off-road adventure website and blog featuring truck campers and Jeeps and all things associated. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-44531850031317350462015-07-03T05:00:00.000-07:002015-07-07T00:43:13.190-07:00Health Tip: Keeping High Altitude Dehydration in Check<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vs0gSYsqoGPvjOK9BONdsUcU69HGzcB__n4IJuT8OosjMeTpFXD4KgJOI8BW470nyqUULyiwAEIWZL_mP98MtzRIfRtLgIObjb7rdLpAaztCl_TM20AtsmNeoFTUHEYG1x3X147OxqQ/s1600/snowcovered_mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vs0gSYsqoGPvjOK9BONdsUcU69HGzcB__n4IJuT8OosjMeTpFXD4KgJOI8BW470nyqUULyiwAEIWZL_mP98MtzRIfRtLgIObjb7rdLpAaztCl_TM20AtsmNeoFTUHEYG1x3X147OxqQ/s320/snowcovered_mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Did you know your body exhales and perspires twice as much moisture at 6,000 feet above sea level as your body does at sea level? It's true. At altitudes higher than that, the rate is even higher. That means for those who like to explore, hike, and boondock at high altitudes--I think this applies to most of us--you need to drink more water than you normally do, as much as a quart or more a day. <br />
<br />
Why do our bodies require more water at higher altitudes? Basically, it comes down to the lower air pressures or thinner air found at higher altitudes. The lower pressures and thinner air result in more rapid evaporation of moisture from our skin and from our lungs. Compounding matters even more, if you explore and camp in regions that have dry air--like the notoriously dry air found in the American southwest--the rate of evaporation from our bodies is accelerated even more. This means you need even more water to keep your body functioning. Even when the temperatures are cold. What are the symptoms of dehydration? What are the signs you should be looking for when you're out and about? The same when you're not drinking enough water on a hot summer day. Nausea, headache, and fatigue are the first symptoms I get when I'm dehydrated at high altitudes. Other symptoms of dehydration include muscle cramps and tightness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. These symptoms can strike suddenly or come on gradually during the course of the day, so be aware. If these troublesome symptoms do strike, remember to drink small mouth fulls of water rather than guzzling it as this gives your body time to use the water rather than just peeing it all out. In addition, avoid caffeinated drinks as these can dehydrate your body even more. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kNMqkeZFx04VPCwZ7DjS_5rwty0SAN-60MSVIG43csHAMjzwUInL6j2pwZSHIUfNmmp6cG-N9o5RJRKS4lHwMSld6SB7DHt8nwY4hPRtBebU5ieogFaMx0_HXDfIjLw1qyfkgPDCj3k/s1600/IMG_7037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kNMqkeZFx04VPCwZ7DjS_5rwty0SAN-60MSVIG43csHAMjzwUInL6j2pwZSHIUfNmmp6cG-N9o5RJRKS4lHwMSld6SB7DHt8nwY4hPRtBebU5ieogFaMx0_HXDfIjLw1qyfkgPDCj3k/s200/IMG_7037.jpg" width="150" /></a>So what does all this mean for you, the active RV Owner? During your high altitude excursions, bring extra drinking water--lots of it. I'm not a fan of bottled water, but I am during trips in our camper. Bottled water is cheap, is portable, and is easy to carry whether you're in your RV, rock crawling in your Jeep, or hiking on a mountain trail (just make sure you recycle the bottles when you're done with them). If bringing along large cases of bottled water seems like a pain, then you can buy either a fixed water purification system that ties into your RV's fresh water system or you can buy a portable water purification unit like the <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-of-doulton-gss2-water-filtration.html" target="_blank">Doulton SS2 water filtration unit</a>. These water purification systems work great, but for those who have small fresh water holding tanks in their RVs like mine, drinking from your fresh water tank does use a sizable portion of your fresh water supply. Do what works best for you.<br />
<br />
Another tip that works well for me when I'm active and trying to stay hydrated is to use electrolytes. I'm not talking about Gatorade, though this works well, too. I'm talking about a mineral additive like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009I4H25U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009I4H25U&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=UWSR7JTUQJFIQFY7">Lyte Balance</a> that you add directly to your water. This superb product contains a potent blend of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, essential electrolytes that your body needs to function properly and feel good. What I like about this product is that there's no sugar in it like Gatorade. I add one cap full of Lyte Balance to my water bottle and it really helps keep me going. Keeping your body hydrated and your electrolytes in balance is important for you to feel good and stay active. I highly recommend it. <br />
<br />
So if you're hiking and camping in your RV at higher elevations and you find yourself feeling nauseous, dizzy, and weak, you're probably dehydrated. A little rest and a couple bottles of purified water with electrolytes should be all that you need to start feeling like your old self again. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-52949863662471222392015-06-26T05:30:00.000-07:002015-07-02T18:46:54.084-07:00Nine Good Reasons to Buy a Northstar Camper<i>Since announcing my intention to sell my Wolf Creek 850 truck camper a month ago, I've received several emails asking me why I decided to buy a Northstar Laredo SC truck camper and not one made by one of the other manufacturers. There are many good reasons why I decided to go with Northstar. Here, in this article, I discuss the top nine. </i><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1. They're Well Built:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm6UhCS1VhH9SH6VhsBQF9WWC-FpSlY11jXBdQMExYkW2f3UaKoYOfU8hFN6ufFWNSx03hVg0yEsdx3LI-uH22xnwsXjw6y36VAYTAZ-f-2d7kooKLO0eOjKlgtPjxlVE8-3niSwncVY/s1600/20140830_134850+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghm6UhCS1VhH9SH6VhsBQF9WWC-FpSlY11jXBdQMExYkW2f3UaKoYOfU8hFN6ufFWNSx03hVg0yEsdx3LI-uH22xnwsXjw6y36VAYTAZ-f-2d7kooKLO0eOjKlgtPjxlVE8-3niSwncVY/s200/20140830_134850+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It's common knowledge that the <a href="http://www.northstarcampers.com/" target="_blank">Northstar truck camper</a> is extremely well-built, but what exactly does Northstar do to build such a stout camper? First<img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_8939430" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=melmikstrucam-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=cc5e3fac1b8f56a8ca926e93a1e61ff2&_cb=1435006411450" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" />, the company uses nothing but imported, marine grade plywood. This plywood is used to build everything from the floor, wings, and shelves to the counter top, walls and roof. All joints are glued and screwed both inside and outside the camper to ensure lasting strength and durability. Team up the marine grade plywood with a thick, well-constructed pine wood frame inlaid with block foam insulation and covered with imported, non-yellowing Lamilux 1,000 fiberglass walls and you've got yourself an attractive, rugged, and well-insulated camper that will last for many years to come. Indeed, it's pretty common to see 30 year old Northstar campers still going strong and looking good on today's roads. Yes, some will complain about the wood frame being used in Northstar campers, saying aluminum is better, but to me wood is a pro not a con. Wood is stronger, insulates better, is easier to work with, and doesn't sweat like aluminum is prone to do when it's cold (this sweating is one of the leading causes of delamination in all RV's). <br />
<br />
<b>2. Legendary Customer Service</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXNYuqLVpOTEkoOAfMiYRdrOd57FjDxnta1Y-BeS9XWSW1hlhYfNVnFHh_A_BBRnD5iEcUXImB3UM5lcjyj170PKUaIip6SXWBsrglWaQyFE5Cv9GLmXR2rqZ8VrZn3gNr9q5TDNtvSA/s1600/Survey+form+with+a+tick+placed+in+Outstanding+checkbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXNYuqLVpOTEkoOAfMiYRdrOd57FjDxnta1Y-BeS9XWSW1hlhYfNVnFHh_A_BBRnD5iEcUXImB3UM5lcjyj170PKUaIip6SXWBsrglWaQyFE5Cv9GLmXR2rqZ8VrZn3gNr9q5TDNtvSA/s200/Survey+form+with+a+tick+placed+in+Outstanding+checkbox.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Another good reason for buying a Northstar is the legendary customer service. Northstar is family owned and operated and have been in business since 1961. No, that isn't a typo, 1961. Good customer service seems to be a dying art, but not at Northstar, where the customer's questions and concerns are a priority. If you have an issue with your camper, the company's owner, Rex Willett, will get back to you to resolve it. How many owners get involved with customers at this level? Not many. Got a question about a modification that you want to make to your camper? A customer service rep will quickly put you in touch with the right technical person to get the answer you need. Better yet, if you need a new part, the parts department at Northstar will ship one out directly to your home. This is almost unheard of in the RV industry today. Most RV company's require you to work through a local dealership, a major pain in the butt. I'm also told that the company will often ship out new parts to you even if your camper is out of warranty.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Northstar Customization</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmEXsYzoYYa0HcqHKYhbJXJNM5bzlCbMuGbUEYTe9WWvMPdewWqXkKSJ3pZ9pgb20loJ-JmyT6p9LwYDfzU_TIT07kSp3qcTPAhQD6vZCLQYsCUBFKxi-BL4jhhiv0F_vidJRruSmJuI/s1600/DSC03138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmEXsYzoYYa0HcqHKYhbJXJNM5bzlCbMuGbUEYTe9WWvMPdewWqXkKSJ3pZ9pgb20loJ-JmyT6p9LwYDfzU_TIT07kSp3qcTPAhQD6vZCLQYsCUBFKxi-BL4jhhiv0F_vidJRruSmJuI/s200/DSC03138.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Most truck camper manufacturers are restrictive on changes they allow to their models and will allow only previously approved options to be built into their campers. "No," is the response you'll most likely get when asking for a change, but not at Northstar. Want to replace the TV stand in your camper with a wardrobe? No problem. Want a side pop out tent for the kiddies to sleep on? You got it. Perhaps you have a special item, like a rear camera, that you want installed while your camper is being built? Sure, they do this all the time. Northstar builds nothing but truck campers and is great at doing it. The company doesn't waste their time and energy building fifth wheels, travel trailers, and toy haulers like the competition, so they know their designs inside and out and know what they can do to accommodate any changes. The bottom line is that Northstar likes to put happy campers into their truck campers and a happy camper is good for business.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Northstar Value</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt3pJP5J21psQ3_6EYMpLpL4RkAv8Jt-ReGfOzOyLt1Mw-kXeM0mNqG08yl5vkvXUA-uP7uBbSGA5S_Lur3hCKAyeaZtiFNXMy8lm1IHVNBKv_IAJ7aDaDrKaTqNCPwNrxzdFxZuEzIs/s1600/6714907289_a7d102ede5_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt3pJP5J21psQ3_6EYMpLpL4RkAv8Jt-ReGfOzOyLt1Mw-kXeM0mNqG08yl5vkvXUA-uP7uBbSGA5S_Lur3hCKAyeaZtiFNXMy8lm1IHVNBKv_IAJ7aDaDrKaTqNCPwNrxzdFxZuEzIs/s200/6714907289_a7d102ede5_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Every RV manufacturer says they provide value, but Northstar talks and talk and walks the walk. Behind every Northstar name you get a well-made camper loaded with features that many truck camper and RV manufacturers consider as upgrades or options. <a href="http://www.northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=15&catId=16&numId=36" target="_blank">Standard features</a> found in every Northstar truck camper include a Dometic three-way refrigerator, an extended cabover with cabinets, Dometic thermal pane windows,<b> </b>a pop out front window, airline quality push button latches, as well as a Fan-tastic Vent Fan with thermostat, an entry door gas strut, a porch light with large assist handle, a battery disconnect switch, and the list goes on and on. These standard features are things that you normally have to pay extra for, but not when you buy a Northstar truck camper. And speaking of cost, in spite of a long list of standard features, buying a Northstar camper won't break the bank and costs considerably less than the over-priced competition.<br />
<br />
<b>5. No Basement</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInmii6NN0PBpqWNZEOnGg8F8NT0YAGNLuzzE3d7aMf8anaoUW11umyCnEqok2JCKn2Xk_KzCnOHuYA5Jxm0AIMlOyveBn_gWzUUMpvTkhuqUxuI6m-wxRsbfALjDmyXFwIWwNyipGNqs/s1600/DSC03128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInmii6NN0PBpqWNZEOnGg8F8NT0YAGNLuzzE3d7aMf8anaoUW11umyCnEqok2JCKn2Xk_KzCnOHuYA5Jxm0AIMlOyveBn_gWzUUMpvTkhuqUxuI6m-wxRsbfALjDmyXFwIWwNyipGNqs/s200/DSC03128.jpg" width="200" /></a>Almost all of the truck campers rolling off of today's assembly lines are equipped with basements, but not at Northstar. Sure, having a basement creates more space for large holding tanks and fancy storage compartments with slide-out trays, but the basement is also a liability because of the additional height--sometimes as much as 12 inches--that it gives to the camper. This additional height creates a higher profile that can really impair your ability to go off-road--things like low hanging tree branches and rock overhangs can stop you dead in your tracks if you don't have the right camper. It's true that having no basement means smaller holding tanks, but this is a fair tradeoff for overland enthusiasts who want a low profile rig that can go far off the beaten path. Still, the fresh water holding tank in my Laredo is pretty large at 30 gallons, the same as my old camper. Only the gray water holding tank is smaller at 13 gallons vice 22 gallons, not a big deal for me since I live in the Southwest where gray water dumping in the wild is less restricted.<br />
<br />
<b>6. The Dometic Thermal Pane Windows</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SMb0nH3pSY-FoNwHROAPz1qfuvRgn0UtnSNkj-bPYH__sbpEiZsyGoNYMcGKP1Cj5ZsBd5RzwlL1ySZsErlM4HCTlnsjuLNpDzjO2KOEPMHSwokkHTkmWyrwNPHCyWJUe-Nbz7HR6ew/s1600/20140904_063857+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0SMb0nH3pSY-FoNwHROAPz1qfuvRgn0UtnSNkj-bPYH__sbpEiZsyGoNYMcGKP1Cj5ZsBd5RzwlL1ySZsErlM4HCTlnsjuLNpDzjO2KOEPMHSwokkHTkmWyrwNPHCyWJUe-Nbz7HR6ew/s200/20140904_063857+%25281%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Having a good set of windows can really make or break an RV. Unfortunately, most RV manufacturers equip their RV's with lousy, hard to open windows that are like sieves in letting in the heat and cold. These windows are a major liability, especially for those who like to camp in the winter. Fortunately, the Dometic acrylic thermal pane window comes standard in all Northstar truck campers. These windows, which insulate better than any other window in the RV market, are a perfect compliment to the high insulation value of Northstar campers. But these windows do so much more than provide better insulation. They're also much easier to open--they push out rather than slide--and feature an easy to operate, built-in roller screen on the top and a built-in roller shade on the bottom. The Dometic windows just plain look better, too--no more ugly, hard to clean mini-blinds. With all the things going for them, it's really surprising that Northstar is only one of three truck camper manufacturers that use these revolutionary RV windows. They've been doing so since 1987. <br />
<br />
<b>7. The Thetford Cassette Toilet</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG1iDFTW58F-qostlfMxV_aurMx7HYt3Tky6wUlMNWLuIADOR8MVhKonqjF7tlJD7XPq4mEgtC6_JZbDmRtjyKNXCA_BK3kW2jeuGmEHiDXIcNBHUsVrlG2Wop8dkneXfdTv7PpjPYS4/s1600/6686709207_3f8c6a20da_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDG1iDFTW58F-qostlfMxV_aurMx7HYt3Tky6wUlMNWLuIADOR8MVhKonqjF7tlJD7XPq4mEgtC6_JZbDmRtjyKNXCA_BK3kW2jeuGmEHiDXIcNBHUsVrlG2Wop8dkneXfdTv7PpjPYS4/s200/6686709207_3f8c6a20da_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It seems like RV'ers have a mixed relationship with cassette toilets. They either love them or hate them. I'm in the former group, though, when it comes to toilets and handling black water that's hard to admit. Face it, dumping black water is never a pleasant thing to do, but the Thetford cassette toilet that comes in every Northstar camper gives you more options on where you can dump and that's always a good thing. Rather than just limiting you to RV dump sites, the cassette can be dumped practically anywhere, like at a campground pit toilet or at an interstate rest area bathroom. Concerned about the 45 pounds of weight? Don't be. Each cassette is equipped with a set of wheels on one end and a green pull-out handle on the other to allow you to effortlessly pull the cassette behind you like a rolling suitcase. The cassette toilet also features its own four gallon fresh water tank so it won't use your camper's fresh water supply. Better yet, the cassette toilet's retractable fill spout allows you to fill the cassette's fresh water tank with any kind of water including lake water, regular fresh water, or even gray water from your own camper. Nice!<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>8. The Lagun Swing Away Table System</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ekrM_T5HCb7ZkmzZmO1n2lAf0lkI94Mo-UloaDbbFV3s6NhnZud2P3l7nX8IwSrLi5wNuG8tVkdN946mCDtfZlauunJubzCr2DeCc0Zv5vj1SYWqug-hNikE9FoO-_qgs4k9hgHSl48/s1600/20141013_165140_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ekrM_T5HCb7ZkmzZmO1n2lAf0lkI94Mo-UloaDbbFV3s6NhnZud2P3l7nX8IwSrLi5wNuG8tVkdN946mCDtfZlauunJubzCr2DeCc0Zv5vj1SYWqug-hNikE9FoO-_qgs4k9hgHSl48/s200/20141013_165140_resized.jpg" width="200" /></a>A good table is one aspect of RV construction that's often overlooked by RV manufacturers. A good table will allow you to eat meals, look at maps, play cards,
write articles for your blog, work on small projects, perform food preparation, and carry
out all sorts of fun-filled, family activities. Our last camper had only one configuration for the two-legged table and it only slid back and forth about 8 inches. The wife hated it. When I showed her a Northstar camper equipped with the optional Lagun swing away table at a local RV dealership, she immediately fell for it. What's great about the Lagun swing away table system is that both the table and the mount of this Swedish-made table system can rotate 360 degrees, giving you an almost unlimited number of configurations for positioning your table. You can even position the table out of the way to allow easier access to the overhead compartments. When your camper has limited room and seating space, it's nice to have options and with the Lagun swing away table system, you'll have plenty.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>9. The Dometic CR1110 12 Volt Compressor Refrigerator </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5eKnYtPxwSxrR3QhA4h2ou0oVlDFKY5VUeJOKvCRsitkHN87HhVY5p56OtrPmBE6EjNrkNma2CCpJyckzGALqZJbyk4GtU61Y0Ke_CuUSvRqLvU0WOramqg5Xls9jgUtNUEQed1tTtY/s1600/dometic+cu1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5eKnYtPxwSxrR3QhA4h2ou0oVlDFKY5VUeJOKvCRsitkHN87HhVY5p56OtrPmBE6EjNrkNma2CCpJyckzGALqZJbyk4GtU61Y0Ke_CuUSvRqLvU0WOramqg5Xls9jgUtNUEQed1tTtY/s200/dometic+cu1110.jpg" width="200" /></a>Northstar likes to give you options and it's no different when it comes to the refrigerator that's put in your camper. Their standard Dometic three-way, 3.7 cubic foot refrigerator is a fine unit, but when I found out that they also offer the Dometic CR 1110 12 volt compressor refrigerator as an option, I didn't hesitate to ask for it. Why? Well, the 12 volt compressor fridge is great for <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2011/09/introduction-to-boondocking.html" target="_blank">boondocking</a>. It draws less current (a maximum of 3.5 amps) than the regular three-way refrigerator and cools better, too, even when ambient temperatures are high (summer temperatures often exceed 110 degrees F where I live, so this is a big bonus). Better yet, you don't have to worry about getting your camper perfectly level like you do with regular gas absorption refrigerators, the 12 volt compressor refrigerator doesn't care. All of this means you have a refrigerator built for going off-the-grid and when coupled with a powerful solar power system you can run one indefinitely. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-50771468418280822282015-06-19T05:37:00.000-07:002015-06-24T17:33:28.944-07:00Converting MOPAR's JK Tool Kit into a TJ Tool Kit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDPj7X-rKWJn1yAQE7gwsb-TUI0qontIW8-Za_vBbTKiPXuFIwbMeVUKTgrtgKQPGEK-CSmE7zLlMOTXGZURHwI-po5CuWgZLe9amzuSdgakBdeWdlr5dG6lToCGqDwXGrfrVv7V30Lo/s1600/IMG_7053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDPj7X-rKWJn1yAQE7gwsb-TUI0qontIW8-Za_vBbTKiPXuFIwbMeVUKTgrtgKQPGEK-CSmE7zLlMOTXGZURHwI-po5CuWgZLe9amzuSdgakBdeWdlr5dG6lToCGqDwXGrfrVv7V30Lo/s320/IMG_7053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="a-list-item">Have you ever wanted to remove your Jeep Wrangler hard top and/or doors when you were out and about on a beautiful day, but didn't have the tools available to make it happen? Don't fret. The folks at MOPAR now produce a neat, little </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QAMKNYK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00QAMKNYK&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=5NRFASFFGGPUKB56" target="_blank">Jeep Wrangler Hard Top and Door Removal Tool Kit</a> <span class="a-list-item">to prevent this from ever happening to you. </span><br />
<br />
MOPAR's tool kit includes all the tools you need to remove your Jeep Wrangler hard top and soft top and doors. The kit includes three torx bits--a T-30, a T-40 and a T-50--a 10 mm socket with a one-quarter inch hex driver, a one-quarter inch hex ratchet with the Jeep logo, and a green storage pouch embroidered with the Jeep logo. This handy, little kit was produced for JK Jeep Wranglers (2007-2015 model years), but with a little work the kit can be converted into one that can also be used for TJ Jeep Wranglers (1997-2006 model years).<br />
<br />
Here's what you need to do to complete your TJ Hard Top and Door Removal Tool Kit: <br />
<ul>
<li>Unlike the JK Wrangler, which uses a T-50 torx bit to remove the doors, the TJ Wrangler uses a 13 mm socket. So you'll need to either buy a 13 mm socket or pull one from one of your existing socket sets. </li>
<li>Keep the T-40 torx bit. It's used to remove hard tops on both the JK and TJ. It's also used to remove the torx bolts from TJ soft tops. </li>
<li>Keep the T-30 and T-50 torx bits. Even though neither is needed to remove the doors and tops from your TJ, they can and should be retained since there are other parts of the Jeep that use these sizes of torx bolts. </li>
<li>The 10 mm socket fitting that is used in conjunction with the T-40 torx bit to remove JK soft tops should be discarded. As far as I know it serves no purpose in removing the soft top from a TJ. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcvp9eWBeiz8gaR0j6jtdivJWWUi2nGc3bAy09vJ50HZkQyvbTmPCU5lS1VGbzD4xDs6hxAMmWQ4Iq-KQtXNyGxu_wXR-c2CKZ3VkGYPvp2rGR8XMglO_z9WncVinnTRmBNdkiSHaFN8/s1600/IMG_7051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcvp9eWBeiz8gaR0j6jtdivJWWUi2nGc3bAy09vJ50HZkQyvbTmPCU5lS1VGbzD4xDs6hxAMmWQ4Iq-KQtXNyGxu_wXR-c2CKZ3VkGYPvp2rGR8XMglO_z9WncVinnTRmBNdkiSHaFN8/s320/IMG_7051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0niuIEK_jhBUN_kA5-FiD_mIht1uq6Q6uImg6BqvWrjGwCgUoxhXhX1RkuWvVaksb4oZ5Lp7npdq5lw4KGAPUvo0b6vuJiEz4fgbtgZ6F14hHfrMSZG62Wxrto5ghIx1U4oHJnMbQD4/s1600/IMG_7057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0niuIEK_jhBUN_kA5-FiD_mIht1uq6Q6uImg6BqvWrjGwCgUoxhXhX1RkuWvVaksb4oZ5Lp7npdq5lw4KGAPUvo0b6vuJiEz4fgbtgZ6F14hHfrMSZG62Wxrto5ghIx1U4oHJnMbQD4/s320/IMG_7057.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
As you can see, only one change is needed to complete your TJ Jeep Wrangler Tool Kit. Most Jeep owners will have the required 13 mm socket to complete the kit, but some may need to buy one locally or buy one online. <br />
<span class="a-list-item"></span><span class="a-list-item"> </span>Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-22726255946793317062015-06-17T07:42:00.000-07:002015-06-25T19:01:24.142-07:00"Wolfy" Has Sold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyjisZpzcRseruqRSAXshPrdfTRQS1rSgraeEyox7YVGL1z8P5zUNrMMwhB02BQyvt9KG-EoICFUnHo190nlc4PmEzX_byzj8X9ZA_P6FJgw661Ahxz93gX6orNXhMh8gByCJLCn0VKM/s1600/IMG_7121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyjisZpzcRseruqRSAXshPrdfTRQS1rSgraeEyox7YVGL1z8P5zUNrMMwhB02BQyvt9KG-EoICFUnHo190nlc4PmEzX_byzj8X9ZA_P6FJgw661Ahxz93gX6orNXhMh8gByCJLCn0VKM/s320/IMG_7121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was a sad day Monday as we transported "Wolfy" to the home of its new owners. This couple will be vacationing in it in Canada for a month or so and really liked that it was equipped with 240 watts of solar and an inverter. Anyhow, we had mixed feelings as we drove away from their home. We were sad to see this comfortable and reliable, little camper go. We had a lot of great memories in it and took it on some wonderful adventures, but at the same time we were excited to get into our new truck camper, a <a href="http://www.northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=15&catId=16&numId=36" target="_blank">2016 Northstar Laredo SC</a>. We are told it could take another 10 weeks until we can take delivery, though it could be done sooner. We'll see. <br />
<br />
We've been emailing and talking to Northstar's sales manager, Billy Mackaill, about our Laredo and making minor changes to the build. We've decided to delete the rear awning option, replace the glass top, stainless steel, two burner cooktop option with the standard three burner cooktop, and replace the Heki skylight option with the standard 14x14 inch vent. The reasons for the changes came down to practicality. We've never missed having an awning on the Wolf Creek and really saw no need to have one on the Laredo. Regarding the cooktop, Karen liked the look of the stainless steel cooktop, but didn't like that it had only two burners, so that option went away also. Finally, we decided to delete the Heki skylight due to the reported issues with heat damage and leaks. Living in the Southwest, where temperatures often exceed 110 degrees F, we thought it was too risky to have one, so we reluctantly decided to delete it. Deleting these options will also save us close to $2,000. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-25944116913282368012015-06-12T05:00:00.000-07:002015-06-23T13:52:36.825-07:00Top 10 Reasons Why the Jeep Wrangler is Cool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<i>Despite poor fuel economy and mediocre safety ratings, the Jeep Wrangler continues to be a huge seller for the folks at MOPAR. What makes the Jeep Wrangler so popular with men and women of all ages? What's the attraction? The answer I hear most is that the Jeep Wrangler is just plain cool. This article takes a look at the Top 10 reasons why. </i><br />
<br />
<b>1. It's Part of Our History:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgi76_sqiPl-xcznnSSPCCqBNHXQGx9D7_mjvjj-HX14zhSiYEUW5rnyTkCAy7kFPoag85Ix4Ww5o5Kg-EyXVGOzCT-_6JyfMh_XVb1itm83lPo3hP1YxKCdJ5gVRfvSmstUNG-5PNXE/s1600/Willys+Jeep_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgi76_sqiPl-xcznnSSPCCqBNHXQGx9D7_mjvjj-HX14zhSiYEUW5rnyTkCAy7kFPoag85Ix4Ww5o5Kg-EyXVGOzCT-_6JyfMh_XVb1itm83lPo3hP1YxKCdJ5gVRfvSmstUNG-5PNXE/s200/Willys+Jeep_1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
History is cool? It sure is, especially when it's about Jeeps. The Jeep Wrangler's roots reach back to 1941 when the Willys MB model first appeared in the U.S. military. Over 300,000 MB models, or "Jeeps" as they were called by U.S. servicemen, were produced during the war with 144 Jeeps issued to every U.S. Army infantry regiment (similar numbers were also issued to each U.S. Marine Corps regiment). Large numbers of Jeeps, about 30 percent of total production, were also shipped to America's Allies. During the war, the rugged and reliable Jeep proved it could go anywhere and was a big hit with the troops. After the war, Willys decided to leverage the Jeep's brand and fame by producing a civilian version, the CJ-2A, from 1945 to 1949. This first "CJ" offered features not found on the military model, including a tailgate, higher windshield, larger headlights, and a side-mounted spare tire. It retailed for $1,090. <br />
<br />
<b>2. It's a Terrific Off-Road Vehicle: </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGHVoTmM1jxobLjb8NCd2Yl_eHX_gXCwehmRb6S_SunCNlWD4z1KPcUSHsxaXFzZb5psAWMI4byNM-lZJOakwVrhQknxAz1bUO3Awxdtnp_fAxgmwx0PxYuAKXVIoLUSdwO21zIQ46zQ/s1600/JKU_Rubicon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGHVoTmM1jxobLjb8NCd2Yl_eHX_gXCwehmRb6S_SunCNlWD4z1KPcUSHsxaXFzZb5psAWMI4byNM-lZJOakwVrhQknxAz1bUO3Awxdtnp_fAxgmwx0PxYuAKXVIoLUSdwO21zIQ46zQ/s200/JKU_Rubicon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Since World War II, this American icon has been boldly going where few vehicles have gone before. Indeed, the wartime photographic record is replete with Jeeps slogging their way through thick mud, flooded roads, sandy beaches, and deep snow. Today, the Jeep Wrangler consistently appears in every Top 10 off-road vehicle list. As it should. The stout axles, short wheelbase, high clearance, flexible suspension, and 4-wheel-drive (4WD) drive-train of the base version make the Jeep Wrangler a formidable off-road vehicle. Upgrade to the even more capable Wrangler Rubicon, that features a higher lift, Dana-44 axles, larger tires, and locking differentials, and you've got yourself one hell of an off-road beast. Better yet, the Wrangler does all of this without breaking the bank like most 4WD imports. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>3. It's a Great Convertible:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6LErHCheezoyrWkbXJgoy-CrPcVcjASHFCT9HHcSEnai2rMS4QeQBBz8JAuUPfTsBQN3JxyfF28u7N8Ri_BpdoL38uhTQfsg86-GnPgZNMe2CVrkSlXs87P8PjjvomiHVPs5RqGyMo8/s1600/jurrasic+park+Jeep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6LErHCheezoyrWkbXJgoy-CrPcVcjASHFCT9HHcSEnai2rMS4QeQBBz8JAuUPfTsBQN3JxyfF28u7N8Ri_BpdoL38uhTQfsg86-GnPgZNMe2CVrkSlXs87P8PjjvomiHVPs5RqGyMo8/s200/jurrasic+park+Jeep.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The Jeep Wrangler is unique in that it's the only real convertible in today's sport utility market. Many argue that it even looks better "topless" than with a top on. Indeed, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler made Motor Trend's <a href="http://www.motortrend.com/features/mt_hot_list/1406_15_best_convertibles_of_all_time/viewall.html" target="_blank">Top 15 Convertibles of All-Time List</a>, making the cut with the famed 1962 Shelby Cobra and 1967 Ferrari Spyder. There's no doubt about it, driving topless is one of the great things about owning a Jeep Wrangler. Even billionaire movie mogul Steven Spielberg knows this. Topless Wranglers played prominent roles in some of the most memorable scenes in Spielberg's Jurassic Park, one of the highest grossing films of all time. Fortunately, you don't have to be running from a man-eating T-Rex to enjoy the fresh air and view from a topless Jeep Wrangler. <br />
<br />
<b>4. It's an Attention Getter: </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1g1xSpHCFowlWrmZIBUwcpkZ_rRcSW1qJ0pVrt58baVS7XN51pQzyA8fhu3s_W_vB5sjVst1HpRjNNQbX7XjKONfoy_Pt6eTSS8vYQqUI1jE7Qf-C3n44xBXd38ljijmvoJP3Oem5to/s1600/IMG_6194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1g1xSpHCFowlWrmZIBUwcpkZ_rRcSW1qJ0pVrt58baVS7XN51pQzyA8fhu3s_W_vB5sjVst1HpRjNNQbX7XjKONfoy_Pt6eTSS8vYQqUI1jE7Qf-C3n44xBXd38ljijmvoJP3Oem5to/s200/IMG_6194.jpg" width="200" /></a>Like a classic Ford Mustang or Harley Davidson, the Jeep Wrangler is a big attention getter. Here in Arizona, it's a rare day indeed when I don't get a wave or a hard look from a Jeep admirer when driving my TJ in town. The Jeep Wrangler is a great way to meet people, too. Girls who drive Jeeps will no doubt get the head-turning attention and admiration from men. Likewise, I'm sure Jeep driving women feel the same way about seeing a guy behind the wheel of a Wrangler. There's no doubt about it, owning a Wrangler says a lot about the man or woman driving it. <span class="ya-q-full-text" id="yui_3_17_2_4_1433611849158_2082">It shows that they posses a superior intelligence, taste,
and class to own the ultimate sports utility vehicle - the American Jeep.
</span><br />
<br />
<b>5. It's the Fraternity:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WL3ccmdkePWBUgoHF8tSq5L_WAqIcd9XUioy9ZZYV6Y9qVkh4Yh5aLe16wccrOIh-YbkeNFmcPeIS93yKIaPZTwQjV636AkefAR1BWBEIcN25lcpj4TKmGVHIa4h11hfI6eI4b6EW04/s1600/jeepclubgathering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WL3ccmdkePWBUgoHF8tSq5L_WAqIcd9XUioy9ZZYV6Y9qVkh4Yh5aLe16wccrOIh-YbkeNFmcPeIS93yKIaPZTwQjV636AkefAR1BWBEIcN25lcpj4TKmGVHIa4h11hfI6eI4b6EW04/s200/jeepclubgathering.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Akin to Harley Davidson owners, the Jeep Wrangler fraternity is huge. No, it isn't quite as large as the Harley fraternity, but it's close and damn near as fanatical. Indeed, Jeep clubs can be found in practically every state of the union and on every continent. Jeep clubs are even sprouting up in far away places like China and Indonesia! These clubs host gatherings, seminars, and trail rides where you can ride and rub shoulders with other like minded Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts. The fraternity in cyberspace is even larger with numerous websites and Internet forums where you can ask questions, get advice on repairing your Jeep, and organize rally's like the one pictured here by Jeep Club Deutschland (Germany). <br />
<br />
<b>6. It's Supported by a Large Aftermarket Industry:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb99xr0SNtag0P-Woiok_yEws6k3CEbwUd8xOyram8TCMYoEhg_zPLejR5ovWzkEejY7PHPPxmRJ4fofyrsmr-GMC1o0fb5ePzcHKnXC0CjtTS3EJ1-vRVr9b7TsD31ze1c9-B9IWYT8/s1600/fwc-brutephoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipb99xr0SNtag0P-Woiok_yEws6k3CEbwUd8xOyram8TCMYoEhg_zPLejR5ovWzkEejY7PHPPxmRJ4fofyrsmr-GMC1o0fb5ePzcHKnXC0CjtTS3EJ1-vRVr9b7TsD31ze1c9-B9IWYT8/s200/fwc-brutephoto.jpg" width="200" /></a>You'd be hard pressed to find a larger, more profitable aftermarket industry than the one enjoyed by owners of the Jeep Wrangler. No matter which version of Jeep you own--CJ, YJ, TJ, or JK--there are a plethora of aftermarket parts and accessories that you can purchase for the interior and exterior of your Jeep. Not only that but you can even buy replacement parts for your Jeep that are far better than the OEM parts originally produced--remember the troublesome exhaust manifolds in the early TJ's that were prone to cracking? Those are a distant memory now that you can buy a long-lasting, stainless steel manifold with expansion joints. Want to turn your Jeep Wrangler into a pickup truck? No problem, a conversion kit called the <a href="http://www.aev-conversions.com/vehicles/brute-double-cab" target="_blank">Brute</a> is offered by American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) that can transform your Wrangler (either TJ or JK) into a cargo hauling, off-road monster.<br />
<br />
<b>7. It's Easy to Repair and Work On:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpuKZMDa7mUcJI5peBbW-fZYD4RT4XHXNsy3xZwKULgQZmvsWWrnmQxvVSxLfpPOed4V-RvRBPw6XQXzcXK7jVqYZlcmyczIO6Z4JRRg6QJqbTJNnP82dWbFgAhDx2ZCyStPYiWTaarE/s1600/IMG_1975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpuKZMDa7mUcJI5peBbW-fZYD4RT4XHXNsy3xZwKULgQZmvsWWrnmQxvVSxLfpPOed4V-RvRBPw6XQXzcXK7jVqYZlcmyczIO6Z4JRRg6QJqbTJNnP82dWbFgAhDx2ZCyStPYiWTaarE/s200/IMG_1975.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Unlike many European and Japanese SUV's and trucks, the Jeep Wrangler is remarkably easy to repair. You don't need a "masters in Jeep degree" to work on them. The engines are simple and the engine bays uncommonly roomy, making it easy to reach most areas of the engine.<b> </b>Fortunately, Wranglers feature quality, well-designed engines--like the renowned 4.0L Inline 6 and the new, highly regarded 3.6L V6. Not only that, but you'll find loads of websites and YouTube videos providing quality, "how to" advice for working on and repairing your Wrangler. Most of this advice is from everyday folks like us, who learned on the job and are presented in laymen terms that we all can understand. Finally, owning a Jeep Wrangler is a great way for teenagers and young adults to learn the "in and outs" of vehicle maintenance. <br />
<br />
<b>8. It's a Great All-Weather Vehicle:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg3p2ABbjHzJI8YLH61keNJ1BSwRairfxiS3SI7mCxtpl8pFnZxPdJBZYi60tJwRqNgh_lQtlstjvHsgax98L3wpfxspRTVg-ELhXj9zceyNvmHqCs8qbTn7QTfJ9Qmuc7HSLRJv6xgc/s1600/TJ_in_the_snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg3p2ABbjHzJI8YLH61keNJ1BSwRairfxiS3SI7mCxtpl8pFnZxPdJBZYi60tJwRqNgh_lQtlstjvHsgax98L3wpfxspRTVg-ELhXj9zceyNvmHqCs8qbTn7QTfJ9Qmuc7HSLRJv6xgc/s200/TJ_in_the_snow.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Everyone knows that the Jeep Wrangler is an exceptional off-road vehicle, but how does the Wrangler perform when the road turns white? No worries. Even in deep snow and ice, the 4-wheel-drive Jeep Wrangler will get you from point A to point B, safely and securely. The 4WD capabilities coupled with the Wrangler's short wheel base and high clearance means you'll get better cornering stability, greater straight-line stability, superior hill-climbing performance, and exceptional handling in snow and ice. Now a specialized snow tire or chains may be needed for more extreme, white-out conditions, but in most cases a good all-terrain tire is all that will be needed. <br />
<br />
<b>9. It Can Be Flat-Towed:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3aZKgdePHKw4VdzAyoQFhCIpMf2Rfo_hNgRCZecUuvqbuomfgozUJbXvcrl8gCRAG7r45exgpe9bIP5Fna_NwwWHYlOerHY30KKecxzXuAEBWPqpAKgMI9UADy9Lj4szOfdbymmYTDg/s1600/IMG_2239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3aZKgdePHKw4VdzAyoQFhCIpMf2Rfo_hNgRCZecUuvqbuomfgozUJbXvcrl8gCRAG7r45exgpe9bIP5Fna_NwwWHYlOerHY30KKecxzXuAEBWPqpAKgMI9UADy9Lj4szOfdbymmYTDg/s200/IMG_2239.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
With all of the great things that a Jeep Wrangler can do, Jeep engineers managed to cram yet another terrific capability into its small frame--the ability to be <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-jeep-wrangler-towing-system.html" target="_blank">flat-towed</a> or towed "four down" (refer to the owner's manual for details on how to do this). Believe me when I say that RV owners and off-road enthusiasts have taken notice. Motorhomes and Truck Campers can be seen in vast numbers across this great land, pulling their Jeep Wrangler "toads" to their favorite recreational spots like the Mojave Desert, Quartzsite, and Moab. The lightweight of the two-door Wrangler (about 3,500 pounds) means you can tow the Wrangler safely and legally with a simple Class III tow hitch. State laws for flat towing vehicles like Jeeps, including the requirements for external brakes, can be found <a href="http://towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<b>10. It Just Plain Looks Cool:</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOZp0qzUrSoAHrjW9bqumZzSYWEZumXRA4cZdKVvgM9aLuP5ntd2vTjV2yQPzkpYez2MVtvMgxYtL1l6Gs2v1eT8xPYH56rbToP2RvZDmdqMd991kFpSRFQJr6mq3BQN-zH-L92r6p1E/s1600/TJWrangler_Rubicon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOZp0qzUrSoAHrjW9bqumZzSYWEZumXRA4cZdKVvgM9aLuP5ntd2vTjV2yQPzkpYez2MVtvMgxYtL1l6Gs2v1eT8xPYH56rbToP2RvZDmdqMd991kFpSRFQJr6mq3BQN-zH-L92r6p1E/s200/TJWrangler_Rubicon1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
In today's "cookie cutter" automobile and SUV market, the iconic and rugged Jeep Wrangler really stands out and just plain looks cool. Enough Said. <br />
Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-21956768283707750342015-06-09T21:00:00.001-07:002015-06-14T08:48:31.763-07:00Time to Sell our 2011 Wolf Creek 850 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai78-fsCu6rgCZV_r2LcePBODmK5PAuvpmDBtX9B8OjcZcMYJg0OWY132Yr8CbAManNkGL3Jgvjlh1RsRc4-2kF48rUJAFeZzU8_YLuXYPwCdDYNBSK9KlwSwfFm7PXp6ASWk-ugmFJw/s1600/IMG_2728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai78-fsCu6rgCZV_r2LcePBODmK5PAuvpmDBtX9B8OjcZcMYJg0OWY132Yr8CbAManNkGL3Jgvjlh1RsRc4-2kF48rUJAFeZzU8_YLuXYPwCdDYNBSK9KlwSwfFm7PXp6ASWk-ugmFJw/s320/IMG_2728.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After two dozen trips and 3 1/2 years of ownership we've decided to sell our 2011 Wolf Creek 850 truck camper. This decision was a difficult one for the wife and I to make. "Wolfy" has been a great little camper for us, but we've found over time it's too tall and wide for the kind of roads and terrain my wife and I like to explore. The camper is in terrific shape, and as you know, it's fully loaded and ready to go.<br />
<br />
We will be replacing "Wolfy" with a <a href="http://www.northstarcampers.com/online-catalog.php?view=item&parentId=15&catId=16&numId=36" target="_blank">2016 Northstar Laredo SC</a>. We just ordered one custom from the Northstar factory. Why a Laredo and not a pop-up? We seriously considered a pop up, but after looking at several, we came to the realization that we like hard side campers and like that we don't have to crank up the top every time we want to set up camp. The low profile Laredo SC gives us the best of both worlds, a non-basement model that is 8 inches shorter and 1 foot narrower than the Wolf Creek 850, yet still has all the comforts that we've come to enjoy in a hard side camper. <br />
<br />
Some of the options we ordered in our Laredo include large Euro windows, a dual battery compartment, insulation
upgrade, side storage boxes, rear bumper w/step, A/C, a 12V
Compressor Refrigerator, heated gray tank, and electric remote jacks. I'll install a 240
watt solar power system and 1,000 watt inverter after delivery. It's much cheaper for me to do the work myself.<br />
<br />
The Laredo SC comes standard with a 30 gallon fresh water tank (the same as the Wolf Creek 850), a 13 gallon gray tank (9 gallons smaller than the Wolf Creek), a 5 gallon cassette toilet, and a 6 gallon water heater. We are really looking forward to having a cassette toilet and having more places to dump.
<br />
<br />
We take delivery of our 2016 Laredo SC in early September. Here are a few pics of a nearly identical Laredo SC:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAC5Rl7auo408sI1AQHSdjzZj3udv_bqw3E6XTXtSuWtNGnszqv4ewaQZ1vt9qLHnKb9MIwq0hyDDZ8Q1bYelCPLSeJbGUq55odCbal3peYFQ0x9uJFUs2tCM8jrdB1gICAIW7iQR-x4/s1600/20140830_134850+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAC5Rl7auo408sI1AQHSdjzZj3udv_bqw3E6XTXtSuWtNGnszqv4ewaQZ1vt9qLHnKb9MIwq0hyDDZ8Q1bYelCPLSeJbGUq55odCbal3peYFQ0x9uJFUs2tCM8jrdB1gICAIW7iQR-x4/s320/20140830_134850+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driver's side view. Note the larger Euro windows. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b0qvNNWu2Vvuk5285wLJ1MNgKS-VGlUCYJuFA40NW3DqNP_zd7kgKxHpSvS0v6d5YBm2rNC7O2RbrwbQNVWq8bVbCumU6FKEWmMKJMFj0uVM3n4ZMWg7FIqOy7XVwPpAOXZpd0Ijj_o/s1600/20140904_063857+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b0qvNNWu2Vvuk5285wLJ1MNgKS-VGlUCYJuFA40NW3DqNP_zd7kgKxHpSvS0v6d5YBm2rNC7O2RbrwbQNVWq8bVbCumU6FKEWmMKJMFj0uVM3n4ZMWg7FIqOy7XVwPpAOXZpd0Ijj_o/s320/20140904_063857+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll be getting the rear awning only. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpx4BeNfZacyVIlu6wAFl_nHoWgWsjtdFYovbrLX6AImIdUB6jXiCIt0hRthMA1QbGoSivrrUV9_uGOMwJ4sf4N8OeGa1dXTQsUkDuZJjmMB3DiE0XcFK1LArlfJdVz97r0FM7iP8So_8/s1600/20140910_081124_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpx4BeNfZacyVIlu6wAFl_nHoWgWsjtdFYovbrLX6AImIdUB6jXiCIt0hRthMA1QbGoSivrrUV9_uGOMwJ4sf4N8OeGa1dXTQsUkDuZJjmMB3DiE0XcFK1LArlfJdVz97r0FM7iP8So_8/s320/20140910_081124_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No microwave for us to increase storage. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9D7p2Pq9p4Fc5Q0lNWsUaOVsEt4NNzlGByYduwXTFDi4mXVrEAWece3KlOgf74uKkWVWr9339MwtXHRawiRCj9fD8F0JvLaEqXI9xq-D83T2XRhpuDvsnBgf6g-vvyAfu3u_gzIgCzk/s1600/20140910_082229_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9D7p2Pq9p4Fc5Q0lNWsUaOVsEt4NNzlGByYduwXTFDi4mXVrEAWece3KlOgf74uKkWVWr9339MwtXHRawiRCj9fD8F0JvLaEqXI9xq-D83T2XRhpuDvsnBgf6g-vvyAfu3u_gzIgCzk/s320/20140910_082229_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kitchen is identical. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcS27cCPQJBflvJ2VpEFH5b7Jp5au8epuBXbxyix_vhB3ae3jjtxDjwhDdtFLjlL2Qct08bUs-85Y7NVU60tQxjKwmzBRVWcBaqeMjPb2lPo97CO-td_QZLEzmJFH0WKoQtFMYCQX1zeU/s1600/20140910_082300_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcS27cCPQJBflvJ2VpEFH5b7Jp5au8epuBXbxyix_vhB3ae3jjtxDjwhDdtFLjlL2Qct08bUs-85Y7NVU60tQxjKwmzBRVWcBaqeMjPb2lPo97CO-td_QZLEzmJFH0WKoQtFMYCQX1zeU/s320/20140910_082300_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Heki for us. Too many potential issues. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct26NVvx_PNDZuRlPLSlkR2Rdu_ZMe6DH0d-wk_ST3Jc0hCEEDyMZ7S5vUGWlFY9mUmxohyQ15ThL45TtKRCjpmiomlxWQMhPTXs0v65jyPchG3JmePG4tkPXFvgNYmIPmXCbhTAP40g/s1600/20140910_082303_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct26NVvx_PNDZuRlPLSlkR2Rdu_ZMe6DH0d-wk_ST3Jc0hCEEDyMZ7S5vUGWlFY9mUmxohyQ15ThL45TtKRCjpmiomlxWQMhPTXs0v65jyPchG3JmePG4tkPXFvgNYmIPmXCbhTAP40g/s320/20140910_082303_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the coffin storage lockers and wardrobe. Nice!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMhSHCXYrQ29aBAeSxk0Jc5VP7GZT86jMeq2YV6ZfglBALN2nr0m-3DbKCGC46PH_AVSaFQmkCR50hK6sl-D2vhorLsa7-zc1Q93snCA0iVJdqxf6J_2rtAinZIWCIVByJ0gAU2godtg/s1600/20140910_082240_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMhSHCXYrQ29aBAeSxk0Jc5VP7GZT86jMeq2YV6ZfglBALN2nr0m-3DbKCGC46PH_AVSaFQmkCR50hK6sl-D2vhorLsa7-zc1Q93snCA0iVJdqxf6J_2rtAinZIWCIVByJ0gAU2godtg/s320/20140910_082240_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storage under the dinette. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocm9BuSRTT5JB031-ThDf_x9hvmP2iAHFQnC5V9t0-8g6EcbRDe0GNuZ1lVgLXlTq5g0eNlczXdGhk7qJo-cUECnpJhyphenhyphenqVDbk63esbu4kLyGDOtP_I-wISA5r02sYcbCshLtxzA78fjY/s1600/20141013_165140_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocm9BuSRTT5JB031-ThDf_x9hvmP2iAHFQnC5V9t0-8g6EcbRDe0GNuZ1lVgLXlTq5g0eNlczXdGhk7qJo-cUECnpJhyphenhyphenqVDbk63esbu4kLyGDOtP_I-wISA5r02sYcbCshLtxzA78fjY/s320/20141013_165140_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lugan Table adjusts and swivels. The wife wanted this. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1i4a6bHvmr4t9545Av07oKuxvG5zDw3KiMoPALpiu_9-AqLKvOWiP2HafAqinNpUsBgoSfwb54ZBszdWLwh7wrkr7ihuZiOUEeY9jjxTHXzHilLtKRo4TbYd_Aq2tSzg3W3TUZJS39sk/s1600/20140910_081117_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1i4a6bHvmr4t9545Av07oKuxvG5zDw3KiMoPALpiu_9-AqLKvOWiP2HafAqinNpUsBgoSfwb54ZBszdWLwh7wrkr7ihuZiOUEeY9jjxTHXzHilLtKRo4TbYd_Aq2tSzg3W3TUZJS39sk/s320/20140910_081117_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overhead storage with airline latches (great for off-road). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mk4QChvmG-tliHeHyucoxQvGslHnItN0x2ZZ5CUEp4vaefdStntNXBVzj0APM-spg6qlQktVEhfJdza8_hF8MzYrfU40jFOt-WIF8xNghTIV195VA9Cy837hIkvhyphenhyphennHE8TEX6fpiIcI/s1600/939346-7-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mk4QChvmG-tliHeHyucoxQvGslHnItN0x2ZZ5CUEp4vaefdStntNXBVzj0APM-spg6qlQktVEhfJdza8_hF8MzYrfU40jFOt-WIF8xNghTIV195VA9Cy837hIkvhyphenhyphennHE8TEX6fpiIcI/s320/939346-7-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wet Bath with cassette toilet. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoOtoO9pHr7tL8UD7MndgVVOPNZ7yVIrKiIKzwoZD7R07Zu0ZofepOam6zTjRMrRnKi6beFNhmn7GTilZeF0SLSbPihdyimlsoBvRnp71R-UvHnC5S0ReBuvDOy28OhbnTe8nvKsYawA/s1600/20140910_081128_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoOtoO9pHr7tL8UD7MndgVVOPNZ7yVIrKiIKzwoZD7R07Zu0ZofepOam6zTjRMrRnKi6beFNhmn7GTilZeF0SLSbPihdyimlsoBvRnp71R-UvHnC5S0ReBuvDOy28OhbnTe8nvKsYawA/s320/20140910_081128_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass top cook top and sink. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNetNFfvDVQ7MaeKSGeHEScAv8YqN2zHvkgtNCyrkbiYjD1R0I9u22A0Q2LLpneeSzX5Qubv-HzuDobEA6349qX_208oF7pzNH_mY3dExOl6-gJt7_-toCHJ6NVgc94Tb_OaOJphiBpA/s1600/20140910_081137_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNetNFfvDVQ7MaeKSGeHEScAv8YqN2zHvkgtNCyrkbiYjD1R0I9u22A0Q2LLpneeSzX5Qubv-HzuDobEA6349qX_208oF7pzNH_mY3dExOl6-gJt7_-toCHJ6NVgc94Tb_OaOJphiBpA/s320/20140910_081137_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the cook top and sink. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
For those who are interested, I'm asking $15,500 for my Wolf Creek 850. Additional details about my Wolf Creek 850 can be found in my <a href="http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/rvs/5055388623.html" target="_blank">Craigslist ad</a>, or by reviewing the trip reports and truck camper modifications on this website. <i>[Update: My Wolf Creek 850 was sold to a local Arizona couple on May 13, 2015.] </i>Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-86667135875148015712015-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:002015-06-25T19:04:54.185-07:00Fixing a Leaking RV Toilet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIR7lYhO1Iw5V8Q4fQXzHneKDrN__IP3JWDZfoOz5cn9M0Insl7N1OjsLo8aa5LC-dbtkF8CQoPpJ8nOc1P__1fZM4g0EpEPlFUWWzXzKEqDr0DFvpdzsOkOplKpes60I-2meUosgzHI/s1600/IMG_6962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIR7lYhO1Iw5V8Q4fQXzHneKDrN__IP3JWDZfoOz5cn9M0Insl7N1OjsLo8aa5LC-dbtkF8CQoPpJ8nOc1P__1fZM4g0EpEPlFUWWzXzKEqDr0DFvpdzsOkOplKpes60I-2meUosgzHI/s320/IMG_6962.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
RV ownership certainly has its pros and cons. One con of RV ownership is maintenance with toilet and black tank repairs being, perhaps, the biggest and smelliest con of all. As you know, RV repairs can get expensive with the shop rates varying between $75 and $129 an hour. Fortunately, many RV repairs are simple and can be done by anybody who is handy with tools and who possesses a little common sense. One such repair is a leaky toilet. I recently had to make this repair and I'm going to show you how quick and easy (and cheap) it is to do.<br />
<br />
First you need to determine the source of the leak. Does it leak all the time or simply when you flush? If it leaks only when you flush it's usually one of two things, a bad water module assembly or a loose fresh water connection to the toilet. Obviously, you'll first want to make sure the water connection is good and tight. Over time, vibrations and temperature variations can loosen it so check this first. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Often, the amount of room behind a toilet where the connection is located is very limited. The solution to this is a small mirror and a basin wrench. Pictured below, the basin wrench allows you to tighten a horizontal plumbing connection quickly and easily when space is limited. <br />
<br />
If the water connection is good and tight and you still have a leak, then the likely source of that leak is a bad water module (this was the case for me). This part is plastic and like all plastic has a tendency to become brittle due to age and heat. You can buy a repair kit, which includes a new water module and a new toilet seal, for around $22 on Amazon.com. For my Thetford Aqua-Magic V, I purchased the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UC1AYQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002UC1AYQ&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=X5RMP4XF7D5QJ72N" target="_blank">Thetford 31705 Water Module Kit</a>. If you don't have the time to order this kit through the mail, you'll have to buy it at a RV parts store like I did. I paid $41 at an RV parts store in Flagstaff. Ouch!<br />
<br />
Like any job, you need the right tools to complete it. The most important tool you need for this job is the aforementioned basin wrench. Most people don't have one of these in their tool box so if you have a family member or friend who has one, borrow it. Otherwise, you need to buy one like the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NPT5KS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000NPT5KS&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=R6MUE2QDF5ZXQVKG" target="_blank">Tekton 12 Inch Basin Wrench</a>. For this job, you'll also need a Phillips screwdriver, a 1/4 inch wrench, and a couple rags. <img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=melmikstrucam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000NPT5KS" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<br />
To repair the leak you'll first need to shut the water off and drain the toilet. Next, remove the two nuts connecting the toilet to the floor. Then disconnect the fresh water line flair-it fitting from the toilet using the aforementioned basin wrench. After the fresh water line is disconnected, you can remove the toilet (make sure you have a rag ready to wedge into the hole to keep the odors out). <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6MpnaZewRDdQ87m5MLfGrGFQ-Zm7DljcuCbm6z3f3a072PmTFz_ChuIv9LwsplxS2OHHpiSV1V0Z-RvN11Txg8MiYUtV6TO2NUtd4lD5jfp-tg_PM9furqD6tuOxJN0Si9SXvO6_sgU/s1600/IMG_6963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6MpnaZewRDdQ87m5MLfGrGFQ-Zm7DljcuCbm6z3f3a072PmTFz_ChuIv9LwsplxS2OHHpiSV1V0Z-RvN11Txg8MiYUtV6TO2NUtd4lD5jfp-tg_PM9furqD6tuOxJN0Si9SXvO6_sgU/s320/IMG_6963.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A basin wrench is an essential tool for this repair. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFto6h5_KxMSE9ieVuh-UaL1ZZKto5zgXw9PtDJZGcRr7hlUKrC_xRJQRPClAMAroa0CB0PaLiODcKRvXIcX2DCVQmC5fnnSGknTmI0xoDSIaMniVNOgasUuMu4c9SzkuNx0ry4Qn_6fk/s1600/IMG_6959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFto6h5_KxMSE9ieVuh-UaL1ZZKto5zgXw9PtDJZGcRr7hlUKrC_xRJQRPClAMAroa0CB0PaLiODcKRvXIcX2DCVQmC5fnnSGknTmI0xoDSIaMniVNOgasUuMu4c9SzkuNx0ry4Qn_6fk/s320/IMG_6959.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom floor with toilet removed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Replacing the old water module with the new one is very easy and can be done in 10 minutes. First, flip the toilet upside down so you can work on it. Remove the retaining screw with a Phillips screw driver then pull and twist the flush tube off the hose barb of the water module. Next, lift the water module locking tab to release the water module from the toilet, then pull the module out of the groove. Angle the water module to disconnect the wire link from the lever arm hole. That's all you need to do to remove the water module. Reverse the steps to install the new one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfeZRs1SLFrL99S3QDbelI_xF-FGsbQMiKJFl2ZaHzbXf3XkmL_CfFWtSWAMeDhD6TxJ681ejlay3-Jp_cUnA3IzSPL74NLAnY9Rn8C1ElhsawnSFncbi5bn2-vOJ3BJx5jc349ISw84/s1600/IMG_6957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfeZRs1SLFrL99S3QDbelI_xF-FGsbQMiKJFl2ZaHzbXf3XkmL_CfFWtSWAMeDhD6TxJ681ejlay3-Jp_cUnA3IzSPL74NLAnY9Rn8C1ElhsawnSFncbi5bn2-vOJ3BJx5jc349ISw84/s320/IMG_6957.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly installed water module. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The water module kit you ordered also includes a new closet flange or toilet seal. Even if the old seal looks good, it's a good idea to remove it and install the new one. Seals become stiff and brittle over time and replacing it with a fresh seal just makes sense and can prevent another potential source for leaks in the future. It only takes a few seconds to install the new one.<br />
<br />
Once the new seal is installed, remove the rag keeping the tank odors out of your RV. Then reinstall the toilet using the original nuts (note, that the toilet will sit about an inch high before the nuts are tightened. This is normal as the new seal is holding the toilet up. After the new nuts are installed, the toilet will seal and sit flush with the floor). After the toilet is remounted to the floor, reconnect the fresh water line flair-it fitting to the toilet. Flush test the toilet and check for leaks. Now you're done.<br />
<br />
As you can see, fixing a leaking toilet isn't rocket science. Anyone can do if you have the will, a little know how, and common sense. This repair took me 30 minutes, including clean up, and saved me big bucks. The money I saved can be used on other things like a new pair of hiking shoes, a new fishing pole and tackle, or a night on the town with the wife. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-88138471820848475812015-06-05T13:45:00.001-07:002015-06-05T15:00:14.797-07:001,000,000 Page Views! A BIG Thanks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqznyoJGWmKj90QWk0R-0EeLZGwOtGI2mFXpT6SorojyYnX1myfuFFxxhIUeaykLqrWAcx80xhyP2I-AF6ZFDo48l_wQhoEjnrmcp6HBNmNsd50X0REnw51yrj-vIgptq7UJdGJFFceHA/s1600/party+bottle+uncorked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqznyoJGWmKj90QWk0R-0EeLZGwOtGI2mFXpT6SorojyYnX1myfuFFxxhIUeaykLqrWAcx80xhyP2I-AF6ZFDo48l_wQhoEjnrmcp6HBNmNsd50X0REnw51yrj-vIgptq7UJdGJFFceHA/s200/party+bottle+uncorked.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
This website and blog reached another huge milestone today by registering 1,000,000 page views! Yahoo!!<br />
<br />
I wanted to take this time to say, thank you, to you my readers. I simply couldn't have done it without you. Sure, I'm responsible for the content of this website, but without readers it means nothing. I especially appreciate the reader feedback in the form of comments and emails. The purpose of this website and blog is to inform and inspire and I hope that it does both. Indeed, I've had individuals over the years who've inspired me. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. Likewise, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those who follow.<br />
<br />
I also want to say thanks to Blogger for hosting this website, to my sponsors, both past and present, and to those readers who purchase items through Amazon.com on this website. In celebration for this important achievement, I'll be hosting a big giveaway. Truck camper owners will love this one. Be on the lookout for the announcement. Until then, see you on the road. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-27566010179131305072015-05-26T08:52:00.001-07:002015-06-29T03:00:00.164-07:00Trip to Lake Powell and the Smoky Mountain Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLeEdIMZ7FCL8-iDsq5ZEIfwhGB434hZmpPYk8jxo8SCYCj-NyRiUaW_xVZQZXAjbDmsZegW1bJRgx6wl1b8mshUUFlGAQ3TxbuW_1FzmXV1dNjD2H1KRga8a4aZveuj39Aw-TiXzBHw/s1600/IMG_6490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLeEdIMZ7FCL8-iDsq5ZEIfwhGB434hZmpPYk8jxo8SCYCj-NyRiUaW_xVZQZXAjbDmsZegW1bJRgx6wl1b8mshUUFlGAQ3TxbuW_1FzmXV1dNjD2H1KRga8a4aZveuj39Aw-TiXzBHw/s320/IMG_6490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sunday, we returned from our two-week getaway in the truck and camper. If you've been following along, you know our first stop was in <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2015/05/hello-from-sedona-az.html" target="_blank">Sedona </a>followed by the <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-2015-overland-expo.html" target="_blank">2015 Overland Expo</a> at Mormon Lake. After the Expo, we stayed at the Ft. Tuthill Military Campground in Flagstaff for a couple days where we did some laundry, dumped our holding tanks, filled up the fresh water tank, and took some time to repair a <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2015/06/fixing-leaking-rv-toilet.html" target="_blank">leaky toilet</a>. After that, we were off to the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and the Glen Canyon Recreation Area to explore the Smoky Mountain Road and other locations. <br />
<br />
First, we decided to boondock overnight at a sweet location a good friend, Bryan Appleby, told us about last year. The location is secret, but I can tell you it's along a large wash in the Grand Staircase. Anyhow, after a restful night sleep at this prime location, we got up early to start exploring the Smoky Mountain Trail. The Smoky Mountain Trail actually traverses through both the Glen Canyon Rec Area and in the GSENM. In Glen Canyon, the trail is designated Road-230 and begins in the small town of Big Water, UT. To find the road look for Ethan Allen Road off of the US-89 and turn north, the Smoky Mountain Trail splits off from it. The first five miles of the drive are paved and after passing through a huge wash the road rises and turns into a well-graded dirt surface. This first part of the drive is called the Moon and if you saw it you would know why. Here the rock formations are smooth and dark gray and are largely barren of any color or vegetation. Still, the eerie landscape is beautiful in its own right and isn't something you see everyday. Apparently, several movies were filmed in this area, including “Planet of the Apes.”<br />
<br />
About 13 miles up the Rocky Mountain Trail we came to Road-231 which leads to Warm Creek Bay. We knew nothing about this access point to Lake Powell, so we decided to explore it then have lunch. This turned out to be one of the best decisions we made during the entire trip because Road-231 passes through Crosby Canyon, a spectacular, multicolored slot canyon. This also happened to be our first visit to Lake Powell and it didn't disappoint. We arrived at Warm Creek Bay on a Wednesday and apparently that was a good thing because we had the entire bay to ourselves. Because of this and because the setting was so beautiful, we decided to boondock and stay for the night. While setting up camp, we noticed that the catfish were jumping, so after resting and having a good meal, I decided to break out the fishing pole and tackle to see if I could catch one. It didn't take long. <br />
<br />
After a peaceful and wonderful overnight stay at Warm Creek Bay, we awoke the next morning to thick cloud cover. Rain was in the forecast the following day, so rather than stay another day, we had no choice but to take in the rest of the Smoky Mountain Trail before nightfall. This trail, like all of the other unpaved scenic backways in the Grand Staircase, become impassible when wet due to the dirt and bentonite clay surface. Indeed, even 4x4 vehicles often get stuck in the thick and gooey muck, and with my recent experience at Mormon Lake for the <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-2015-overland-expo.html" target="_blank">2015 Overland Expo</a>, I didn't want a repeat experience, so we had to break camp and hit the road before the rains hit. <br />
<br />
Designated BLM Road 300 in the GSENM, we found the Smoky Mountain Trail sometimes thrilling, often rough, but always beautiful. About 78-miles-long, it's the toughest, longest, and most remote road in the Grand Staircase. This isn't a drive for the faint of heart. Soon after leaving the Glen Canyon Rec Area, the road climbs the Kelly Grade to the top of the Kaiparowitz Plateau, a 5-mile-long, 1,200 ft grade with numerous switchbacks and steep drop offs. We found the climb up the narrow twisting road hair-raising and nerve racking. In fact, the road is so narrow going up this grade that I don't know what we would have done if we had encountered a vehicle going in the opposite direction. In spite of our frayed nerves, we found the views atop the 6,500 feet high Kelly Grade Overlook well worth it. At this overlook you can gaze upon Page and Lake Powell to the south and Navajo Mountain in the far distance to the east. <span class="st"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">After a quick lunch and discussing the Kelly Grade ascent with a passing Jeeper and his wife, we hit the road again. A short distance after departing, we came across a short sandy spur, dubbed BLM-332, which branches off to the east. We didn't take it this time, but we are told that along this spur you can see open seams and gaping holes in the earth that still emit smoke from coal fires that are perhaps hundreds if not thousands of years old. This smoke is what gives the mountain and trail its name. Along this stretch atop the Kaiparowits Plateau, the road is smooth and sandy and the pace is fast. Here you'll zip by a forest of Juniper and Pinion Pines, but after about 10 miles this changes abruptly as the remainder of the route passes over and through several rocky canyons. The progress in these canyons is much, much slower, but the scenery is better. The trail along this part of the drive features numerous peaks and valleys with the high and low points in most cases going over rough and exposed rock. You'll also pass through numerous washes, some very large. Because of this I wouldn't recommend taking a passenger car on this road, a high-clearance, 4x4 vehicle like a Jeep Wrangler or Toyota FJ Cruiser would be much better. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">The biggest challenge of the entire drive was tackling the so-called Last Chance Draw. Here the rough road descends sharply when traveling south to north. We took this steep, slick-rock covered grade slow, inching our way forward. Still, it was nerve racking to say the least. After completing it, I turned to my wife, Karen, and said, "I'm glad we didn't have to climb that sucker going the other way." I should add that we did encounter a couple of slow and very steep climbs that were a challenge even for our Cummins turbo diesel. After passing the turnoff to the so-called Death Ridge, we found ourselves driving the last nine miles of the Smoky Mountain Trail at a fast pace along and through the Alvey Wash. We found the surface of the road here smooth and sandy and the Cottonwood trees and sights along this wash beautiful. Five hours and 68-miles after leaving Warm Creek Bay, we reached the town of Escalante, exhausted yet feeling good about exploring this little-known trail in the Grand Staircase. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WlzQZdtlUGD4H258oXyUUpmVi1DxTmQOtclDb80X3HvZtfdGQ3lweEVGQ8-sGeyvj5NQ6VeVBw9r44xJEoxmmPl10ISrK2D7sHtspfV527Wvj9GvLirp9TB-wpsk4M4efZVGim9PxK8/s1600/IMG_6290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WlzQZdtlUGD4H258oXyUUpmVi1DxTmQOtclDb80X3HvZtfdGQ3lweEVGQ8-sGeyvj5NQ6VeVBw9r44xJEoxmmPl10ISrK2D7sHtspfV527Wvj9GvLirp9TB-wpsk4M4efZVGim9PxK8/s320/IMG_6290.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boondocking in the Grand Staircase before heading out. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHInD8AsxFvz0HrwlsGnBUkiG-OWewZ-A1U3aoV9fLGJl_JsW36mc4gP9BRuvE1O1UKbpDut2WpUMM1Rofjl6IaZvm_Frp-BfEYruyuOP0Ujxpi9kasDzWIaxEkq4YjC8rTEIlBPuPxc/s1600/IMG_6393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxHInD8AsxFvz0HrwlsGnBUkiG-OWewZ-A1U3aoV9fLGJl_JsW36mc4gP9BRuvE1O1UKbpDut2WpUMM1Rofjl6IaZvm_Frp-BfEYruyuOP0Ujxpi9kasDzWIaxEkq4YjC8rTEIlBPuPxc/s320/IMG_6393.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sign marks the beginning of the Smoky Mountain Road. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXmrNfyM-R3gyzXHSiyhu7-Lsh7EQh2gRiOZbikJCCEAFnJOjyjPXDktqD1Jcr0IjAbARlmSk4VwCUSBramU094KU1axGSnsjjscWSIAJHzAKXeL7FFXSzPbHHWUDgjpeVtcGjHnyAIw/s1600/IMG_6408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXmrNfyM-R3gyzXHSiyhu7-Lsh7EQh2gRiOZbikJCCEAFnJOjyjPXDktqD1Jcr0IjAbARlmSk4VwCUSBramU094KU1axGSnsjjscWSIAJHzAKXeL7FFXSzPbHHWUDgjpeVtcGjHnyAIw/s320/IMG_6408.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing large boulders near Big Water, UT. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KJZfFoABsaLbQ6BBfPAq_6IK9aXPsgS-LOZ_yj7q9miVZrNc-CzcCa-Hk2y4OdiGlYjZ5ypHFlai-mzT_MMVcITIFhcO15pm77EDOnoR_ZBMVfPSQZ0SGHufuy2dOtvPF7KPpXVcBH8/s1600/IMG_6420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KJZfFoABsaLbQ6BBfPAq_6IK9aXPsgS-LOZ_yj7q9miVZrNc-CzcCa-Hk2y4OdiGlYjZ5ypHFlai-mzT_MMVcITIFhcO15pm77EDOnoR_ZBMVfPSQZ0SGHufuy2dOtvPF7KPpXVcBH8/s320/IMG_6420.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon landscape to the south. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqq-8PlwCGRG2Sfbef2DxONEN9wqwwbpICsDRRqJxheVjg92jov6K0zdDpY9X2bQNAC96PGfrBG_789xs687Qyxu6VsH8oI6NXblCGoqTFKapRbePz2b3TFBQgVU3kV1yZ0JwqX8Qfkw/s1600/IMG_6422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqq-8PlwCGRG2Sfbef2DxONEN9wqwwbpICsDRRqJxheVjg92jov6K0zdDpY9X2bQNAC96PGfrBG_789xs687Qyxu6VsH8oI6NXblCGoqTFKapRbePz2b3TFBQgVU3kV1yZ0JwqX8Qfkw/s320/IMG_6422.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the Warm Creek Bay turnoff. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBoB2mikgtnbaayuuM0ckmHuOYAVd3aLklonc2MJ2Gl_SurC5LkWYreXEul4AnvABeiaGbUnA1g1lNVYjbJqcahXY2rbh-ohaTQ3jqd2zOdoP4Nh2gyTMRMPwHr2J2OSWxkwk342N648/s1600/IMG_6463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBoB2mikgtnbaayuuM0ckmHuOYAVd3aLklonc2MJ2Gl_SurC5LkWYreXEul4AnvABeiaGbUnA1g1lNVYjbJqcahXY2rbh-ohaTQ3jqd2zOdoP4Nh2gyTMRMPwHr2J2OSWxkwk342N648/s320/IMG_6463.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here Crosby Canyon got very narrow with an overhang. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wGEEQU82pbRBw2XiVjDZZuXDwVIQv_j8b9i6P8-N8VzXANk2ONgc2B9qD8Xzmgn7QYrZZ2lbushTXQekRWFBafj7CSDw_J_VyeyUYZLeWfNPKZssKv8ufNganIuRYd9Nw5773xxe2vw/s1600/IMG_6472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wGEEQU82pbRBw2XiVjDZZuXDwVIQv_j8b9i6P8-N8VzXANk2ONgc2B9qD8Xzmgn7QYrZZ2lbushTXQekRWFBafj7CSDw_J_VyeyUYZLeWfNPKZssKv8ufNganIuRYd9Nw5773xxe2vw/s320/IMG_6472.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crosby Canyon opened up to this view of Warm Creek Bay. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcT8pmG8Wa6y7BnsL2wjF1CUbZOGae96jgiDkeXSf39cTzvJW3M5ghhoqEwXpEmkV_C_9MbSjrLITqELn45yEPeOQwmy7we2KB8dpUOI1LNJJ8vzRvXFMH6hDUMszXqRFrjnKA1LtAog/s1600/IMG_6490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcT8pmG8Wa6y7BnsL2wjF1CUbZOGae96jgiDkeXSf39cTzvJW3M5ghhoqEwXpEmkV_C_9MbSjrLITqELn45yEPeOQwmy7we2KB8dpUOI1LNJJ8vzRvXFMH6hDUMszXqRFrjnKA1LtAog/s320/IMG_6490.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We chose this spot to set up camp on Warm Creek Bay. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvx0IZqMSaTiJu4HwJQSoKKCW75oZ1LiGxcgpNhxTnvwAks-CQ1-HgzbFYcryVMlOkmH7hHQMNPPAkF4xZhh5cjIpp2UwRz1eenDaxoKjwldMa9UXXrmekIRKLhDg6v504_W5UxsamypA/s1600/IMG_6506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvx0IZqMSaTiJu4HwJQSoKKCW75oZ1LiGxcgpNhxTnvwAks-CQ1-HgzbFYcryVMlOkmH7hHQMNPPAkF4xZhh5cjIpp2UwRz1eenDaxoKjwldMa9UXXrmekIRKLhDg6v504_W5UxsamypA/s320/IMG_6506.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The catfish are jumpin and I'm going to catch me one." </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeV8QMNkh88cqz-3Oa3LbTckGx3IFC6SMnDuMTECYdfesz-nygTHCMaLQWXtNr6jEK_Ibt46BTNobwx1h_cMrUDiEjPu7irv0c5vQcRnhvUziialwvOTu3KUSvcg1LDsfsrk3nqGzpNI/s1600/IMG_2281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCeV8QMNkh88cqz-3Oa3LbTckGx3IFC6SMnDuMTECYdfesz-nygTHCMaLQWXtNr6jEK_Ibt46BTNobwx1h_cMrUDiEjPu7irv0c5vQcRnhvUziialwvOTu3KUSvcg1LDsfsrk3nqGzpNI/s320/IMG_2281.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After about 20 minutes, I got one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTVmPzZ6PIH6TvOBHxGHN89jxMf2xdKS5fQu04a68pKZt3_bUIsgKncFUhEuxowQiKYGILIIR8-JDDT2owBdA9_k5_G3t_k2ek8IoRetXs0jXSlflRp1kbMnDuK1pUKuyUCTBf6iTVBA/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTVmPzZ6PIH6TvOBHxGHN89jxMf2xdKS5fQu04a68pKZt3_bUIsgKncFUhEuxowQiKYGILIIR8-JDDT2owBdA9_k5_G3t_k2ek8IoRetXs0jXSlflRp1kbMnDuK1pUKuyUCTBf6iTVBA/s320/IMG_2289.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen snapped this spectacular pic of the bay at dusk. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeGhdd3CtwYrydwNny4vSzhNE2uc-2rc7NuELU_EWgZUn7AxnULPUOFdCPTU4aUbHAz93Z0K5nh2FTmkeyK4CnQSnJaoKLSSUc_g0q-orf-_CcGmNoHpoQFw9ZgMLeIHlU4gZRb7Dr4M/s1600/IMG_6562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeGhdd3CtwYrydwNny4vSzhNE2uc-2rc7NuELU_EWgZUn7AxnULPUOFdCPTU4aUbHAz93Z0K5nh2FTmkeyK4CnQSnJaoKLSSUc_g0q-orf-_CcGmNoHpoQFw9ZgMLeIHlU4gZRb7Dr4M/s320/IMG_6562.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With overcast skies at daybreak, we decided to break camp. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHphs5fq5sfyFVySZ19uaV-7-bYcV1JIhF-wH1rFcsZLuAfOYUzNhzfftkQUUJttpn5sKgU6SSQW5xvpATN-061ihA7q6E1PJU_AKCMcaNTDrkJnb_EWWXA0O3YnuGsSsng8itX4gyizU/s1600/IMG_6592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHphs5fq5sfyFVySZ19uaV-7-bYcV1JIhF-wH1rFcsZLuAfOYUzNhzfftkQUUJttpn5sKgU6SSQW5xvpATN-061ihA7q6E1PJU_AKCMcaNTDrkJnb_EWWXA0O3YnuGsSsng8itX4gyizU/s320/IMG_6592.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And hit the road again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDyjdkcCEJByx-V1Kwtw_d5KQR35_xmO1WkhjC2mJtfLuHuHYXjXVbQpNQ8PzLI-kQithdEryKmZZMPMnKOFxgwxTA138rzn_lr2jBQVqaN_3l2t-ffrf2oa9UGIVm8LJOI7aI1A6PSE/s1600/IMG_6593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDyjdkcCEJByx-V1Kwtw_d5KQR35_xmO1WkhjC2mJtfLuHuHYXjXVbQpNQ8PzLI-kQithdEryKmZZMPMnKOFxgwxTA138rzn_lr2jBQVqaN_3l2t-ffrf2oa9UGIVm8LJOI7aI1A6PSE/s320/IMG_6593.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon, we were climbing the Kelly Grade. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIxu5e_UhwhNsoBd5Lad5xEg9EC4NvfPihsp9_-Jjy7SJWCyuVeSRoHXNdRRaib2sOZcC96oVtTOGDyD7fySA0U68jyw0H20jDS2BGICvGy4kSOiL0wuTCkClTCCnHDXuZ5dDrGrcTpo/s1600/IMG_6596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIxu5e_UhwhNsoBd5Lad5xEg9EC4NvfPihsp9_-Jjy7SJWCyuVeSRoHXNdRRaib2sOZcC96oVtTOGDyD7fySA0U68jyw0H20jDS2BGICvGy4kSOiL0wuTCkClTCCnHDXuZ5dDrGrcTpo/s320/IMG_6596.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the trail half-way up the Kelly Grade. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHEl5FCHwncRnGQLdNWiMquOdx-0Ff5Mfl4fKKhMV3xemv7RB8N5ZEqLIZR9ENNDSOH01o0SG4XxFFFPw-d9-1vXQq0aFQ2jcWj8T_EAh6m466BPgd6wd1WWjjktm3PihpKPLDfWDync/s1600/IMG_2410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHEl5FCHwncRnGQLdNWiMquOdx-0Ff5Mfl4fKKhMV3xemv7RB8N5ZEqLIZR9ENNDSOH01o0SG4XxFFFPw-d9-1vXQq0aFQ2jcWj8T_EAh6m466BPgd6wd1WWjjktm3PihpKPLDfWDync/s320/IMG_2410.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view of Page and Lake Powell from the top. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW9jkJ1pngsJhvMXUpqoeOALrM2sexnJq7_ChXAcnTUhLZiSMvFipX_l07qDcGQEAJTTzaTlA_rch_-vo8mxCB3rSSmf54DjMCMT0USnLUroYeiGT0v1lcTdMZuJVnXLBdmjWT8M-x9c/s1600/IMG_2418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW9jkJ1pngsJhvMXUpqoeOALrM2sexnJq7_ChXAcnTUhLZiSMvFipX_l07qDcGQEAJTTzaTlA_rch_-vo8mxCB3rSSmf54DjMCMT0USnLUroYeiGT0v1lcTdMZuJVnXLBdmjWT8M-x9c/s320/IMG_2418.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At first, it was smooth sailing atop the <span class="st">Kaiparowits </span>Plateau. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr-hPFgkfowFPpnMyUSRKFSyQD_BHYImm8-nj0x-sW7EXshuVKjaYC3XTJr76gapcuhOGusVN7uIap7g4xupXuVq01smoynppK2IZhtiXb3TJI89Y8MmYphekQrQSwBt8CQSmyeyOgeA/s1600/IMG_2438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCr-hPFgkfowFPpnMyUSRKFSyQD_BHYImm8-nj0x-sW7EXshuVKjaYC3XTJr76gapcuhOGusVN7uIap7g4xupXuVq01smoynppK2IZhtiXb3TJI89Y8MmYphekQrQSwBt8CQSmyeyOgeA/s320/IMG_2438.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then things got rough like here at the Drip Tank Canyon Wash. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuMtyZqUCdwbYoJI6Oled5OJc7EPVxHyTyierq7P9ieuzhGocKQMT9Qh0oQQH_RCt_YLdnNrmoTSINtkoxXpSYU3GHeL4mwh-Oa93bBRICtxDdVtzp1IhNtmhSbz3aN7zVq76rFKpZFs/s1600/IMG_2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuMtyZqUCdwbYoJI6Oled5OJc7EPVxHyTyierq7P9ieuzhGocKQMT9Qh0oQQH_RCt_YLdnNrmoTSINtkoxXpSYU3GHeL4mwh-Oa93bBRICtxDdVtzp1IhNtmhSbz3aN7zVq76rFKpZFs/s320/IMG_2443.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But the scenery was beautiful. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxvhzRBKFhH9tl1h4k5p2tG3UB_l8veCqXaNwClWJBCCaBV2l1ILeVfhoonp-V6lISQTQI10E8QFWIp-dm9EU7s4OBuxD0QW5t-7N7C07ts2yUYQrYw9O_KFj92hFAvplpokwpKmA8BY/s1600/IMG_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxvhzRBKFhH9tl1h4k5p2tG3UB_l8veCqXaNwClWJBCCaBV2l1ILeVfhoonp-V6lISQTQI10E8QFWIp-dm9EU7s4OBuxD0QW5t-7N7C07ts2yUYQrYw9O_KFj92hFAvplpokwpKmA8BY/s320/IMG_2454.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabin at the junction of the Left Hand Collet Canyon trail. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxhl7Eix-9cvuHAl3kGUqRXv6unSg5dqw_vF8hOejNgq5TzO9LBivezgcfuR0E3p1M2LGkbaIwhSUMnsQ8OlADhb6Eu9HwbquZmlZFKoOjg1ciBnS1nhOCiJTJgprx-J0dzqknjsfR5o/s1600/IMG_2463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxhl7Eix-9cvuHAl3kGUqRXv6unSg5dqw_vF8hOejNgq5TzO9LBivezgcfuR0E3p1M2LGkbaIwhSUMnsQ8OlADhb6Eu9HwbquZmlZFKoOjg1ciBnS1nhOCiJTJgprx-J0dzqknjsfR5o/s320/IMG_2463.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many steep and rocky climbs. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="st"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqo22jU5gh_SizG8hiJbbNW9kMtB28EwQuLLNMHtyJTz0pqOLro0h0oYVpaFp_xpRF7x-bA_vxzrrqp9g9X47OYZKHVsDo7Ep6jM7b9OKO4JkAUor8c5_X8x-VfSjA8yG4CzGqLZcf4k/s1600/IMG_6624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqo22jU5gh_SizG8hiJbbNW9kMtB28EwQuLLNMHtyJTz0pqOLro0h0oYVpaFp_xpRF7x-bA_vxzrrqp9g9X47OYZKHVsDo7Ep6jM7b9OKO4JkAUor8c5_X8x-VfSjA8yG4CzGqLZcf4k/s320/IMG_6624.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful view from the road before Death Ridge. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjSOC4YerUma1si5FiaNYQ7o9ZHZPBIzGHer6nGdSDBLoeCTPsl92YfDm504r3f6jXeJ9iWdSTuykyk9zrmYGc7Tz4ziscE9eSNoeedZiatoLxhnpwryodZq0lgCHbEFn0-64NTIXUSg/s1600/IMG_6625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjSOC4YerUma1si5FiaNYQ7o9ZHZPBIzGHer6nGdSDBLoeCTPsl92YfDm504r3f6jXeJ9iWdSTuykyk9zrmYGc7Tz4ziscE9eSNoeedZiatoLxhnpwryodZq0lgCHbEFn0-64NTIXUSg/s320/IMG_6625.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Smoky Mountain Road was bad enough. Not this time. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEg8zS93cCJhl1rsxahitTd6xlG87EtCbA8TGw-uM5pIPCW11lbJcqrDP1pVE2cX_0eVhbyK4wU4j9tqmH6wqfi9Ri_eyPrS2UiKZPfDdk7znRkg0lRoqZ5xAbo4_cIXsbkRYjhyphenhyphenHtuE/s1600/IMG_6630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEg8zS93cCJhl1rsxahitTd6xlG87EtCbA8TGw-uM5pIPCW11lbJcqrDP1pVE2cX_0eVhbyK4wU4j9tqmH6wqfi9Ri_eyPrS2UiKZPfDdk7znRkg0lRoqZ5xAbo4_cIXsbkRYjhyphenhyphenHtuE/s320/IMG_6630.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are resting along the Alvey Wash near Escalante. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="st">Would I recommend taking the Smoky Mountain Trail hauling a truck camper? Absolutely, but I would take it slower and take in the entire trail over a course of two or three days rather than one day like we were forced to do. The trail is rough in many locations and because of this the pace is slow in a truck camper, but the scenery is worth the time and effort if you're willing to go through it. Put another way, if you're looking for a quick and relaxing scenic drive off of <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2012/01/travelogue-utah-route-12-national.html" target="_blank">Utah Route-12</a>, skip this road and take the Hell's Backbone or the paved portion of the <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2013/06/traveloque-burr-trail-utah-scenic.html" target="_blank">Burr Trail</a> instead. But if you're looking for adventure in a lightly traveled, less-known road where the boondocking, hiking, and scenery are spectacular, then the Smoky Mountain Trail is for you<i>. </i> </span></span>Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-52284873411838521642015-05-23T01:30:00.000-07:002015-06-02T11:44:07.036-07:00Giving Your RV Refrigerator a Boost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z1mGR_UT3G_JNIgpxh6H5gfOeakCsdF8COvMQUlmeOBwH5FoqN0PgxK8T0niZs9_GFccAQSFSTf9K_e-hn4FghXdxcnHiuhfjgjJkoUz0ZsnB3xlcUW5fZBlnwDsnK_a67noS08VT3E/s1600/IMG_1719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8z1mGR_UT3G_JNIgpxh6H5gfOeakCsdF8COvMQUlmeOBwH5FoqN0PgxK8T0niZs9_GFccAQSFSTf9K_e-hn4FghXdxcnHiuhfjgjJkoUz0ZsnB3xlcUW5fZBlnwDsnK_a67noS08VT3E/s320/IMG_1719.jpg" width="320" /></a>As most RV owners know, RV absorption refrigerators can sometimes be very finicky. One common problem is poor performance on summer days when ambient temperatures are high (90 degrees and higher). Not long ago, my little two-way, 2.7 cu Norcold refrigerator was having a difficult time keeping up with the 90 degree temps. Fortunately, solving this problem was fairly simple. All I needed to do was flip the switch to a specially installed 12 volt exhaust fan to provide some much needed air flow behind the refrigerator. <br />
<br />
Why is an exhaust fan needed and how does it work? Well, the heat source for the refrigerator--either the propane flame or the electrical heating element--is used to "elevate" the ammonia/water mixture up to the top of the refrigerator's cooling unit. Once the mixture is there gravity and a chemical reaction begins and cooling is accomplished. Air flow is needed to dissipate the heat collected on the refrigerator's evaporator fins and from the refrigerator's cooling unit. A 12 volt fan helps to accomplish this by circulating the cooler fresh air received from the side vent and across these fins. <br />
<br />
Exhaust fans can be purchased at any RV parts store or on Amazon.com like this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002N5YDG2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002N5YDG2&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=BKTNJBV3QCULBFQM">12 Volt Exhaust Fan</a>. You can buy either battery operated fans or ones that come with 12 volt power leads that tie into your RV's 12 volt system. I went the latter route. Connecting the fan to the power source was the easy part, the more difficult problem was finding a place to attach the mounting bracket. There was no place. After looking at all the options, I decided to screw a small block of wood to the floor. You can see in the picture below how I was able to attach the bracket to it. Pretty simple! Oh, a quick note. When you install the fan ensure it's facing the right direction and pushes air up when you install it on the motor. I've come across some guys on the Open Roads Forum who installed their fans backwards and wondered why no cooling was taking place. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYLuJaqauV8xU0AyoH0fumOYUdC1rkl5xPMQDADxoC3jBPI3ymdXmL3CYju-ugJAwIEbhNIA5ZRoN43x2hgFF_YCfmdWFl6_E9L-WSdRTQSr350-yv1Kr7uNQ7Ggr5EsT5WNE4434lts/s1600/IMG_0131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYLuJaqauV8xU0AyoH0fumOYUdC1rkl5xPMQDADxoC3jBPI3ymdXmL3CYju-ugJAwIEbhNIA5ZRoN43x2hgFF_YCfmdWFl6_E9L-WSdRTQSr350-yv1Kr7uNQ7Ggr5EsT5WNE4434lts/s320/IMG_0131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
I installed my exhaust fan three years ago and this has been, without a doubt, one of the most important mods I've made to my camper. The fan significantly improves the cooling of the refrigerator and does so well at times I have to turn the refrigerator down to prevent freezing. So if your refrigerator isn't cooling well when it's hot you might want to give this modification a try. It's cheap and easy and well worth the time and effort to install. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-69804647706467543542015-05-18T10:38:00.000-07:002015-06-27T22:13:43.113-07:00Report of the 2015 Overland Expo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmfMWkoPrwRfWRfitBhblPfYn8Jwj5upju7bVcog8l0tBO5XiK5tTloFBb4ljg8GBqB9paInCuEvc_vZFL4Yiwj5EY3bYb7fmUHW3bKfRN4cbYqMfc2veV8L3BTD7WcJXOzJCGc6hUGs/s1600/IMG_6205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmfMWkoPrwRfWRfitBhblPfYn8Jwj5upju7bVcog8l0tBO5XiK5tTloFBb4ljg8GBqB9paInCuEvc_vZFL4Yiwj5EY3bYb7fmUHW3bKfRN4cbYqMfc2veV8L3BTD7WcJXOzJCGc6hUGs/s320/IMG_6205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Yesterday marked the last day of the <a href="http://www.overlandexpo.com/" target="_blank">2015 Overland Expo - West</a> at Mormon Lake, AZ. Since I first attended the Overland Expo in 2013, I've been hooked and now look forward to this annual event every year. Event organizers call the Overland Expo "the world's most unique event for do-it-yourself adventure travel enthusiasts" and it is. The Expo offers hundreds of session-hours of classes for 4x4 enthusiasts, roundtable discussions, demos, food, and a large exposition featuring over 150 vendors of adventure travel equipment, camping gear, bikes, vehicles, and services. Basically, the Overland Expo is nirvana for travel and off-road adventure geeks like me. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the 2015 Overland Expo started out as a big flop, not due to anything the event organizers did, but because of the weather. Like the weekend before, a freak rain and snow storm hit Northern Arizona on
Friday which left the event grounds on Mormon Lake a slick and muddy mess. Like previous years we camped onsite. This is usually a bright spot and part of the big appeal of attending the Expo as you get to rub elbows with fellow overland enthusiasts and look at their rigs. However, the pools of water mixed with the bentonite clay and dirt made walking around the camping area extremely difficult. Many took spills in the slippery, gooey mess. My attempt to get to the vendor area Friday afternoon resulted in a near fall myself and in the accumulation of several pounds of sticky mud to my hiking boots. We hunkered down the rest of the day Friday hoping the weather would clear up. It didn't happen.<br />
<br />
Saturday morning we awoke to a light dusting of snow which left Mormon Lake looking more like a winter wonderland rather than late spring. Unfortunately, rain was in forecast off-and-on the rest of the day. Those with tents on the ground were having a particularly bad time in the puddles of water and mud and many could be seen packing up. Other attendees had decided to throw in the towel, too, but many got stuck before they could make any headway and required tows to get out. Around 10:00 am we decided to take advantage of the mass exodus by relocating closer to the vendor to shorten our walk, but we quickly joined the others as we got stuck in deep pools of water and clay. Rocking back and forth did nothing as I was unable to get any traction with my standard highway tires, and having four-wheel drive didn't help either--I only succeeded in digging the truck's wheels deeper into the muck and mire.<br />
<br />
At this point, I knew I was stuck and the only way I was going to get out was by using a tow strap or by using my newly installed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Z9T1O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0002Z9T1O&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=NPYOA5FI5Q7TH63U" target="_blank">Warn 16.5ti winch</a>. After a failed attempt to get some traction by using some traction
boards, a Good Samaritan arrived on the scene in a Ram 3500 and offered his
help. It didn't take long as the 16,500-pound-rated winch quickly extracted me from the mud that acted like a giant suction cup to my truck's tires. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAo7-EbHzrqDZ2w4wsbA3O5bW62DEAf2xGPxcuhE0wc0QxLoxMIVYl-QZV7eIjdm5uRLnPN4zgm7dOr6lrNUhVx1flkx1EIz3HdaSqtX-VAArBEDmcTqmpnkcph71YLt0_l0b0t8ELgU/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAo7-EbHzrqDZ2w4wsbA3O5bW62DEAf2xGPxcuhE0wc0QxLoxMIVYl-QZV7eIjdm5uRLnPN4zgm7dOr6lrNUhVx1flkx1EIz3HdaSqtX-VAArBEDmcTqmpnkcph71YLt0_l0b0t8ELgU/s320/IMG_2006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main "road" to the camping area late Friday. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0DN8PjTrH6_Lo9BLDKx5j9sClzlr5I0mQk-MI8XVo4LJw_WgCfda8gB72EvAzUyeTjeYYPOMmPw8OZY_0Zo3eSvfXwRmDIRju8MlmuiQzVy3dJmQVNc7RcPp5BFR8DUBNtbXM75O67k/s1600/IMG_6027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0DN8PjTrH6_Lo9BLDKx5j9sClzlr5I0mQk-MI8XVo4LJw_WgCfda8gB72EvAzUyeTjeYYPOMmPw8OZY_0Zo3eSvfXwRmDIRju8MlmuiQzVy3dJmQVNc7RcPp5BFR8DUBNtbXM75O67k/s320/IMG_6027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We awoke to this light dusting of snow on Saturday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvajBHVLOZm_PUN0MDCiozodQm0HFonhjjneHTzrvqkApqve7xRF2Hvbe4EauCzH6_EzKQD_hVBtKURObgC-cHDMYdI1LwZMe7RR2WFxUtp4vqlWXUr49le8PKB-SGTqIkMtmdhqeztQ/s1600/IMG_6044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvajBHVLOZm_PUN0MDCiozodQm0HFonhjjneHTzrvqkApqve7xRF2Hvbe4EauCzH6_EzKQD_hVBtKURObgC-cHDMYdI1LwZMe7RR2WFxUtp4vqlWXUr49le8PKB-SGTqIkMtmdhqeztQ/s320/IMG_6044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winching out with my new Warn 16.5ti winch Saturday. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4DWkVbpL2aYZIqj92HOjiWzoCeVZ1HcBMX9GmDBYTN9huv6J_0-qHrWakIrh76y1CD5hM0YzDqsztNd3iwEgAnGsH9bLFH3eZRAmB32yF11M3LjqKqz5z1yaqfY1IXD0wYgcs_Hkxl0/s1600/IMG_6041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4DWkVbpL2aYZIqj92HOjiWzoCeVZ1HcBMX9GmDBYTN9huv6J_0-qHrWakIrh76y1CD5hM0YzDqsztNd3iwEgAnGsH9bLFH3eZRAmB32yF11M3LjqKqz5z1yaqfY1IXD0wYgcs_Hkxl0/s320/IMG_6041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Good Samaritan on the other end. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6Qh8LHuwpe7ApDaMTCGCZrrXFPvcad0ATZ5tpYxUV1gTq9lNYN9o57ATa5ExtaE4Y4lPu0vcjxkeUGNu3ZDZEX765NgXuq-L8VSszPw7SVL7QJZWh9U3by6xHlAQ01z29H7dbpPrD40/s1600/IMG_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6Qh8LHuwpe7ApDaMTCGCZrrXFPvcad0ATZ5tpYxUV1gTq9lNYN9o57ATa5ExtaE4Y4lPu0vcjxkeUGNu3ZDZEX765NgXuq-L8VSszPw7SVL7QJZWh9U3by6xHlAQ01z29H7dbpPrD40/s320/IMG_2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling up the traction boards after winching out. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After thanking the guys who loaned us the traction boards, we made our way toward the front of the
main camping area, but we were disappointed to see that there were no open parking
areas in the first couple of rows. At this point, we decided to boondock nearby in the Coconino
National Forest, get cleaned up, and return to the Expo the next day.
You'd think that the forest road we traveled down would've been muddy, too, but the road was actually pretty clear and easy to travel down. We chose a nice spot to camp for the night near Lake
Ashurst, about five miles from the Expo.<br />
<br />
We returned to the Expo early Sunday morning, the last day of the event.
Fortunately, the weather had cleared with blue skies and temperatures
in the low 60s. We met lots of great folks and were able to take pics of
some of the best and most noteworthy 4x4 vehicles. Several truck camper manufactures were there with their displays including Hallmark, Phoenix Campers, and Four-Wheel Campers. At the Hallmark booth we met Mike and Joni Cash who had just purchased their first truck camper, a Hallmark K2. Mike and Joni are locals who happened to also be avid followers of this website. They recently started their own blog called Nomadacy, I encourage you to check out and follow their website.<br />
<br />
We also got a chance to meet the owners of Phoenix Campers, Robby and Cari Rowe. Rob and Cari were great as they gave us a lengthy tour of their Fuso and Phoenix camper combo. I was impressed by how roomy their camper was and by the amount of storage (a flatbed style of truck camper might be in our future). Phoenix Campers also had two other camper designs at the show including a red behemoth that was more suited for pulling freight on the interstates rather than overlanding, but hey, it was still pretty cool to look at.<br />
<br />
Of those who
attended the show, by far the most popular vehicle was the JK Jeep
Wrangler Unlimited with the Toyota FJ Cruiser a distant second. I took lots of pics of Jeeps which I will post later, but I've included a few here to wet your appetite. I also enjoyed looking at the Earth Roamers and Tiger 4x4 motorhomes. Maybe one day if I hit the lottery...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUJLMcPrJyFRnre1DLvZn2v8p-q-MQ15hHMfqn4m9Oj3XopDFsG0lVaP2Lw_cJusJIxRtRZgZxzrW58U8CTCB6IuMArAC0YoO2QSeDtqUjazM-Jp3YE4i9laKHtx5-bDxRgHdHdhhgr4/s1600/IMG_2090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUJLMcPrJyFRnre1DLvZn2v8p-q-MQ15hHMfqn4m9Oj3XopDFsG0lVaP2Lw_cJusJIxRtRZgZxzrW58U8CTCB6IuMArAC0YoO2QSeDtqUjazM-Jp3YE4i9laKHtx5-bDxRgHdHdhhgr4/s320/IMG_2090.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Joni Cash's Hallmark Camper and Ram 2500.</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxE8hriBk5bLkWvKJLrY1ApuwW9sVM8p0q8as7XYxOocLUPhUEx1ZVqTt3VV766lVAdzwJvDcxvwCUWK0wH_YXA-fhHcQe7iqE-OayIdPAbpbimQI6GY0vdXBgy9AmnoZhfqzeIiq5YEI/s1600/MikeNomadacy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxE8hriBk5bLkWvKJLrY1ApuwW9sVM8p0q8as7XYxOocLUPhUEx1ZVqTt3VV766lVAdzwJvDcxvwCUWK0wH_YXA-fhHcQe7iqE-OayIdPAbpbimQI6GY0vdXBgy9AmnoZhfqzeIiq5YEI/s320/MikeNomadacy.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Cash and yours truly. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_-ViWVU7BbnZv-MPfi_tHiUX2IcbRZgVEvb0m79D8kMkT_6anmMUigjkAGqS75Mr5pVhc8j-fuZUmCS-jm2cyjlB_k1c2JZDfVJFNDnPbibjsIv4P_U3lxeKQaFTY7GnEfUJgurpieA/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_-ViWVU7BbnZv-MPfi_tHiUX2IcbRZgVEvb0m79D8kMkT_6anmMUigjkAGqS75Mr5pVhc8j-fuZUmCS-jm2cyjlB_k1c2JZDfVJFNDnPbibjsIv4P_U3lxeKQaFTY7GnEfUJgurpieA/s320/IMG_2106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Howling Moon's roof-top tent. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxxdEQnl53zYgaT1jbC1upEt_p0A2bA0YhtpLGigT3iGVQua20mjg00_ll2S3E0EQu8OhFEJ5T_aOoudclQ0XT26iEE6GPFkt7ClAp3y-Kv0lBodOo79-2nBfNYNBf0u2KImNHixGyW0/s1600/IMG_2113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxxdEQnl53zYgaT1jbC1upEt_p0A2bA0YhtpLGigT3iGVQua20mjg00_ll2S3E0EQu8OhFEJ5T_aOoudclQ0XT26iEE6GPFkt7ClAp3y-Kv0lBodOo79-2nBfNYNBf0u2KImNHixGyW0/s320/IMG_2113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JK Wrangler with a Maggiolina pop-top, roof-top tent. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyuMZGxEj-wQ1zD6Nfxm0X3qyczxfZSCs6GgaORzrr4jQpZXa3VL3QTDmZz2Scy8fZfbRH2dbHcSntuyB3YkiKya-NQd46vDhR_KNP6ndYWZxZLymRebFir92qDyuV6xW91Xcs-FlDzA/s1600/IMG_6106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyuMZGxEj-wQ1zD6Nfxm0X3qyczxfZSCs6GgaORzrr4jQpZXa3VL3QTDmZz2Scy8fZfbRH2dbHcSntuyB3YkiKya-NQd46vDhR_KNP6ndYWZxZLymRebFir92qDyuV6xW91Xcs-FlDzA/s320/IMG_6106.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chad Schroll of Warn with his display of winches. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM2tnbNvDfn7e9XTPaap9x5t5NUD4Lp3MVeHa38A7Q4NVFFv7dyJ7cq2p2txd1YjIYp1kbeXqsvazRA_r9wHRmZOtqlQdHe2o921AeBmrK0xGDI3T7JcxN43cNWUOZWqcFxcrnp1SUXs/s1600/IMG_2141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM2tnbNvDfn7e9XTPaap9x5t5NUD4Lp3MVeHa38A7Q4NVFFv7dyJ7cq2p2txd1YjIYp1kbeXqsvazRA_r9wHRmZOtqlQdHe2o921AeBmrK0xGDI3T7JcxN43cNWUOZWqcFxcrnp1SUXs/s320/IMG_2141.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decked-out Land Rover by High Trail Expeditions. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM616hLIDckCpYM-TABXKxyExmxgTBo-yUP3mTRs4qcKr1Q0vnzihK1UDFbYpCiqAM8TJGHFU42QWHeJWJf0moXQijSPsii-aKjAbmArZySM9Fy6xiTNIOEvOWjQ1aXLUALCFoPoNbyA/s1600/IMG_6135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBM616hLIDckCpYM-TABXKxyExmxgTBo-yUP3mTRs4qcKr1Q0vnzihK1UDFbYpCiqAM8TJGHFU42QWHeJWJf0moXQijSPsii-aKjAbmArZySM9Fy6xiTNIOEvOWjQ1aXLUALCFoPoNbyA/s320/IMG_6135.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This rig, "<i>The Cocky</i>," came all the way from Australia. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR68JX5i8A2VC8mzX8a-GNskZFaTYZi4K-wMvLjB3_S5TqIiehdYB1F3lZMc6A8XZrQVTWbXMjZhubZ8Z-bjtCIMnaJbWrEEAVTTwOZiR7Nf5ejPkEQwputfNDbEigaQvaoNK0CyMhIs/s1600/IMG_6138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyR68JX5i8A2VC8mzX8a-GNskZFaTYZi4K-wMvLjB3_S5TqIiehdYB1F3lZMc6A8XZrQVTWbXMjZhubZ8Z-bjtCIMnaJbWrEEAVTTwOZiR7Nf5ejPkEQwputfNDbEigaQvaoNK0CyMhIs/s320/IMG_6138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Long Ranger,</i> Motorwork's three-axle JK Wrangler. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj20kgveCGii0IppBYn3Fxgas5F50MsiSYJgUA69CE0GWnXFZ0iBEuolUJUvW3XvG3gGuPPyPWnxHad82suvzHex1_WwZILIlQjR8rlSsolQH7O_rL-K2PGdD9ksOv2Dc51TIfZJRg88/s1600/IMG_6151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwj20kgveCGii0IppBYn3Fxgas5F50MsiSYJgUA69CE0GWnXFZ0iBEuolUJUvW3XvG3gGuPPyPWnxHad82suvzHex1_WwZILIlQjR8rlSsolQH7O_rL-K2PGdD9ksOv2Dc51TIfZJRg88/s320/IMG_6151.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A semi featuring both a Phoenix pop-up and slide-out. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn06HUMWptOpzb4MHx8H8_xtcdXu_PV7yo0gkApQLk56Id902diLioc_BPu0OWkbSsDXpFXu5LHJJZ1_vP5SrP8rNF7NBo8ZGjphyGq77oPr_oRkJyTfh_v0_FoXNmQDZjJhmeGzOdhg/s1600/IMG_6184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn06HUMWptOpzb4MHx8H8_xtcdXu_PV7yo0gkApQLk56Id902diLioc_BPu0OWkbSsDXpFXu5LHJJZ1_vP5SrP8rNF7NBo8ZGjphyGq77oPr_oRkJyTfh_v0_FoXNmQDZjJhmeGzOdhg/s320/IMG_6184.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This JK Unlimited, by Barlow Adventures, caught my eye. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod5vwJNIcRsyfzzGQfl-rymfcTshbFwTGr5z5Bje3nGar2IhzPjTqlFgMtoUyW54UswRnQKsy4CGESAsFlxmFYCQyWt23kAwdglHSxEFGkVWTFlvQZcNS-Rk__10N0gic_rENHc_bAXk/s1600/IMG_6187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhod5vwJNIcRsyfzzGQfl-rymfcTshbFwTGr5z5Bje3nGar2IhzPjTqlFgMtoUyW54UswRnQKsy4CGESAsFlxmFYCQyWt23kAwdglHSxEFGkVWTFlvQZcNS-Rk__10N0gic_rENHc_bAXk/s320/IMG_6187.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As usual, Jeep played a prominent role at this year's event. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzwtmTB7C90VIoZE1ca4USzvqqf_6DGQcbcQJG6lzaDhrnLWi6Bcdyn4rx6yuyMz3tcscT_5SvtH694M-Sw93jP-ASF8lgcFzZxG76ZuZNEMBDNlIUKodUJgMiR7s0Ks3DnKGtqNW9b0/s1600/IMG_6181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzwtmTB7C90VIoZE1ca4USzvqqf_6DGQcbcQJG6lzaDhrnLWi6Bcdyn4rx6yuyMz3tcscT_5SvtH694M-Sw93jP-ASF8lgcFzZxG76ZuZNEMBDNlIUKodUJgMiR7s0Ks3DnKGtqNW9b0/s320/IMG_6181.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cari and Robby Rowe's Phoenix Camper and Fuso Combo. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup4V3ggL7y1VIPRH3ot-vktIosJcuqW8lGYsq-gSwVhLDE1IbeT3jciZSAdol0985Z3q4vAXS_OHLOxJdwAQXURgFv12VlJkFrJ0eifNucsFBFddo1-oS2ssnSxvxYG2MD1OjPPZaG9o/s1600/IMG_6167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup4V3ggL7y1VIPRH3ot-vktIosJcuqW8lGYsq-gSwVhLDE1IbeT3jciZSAdol0985Z3q4vAXS_OHLOxJdwAQXURgFv12VlJkFrJ0eifNucsFBFddo1-oS2ssnSxvxYG2MD1OjPPZaG9o/s320/IMG_6167.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cari and Robby Rowe, owners of Phoenix Pop Up Campers. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0SChv_J-YbtqqJfl_hhx9TqW_wSpI5jEz1Ghynr-WIpmbKrsu_3bvjNfq_nfJMSZeIc7TlpIuPmn_OlE7g4Lws48Cj4GJlShvGrmQG1j-BjnYfB5dzuF6LIfku1vE70nBAeUVSplLPw/s1600/IMG_6142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0SChv_J-YbtqqJfl_hhx9TqW_wSpI5jEz1Ghynr-WIpmbKrsu_3bvjNfq_nfJMSZeIc7TlpIuPmn_OlE7g4Lws48Cj4GJlShvGrmQG1j-BjnYfB5dzuF6LIfku1vE70nBAeUVSplLPw/s320/IMG_6142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Closeup of a Voyager teardrop trailer. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_bnHX0xYGA3pfAVEWwDrZZpViA4YV8KzXWkDm9R_wD2bIZd8qrXC4-FbI02jmR2pvasKT1g2CMRMKnU6Nmywyr8aBvAP01DT9kZ9nY8Q1iNNXD2x0THS7NWLE-hHPVu4g0EBObHk4fk/s1600/IMG_6127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_bnHX0xYGA3pfAVEWwDrZZpViA4YV8KzXWkDm9R_wD2bIZd8qrXC4-FbI02jmR2pvasKT1g2CMRMKnU6Nmywyr8aBvAP01DT9kZ9nY8Q1iNNXD2x0THS7NWLE-hHPVu4g0EBObHk4fk/s320/IMG_6127.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of several avenues at the Overland Expo. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0GuUip9YmRxfpIPcXivxrWL0E6Np78cKoBjzxrfU9mwT7qVGuiRzUmpqyjQCKi4DBBYVVp_BUbmvFix5DynUhlue-BKJhhBlYUCX6aHu4fbfMZw_PGeZ6jEzgIwoSLMTHl1iswri4wY/s1600/IMG_6193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0GuUip9YmRxfpIPcXivxrWL0E6Np78cKoBjzxrfU9mwT7qVGuiRzUmpqyjQCKi4DBBYVVp_BUbmvFix5DynUhlue-BKJhhBlYUCX6aHu4fbfMZw_PGeZ6jEzgIwoSLMTHl1iswri4wY/s320/IMG_6193.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New 3.0L diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee with Warn winch. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF5xNDEsBeFI7eKVzpematVVPLX-j-04-rGysPiJk-nXMP849VbaKq2rswvskG0g1oSeeFPOuW8HHhvfJsIFK2EEjIXi_FIZbsH5mTAEfEji0tPlVorSiw4JZm3eZBL98XPEF312RfYI/s1600/IMG_6194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF5xNDEsBeFI7eKVzpematVVPLX-j-04-rGysPiJk-nXMP849VbaKq2rswvskG0g1oSeeFPOuW8HHhvfJsIFK2EEjIXi_FIZbsH5mTAEfEji0tPlVorSiw4JZm3eZBL98XPEF312RfYI/s320/IMG_6194.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new Jeep Wrangler MOJO sporting size 37 tires. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-NT6C2B2fzhuZpUGbyAVW7tdLmmEAFn8lhvJrN2cle8RZ0beP4_y7l5hQ6ei4PNn5WnOvVbdBstP19zlx7pZkSMVaJlsoka_HGr2OKu9b8oYsQ_xhu6wCJDR1DxeU8yiya3rPYK5egE/s1600/IMG_6204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-NT6C2B2fzhuZpUGbyAVW7tdLmmEAFn8lhvJrN2cle8RZ0beP4_y7l5hQ6ei4PNn5WnOvVbdBstP19zlx7pZkSMVaJlsoka_HGr2OKu9b8oYsQ_xhu6wCJDR1DxeU8yiya3rPYK5egE/s320/IMG_6204.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeup of the Turtle Expedition Unlimited. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy3AqbS2QGZsFmbD0Ek2CkmJgDvX2jTrs7qZNkViGEkn0jqK6K7D6s41Wc7NpspitZ_bj5nbFfV_cYqTSEmn-acjmCMNEOlLSNKJaoNkWHi9ShJJJhtAvYDdqt56GraEe9nBJl0Qa_2c/s1600/IMG_6232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDy3AqbS2QGZsFmbD0Ek2CkmJgDvX2jTrs7qZNkViGEkn0jqK6K7D6s41Wc7NpspitZ_bj5nbFfV_cYqTSEmn-acjmCMNEOlLSNKJaoNkWHi9ShJJJhtAvYDdqt56GraEe9nBJl0Qa_2c/s320/IMG_6232.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rig on the obstacle course. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_1204053480"></span><span id="goog_1204053481"></span><br />Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com8Mormon Lake Lodge, Mormon Lake, AZ 86038, USA34.918522 -111.4746029.3964875000000028 -152.783196 60.4405565 -70.166008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-22329718033316469092015-05-14T10:23:00.000-07:002015-05-17T05:02:33.006-07:00Hello From Sedona, AZ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0rnq0Jt9RqhXrYnOf5Oe05Y-NtIkIncOPQ496j9FX5nzuikeiBcMfO4DZgZG6wnkTQndY_RMKdvjTqebkdtgJ3Hg4midne1TSVs8xxuNN3oReXRfakC9zMx1tjrUA-vLD3sl5ckv6Fk/s1600/IMG_5707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0rnq0Jt9RqhXrYnOf5Oe05Y-NtIkIncOPQ496j9FX5nzuikeiBcMfO4DZgZG6wnkTQndY_RMKdvjTqebkdtgJ3Hg4midne1TSVs8xxuNN3oReXRfakC9zMx1tjrUA-vLD3sl5ckv6Fk/s320/IMG_5707.jpg" width="320" /></a>Well, the wife and I finally got away on Monday after a two-day delay
due to a freak snowstorm that hit Northern Arizona last Friday. After the weird weather, we
decided to see Sedona for 3-4 days before heading out to Mormon Lake to
attend the 2015 Overland Expo. It's strange. But we've lived in Arizona for 11 years and never spent any quality time in Sedona, one of Arizona's top tourist attractions.<br />
<br />
Since we've been here in Sedona, we've driven several
trails and scenic drives, visited some Indian ruins, enjoyed some terrific restaurants, and taken loads of pics. During the nights, we boondocked twice in the Coconino National Forest and stayed in a USFS campground once. The
weather has been terrific, in the 70s, nearly perfect. I'll provide a
more detailed trip report later, but I wanted to post a few pics to
show everyone what we've been up to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZbCgO29KT0G9sskj025A-pnOjgDGuyDShQxMeVishHjjfuzhAmBMpVkAwlP73KSebkNy8DDIAMfuE8y1MxqKL8sSiIIXyudJa_krbTjiWuH19Ay1t3o5AZcwrjnRJVX2JF-ONLAxrtE/s1600/IMG_5528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZbCgO29KT0G9sskj025A-pnOjgDGuyDShQxMeVishHjjfuzhAmBMpVkAwlP73KSebkNy8DDIAMfuE8y1MxqKL8sSiIIXyudJa_krbTjiWuH19Ay1t3o5AZcwrjnRJVX2JF-ONLAxrtE/s320/IMG_5528.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Sedona heading west on the AZ-179</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkAu8r2ZLKNYWO_WZI6wpsrr4rTW_IsQXjZnxovmLAva1SOerI2K7RC_99ZMY58pv_eiGKpMh6xYFV7IIdpuNK9pVoOZnoNY1z6LWelwFprOUzxCeMXHRf42cBNRglELbN-VPG8GD-pY/s1600/IMG_5559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkAu8r2ZLKNYWO_WZI6wpsrr4rTW_IsQXjZnxovmLAva1SOerI2K7RC_99ZMY58pv_eiGKpMh6xYFV7IIdpuNK9pVoOZnoNY1z6LWelwFprOUzxCeMXHRf42cBNRglELbN-VPG8GD-pY/s320/IMG_5559.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Red Rocks as seen from Sedona. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPT88EX7Rk6ha_jS8sKvxZDP5bKJrpXSQumGlpV4nJbidp0NLR07evJK3idXA0mfTjnVFxL-KVC_2kpQugztWjMPxCjBaJyIPI9ynKYm3EKmCDSOHDtnvRXmBqoCrf6BXrPrvJCBkInc/s1600/IMG_5567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPT88EX7Rk6ha_jS8sKvxZDP5bKJrpXSQumGlpV4nJbidp0NLR07evJK3idXA0mfTjnVFxL-KVC_2kpQugztWjMPxCjBaJyIPI9ynKYm3EKmCDSOHDtnvRXmBqoCrf6BXrPrvJCBkInc/s320/IMG_5567.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boondocking in the Coconino NF south of town. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcE2mvJOhz0DiO5zXCWvsniersSUfLm78kSOFN_kUnAR7S9EZCAfVJseX7iVjQbehyphenhyphenUyv0aptZi2DozQqP9fNs-P3b4En8VlIhWapKmLk4TAS0yehVBRIxSB2cuMBdfJFvAwbMy3adEw/s1600/IMG_5653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcE2mvJOhz0DiO5zXCWvsniersSUfLm78kSOFN_kUnAR7S9EZCAfVJseX7iVjQbehyphenhyphenUyv0aptZi2DozQqP9fNs-P3b4En8VlIhWapKmLk4TAS0yehVBRIxSB2cuMBdfJFvAwbMy3adEw/s320/IMG_5653.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen enjoying the sights and food. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkt6H5Q8roDi5x9-_Zs-lXvPxvpRFrdMldPtfe7P6ePEligEDJmmYFZNyRjUjwrQyH1-_0FPYk7DeljOFM8Jc7RlS43o-X6ubiTd2_IUshokii5pEA0_p_lSwOlsvNfTLhAmpWfugjko/s1600/IMG_5669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkt6H5Q8roDi5x9-_Zs-lXvPxvpRFrdMldPtfe7P6ePEligEDJmmYFZNyRjUjwrQyH1-_0FPYk7DeljOFM8Jc7RlS43o-X6ubiTd2_IUshokii5pEA0_p_lSwOlsvNfTLhAmpWfugjko/s320/IMG_5669.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View looking east as seen from downtown. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvvihjnwNpYyo4eZeNUEdhnbsRNb_wdnajj4E0yrM7JCOSVS4NQdvKsQ16z7ycbEv54Sa1XTYfsz3ntj3tOq-2ODeGPLpxoWAmNrMeApFfQpGT2GK7xtmccmKvJPlDVsvRYxqD48wiCo/s1600/IMG_5859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvvihjnwNpYyo4eZeNUEdhnbsRNb_wdnajj4E0yrM7JCOSVS4NQdvKsQ16z7ycbEv54Sa1XTYfsz3ntj3tOq-2ODeGPLpxoWAmNrMeApFfQpGT2GK7xtmccmKvJPlDVsvRYxqD48wiCo/s320/IMG_5859.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Honanki Indian Ruins. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWS2iWZbXFDAlrJvCNMUyBuQRBAWemfWa3kCH4o8zW848GPvXq1ydIPPEHIxkckepbwjjf9FCd45GVrzakCDsT7vXAsfNlC968vBhpah2P4m9MY8c1g8LtC-V8XOOPHOsUFkA_qd5esk/s1600/IMG_5907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWS2iWZbXFDAlrJvCNMUyBuQRBAWemfWa3kCH4o8zW848GPvXq1ydIPPEHIxkckepbwjjf9FCd45GVrzakCDsT7vXAsfNlC968vBhpah2P4m9MY8c1g8LtC-V8XOOPHOsUFkA_qd5esk/s320/IMG_5907.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from FR-525. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1d_tSb6_BJlBGWvxGmPWt89HLgYIymmg3hgh2NiE1eqw3fjzpl0_uPChPPZ-R-A9OxN_jOC_CkPWGBEvQCe9SQzB8LbxuFTCnEzpPPUpSWLwhWjQimxT0mxS3mctFaKz0PwlgftqCTc/s1600/IMG_5912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1d_tSb6_BJlBGWvxGmPWt89HLgYIymmg3hgh2NiE1eqw3fjzpl0_uPChPPZ-R-A9OxN_jOC_CkPWGBEvQCe9SQzB8LbxuFTCnEzpPPUpSWLwhWjQimxT0mxS3mctFaKz0PwlgftqCTc/s320/IMG_5912.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wash on FR-525. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCrayRXaII4lg8j-IQPjsCOElrkbr9NGkpvdpO3qM-J-iE4I34OcsIlDq0FbdB_ndN4OcFRCRD_NRr4TNwNuqE3c9TuLmBSxiiqBjgVs2SrvsMnmO7kf0IqJxVUfrRo1g-JIBIciqQU8/s1600/IMG_5945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCrayRXaII4lg8j-IQPjsCOElrkbr9NGkpvdpO3qM-J-iE4I34OcsIlDq0FbdB_ndN4OcFRCRD_NRr4TNwNuqE3c9TuLmBSxiiqBjgVs2SrvsMnmO7kf0IqJxVUfrRo1g-JIBIciqQU8/s320/IMG_5945.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View as seen from the US-89A. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsi3ydu6E4sbToEHBnvR8Q-htp8LlT8ryKoUw7UoZGzCMA_Bj5F6iv7IpuIgFRhXxbR5RqEU06zxU4CqYoAtW6_NdZ0BvxQB8aT9GgwSEzqWnV2lgcrRGPSPina0vlSxU1JylY690nWo/s1600/IMG_5920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifsi3ydu6E4sbToEHBnvR8Q-htp8LlT8ryKoUw7UoZGzCMA_Bj5F6iv7IpuIgFRhXxbR5RqEU06zxU4CqYoAtW6_NdZ0BvxQB8aT9GgwSEzqWnV2lgcrRGPSPina0vlSxU1JylY690nWo/s320/IMG_5920.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly behind the wheel. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpgo9qfWHWCk5-QDTsLyR6Wacp94oYMq0AZ27VBZUI1onkfziBuVKqHseteR2PgFQ5Y54onjPBdLOOH3NPi7y17cmxI6AC-sLfJ3f9QX1lgh-6xwkA8ZBiPMbhrSstwhdsG0u2deTcUU/s1600/IMG_5965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpgo9qfWHWCk5-QDTsLyR6Wacp94oYMq0AZ27VBZUI1onkfziBuVKqHseteR2PgFQ5Y54onjPBdLOOH3NPi7y17cmxI6AC-sLfJ3f9QX1lgh-6xwkA8ZBiPMbhrSstwhdsG0u2deTcUU/s320/IMG_5965.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last Boondocking location in the Coconino NF. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PZj27dcVBeMRu9JGxwegdvHoWu6ZBD1q91hEOMR8mvTIVaC2O5AWpyIXOA-m3zxdJi4dLPOw4ZZlbu3EDIMM8fGECn2Kdn_IAvmZnqyBTS-R1bmvuP6Yw-Dg8Z6EaQnarv8sKRpUN1U/s1600/IMG_5974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PZj27dcVBeMRu9JGxwegdvHoWu6ZBD1q91hEOMR8mvTIVaC2O5AWpyIXOA-m3zxdJi4dLPOw4ZZlbu3EDIMM8fGECn2Kdn_IAvmZnqyBTS-R1bmvuP6Yw-Dg8Z6EaQnarv8sKRpUN1U/s320/IMG_5974.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coffeepot (right). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-23053142380947461282015-05-12T09:15:00.001-07:002015-05-21T20:20:07.773-07:00Mello Mike's Truck Camper Checklist<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuwPaqSo1lOgeBSJq1Ho6UCoENch666OO_v6UkFKWAtTfLZ1qgDzCXpozSFZ7GL0u_EXiTHeoVKuoD8AFlbaTRvJsqJ4aW9lY8ZY937RK1aWmaUdUX7NVL0roZNx12rHH51uWGzdvU30/s1600/IMG_5522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuwPaqSo1lOgeBSJq1Ho6UCoENch666OO_v6UkFKWAtTfLZ1qgDzCXpozSFZ7GL0u_EXiTHeoVKuoD8AFlbaTRvJsqJ4aW9lY8ZY937RK1aWmaUdUX7NVL0roZNx12rHH51uWGzdvU30/s320/IMG_5522.jpg" width="320" /></a></i>I'm sure we've all done it at one time or another. You've loaded up the RV for what you hope is an unforgettable trip. You get on the road and are heading toward your destination when you and your wife realize that the two of you have forgotten to bring along several important items. These "brain farts" can either be an annoyance, like forgetting to extend the towing mirrors and filling the DEF tank, or can be important, like forgetting to bring along vital medication or in the case of my wife, forgetting to bring along chocolate. <br />
<br />
In an effort to prevent brain farts like these from happening again, this RV truck camper checklist has been prepared for your use. In it, you'll find items and tasks that pertain to all types of RVs though some departure related tasks pertain to truck camper loading and set-up only. This checklist also assumes that standard and basic RV items, like the 110v shore power cord, the sewer hose, and the fresh water filling hose, are always stored in your RV. Note also that these checklist items are presented both in this article and in <a href="https://www.opendrive.com/files?MjVfMzQ0NDQ4X2xlOUdm" target="_blank">PDF</a> file form for your use (you'll first need to open an OpenDrive account to access the PDF version of the checklist). Once downloaded, the PDF version of the form can then be customized and modified for your use. As always, your feedback is welcome and encouraged. If there's anything I forgot or that you think I should add to this truck camper departure checklist, please let me know.<br />
<br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
<u><b>I. Departure </b></u></h4>
<ul>
<li>Fuel-up Truck</li>
<li>Fill DEF UREA tank (if applicable)</li>
<li>Move License Plate from Truck to Camper</li>
<li>Engage <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BFU9HWG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BFU9HWG&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=5TPFBI3KWPKGY7CL" target="_blank">Torklift StableLoads</a> (if applicable) </li>
<li>Load Camper on Truck </li>
<li>Connect 6-pin umbilical </li>
<li>Install <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UC8UG2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002UC8UG2&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=6GPVT4CBPTXEZ5LK" target="_blank">Torklift Tie Downs</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QHFHNU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002QHFHNU&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=U5BUAWU62ZLY7MAS" target="_blank">Torklift FastGun Turnbuckles</a>
</li>
<li>Check Tire Pressures </li>
<li>Fill Fresh Water Tank </li>
<li>Fill Propane Tanks </li>
<li>Turn-on Refrigerator to 110vac Operation (2 days prior) </li>
<li>Hitch-up Jeep/Boat/Trailer (if applicable) </li>
<li>Close all windows and vents </li>
<li>Storage compartments and doors secure for travel </li>
<li>Bring-in Slideout(s) (if applicable) </li>
<li>Truck Camper Jacks Retracted</li>
<li>Extend Towing Mirrors and Remove Truck's Antenna (for pics)</li>
<li>Reset Truck's Trip Odometer</li>
<li>Adjust <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OZS94O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001OZS94O&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=NPSMVD4Z4QUSL47L" target="_blank">Rancho RS9000XL Shock</a> Dampening (if applicable) </li>
<li>Switch Refrigerator to either Propane or 12 volt Operation</li>
</ul>
<u><b>II. Equipment and Tools </b></u><br />
<ul>
<li>Smartphones and Charger Cords </li>
<li>Portable Handheld Radios and Charger </li>
<li>Portable Generator (if applicable) </li>
<li><a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-windwalker-250-rv-wind-turbine.html" target="_blank">Wind Turbine</a> (if applicable) </li>
<li>Saw Zaw or Chain Saw </li>
<li>Folding Shovel </li>
<li>Tool Bag </li>
<li>Portable Air Compressor </li>
<li>Winch Bag (if applicable) </li>
<li>Leveling Blocks </li>
<li><a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2014/08/building-your-own-first-aid-kit.html" target="_blank">First Aid Kit</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2012/10/making-your-own-emergency-roadside-kit.html" target="_blank">Emergency Roadside Kit</a> </li>
<li>Binoculars </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AY2Z6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000AY2Z6&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=C2OVCTFKBK7NY6GK" target="_blank">Fan-Tastic Endless Breeze 12v Fan</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=melmikstrucam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0000AY2Z6" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</li>
<li>His and Her RV Keys </li>
</ul>
<u><b>III. Camping Items </b></u><br />
<ul>
<li>Bug Repellent </li>
<li>Sunscreen </li>
<li>Hats </li>
<li>Hiking Packs </li>
<li>Bedding (Sheets and Blankets) </li>
<li>Sleeping Bags and/or Electric Blanket</li>
<li>Folding Chairs </li>
<li>Propane Grill </li>
<li>Folding Table </li>
<li>Solar Lantern </li>
<li>Solar Flashlights </li>
<li>Firewood </li>
<li>RV Toilet Paper </li>
<li>RV Holding Tank Treatment </li>
<li>Games/Cards </li>
<li>Personal Protection </li>
</ul>
<u><b>IV. Clothing </b></u><br />
<ul>
<li>Cold Weather Clothes </li>
<li>Warm Weather Clothes </li>
<li>Pajamas </li>
<li>Winter Socks </li>
<li>Undergarments</li>
<li>Hats </li>
<li>Shoes/Boots </li>
<li>Hiking Shoes </li>
<li>Coats </li>
<li>Sunglasses </li>
<li>Slippers</li>
<li>Swimwear </li>
</ul>
<u><b>V. Personal Items and Hygiene</b></u> <br />
<ul>
<li>Medications </li>
<li>Vitamins </li>
<li>Feminine Products </li>
<li>Towels </li>
<li>Wash Cloths </li>
<li>Toothpaste and Toothbrushes </li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VSTTGE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003VSTTGE&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=XC2XOFDHTFCMFN5C" target="_blank">Shaving Kit</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=melmikstrucam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003VSTTGE" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</li>
<li>Hair Care Items and Products </li>
<li>Antiperspirants </li>
<li>Lip Balm </li>
<li>Bar Soap </li>
<li>Shampoo and Conditioner </li>
<li>Skincare Lotion </li>
<li>Tissue Paper </li>
</ul>
<u><b>VI. Food and Kitchen </b></u><br />
<ul>
<li>Buy Groceries </li>
<li>Condiments </li>
<li>Seasoning </li>
<li>Drinking Water </li>
<li>Paper Plates </li>
<li>Paper Cups </li>
<li>Paper Bowls</li>
<li>Eating Utensils </li>
<li>Cocoa/Coffee Mugs </li>
<li>Silverware </li>
<li>Can Opener </li>
<li>Aluminum Foil </li>
<li>Garbage Bags </li>
<li>Paper Towels</li>
<li>Cooking Pots/Skillet</li>
</ul>
Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-4132701769183479702015-05-09T07:27:00.001-07:002015-05-10T09:03:52.004-07:00Bulldog Canyon 4x4 Jeep Trail, AZ<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NbQeU6HUumsffoolWMgUV13lH5VtAirE7Ye2Q2BVvdDH2wHY5W9YEmTyTj5yqfPvCW5WI3A1csKbUmcd_THf2VehfDHTnPwa0kbgDAf0qqv9jB7RK79JhFJsLgJlQH4EvEHozw33dsk/s1600/IMG_5438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NbQeU6HUumsffoolWMgUV13lH5VtAirE7Ye2Q2BVvdDH2wHY5W9YEmTyTj5yqfPvCW5WI3A1csKbUmcd_THf2VehfDHTnPwa0kbgDAf0qqv9jB7RK79JhFJsLgJlQH4EvEHozw33dsk/s320/IMG_5438.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A couple days ago, we had an opportunity to explore the nearby Bulldog Canyon OHV trails in our newly acquired 1998 Jeep Wrangler. That morning I just had a set of Rancho RS5000X shocks installed on the Jeep and, wow, let me tell you they were badly needed. The shocks that were on it were the OEMs from 1998 and had 107,000 miles on them. As you'd expect, they were completely shot. It was a good thing that I had them installed. The Jeep got a very good workout on Bulldog Canyon's rough and rocky trails. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tonto/null/recarea/?recid=35555&actid=93" target="_blank">Bulldog Canyon OHV trails</a> are located in the Tonto National Forest and is adjacent to the <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2011/12/travelogue-apache-trail-az.html" target="_blank">Apache Trail</a> and the world famous Superstition Mountains. In this part of the Tonto National Forest you won't find any pine forests like you will around Payson, but you will find lots of <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2012/03/magnificent-saguaro-cactus.html" target="_blank">Saguaro Cacti</a> and natural desert beauty that can only be found in the Sonoran Desert. Access to Bulldog Canyon OHV area is by permit only through the Mesa District Ranger Office, but the process is quick and easy, and more importantly, free (the permit can be obtained either online or in person). The six-month permit you receive includes combinations to each of the six access gates locks. <br />
<br />
The Bulldog Canyon OHV area consists of six forest roads, FR-10, FR-1356, FR-3512, FR-3554, FR-3556, and FR-12. Our plan was to start at the so-called Cottonwood entrance to FR-1356 off the Apache Trail, but we found a key lock on the gate not a combo lock, so we couldn't get in. The Ranger Office was surprised as much as we were when we told them that on the cell and recommended that we try another gate. We decided to try the nearby FR-12, an isolated, 4-mile long trail not connected to the main trail system, but this was a mistake. We found the trail poorly marked and slow going. After snapping a few pics, we decided to turn around and drive the main Bulldog Canyon route, FR-10. This road is a part of the newly christened <a href="http://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/great-western-trail/great-western-trail-in-arizona/" target="_blank">Great Western Trail</a>, a scenic trail system connecting several states in the Western U.S. <b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
We decided to start our drive at the Wolverine south entrance to FR-10, but we couldn't find it (we later learned we were close, <i>real</i> close to finding it). I'm including the directions here so others can find the gate quickly without trouble. The Wolverine gate is located in the city of Apache Junction. From Mesa head east on the Superstition Freeway (US 60) and take the Idaho St exit.
Follow Idaho St. north 4.5 miles to McKellips Rd. Turn right on McKellips
and travel half a mile to the Wolverine Pass Rd. then turn left. Follow Wolverine Pass Rd.
for 7/8 mile and then turn right on Tonto Rd. Travel north on Tonto Rd.
for a quarter mile to Cactus and turn left. Follow Cactus to McDowell Road and
follow it to the FR-10 gate. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA9MtjjTXVSQHMh6K5Pi9OBdv9sryQjG6ocb8qlingnpY0QVCkbYh9steI_0tm7sbGg0XC9bocH3jrDl_YWoKjU060rWSZHrOkyZLKDm2TWUroYAXniNuqxJODm3lUWpKxbmMQrXWAU8/s1600/IMG_5424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUA9MtjjTXVSQHMh6K5Pi9OBdv9sryQjG6ocb8qlingnpY0QVCkbYh9steI_0tm7sbGg0XC9bocH3jrDl_YWoKjU060rWSZHrOkyZLKDm2TWUroYAXniNuqxJODm3lUWpKxbmMQrXWAU8/s320/IMG_5424.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A key lock was on the Cottonwood gate so we couldn't enter. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPEj86I5jlM-gdruHknIKKtMqLFbmd8RqXUOQ-0NI4_wYjNpksBao8TyFt8H7caMUWbtQsqVkypaLuwzu6ZZ9adU_5dyfjhTIgysuXkppSD5-7TLjSi5G06j8kOK9VW8urcd1H28X5T0/s1600/IMG_5427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPEj86I5jlM-gdruHknIKKtMqLFbmd8RqXUOQ-0NI4_wYjNpksBao8TyFt8H7caMUWbtQsqVkypaLuwzu6ZZ9adU_5dyfjhTIgysuXkppSD5-7TLjSi5G06j8kOK9VW8urcd1H28X5T0/s320/IMG_5427.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So instead we started on nearby FR12. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKkQ1qvDpv7mu4UzX3ncX-YhFtaw5g0lvohZapCBMaToQttNG7_IuCyQSOwNZXYB6UTiXqBbFpUPQSdUbsFp9TEx4TlWfwlvHzMi57A2MrFcM_BDSk9MBcXHS-SiNaT0-TH_lv5LWKmI/s1600/IMG_5429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKkQ1qvDpv7mu4UzX3ncX-YhFtaw5g0lvohZapCBMaToQttNG7_IuCyQSOwNZXYB6UTiXqBbFpUPQSdUbsFp9TEx4TlWfwlvHzMi57A2MrFcM_BDSk9MBcXHS-SiNaT0-TH_lv5LWKmI/s320/IMG_5429.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning scenery near the start of FR-12.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVtcg2MZNB5sBGD_-lqivlUwfnsdzu3JOa6ZiFiLvN3bqheFx4uCwfye9qphUbhCgBScEVonTuBxtt-_Dmw4UI1WCOgrsubsCHYWD2E8eq4S99Rve_Ul045xwIm0Akn3ZUhxE82LemDA/s1600/IMG_5437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVtcg2MZNB5sBGD_-lqivlUwfnsdzu3JOa6ZiFiLvN3bqheFx4uCwfye9qphUbhCgBScEVonTuBxtt-_Dmw4UI1WCOgrsubsCHYWD2E8eq4S99Rve_Ul045xwIm0Akn3ZUhxE82LemDA/s320/IMG_5437.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After snapping a few scenic pics we decided to turn around. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HQbK1yOdsQZsicHRZXAheYPD0ERxqntA-CwBbsTHMprv-1DHS7COqT8r5_WnwGAaxGcZ8ctcIs2ZBhZ1q30soc8GSqdYvv2o309Wcdlaz_nNlOqYkg83j8Xnu4AFRv2IHYg1Aewg_v8/s1600/IMG_5446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HQbK1yOdsQZsicHRZXAheYPD0ERxqntA-CwBbsTHMprv-1DHS7COqT8r5_WnwGAaxGcZ8ctcIs2ZBhZ1q30soc8GSqdYvv2o309Wcdlaz_nNlOqYkg83j8Xnu4AFRv2IHYg1Aewg_v8/s320/IMG_5446.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiosk at the north entrance to FR-10. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsovU_J3EN7Mxv_hrMZIXn1iwCjeKkz8p02lNBDa7B1TJuupEILADMuKOdJCcwS_VpWnIn1FGnFOFz4ULBsZJGcHkOY_O_7zZ8fTshU2_Xa77W34KZRBZsGQDTx9xPpS20CvCMhcc_F_U/s1600/IMG_5456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsovU_J3EN7Mxv_hrMZIXn1iwCjeKkz8p02lNBDa7B1TJuupEILADMuKOdJCcwS_VpWnIn1FGnFOFz4ULBsZJGcHkOY_O_7zZ8fTshU2_Xa77W34KZRBZsGQDTx9xPpS20CvCMhcc_F_U/s320/IMG_5456.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginning of the trail was very smooth and easy going. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD35PjmhLzYRLwrP_Ef9goVWBwRT9E6gcyfGbGs6-q4bg9RGAlUD8TIlyNeYVe5ezGhIDROO1ixvjOoTkOAM8F9tpyBRv7140tXg-_o32QiY70JXS4SrOm_vihk5q8l8PwILHX0Au2QrY/s1600/IMG_5463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD35PjmhLzYRLwrP_Ef9goVWBwRT9E6gcyfGbGs6-q4bg9RGAlUD8TIlyNeYVe5ezGhIDROO1ixvjOoTkOAM8F9tpyBRv7140tXg-_o32QiY70JXS4SrOm_vihk5q8l8PwILHX0Au2QrY/s320/IMG_5463.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scenery in the Goldfield Mountains was stunning. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxfBeqqtHJaGjP9Fdek49n2MVmRKF2qjZYmxCNN51Gj4IXeqHoCYrBB-GHy3w77WZOnEpPboqJEFt0oMqRYUkIQJXAvt6YxduXqKa90peGebYdxp_ZrEOWMBO8X5767e2KMSrgtBlwC0/s1600/IMG_5464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxfBeqqtHJaGjP9Fdek49n2MVmRKF2qjZYmxCNN51Gj4IXeqHoCYrBB-GHy3w77WZOnEpPboqJEFt0oMqRYUkIQJXAvt6YxduXqKa90peGebYdxp_ZrEOWMBO8X5767e2KMSrgtBlwC0/s320/IMG_5464.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the Goldfields. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIMs9alqdnq2JR31FjkYWLKjlW1MnU0KxtTkaNQv_6kGqMlvSidKDXSKegVFYfLZnyfgoYaIkwToVbJY7vmSQS4GGQLX4gGtdU-Q51icDRZH4vgkoFBRpoNKR3r_rYVLTz1t_POLhyFo/s1600/IMG_5465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIMs9alqdnq2JR31FjkYWLKjlW1MnU0KxtTkaNQv_6kGqMlvSidKDXSKegVFYfLZnyfgoYaIkwToVbJY7vmSQS4GGQLX4gGtdU-Q51icDRZH4vgkoFBRpoNKR3r_rYVLTz1t_POLhyFo/s320/IMG_5465.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of FR-10 heading south. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr0f5AQ5VdWYy36Hj4hTKEWOVrKTzgHW_cwKvFCZrb0vySRGW7pwFfYHjI0Zz2xg1QEFqd86wnlec4pePiRsTAb65HYhwjvkt_tuJICLdcILpSe-ZC-C6yDcRyQEh54575VkdIjUnDnc/s1600/IMG_5469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr0f5AQ5VdWYy36Hj4hTKEWOVrKTzgHW_cwKvFCZrb0vySRGW7pwFfYHjI0Zz2xg1QEFqd86wnlec4pePiRsTAb65HYhwjvkt_tuJICLdcILpSe-ZC-C6yDcRyQEh54575VkdIjUnDnc/s320/IMG_5469.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parts of the trail were very rocky. This part wasn't that bad. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPWlWoWGTqf_rw_aA6VPJaiqF7ysevFTo24nITtz7XBSIS65OVTiABeKmhUzKmR2kFREsCH7Zq87lxiACnjEnJmibfbRtzOp8FW4wuBM8QpaQwy7ouW7VAOrCpXbXwunS2q1DCalckbI/s1600/IMG_5470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPWlWoWGTqf_rw_aA6VPJaiqF7ysevFTo24nITtz7XBSIS65OVTiABeKmhUzKmR2kFREsCH7Zq87lxiACnjEnJmibfbRtzOp8FW4wuBM8QpaQwy7ouW7VAOrCpXbXwunS2q1DCalckbI/s320/IMG_5470.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A smooth stretch approaching Bulldog Canyon. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uwPWHhAgvsqaUJOQ5k65bDT7LWQVsm1EPQNCShsGRstxBvQOUtU6tQoTBPqxzk3Xyq8IGsEfcSq_3bYEVwBnvzPt18CuwXqaRdgVRLobo7vN_dAko7OlO42ul5-Xh6pISWh6cHjV6zg/s1600/IMG_5478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uwPWHhAgvsqaUJOQ5k65bDT7LWQVsm1EPQNCShsGRstxBvQOUtU6tQoTBPqxzk3Xyq8IGsEfcSq_3bYEVwBnvzPt18CuwXqaRdgVRLobo7vN_dAko7OlO42ul5-Xh6pISWh6cHjV6zg/s320/IMG_5478.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This rocky part of the trail was much worse than it looks. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX85Hv4vEgO-_uAeSZldN0myCBMzvi-DaCJtnoxGk4vGJ9d6t_8_yS0wR20JaM__0kVes3XwMl1jiUqYrQ4gCa5weM083CAIGWs_JpYxrUiCP_tABzYdVTmcCQQidCHBR9MZo-PH3OJw/s1600/IMG_5479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX85Hv4vEgO-_uAeSZldN0myCBMzvi-DaCJtnoxGk4vGJ9d6t_8_yS0wR20JaM__0kVes3XwMl1jiUqYrQ4gCa5weM083CAIGWs_JpYxrUiCP_tABzYdVTmcCQQidCHBR9MZo-PH3OJw/s320/IMG_5479.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowering Sagauro with its arms held high. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC4ZsPkYTaK2Y5Y480LBnxzR_iBBBlkHZY249lOA0qBZmZkJ2MztUpXyaffmFFbte3-sm6AX5FOJWKULpOsjTAk5D_9wsoxpXGueRVapvjneXciBaggJ_p8KwCcP3yfXgq9-MSzP_kq0/s1600/IMG_5485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQC4ZsPkYTaK2Y5Y480LBnxzR_iBBBlkHZY249lOA0qBZmZkJ2MztUpXyaffmFFbte3-sm6AX5FOJWKULpOsjTAk5D_9wsoxpXGueRVapvjneXciBaggJ_p8KwCcP3yfXgq9-MSzP_kq0/s320/IMG_5485.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the trail. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkCgqn-xxqX8yhuLMPzQ_ykEYNJCRpcSwm-DFO2-YkhmTpO_yX4epcWI6p3zNDRv_9ZIV9R3rWITL7ngEWgpA98Ic0fpOimFHk5JWut_xkLVzQgGkjvLj-Mrfuxj6I6EpEI2fjPw0_zg/s1600/IMG_5486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkCgqn-xxqX8yhuLMPzQ_ykEYNJCRpcSwm-DFO2-YkhmTpO_yX4epcWI6p3zNDRv_9ZIV9R3rWITL7ngEWgpA98Ic0fpOimFHk5JWut_xkLVzQgGkjvLj-Mrfuxj6I6EpEI2fjPw0_zg/s320/IMG_5486.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Four Peaks Mountain to the northeast. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNempwcaH4VGFJUtzNOq0uCyHOqbz6fHXCxT4Z8sLJ2fqsnqTLXpY4XvNXCH_0AubZLftZQjFPgJUrkhLCrKJ7BySDmsQxMGDiE7dpc2n9rlH6te4WBDfY93NtWm6V6V9I8d0YBkIvho8/s1600/IMG_5494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNempwcaH4VGFJUtzNOq0uCyHOqbz6fHXCxT4Z8sLJ2fqsnqTLXpY4XvNXCH_0AubZLftZQjFPgJUrkhLCrKJ7BySDmsQxMGDiE7dpc2n9rlH6te4WBDfY93NtWm6V6V9I8d0YBkIvho8/s320/IMG_5494.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end of FR-10 at the Wolverine Gate. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The length of FR-10 is approximately eight miles long and took us about 90 minutes to drive with a few short stops. The trail at times is very rocky and slow going. For the most part, we drove the entire route in 1st gear and had to use 4-wheel drive during a couple steep and rocky stretches. There are, however, parts of the trail that are level and smooth, especially at the south and north ends of FR-10. There you can find several pull-offs were you can dispersed camp/boondock. In fact, during our drive, we passed a couple Class B van conversions which had set-up camp for the night. Can an RV tackle this Jeep trail? For the most part, no. I wouldn't try this in my 4x4 truck camper or anything larger, but I would if I owned a small 4x4 pop-up truck camper or a 4x4 Sportsmobile Van. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-82804352084108895062015-05-08T08:29:00.002-07:002015-05-08T17:18:38.041-07:00Blog Title Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1teXfIaqEyylM19-KkSNnN3u0NMTMFRb0iwwsLjvp-HHw-JWsi-wn4xjMpJjqndKV8wcYrRHQa-Z18riVaXgenZ4yeGVfiLrfQ4Cby7PG2CGnhA8nangLmiDMZBA8S7oxZiS4gAY4vVM/s1600/PetitionPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1teXfIaqEyylM19-KkSNnN3u0NMTMFRb0iwwsLjvp-HHw-JWsi-wn4xjMpJjqndKV8wcYrRHQa-Z18riVaXgenZ4yeGVfiLrfQ4Cby7PG2CGnhA8nangLmiDMZBA8S7oxZiS4gAY4vVM/s200/PetitionPic.png" width="198" /></a></div>
Hello, everyone! You may or may not have noticed, but the title of this blog has been changed. The title has been changed from Mello Mike's Truck Camper Adventures to Mello Mike's Overland Adventures. I did this for two reasons. One, the new title more accurately conveys what this website is all about. I own a truck and camper and a Jeep Wrangler and will be traveling in both, so I didn't think the "truck camper adventures" part of the title was entirely accurate. Two, I changed the title of the blog to shorten things up. The previous title was simply too long.<br />
<br />
Now, I want to assure everyone that the content and focus of this blog has not and will not change. This is still a website of my overland travels in and modifications to my 2011
Wolf Creek 850N solar-powered truck camper, my 2013 Ram 3500 4x4 Pickup
Truck, and my 1998 Jeep Wrangler. Those who have followed this site from the beginning know that this isn't the first name change, and it probably won't be the last, yet the focus of this website has never really changed. That's the way it always has been and will it will always be. <br />
<br />
In other developments, the wife and I will be taking off for another two week adventure which will include the 2015 Overland Expo in Flagstaff. Stay tuned for details of this trip. <br />
<br />
In addition, I will be holding another contest drawing giveaway for a big ticket item that every truck camper owner will love. Stay tuned for this announcement. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-88146670029900537092015-05-01T05:30:00.000-07:002015-05-10T07:29:59.458-07:00Stock Interiors Carpet Kit Installation and Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9cVVCpsi-ZoZQoFL8etayyTf4Yek-yDplK_HWE8RLTDlTMAWQhHKQNP03V5X8qiZqoFf1Xuz08MpKIHaO423e3R13dEQZTID457u-YawAK3tIdE-xvGSOlQ5DnlsYk2VvHcxvceUhyphenhyphens/s1600/IMG_5318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9cVVCpsi-ZoZQoFL8etayyTf4Yek-yDplK_HWE8RLTDlTMAWQhHKQNP03V5X8qiZqoFf1Xuz08MpKIHaO423e3R13dEQZTID457u-YawAK3tIdE-xvGSOlQ5DnlsYk2VvHcxvceUhyphenhyphens/s1600/IMG_5318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
What is the nastiest project that everyone who is restoring a car or truck will have to do at some point in time? If you said, replacing the carpet. You are correct. The job is filthy, smelly, and often very time consuming. So there was a little reluctance and trepidation when I placed an order with <a href="http://www.stockinteriors.com/" target="_blank">Stock Interiors</a> for a new carpet kit for my <a href="http://www.stockinteriors.com/AutoCarpet.asp?Itemid=22635&MakeId=14&ModelId=256" target="_blank">1998 Jeep Wrangler</a>.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, installing new carpet in a Jeep Wrangler is pretty easy. Like the OEM carpet, the Stock Interiors carpet installs in six separate pieces rather than one large one (Jeep designers did this to allow quick removal before taking your
Jeep into the mud). So having multiple pieces means an easy install--no need to remove the seats and center console (though you will have to loosen the bolts to the console so you can tuck the carpet underneath). For this job, you'll need to keep the old OEM carpet pieces to use
as a template to help make any additional cuts to the new carpet.
You'll also need to remove the old heat shields from the front two
pieces since the new carpet doesn't include them.<br />
<br />
For those wondering about the color of the new carpet, I couldn't find an exact match to the OEM blue-gray color, but Stock Interiors did offer a pretty close alternative, called "Steel Blue" (code 8935), that was a little darker and matched the OEM seats extremely well. Their website offers different piles, and of these I ordered their basic or entry level, "Plush Cut Pile." I did this because it's a Jeep and the carpet will get dirty/wet/muddy eventually, so I saw no need to waste money on a top-of-the-line carpet kit that would eventually get trashed. Total cost for my kit, without shipping, was $232.<br />
<br />
To install the Stock Interiors carpet kit, you'll need several items. First and foremost, if you don't already have a pair, I highly recommend that you buy a sharp pair of scissors. It will make cutting the new carpet so much easier. You'll also need a roll of carpet seam tape or duct tape for the two small carpet seams around the rear roll bar on the wheel wells, a utility knife (box cutter) for making micro cuts, and a socket wrench with a 1/4 inch socket and two extenders to remove the hex screws holding the center console in place. You'll also need a can of spray adhesive to glue the old heat shields to the underside of the front pieces of carpet. <br />
<br />
Before installing the carpet, I recommend that you clean and vacuum the floorboards. Doing this gave me an excellent opportunity to inspect the floorboard on my new Jeep. I was amazed at how good the rear floorboards and wheel wells looked--the paint and overall appearance of them looked like they came fresh from the factory. There wasn't a speck of rust anywhere. Only the front floorboards showed sign of wear and that was in the paint only, no rust. I used a good general purpose cleaner to remove any dirt I came across. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh5M3q022ii2JU1Bh2x-nusEEGqoSpM4Fd4VWCVO_c5Rpnsz9PkgTEIkEXKv_6hDjcCPibpeW6F7bZjha_DXnKUIG_bQgdpO_qtmnqTmqz5hAuFNmPvkN86WsqJxszWp4ZU_62EFMFTo/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh5M3q022ii2JU1Bh2x-nusEEGqoSpM4Fd4VWCVO_c5Rpnsz9PkgTEIkEXKv_6hDjcCPibpeW6F7bZjha_DXnKUIG_bQgdpO_qtmnqTmqz5hAuFNmPvkN86WsqJxszWp4ZU_62EFMFTo/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My carpet kit as it came from the UPS driver. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyO2H290XpPOzmVXNZrVpCAan-oTmx4dDuBBzQ-dZyyi-yd1ZyHBQ9Nf89VG9-Rcz9Kbikw8HP1gMO1Y94c7ouHEtRIO4zN4PhUGUKBHGiNS3Qc7tGfCNrHqUJquFpHbsTCrVnLZuoFB0/s1600/IMG_5166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyO2H290XpPOzmVXNZrVpCAan-oTmx4dDuBBzQ-dZyyi-yd1ZyHBQ9Nf89VG9-Rcz9Kbikw8HP1gMO1Y94c7ouHEtRIO4zN4PhUGUKBHGiNS3Qc7tGfCNrHqUJquFpHbsTCrVnLZuoFB0/s1600/IMG_5166.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiping the floorboards before installing the new carpet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffVI9fWXbVUAqfJsx-_mQ0ufoZeIRVdgeThxh3owYhDqVaPd-unEFomRyt58aCao7pMGppB6xiN01bwIlcpyVw0a8edkxg16wWLNWNGgk3sAM_HrsySJUzSlJrucDdtqiuR0k_hJznEE/s1600/IMG_5235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffVI9fWXbVUAqfJsx-_mQ0ufoZeIRVdgeThxh3owYhDqVaPd-unEFomRyt58aCao7pMGppB6xiN01bwIlcpyVw0a8edkxg16wWLNWNGgk3sAM_HrsySJUzSlJrucDdtqiuR0k_hJznEE/s1600/IMG_5235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll need the old carpet to use as a template for new cuts. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
As I stated earlier, the installation was pretty easy. I installed the two wheel well pieces of carpet first followed by the large cargo bay piece. Due to the rounded shape, these two pieces didn't stay affixed to the wheel wells very well. Some like to use spray adhesive or carpet tape to hold the carpet in place around them, but I opted not to do this. With the rear seat in place and with the locking trunk installed, I found that the carpet didn't bulge or shift much at all. As for the cargo bay piece, I did have to go back and tweak on the eight tie down cuts two or three times in order to ensure proper alignment with all. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GCuNWbLfkwJf0WK-3j30ODT9UDckOV35SA-0LEFu2MEda6FznlkPWJr48w4at_hTi0Gng1MHIWbfwnX5lWa8L0m7tTgWV6zl0YdvRu3upsgMMbZkTSbjD8SBX6zB_7mprIB5Ih_YMU8/s1600/IMG_5300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GCuNWbLfkwJf0WK-3j30ODT9UDckOV35SA-0LEFu2MEda6FznlkPWJr48w4at_hTi0Gng1MHIWbfwnX5lWa8L0m7tTgWV6zl0YdvRu3upsgMMbZkTSbjD8SBX6zB_7mprIB5Ih_YMU8/s1600/IMG_5300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the passenger side wheel well. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr4whIeNqKs-CYx5L_Tp8dknQezdCTvjJcBe6mReGBGJaLZcan9JUyeHODx9A65ukTswxRYEWB6eRpVPR_QBrYjFwZbD9sk3L4tWRVMl_glAsnWFc4iaMKMYyZF91TFp4VXldMZ9W2r4/s1600/IMG_5303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr4whIeNqKs-CYx5L_Tp8dknQezdCTvjJcBe6mReGBGJaLZcan9JUyeHODx9A65ukTswxRYEWB6eRpVPR_QBrYjFwZbD9sk3L4tWRVMl_glAsnWFc4iaMKMYyZF91TFp4VXldMZ9W2r4/s1600/IMG_5303.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the cargo bay. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Sw_c9NYEFPYScD9_FG6mGbi063b9VJxRDr2YPxI8wmtersis7C0BUkEuwGlt1Iezdm3JxO8NxSclA6R6AJGeBZIy0e0VQ5FiUpvXDw3EdqmaXZN2884AXhdoQ-JwD2bGMmVYrm4oRJc/s1600/IMG_5261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Sw_c9NYEFPYScD9_FG6mGbi063b9VJxRDr2YPxI8wmtersis7C0BUkEuwGlt1Iezdm3JxO8NxSclA6R6AJGeBZIy0e0VQ5FiUpvXDw3EdqmaXZN2884AXhdoQ-JwD2bGMmVYrm4oRJc/s1600/IMG_5261.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seam tape is needed for this small seam. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The only real issue I encountered during the entire installation was with the flat piece of carpet for the cargo bay. Stock Interiors made two diagonal cuts along the back edge for brackets that aren't found on the 1998 model of the Wrangler (see pic below). An email with pics to the Stock Interiors customer service department quickly alleviated this problem and within a week I had a new piece of carpet without these two cuts (I should add that having this extra "bad" piece of carpet allowed me to recover the top of my locking trunk unit so that the carpet matched the rest of the interior). <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhL-I7HDKOyOWBZQxu7oGQ3WShcVRARVOYEEUg8GmA3vyzMV6qSbTO0BoZl74eAs5e1lcUIh5MycZKHqV1Ig2vy8e7WlfZ04lC-hZ77HON_0Mny1vdk53fjprHxUr53YaZ4MuAnDeclY/s1600/IMG_5240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhL-I7HDKOyOWBZQxu7oGQ3WShcVRARVOYEEUg8GmA3vyzMV6qSbTO0BoZl74eAs5e1lcUIh5MycZKHqV1Ig2vy8e7WlfZ04lC-hZ77HON_0Mny1vdk53fjprHxUr53YaZ4MuAnDeclY/s1600/IMG_5240.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original cargo bay piece with bad factory cuts. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The rest of the install was pretty straightforward with no complications. For the two front pieces you'll need to ensure that they're folded in half, with the carpet side up, when positioning in place as this makes the installation of the carpet much easier. You'll need to loosen the hex screws to the center console to install not only the two front pieces but also the rear floorboard piece. And don't forget to glue the two heat shields from the old carpet before installing them. Otherwise, the carpets will get scorched by the heat generated along the transmission tunnel. For the driver's side carpet you'll also need to cut two small holes near the top for the supporting posts (these prevent the carpet from shifting and causing a hazard during driving).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-WPXplKl1hYtp0IPVjD-wGwteCPcX1X1KHRRVRkBtqcxPqgFx95fse0CEqPtK3ubTwG1JDS5n_OmYePyz0Nf93efURPFBThx5ewwYzRn2xMnajH7ltktzsZ78wMLGI5aJluSbls1MDs/s1600/IMG_5243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-WPXplKl1hYtp0IPVjD-wGwteCPcX1X1KHRRVRkBtqcxPqgFx95fse0CEqPtK3ubTwG1JDS5n_OmYePyz0Nf93efURPFBThx5ewwYzRn2xMnajH7ltktzsZ78wMLGI5aJluSbls1MDs/s1600/IMG_5243.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passenger side front carpet installed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn1SFgJjCe-j_KY1Ij9nyUJeuWtEtWKv1I7Pdn8mVhChobq6zNj4ucZHPyCnUnmj-YrQqOsw-jijRrQ1jxg2omg1nQSWfG9AmZ5LjF-beccElUP58HfEQyXrRoGOV8XlWY3wwyXydS0k/s1600/IMG_5244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggn1SFgJjCe-j_KY1Ij9nyUJeuWtEtWKv1I7Pdn8mVhChobq6zNj4ucZHPyCnUnmj-YrQqOsw-jijRrQ1jxg2omg1nQSWfG9AmZ5LjF-beccElUP58HfEQyXrRoGOV8XlWY3wwyXydS0k/s1600/IMG_5244.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driver's side carpet freshly installed. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Overall, this was a fun, easy, and very worthwhile project. The new carpet really freshens the appearance (and smell) of the interior and gets rid of 17 years worth of dirt, grime, lipstick stains, and who knows what else. The quality of the American made Stock Interior's carpet kit was excellent with the molds, bends, and cuts for the most part very accurate--only minimal trimming was required during the installation. More importantly, the cost for their kit was very reasonable. So if you're thinking about buying a new carpet kit for your vehicle, I would highly recommend buying one from Stock Interiors. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-13627389962672159292015-04-24T05:30:00.000-07:002015-04-29T02:19:00.122-07:00Rancho Steering Stabilizer Upgrade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5FrkOgMeo6XVmuQqqlqgvQrXdi7_lJmB8-qwyU1pHWu1JB3zdmcbmvubBpOpGICvY6x3CzArsvc70Ld1clKKSA4dsYWBLPuV8RRw2e5uPDkmDkItDI3ckNdKqsUju2FROgVMMKCwr0A/s1600/IMG_5225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5FrkOgMeo6XVmuQqqlqgvQrXdi7_lJmB8-qwyU1pHWu1JB3zdmcbmvubBpOpGICvY6x3CzArsvc70Ld1clKKSA4dsYWBLPuV8RRw2e5uPDkmDkItDI3ckNdKqsUju2FROgVMMKCwr0A/s1600/IMG_5225.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
With the recent purchase of a 1998 Jeep Wrangler, swapping out the old OEM components that are prone to wearing out from age and use like shocks, fan belts, and hoses will be important. A recent drive on the highway revealed a slight wobble at 59 mph. The wobble always appeared at this speed. When I slowed down the wobble went away; when I increased the speed the wobble remained. Now this wobble wasn't as severe as the dreaded death wobble that is common with Jeeps, but it was bad enough for me to take notice. Fortunately, the fix for a slight highway speed wobble is easy and most of the time requires you to simply balance your tires. This was the case for me. <br />
<br />
Soon after the initial wobble incident, I pulled my Jeep into the garage and took a close look at the steering components. This was something I wanted to do anyway, but this wobble issue gave me extra incentive. Fortunately, the front track bar, steering, and control arm bushings were all good, but I did discover that the original steering stabilizer was pretty shot and offered little resistance. I looked at several makes of stabilizers but decided to go with the Rancho due to its good reviews.<br />
<br />
The installation of a steering stabilizer is pretty straight forward. It's easy to reach and there are only two bolts and nuts that need to be removed. Unfortunately, what often looks easy, isn't always the case with a 17-year-old truck. The bolt attached to the control arm was completely seized and wouldn't budge. After a couple hours of whacking and cussing with a hammer and breaking a pitman arm puller, I had to rent a pneumatic hammer that finally knocked it loose. I didn't know it at the time, but a seized steering stabilizer is a pretty common problem with Jeeps. I found numerous YouTube videos and threads on Jeep Forums about this issue.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, the pics show the new stabilizer. The difference between the OEM stabilizer and the new Rancho stablizer is pretty dramatic. It looks much better, too!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6idr3hS0ct0t2T6Iyij5XVDomLlirJlyrMLwj5yuRg0sPofS43WiY6XfCB7Wre6MM99jnbo5_28i61ukxq_GX82X1Jc7439z5JaqgVwPJCdfst5o4YpXAUvHv6YdGz1RSy63i0tP-Vg/s1600/IMG_5227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6idr3hS0ct0t2T6Iyij5XVDomLlirJlyrMLwj5yuRg0sPofS43WiY6XfCB7Wre6MM99jnbo5_28i61ukxq_GX82X1Jc7439z5JaqgVwPJCdfst5o4YpXAUvHv6YdGz1RSy63i0tP-Vg/s1600/IMG_5227.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeup of the Rancho Steering Stabilizer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000CB42O2&asins=B000CB42O2&linkId=PNQZFWQNUDGHKNB6&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000C53XRK&asins=B000C53XRK&linkId=NQNPYLZQNX5GREX3&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00DIYGMLG&asins=B00DIYGMLG&linkId=IJ3LP7DX7J2UFHUZ&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B003EM9F5M&asins=B003EM9F5M&linkId=AWK3OUOC2WBY3DXO&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-60191358680759921452015-04-15T08:11:00.000-07:002015-07-04T06:09:03.656-07:00Top 10 Craigslist Dos and Don'ts for Selling Cars<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobm-xWX2wtACvSv8VaC12I-sCqgVtNK6LlWMhvZuKOfHhrgSb9rNTDbCgJIbEX5MbVIrpoulz9Rbmi3pC9S3o646jfG33AlGJ3g8wRF6AHiT7hq-OI78ZAp0srv-bt5NylAlAWzQzazE/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobm-xWX2wtACvSv8VaC12I-sCqgVtNK6LlWMhvZuKOfHhrgSb9rNTDbCgJIbEX5MbVIrpoulz9Rbmi3pC9S3o646jfG33AlGJ3g8wRF6AHiT7hq-OI78ZAp0srv-bt5NylAlAWzQzazE/s1600/Slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a>
It seems like everyone has an opinion about <a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites#US" target="_blank">Craigslist</a>, the popular website for buying and selling. You either love it or hate it. I'm in the love it camp. It's free, easy to use, and is accessed by millions of people everyday (60 million per month in the US alone). Sure, you can find scammers and shady people on the site, but that's the exception rather than the rule. The overwhelming majority of craigslist users are honest and trustworthy.<br />
<br />
I've been a steady Craigslist user for nearly 10 years now and have sold and bought countless items on it, including a dozen RV's and cars. After the recent sale of my 2011 Jeep Compass and the purchase of a <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2015/04/found-one-1998-jeep-wrangler.html" target="_blank">1998 Jeep Wrangler</a>, I thought I would present my thoughts on what works and doesn't work when selling a vehicle on Craigslist--the dos and don'ts. This advice is needed because it's obvious that some are clueless and have no idea what they're doing. Fortunately, being good at selling on Craigslist isn't rocket science, but it does take a little effort to prepare an effective ad that will get the attention of prospective buyers and gain their trust. While the main focus is on selling Jeeps, cars, and trucks these tips are equally applicable to selling RV's. So without any further adieu, here are my 10 dos and don'ts for selling a car and truck on Craigslist. <br />
<br />
<b>1. DO provide meaningful photographs. </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLuoKU3qFjizzM6sA122mbED1no8gz9jghgd1tD81MqSQgO4_1o3qGjYkowDwLlR0F-ZkzYYltaXmtVuYUKzjv_RS6FASo0X1NzU-cm4AZtfA86ZonUIb1u4aUDgYmR170SvBn3N9mJ8/s1600/IMG_5103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLuoKU3qFjizzM6sA122mbED1no8gz9jghgd1tD81MqSQgO4_1o3qGjYkowDwLlR0F-ZkzYYltaXmtVuYUKzjv_RS6FASo0X1NzU-cm4AZtfA86ZonUIb1u4aUDgYmR170SvBn3N9mJ8/s1600/IMG_5103.jpg" width="200" /></a>The old adage, "a picture is worth a thousand words," is especially true when it comes to selling on Craigslist. Yet, I've lost count on how many ads I've seen that have no pictures or just one or two exterior shots of the car and that's it. Nearly everyone nowadays has a smartphone with an HD camera. I strongly recommend at least eight exterior <i>and</i> interior pictures of the vehicle. I also recommend a pic of the odometer (buyers like to see proof that what you're saying about the mileage is truthful). Be sure to snap pics of any damage. Oh, and <i>please</i> ensure that the photos you choose are clear with good lighting and are presented professionally in your ad (not sideways or upside down. Yep, this is pretty common). <br />
<br />
<b>2. DO list your vehicle for a fair and reasonable price.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRwNU4sXKrGQgP7RwexB-k-COQfEjuEpI19xDXCJ2j3Jp4L_h1Uup1MoZUe5pszUtBnMeX0cNoXXRlwUb9OH9VT0rvqEFpVDP7Ay-MDzfrr1Oij1Wiw1jBySZ6drojqx9Ix6uDiBWaoE/s1600/IMG_5254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRwNU4sXKrGQgP7RwexB-k-COQfEjuEpI19xDXCJ2j3Jp4L_h1Uup1MoZUe5pszUtBnMeX0cNoXXRlwUb9OH9VT0rvqEFpVDP7Ay-MDzfrr1Oij1Wiw1jBySZ6drojqx9Ix6uDiBWaoE/s1600/IMG_5254.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
What's a fair and reasonable price? Go to one of the car appraisal websites like Kelley Blue Book, NADA, or Edmunds and get one. If you don't take the time to perform this simple step then you'll likely have trouble selling your car. One doofus who lives here in Phoenix is currently asking $4,000 more for his Jeep than the current Blue Book price. Hello?! Nobody is going to pay over the blue book price for any car
unless it's a rare classic or limited edition vehicle, is in unbelievable condition, and is loaded with options and
extras. Guys (and gals) who are guilty of this are probably the same ones who wonder why their car hasn't sold after having it listed for over two months. <br />
<br />
<b>3. DO provide a detailed write-up.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9PK7usI11or-_-jY516Mpoc6gnbNnfr-VTGeL8MTPcCnHJdio13x8pvm-9nBoxbZjhAXB7mLkU6Lzcg7MP_tZm3bFXjTQmN-ESP_JZe6GcDosJqv3Yox3SMIE7Oywhh_E5kEVklnh-c/s1600/words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9PK7usI11or-_-jY516Mpoc6gnbNnfr-VTGeL8MTPcCnHJdio13x8pvm-9nBoxbZjhAXB7mLkU6Lzcg7MP_tZm3bFXjTQmN-ESP_JZe6GcDosJqv3Yox3SMIE7Oywhh_E5kEVklnh-c/s1600/words.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I often come across ads that provide only a brief sentence about the car and that's it. Sure, this brevity gets your ad published quicker, but it also really hurts your chances at getting a quick sale. Buyers want information that will help them weed out the good cars from the bad, so take your time and provide a solid paragraph of information about the vehicle's history including modifications and repairs that you've made as well as any existing issues. Oh, and use the data fields that Craigslist provides for selling cars. These fields provide valuable info like year, mileage, condition, and number of cylinders, and are used extensively by prospective buyers when conducting vehicle searches.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>4. DO detail your vehicle. </b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCekHxAvnMd0eDamRruriq6vLXcBnCcr41HOwe1BgaKdE1Sr_aNGWiZLycAM234bPlDpLY3TZJio5qTRfkAbubA4LDrT0Yi7AzgJemSMLz0AP8U2mbTS0UWld_oPBET_wzgBIT54H7HV8/s1600/IMG_5158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCekHxAvnMd0eDamRruriq6vLXcBnCcr41HOwe1BgaKdE1Sr_aNGWiZLycAM234bPlDpLY3TZJio5qTRfkAbubA4LDrT0Yi7AzgJemSMLz0AP8U2mbTS0UWld_oPBET_wzgBIT54H7HV8/s1600/IMG_5158.JPG" width="200" /></a>Several years ago my wife and I looked at a filthy, smelly, poor excuse of a car that still had fast food wrappers and old french fries on the backseat floor. It was obvious the car hadn't been touched before the lazy fool showed it to us. Needless to say, we passed on that car and bought another. Oh, and the Jeep I recently bought wasn't detailed either. It had bird crap on the hood, a nasty lookin' dash carpet with glue all over the dashboard, a badly faded hard top, and dog hair still embedded in the carpet. I was able to look past these annoyances to see the positives, but there's no doubt I would've paid a little more if the guy had taken the time to make the Jeep more presentable. <br />
<br />
<b>5. DO respond to queries.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjuVmdU4L6iIABUJEnR_WOAcdJEbTmFwWPFb4C5ZCbXAPBk5kE18wXB8p6akhiP7nVjIqvdbaHwstiF_IomjSr58ZvKk6TDdU63JaOxo08ym-WNVv31Zx9eAm7av7MkqSxhRPN7Le94I/s1600/IMG_3770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjuVmdU4L6iIABUJEnR_WOAcdJEbTmFwWPFb4C5ZCbXAPBk5kE18wXB8p6akhiP7nVjIqvdbaHwstiF_IomjSr58ZvKk6TDdU63JaOxo08ym-WNVv31Zx9eAm7av7MkqSxhRPN7Le94I/s1600/IMG_3770.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A big pet peeve of mine. Be courteous and respond to all queries about your vehicle. Getting responses doesn't seem to be that big of an issue for those who like to text, but it is for those who like to conduct business via email. Indeed, it seems like half the time you never get a response and if you do, it's two or three days later. Very annoying. The bottom line is to provide a timely response to each query whether it's by phone, email, or text. If you sold your vehicle, say so in your responses. Oh, if you do arrange a time for a meet up, please be on time. Being late for an appointment is considered extremely rude and is no way to get on the good side of a prospective buyer. <br />
<br />
<b>6. DO provide an asking price. </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSJdW9Il_vx3T2SXFV89es1gd2DFTidcpH30rOXHrgzPe9HaYpWWAETUtaX2jv2qd5Pm7fwNUd-RSjcNngVDtN1IKBSnZHvqv3UQ6HAslK57v58lDWk3KX5B-1sMhigrBWjNphFyeOp8/s1600/please.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSJdW9Il_vx3T2SXFV89es1gd2DFTidcpH30rOXHrgzPe9HaYpWWAETUtaX2jv2qd5Pm7fwNUd-RSjcNngVDtN1IKBSnZHvqv3UQ6HAslK57v58lDWk3KX5B-1sMhigrBWjNphFyeOp8/s1600/please.png" width="200" /></a></div>
You would think this would be a no brainer, but there's a guy here in Phoenix who is currently trying to sell his Jeep without an asking price. His ad states that he had invested over $34,000 total in his Jeep. Prospective buyers are left to guess on a price and nobody wants to play a guessing and waiting game on Craigslist. If you want to take bids on your vehicle, Craigslist is not the place to do it, the place to do it is called Ebay. Not surprising, his ad was still up after two months with no apparent end in sight. Needless to say, I didn't provide an offer and told the guy good luck trying to sell his Jeep that way.<br />
<br />
<b>7. DON'T list your Salvage titled vehicle at or near Blue Book. </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypmHw7mA4p6YHE88JmnrVCqCFdS15jxUw_noiU7lPfd8pUT4mtHl2KyOK6hIkeCtoAM2MdnzlcdMjAZvNxlld0Bb5YwDZwnFlOgQjjNs7y66_wrq_6c5JnKl-sQl_aUBkIgA7bISn2y0/s1600/wreckedTJ2000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypmHw7mA4p6YHE88JmnrVCqCFdS15jxUw_noiU7lPfd8pUT4mtHl2KyOK6hIkeCtoAM2MdnzlcdMjAZvNxlld0Bb5YwDZwnFlOgQjjNs7y66_wrq_6c5JnKl-sQl_aUBkIgA7bISn2y0/s200/wreckedTJ2000.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
This goes hand-in-hand with number two. I get tired of morons <span class="st">with Salvage or Rebuilt titled cars trying to get $1,000 below Blue Book claiming it's a great deal. IT'S NOT! </span>According to Consumer Reports, cars with Salvage or Rebuilt titles are worth 50 percent of Blue Book and sometimes less. Unless you're mechanically inclined and plan on keeping the car forever, I would stay away from vehicles with Salvage and Rebuilt titles. There's no way of knowing with complete certainty what damage was done to them. There's simply too much risk. Insuring them can also be a problematic with some insurance companies. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>8. DON'T lie or be misleading about problems with your vehicle.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0oGB-WJz8xrJjo_vXSQkxZNeZlIEhEKyfcvWqiu9QbcbB-OKU9o5G192P-T8LWXcQpj4ROM8bCfWx8DY3SnTRKlOZageCjPVlt7mYxXr_MW5l3LDhGJb049PxfS0easKBNRDw1Hi_hw/s1600/truthlies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0oGB-WJz8xrJjo_vXSQkxZNeZlIEhEKyfcvWqiu9QbcbB-OKU9o5G192P-T8LWXcQpj4ROM8bCfWx8DY3SnTRKlOZageCjPVlt7mYxXr_MW5l3LDhGJb049PxfS0easKBNRDw1Hi_hw/s1600/truthlies.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
If there are problems with the car, state them in your ad. People appreciate honesty. If you're up front about issues it helps build trust and trust is big if you want to sell your vehicle. One Jeep I recently looked at had body damage that wasn't stated anywhere in the ad or in the photographs that were posted (unbelievably, the condition of this Jeep was listed as "excellent" in the ad). If I knew about this damage ahead of time I wouldn't have wasted two hours of driving time and gas to go out and look at it. Needless to say, I was pretty ticked off. Right then and there I knew this wasn't a guy who I trusted or wanted to do business with. Oh, and it goes without saying that you should be truthful about the overall condition, excellent means excellent as the car stands today, not after conducting body and engine repairs. <br />
<br />
<b>9. DON'T sell your vehicle out from another buyer. </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgachqKnPvJG18Z_gCg7j81ldVMp8yHv8BTMBPB3g_JZBtk51sk49Ur-YIOK-ujZOZFYWpG_CmR1Ot0UTn0Znl3VRUKNS0FQHPybwjIYXjV5W9A3ug1MCxH7orRTrS4iFMz34RuT1ic0SU/s1600/GoldenRule.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgachqKnPvJG18Z_gCg7j81ldVMp8yHv8BTMBPB3g_JZBtk51sk49Ur-YIOK-ujZOZFYWpG_CmR1Ot0UTn0Znl3VRUKNS0FQHPybwjIYXjV5W9A3ug1MCxH7orRTrS4iFMz34RuT1ic0SU/s1600/GoldenRule.png" width="200" /></a></div>
I hear about this happening all the time. Sure, first come, first served applies, but be considerate to those who may be traveling a long way to buy your item. This situation was presented to me several years ago when I was selling a KZ Frontier travel trailer to a guy from Salt Lake City, a 650 mile drive. While he was on his way to Phoenix, I had another guy in New Mexico offer me $500 dollars more if I would sell it to him. Needless to say, I told the guy, no. There's no way I was going to screw the other guy over even for half a G in cash. I believe in Karma. Treat others how you want to be treated--the Golden Rule. If you do, Craigslist can be a great resource where you can buy and sell without getting burned. <br />
<br />
<b> 10. DON'T leave your Craigslist ad online after you've sold your vehicle.
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-af2H95wlQuAqqsmPc9VD7X_KRoJpiUqvqJ2vtVSlZGE75kpym4LYVso6TeBvI1siq-ruYBZ3Ab9zCoCsxHfpzrkzxVRZ3bYIHnFQ6USnO02qrG7pO1dkE1jmXgLjtl2M0O_upuqHk/s1600/sergeant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-af2H95wlQuAqqsmPc9VD7X_KRoJpiUqvqJ2vtVSlZGE75kpym4LYVso6TeBvI1siq-ruYBZ3Ab9zCoCsxHfpzrkzxVRZ3bYIHnFQ6USnO02qrG7pO1dkE1jmXgLjtl2M0O_upuqHk/s1600/sergeant.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
This one has probably happened to all of us at one time or another and is one of my biggest pet peeves. You scour the listings for an hour or two and find exactly what you're looking for. With a twinge of excitement, you text the guy about his sweet lookin' truck, but are told it was sold two weeks ago. What!! Look! If you're going to use Craigslist to sell your truck for free the least you can do is pull your ad after the sale. It only takes a few seconds and a couple clicks to delete your ad. Enough said. <br />
<br />
Those are my 10 dos and don'ts for selling a vehicle on Craigslist. What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with anything I said in this list? Let me know. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-19801294629799999542015-04-11T06:41:00.000-07:002015-06-23T10:41:49.847-07:001998 Jeep Wrangler Sport Specifications<b>I. 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEB8LvMbeccSL0XMZNRv7pf1bZi3p5Me9yvXhLDOZp7hheyNq9KmBqoZBhwS7mwBMep4wGKtgru-0nWtfru_bdR06lid-DoDC_yAkg-n4Rt2hGES5p9T6DmeLOPA6fTfVdhGBNPBD2UA/s1600/IMG_5217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEB8LvMbeccSL0XMZNRv7pf1bZi3p5Me9yvXhLDOZp7hheyNq9KmBqoZBhwS7mwBMep4wGKtgru-0nWtfru_bdR06lid-DoDC_yAkg-n4Rt2hGES5p9T6DmeLOPA6fTfVdhGBNPBD2UA/s320/IMG_5217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Gunmetal Metallic Pearl Coat Paint (QQ7S)<br />
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6 (180hp @4750 rpm, 220 pounds-foot torque @4000 rpm)<br />
Transmission: 5-speed manual<br />
GVWR: 4,450 pounds <br />
Tires: Bridgestone Dueler A/T 245/75R15<br />
Fuel Tank Capacity: 19 gallons<br />
Alternator Output: 117 amps <br />
Front Axle: Dana 30/186mm<br />
Rear Axle: Dana 35/194mm<br />
Factory Front and Rear Sway Bars<br />
Differential: 3:73 Rear Axle Ratio<br />
Air Conditioning <br />
Full Metal Doors w/Roll-up Windows<br />
OEM Hardtop w/Rear Window Wiper/Washer<br />
Easy Access Pass Tip Slide Seats<br />
Folding Rear Seat <br />
Add-A-Trunk Lockable Storage<br />
Magnaflow Exhaust<br />
Rancho Steering Stabilizer <br />
Rancho RS5000X Shocks<br />
Magnetec LED Rear Tail Lights <br />
Bumper: Bulldog Winch Front BumperMello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-58487374377320396912015-04-03T05:30:00.000-07:002015-04-12T05:41:53.208-07:00In Search of a TJ Jeep Wrangler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HplyN7WWj4k5xlqQJtHV4GA0UUQuHyt6KymeLrcBEsjyIovyOKJR2aEsnqLW7mQWA9F5QjHlGCH-soOa-UiT8lK3i5eDNHd_j-B0Ua5rELDuMQG86tEq34IW8ttwHXPrIedrBxhCWSU/s1600/IMG_1980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HplyN7WWj4k5xlqQJtHV4GA0UUQuHyt6KymeLrcBEsjyIovyOKJR2aEsnqLW7mQWA9F5QjHlGCH-soOa-UiT8lK3i5eDNHd_j-B0Ua5rELDuMQG86tEq34IW8ttwHXPrIedrBxhCWSU/s1600/IMG_1980.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
What, Mike? Another Jeep Wrangler? Yep. Last year I sold my 2004 Jeep Wrangler in what turned out to be a big mistake. That '04 was practically cherry with only 55,000 miles on it. The wife wanted something that was easier to drive on the highway and got better gas mileage, so I sold it and bought her a Jeep Compass. In retrospect, what I should have done is kept the old Wrangler and bought her her own car. I was trying to be wise and frugal and and not own three vehicles. So here I am one year later in search of another Wrangler.<br />
<br />
Like my last Wrangler, I'm looking for a TJ (a Wrangler built between 1997 and 2006). I'm looking for a Jeep that is clean, well taken care of, with no more than 150,000 miles on it. It has to have the bulletproof 4.0L Inline 6 engine, AC, hard doors, and a back seat. The color doesn't really matter, but I do like the Sahara trim line with the matching color fenders and two-tone seats. I would also prefer to have a Dana 44 rear axle though this isn't what I would call a "deal breaker."<br />
<br />
Last time I bought my Wrangler at Sullivan Motors, a local used car dealership that specializes in used Jeeps. You can find some great Jeeps going this route, but you'll generally pay more and that doesn't even include the sales tax which will tack on an additional $1,200.00. This time I'm going with a private seller via Craigslist. Patience is the key when shopping for a used Wrangler, especially in Arizona as TJs are very popular. The good deals go fast. "You snooze, you lose" applies. Unlike last time, however, I'm willing to travel to get the right Jeep at the right price. I'm trying to stay below $10,000, but I'm willing to pay more for the right Jeep. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_hu7EsJGuHoQbdLaciikGuOHt_zIaw1vcWvvdtSYvP-HVM1fNPmGoMYy-zX3DetYfqcFGbJQlOkMB7n1ZaRsfTJvDGoBxaJVbRUfU0Fqzb-MIc_Q-lXj26txL-eJKQrl_aU_vAsmmYo/s1600/IMG_1975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_hu7EsJGuHoQbdLaciikGuOHt_zIaw1vcWvvdtSYvP-HVM1fNPmGoMYy-zX3DetYfqcFGbJQlOkMB7n1ZaRsfTJvDGoBxaJVbRUfU0Fqzb-MIc_Q-lXj26txL-eJKQrl_aU_vAsmmYo/s1600/IMG_1975.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bulletproof 4.0L Inline 6 engine routinely gets 300,000 miles. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For the benefit of those who may be looking for an older Jeep like me, here are a few things to be aware of regarding the 4.0L Inline 6 engine. The first thing to look for is a cylinder head with the 0331 casting. These troublesome heads were
used quite a bit on Jeeps in 2000, but can also be found in 1999, 2001, and 2002.
Any kind of overheating incident will crack them (usually between the 3rd and 4th cylinder).
It's just something to be aware of. In addition, the exhaust
manifolds in certain years are prone to cracking, too. These troublesome manifolds are found only in models before 2000. After market kits can be purchased to replace the faulty OEM manifold, but you can also repair the existing manifold by taking it to a welder.<br />
<br />
The search for another Wrangler is has been in progress for several weeks. Wish me luck. Oh, if you happen to know of one nearby, let me know. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-32961210521516198682015-04-01T05:30:00.000-07:002015-04-01T05:30:01.040-07:00RV Black Holding Tank Cleaning Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExNxQRWnFmiAuNowHgCaF4B2I1SxIjlLD7ccYGpLqNJqeURrBWHcj-KoYht_7l6X4WjAQCPISiX70OQAaQXlViHHfLIpDUBWQxD7RvBC7MKlGE74fWwrEgweMt6BU6O7AuYy-C1IBblw/s1600/TIDE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExNxQRWnFmiAuNowHgCaF4B2I1SxIjlLD7ccYGpLqNJqeURrBWHcj-KoYht_7l6X4WjAQCPISiX70OQAaQXlViHHfLIpDUBWQxD7RvBC7MKlGE74fWwrEgweMt6BU6O7AuYy-C1IBblw/s1600/TIDE.jpg" /></a></div>
We RV'ers have a love-hate relationship with the black tank in our RVs. We all love the convenience of having one to do our business, but hate the smell and cleaning associated with having one. Not only do we have to put up with the unpleasant smells, from time to time, but we also have to deal with the level sensors which often get caked with "stuff" which give erroneous readings (you KNOW the tank is basically empty, yet it reads completely full). In order to deal with these and other black tank issues, here are a few tips that I've learned along the way.<br />
<br />
After emptying your blank holding tank, place at least a couple gallons of fresh water in it along with the tank treatment of your choice. In my experience the additive you place in your tank doesn't really matter all that much, they all work about the same, despite their many claims. As for the toilet paper, you can not only use standard RV toilet paper, but also cheap household one-ply brands marked "septic safe" or Scotts Extra Soft two-ply toilet paper. These household brands dissolve just as well as standard RV toilet paper and often cost much less. If you don't believe me, perform your own test by placing a couple sheets of toilet paper of your choice as well as RV toilet paper in two separate glasses of water and shake. Both should dissolve at about the same time. <br />
<br />
Keeping your tank fresh and clean smelling and ensuring that your level sensors read properly is not that hard. After emptying your black tank, add a cup of Tide dry granule washing
machine detergent (with no bleach) and a couple gallons of water. After doing this drive a hour or two, making sure that all the contents in the tank get mixed up. After doing this, dump
your black tank again. Don't forget to place two gallons of water and your favorite tank treatment back in the tank after you're finished. If you don't have a box of Tide detergent handy, use a bag of ice cubes instead. I've never used ice cubes to clean my black tank, but many RVers swear that it's just as effective. Clean your tank as often as needed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxim_iyo9dBJSW2kBshu__AXuVkA4TgicNkxfZJU9-qcGFn36ne_c9YzwlYfMiqoqSlzull_fdUjuAld1-zH-MdSAIoj6qzY80pmBPzJtvXE-SM6IfmO4w7uC6p8H71n1BoH5HYlqGkk/s1600/IMG_3406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxim_iyo9dBJSW2kBshu__AXuVkA4TgicNkxfZJU9-qcGFn36ne_c9YzwlYfMiqoqSlzull_fdUjuAld1-zH-MdSAIoj6qzY80pmBPzJtvXE-SM6IfmO4w7uC6p8H71n1BoH5HYlqGkk/s1600/IMG_3406.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Tide cleans your black tank as well as the sensors.</i> </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQsJdWnhPodR4FeXZH3OoVyJowZ-55ijJHcnvv2cKeXJsIpLdTHXp2hplMrIM8qh4RFAMckeqjZY7pKIXcrP_2MddhPFIW7tdxflsb5cJRemKK8RWk6ziZJuReylMAEK_7rSJPbOk5pA/s1600/P8050304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQsJdWnhPodR4FeXZH3OoVyJowZ-55ijJHcnvv2cKeXJsIpLdTHXp2hplMrIM8qh4RFAMckeqjZY7pKIXcrP_2MddhPFIW7tdxflsb5cJRemKK8RWk6ziZJuReylMAEK_7rSJPbOk5pA/s320/P8050304.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>My Wolf Creek Camper after taking a dump. </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZidmI06UkMQn1WKJS-zD2hkhyYVAYFGjtRnyYu-WGUUNadLddspb8x0OGihF_V8inFytcXahAZmnLe80Wnyv70_vHkXJjnrsyLNUv0NRkopvA6C4qgrFiedcf52NeUZGonDyvtSg0P8/s1600/PB210523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZidmI06UkMQn1WKJS-zD2hkhyYVAYFGjtRnyYu-WGUUNadLddspb8x0OGihF_V8inFytcXahAZmnLe80Wnyv70_vHkXJjnrsyLNUv0NRkopvA6C4qgrFiedcf52NeUZGonDyvtSg0P8/s320/PB210523.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Valtera gray tank dump fitting. </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Here are a couple tips to remember when dumping your tank. First, make sure you wear disposable gloves while dumping your tanks,
keeping a supply of gloves handy near your RV's dump station. Before attaching your slinky to your RV, make sure that the clamp fitting that tightens the connector to your slinky is tight. I've seen these detach at dump stations and it isn't pretty (the look on RVer's faces when this happens tells the story). You'll also want to make sure that the other end of the slinky hose is secured to the drain with either a rock or brass lid. Doing this ensures that when you open the dump valve the slinky doesn't lift up and leave a big mess around the dump station and on your shoes. When emptying your tanks, dump your black tank first (the larger diameter pipe), then your gray (the smaller pipe of the two). Doing this cleans the nasties out of your slinky with relatively clean gray water.<br />
<br />
Show proper etiquette when dumping at public facilities. If there is a long waiting line, do your business as quickly as possible, then leave. But before you do so, clean the area with fresh water (most dump sites have a hose and fresh water to do this). If you need to wash your hands or do some other cleanup, pull your RV up, so others can begin dumping. <br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>If you have any tips of your own, I'd love to hear from you. </i><br />
<br />Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-24972487272035597592015-03-24T14:06:00.001-07:002015-03-24T14:06:36.165-07:00Torklift International Announces Changes to the Turnbuckle Line<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQFZsPnNGq3ekHJMM0YQ2RZQu9fXJltE7cvK5d8kuocglDRx6NghXrhW7pM60a1rzD3RO5kBVOVxu2-GJlYl8qgjk50lYHDMD8gz3GiSvLhs4fRhV4Lrm_PYTkVfObSVqw_SKmGbOZeI/s1600/FastGun_OU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQFZsPnNGq3ekHJMM0YQ2RZQu9fXJltE7cvK5d8kuocglDRx6NghXrhW7pM60a1rzD3RO5kBVOVxu2-GJlYl8qgjk50lYHDMD8gz3GiSvLhs4fRhV4Lrm_PYTkVfObSVqw_SKmGbOZeI/s320/FastGun_OU.jpg" /></a></div>
SUMNER, Wash., —Torklift International altered the most popular FastGun turnbuckle by design of its handle and introduction of an additional finish.<br />
<br />
“From customer feedback and further testing on the original FastGun turnbuckle handle that allowed rounded openings for fingers to grip onto, the value of altering the design was significant enough to make the change,” said General Manager Jay Taylor.<br />
<br />
The new handle on FastGun turnbuckles has a sleek design modeled after a pistol grip and is ergonomically easier to use. As Torklift shifts to greater use of lighter weight materials, the FastGun handle is made from aircraft grade aluminum too.<br />
<br />
“Upon further market research, Torklift has added a new finish and discontinued an older finish,” said Taylor. “The new high impact powder coat in “Bright White” matches the newer design of truck campers that are coming out. It’s a brighter, bolder white.”<br />
<br />
The previous finish in white matched a former trend of truck campers that were slightly off-white. The new “Bright White” color matches newer campers.<br />
<br />
The Long Range FastGun turnbuckle part number S9523 in white is being discontinued.<br />
<br />
The new “Bright White” finish is part number S9530 and is currently available in the Long Range design. Other finishes of stainless steel polish, high impact powder coat gray and black are still available.<br />
<br />
With the current changes in Torklift’s turnbuckle line, the legendary lifetime warranty stays the same.<br />
<br />
Extended warranty coverage of truck frame and camper anchor points applies when Torklift Frame-Mounted Tie Downs are used with spring-loaded turnbuckles on all four points of the camper.<br />
<br />
“When you’re riding with Torklift, you’re riding with confidence in nearly 40 years of engineering experience, superior quality and our legendary, trend setting, first-to-market designs,” said President Jack Kay.<br />
<br />
Torklift International turnbuckles come with a legendary lifetime warranty. For warranty details call 800-246-8132.
“We believe that the best way to assure true, steadfast confidence is a warranty that keeps the manufacturer riding with you for an entire lifetime,” said Kay.<br />
<br />
Visit <a href="http://www.torklift.com/">www.torklift.com</a> for more information and view this demonstration video for details on Torklift International turnbuckles: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZNyocP_e6w">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZNyocP_e6w</a><br />
<br />
<i>Torklift International is a Sumner, Washington-based manufacturing company. They produce aftermarket parts for the RV and automotive industries. Products are backed by their legendary lifetime warranty and proudly made in the USA. Founder Jon Kay established Torklift International in Kent, Washington. Torklift International was named 2013 Best Mid-Sized Company to Work For in Washington State. </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ntXzq7gRceyZv5hHm9JBaJT5GwDe31dZtQMTRromMTPe9dFTN2QOLILv30OTxnreFwsqiarmQDiZfgqoDn6n2s4-8zZnKCnHEYswXaZZyW6Izsl8uRsBpGBbZlgNxZZLfJj_VxV8bY0/s1600/TL_Fastguns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ntXzq7gRceyZv5hHm9JBaJT5GwDe31dZtQMTRromMTPe9dFTN2QOLILv30OTxnreFwsqiarmQDiZfgqoDn6n2s4-8zZnKCnHEYswXaZZyW6Izsl8uRsBpGBbZlgNxZZLfJj_VxV8bY0/s1600/TL_Fastguns.jpg" height="135" width="400" /></a></div>
Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-25342357784670184402015-03-20T05:30:00.000-07:002015-06-24T18:02:23.960-07:0011 Benefits of Truck Camper Ownership<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26pXLjaWqIUJKWz4IYXlxZOkzGXJN_H-qji07f5EAD6jbWrUsmGYmiHzRnvlFxJVEv07B8DLppgxlnz5K3DyhCmpB9oBaFwMf0nOa5MSthk9r0flJqCOpkOyfc2Tp3PZ6J6Z5XGQTlb4/s1600/11benifitsofTCownership.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26pXLjaWqIUJKWz4IYXlxZOkzGXJN_H-qji07f5EAD6jbWrUsmGYmiHzRnvlFxJVEv07B8DLppgxlnz5K3DyhCmpB9oBaFwMf0nOa5MSthk9r0flJqCOpkOyfc2Tp3PZ6J6Z5XGQTlb4/s1600/11benifitsofTCownership.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For consumers looking to buy a new RV, most never consider a truck camper and I think that's a serious mistake. Today's truck campers possess the same accouterments as the finest motorhomes and fifth wheels found in today's market. Indeed, some hard-side, long-bed truck campers offer large dry baths and sport as many as three slide-outs to increase living space. Most are also quite spacious and roomy and offer large kitchenettes and full-size queen beds. If you haven't been in a truck camper lately, you need to do so. You may be surprised at what you see.<br />
<br />
Aside from the standard creature comforts, the truck camper has much to offer the consumer. Like other RVs, truck campers come in various sizes and styles including long bed and short bed models, hard side and pop-up models, as well as slide-out and non slide-out models. You'll need a one-ton dually for the heavy, multiple slide-out models, but the smaller pop-up campers can easily be hauled by a half-ton pickup truck. Got an even smaller truck? Pop-up truck campers can also be purchased for the Ford Ranger, Chevy S10, and Toyota Tacoma. <br />
<br />
In spite of the differences between hard side and pop-up models and slide-out and non slide-out models, the truck camper has a common heritage with numerous things in common. These commonalities are what we'll examine in this article. It's also hoped that this article will explain why the truck camper makes such a great RV and will help buyers make a more informed decision. Now let's take a closer look at the eleven benefits of truck camper ownership. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Unmatched Versatility:</b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZ0QN2dIskmNG71lisJZGYcy7EFCGYiPWpoNpBkE6tY2oQpddfCSo8JC_MUv-DDn2jyYNh5B6D9puDLy4PNGI2dwc1HicaxOb7Z_88eN7gEIVplarVi07G_NCbXUHk35rkZxp67lChF8/s1600/TC+Towing+Jeep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZ0QN2dIskmNG71lisJZGYcy7EFCGYiPWpoNpBkE6tY2oQpddfCSo8JC_MUv-DDn2jyYNh5B6D9puDLy4PNGI2dwc1HicaxOb7Z_88eN7gEIVplarVi07G_NCbXUHk35rkZxp67lChF8/s200/TC+Towing+Jeep.jpg" width="200" /></a>Without a doubt, the truck camper is the most versatile RV on the market. The combo provides a rock-solid platform for towing things like
Jeeps, trailers, and boats. But that's not all. The fact that you can unload the truck camper from your pickup truck allows you to not only use your truck as a daily driver at home, but also gives you the ability use it on outings for things like four-wheeling, collecting firewood, or taking your boat to the lake. No other single RV on the planet can do all of these things like the truck camper can. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. No Registration or Insurance Fees:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEil06E1ue-YJpjj3phRqGGhEgjgS8zxYIFJtf165DLzc9ROeetG7tcbnC1akdtsXhfYQGBp9neI9wlstoGEVoNqjRxLYcaoC-MlC1kqHuQ88allJ72cfPaNvqLAXt9IjwqoqOHqu4-s/s1600/JohnM_LanceC.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEil06E1ue-YJpjj3phRqGGhEgjgS8zxYIFJtf165DLzc9ROeetG7tcbnC1akdtsXhfYQGBp9neI9wlstoGEVoNqjRxLYcaoC-MlC1kqHuQ88allJ72cfPaNvqLAXt9IjwqoqOHqu4-s/s200/JohnM_LanceC.JPG" width="200" /></a>Did
you know that <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2013/11/which-states-require-truck-camper_16.html" target="_blank">39 states</a> still classify the truck camper as cargo rather
than an RV? It's true. That means if you live in those states you won't have to pay annual license
and registration fees.
Insuring a truck camper is cheaper, too. There's no need to individually insure it, your auto insurance
policy will cover it when it's mounted to your truck, while at
home it will be covered by your home owner's policy. Just make sure you don't go over your truck's GVWR as this could void your coverage. As you can see, owning a truck camper can save you hundreds of dollars a year in insurance, fees and taxes. <br />
<br />
<b>3. Superb Maneuverability:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbe6_MaMyT0SBO-422mVpahreX3nEniJP8CWcMbn2kRiPkuVkN9-x-UAJWBKozZw2lyV-71sGIsZoG-nxZjtrR26RBfOT5IhVG1gkPXKTYqzb-LEHTIZd1FDcUXsdE98qIWq4F1QOAAE/s1600/Shafer+Trail+4x6+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbe6_MaMyT0SBO-422mVpahreX3nEniJP8CWcMbn2kRiPkuVkN9-x-UAJWBKozZw2lyV-71sGIsZoG-nxZjtrR26RBfOT5IhVG1gkPXKTYqzb-LEHTIZd1FDcUXsdE98qIWq4F1QOAAE/s200/Shafer+Trail+4x6+.jpg" width="200" /></a>The maneuverability of a truck
camper is hard to beat. The compact size of the truck camper coupled with
the small turning radius of the pickup truck means you can maneuver out
of trouble much easier than with towable RVs and large motorhomes. The size and maneuverability of this combo also means you can park
practically anywhere in town--you won't need to take up 15 parking
spaces at the back of the parking lot just to go shopping or eat at a
restaurant. It also means that you can park in small, national forest
campgrounds and negotiate steep and narrow mountain switchbacks. Due to its superb maneuverability, there are few RV's I would rather be
in when exploring unknown roads and new territory than the truck camper. <br />
<br />
<b>4. Easy to Drive:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQCcbDZAmVRoSFVjpS_g4OY7Y0ACS3KPxJSspl4XtZQVJLGho69sWQ-Scb3bOUhNlbbMoGt6lR8i5SQEPJFa1Jv-PJZXXnlrPYvAjlu3ZOR1U5ynligeFIiP5rnySy_h6QaKuIgCVDlA/s1600/IMG_0274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQCcbDZAmVRoSFVjpS_g4OY7Y0ACS3KPxJSspl4XtZQVJLGho69sWQ-Scb3bOUhNlbbMoGt6lR8i5SQEPJFa1Jv-PJZXXnlrPYvAjlu3ZOR1U5ynligeFIiP5rnySy_h6QaKuIgCVDlA/s200/IMG_0274.jpg" width="200" /></a>If driving a large motorhome or pulling a massive fifth wheel or travel
trailer intimidates you or has lost its appeal, then you'll love
driving a Truck Camper. Owning a truck camper means you won't have the
hassle of hooking up a trailer hitch and anti-sway tow bar before
leaving on your trip. Not only that, but you won't have to worry about
fish-tailing on the freeway from heavy winds and passing semi-trucks, nor
avoid inattentive drivers merging on the interstates. Both men and women enjoy the ease and simplicity of driving a truck camper. In fact, it's really no different than driving a regular pickup truck. My wife, who would never take the wheel towing a
travel trailer, enjoys driving our truck camper. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Outstanding Boondocking Capability:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O_YvTFxK9gDgMgXIIoJH0obNl1YjPcnCBD1R5VAahoN0-HnXHS3kzwD3B7phawmk8LZnKjFoXjlgGt1axVcRe9GzD0DWBVw8qKPurHwXhZipHgo4LnDS5Y975b-Jpn1VV_hzMuD1PsY/s1600/Whazoo_Outiftter_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O_YvTFxK9gDgMgXIIoJH0obNl1YjPcnCBD1R5VAahoN0-HnXHS3kzwD3B7phawmk8LZnKjFoXjlgGt1axVcRe9GzD0DWBVw8qKPurHwXhZipHgo4LnDS5Y975b-Jpn1VV_hzMuD1PsY/s200/Whazoo_Outiftter_3.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you like to explore and boondock far off the beaten path, then the <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2012/03/rv-debate-best-rv-for-boondocking.html" target="_blank">truck camper</a> is one of the best options out there. Why? Well, the compact size and two-axle configuration means you can go places where the typical large RV can't. Add the go-anywhere capability of a 4x4 pickup truck mated with a pop-up truck camper and you'll be able to go practically anywhere your heart desires. Travel down remote, narrow forest roads on the North Rim? Sure! Climb steep hogbacks in Moab, Utah? No problem! Spend a few weeks at Quartzsite during the winter? Absolutely! When you own a truck camper the world is at your doorstep. <b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>6. Cheaper to Maintain:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oIzZI_xNBLlLz9JuZYeazIBG-QPudsFtWw5_7cc1ryMOOlD3WPW4JeV8iKioFS9fjNtqH4KTOxHPad6ZnUuV3dM0Am5CzFegKDNz8TG_GJQJPfjg-Qn02J0fYtnCMAU2ktad4sExfAk/s1600/IMG_2222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oIzZI_xNBLlLz9JuZYeazIBG-QPudsFtWw5_7cc1ryMOOlD3WPW4JeV8iKioFS9fjNtqH4KTOxHPad6ZnUuV3dM0Am5CzFegKDNz8TG_GJQJPfjg-Qn02J0fYtnCMAU2ktad4sExfAk/s200/IMG_2222.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
With no towing or running gear, the truck camper is the cheapest RV to maintain. If you've owned a travel trailer or fifth wheel before, you know the time and cost involved in maintaining the tires, bearings, and brakes. It can be a major pain. With the truck camper all you need to do is maintain your truck as you normally would do with periodic servicing. Yes, it's true that the camper itself will need periodic maintenance as well, but in the long run, you'll spend much more time enjoying your truck camper rather than working on it. Always a plus in my book.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>7. Better Fuel Economy:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC8N7A4ZoxStXY5hWrP15W6ql4G1HUF2uTf1t-is5Tfg67fJZ9KunGzob-_LRwpldlh9XxQLBOb01QRzManIaG0IpSXeG7KllnJm4LtiHpA5PAgxKRtbuJFKNT31KfILYBqEFEz8Dt4k/s1600/IMG_1564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAC8N7A4ZoxStXY5hWrP15W6ql4G1HUF2uTf1t-is5Tfg67fJZ9KunGzob-_LRwpldlh9XxQLBOb01QRzManIaG0IpSXeG7KllnJm4LtiHpA5PAgxKRtbuJFKNT31KfILYBqEFEz8Dt4k/s200/IMG_1564.jpg" width="200" /></a>With the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline in today's economy, every mile counts. On average, truck campers get better fuel economy than the typical RV. Indeed, most truck camper owners are realizing anywhere between 10 to 15 mpg (my 6.2L V8 gas engine with a 3,000 pound camper typically gets a little over 12 mpg). Low profile, pop-up truck camper owners realize even more savings by using a diesel pickup truck to haul their camper. Some diesel owners have claimed as much as 20 mpg hauling around a light-weight, pop-up truck camper! Try getting those numbers with another RV. It isn't going to happen. <br />
<br />
<b>8. Easy to Store:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiGbanCtM8juHszR3EENffIMBAFgbeuRaBbQCBeW8WlQYMhSSEouIrgWQXvfNoOrUkgWAV874kqcpSZ_CSs_1Go0XyNIDm0GQzOhwQhVzvGZv5G0mUvI7kG0tu2udN_j6smZdfHBfQEE/s1600/IMG_2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiGbanCtM8juHszR3EENffIMBAFgbeuRaBbQCBeW8WlQYMhSSEouIrgWQXvfNoOrUkgWAV874kqcpSZ_CSs_1Go0XyNIDm0GQzOhwQhVzvGZv5G0mUvI7kG0tu2udN_j6smZdfHBfQEE/s200/IMG_2005.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The compact size of the truck camper means that storing it will be less of a hassle. Most of us live on small lots of one-third of an acre or smaller. This means that a small RV like the truck camper will be much easier to store than a massive fifth wheel or Class A motorhome. Still, if storing an RV on your property isn't possible due to HOA regulations or other limitations, then storing a small RV like a truck camper means you won't have to pay as much for storage fees. Oh, and one more thing. Unmounted truck campers are much more difficult to steal than other types of RV's. Just make sure you store the electric jacks remote and electrical umbilical cord separate from the camper. <br />
<br />
<b>9. Great Bug-Out Vehicle:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_DhVEi7qLaVkWZZQpyLWCcG99qCu6YDVFmUALXbUQpr32B_kGCcL3mY7g4YBBcra_czU0a_GX2tOEL2k5A4jNKEryGcEH4LgddM7H7YW7Cbi3GFXygkm_crlj-NqNWynxi5R1sCIkss/s1600/20130815_173519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_DhVEi7qLaVkWZZQpyLWCcG99qCu6YDVFmUALXbUQpr32B_kGCcL3mY7g4YBBcra_czU0a_GX2tOEL2k5A4jNKEryGcEH4LgddM7H7YW7Cbi3GFXygkm_crlj-NqNWynxi5R1sCIkss/s200/20130815_173519.jpg" width="200" /></a>Need <a href="http://mellomikeswolfcreekcamper.blogspot.com/2011/11/choosing-right-bug-out-vehicle-bov.html" target="_blank">emergency shelter</a> due to an
approaching storm, fire, or flood? No problem with the truck camper. The amenities and compact
size of the truck camper means you'll have all the essentials you'll need to get you and your family through an emergency. If you think a truck camper is too small. Think again. You
can easily survive a couple weeks in a large, solar-powered truck camper stocked with food, water, and fuel. In most cases two weeks is more than
enough time for the trouble to pass. The small size of the truck camper
also makes it more stealthy in a bug-out scenario compared to other RV's and more likely to avoid unwanted attention. This means it can be parked practically anywhere
including an empty lot or family member's driveway. <br />
<br />
<b>10. Upgrade and Maintenance Independence:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5whTCK5YH_gIMADKbi3oIa1eoOkbq5XHOW2JjRQ3c2CSNOlbZlLgMlptC1Ohq2ThgzVyxoBl9P1RnIkyekYj8rfSN0YGJz62v7eL9jDBDAbBm_ky_p7ZpSnQTn-6oTo0dc-5DdCp7K3U/s1600/IMG_2226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5whTCK5YH_gIMADKbi3oIa1eoOkbq5XHOW2JjRQ3c2CSNOlbZlLgMlptC1Ohq2ThgzVyxoBl9P1RnIkyekYj8rfSN0YGJz62v7eL9jDBDAbBm_ky_p7ZpSnQTn-6oTo0dc-5DdCp7K3U/s200/IMG_2226.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Since the pickup truck and camper are two separate units, upgrading one or the other is much easier. Need a bigger pickup truck with more payload and 4x4 capability? Then get one. Want a bigger truck camper with a slide-out and more room? No problem, buy it. This versatility when it comes to upgrading doesn't exist with the motorhome--it's all one unit. One other thing about the truck camper. The fact that the truck and camper can be separated also means that taking one to the shop is much easier; you can still use one while the other is at the shop. Nice!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>11. Excellent Depreciation Value:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdTllsr2Duc7Xfx4CFtLg_lNJ5gTfWcvbKEbdCTzbSSPAzmjjGSY1PjrILwVjwCZ1qF_OEMXi3q2ORv7IoTEh6k1fvU4mSEM4W5RgKZlpNvnN4FViyaVz8_Himire4mx4JbfpE4ffK7s/s1600/northstar+factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdTllsr2Duc7Xfx4CFtLg_lNJ5gTfWcvbKEbdCTzbSSPAzmjjGSY1PjrILwVjwCZ1qF_OEMXi3q2ORv7IoTEh6k1fvU4mSEM4W5RgKZlpNvnN4FViyaVz8_Himire4mx4JbfpE4ffK7s/s200/northstar+factory.jpg" width="200" /></a>The
versatile truck camper holds its value much better than the typical RV. Why? Two things: the
smaller niche truck camper market and the fact that truck campers are built better
than your typical RV. Most truck camper
manufacturers are industry leaders in quality, design, and innovation and often customize their products
to meet the requirements of each individual truck camper owner. This
quality and attention to detail means a better product for you that will
provide many years of quality service. <br />
<br />
These are the primary benefits of truck camper ownership. There are certainly others, but these are the ones that really standout above the rest. Is the truck camper for everyone? Of course not. Full-timers who need more living space and those who have physical limitations won't like what the truck camper has to offer. But the truck camper does provide unmatched capabilities and benefits that can't be beat by other classes of RVs. So if you're thinking about buying an RV, give serious thought to the versatile truck camper. It might be one of the best decisions you've ever made.<br />
<br />
<i>A special thanks to Northstar Campers, Jim Caruthers, Randy B. (Ramlinwillie), John M., Dave Rogers (Whazoo), Jim W. (Boatycall), and Laurie Heimbigner for permission to use their photographs. </i>Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-25065984356537168912015-03-09T13:10:00.000-07:002015-06-24T17:23:43.831-07:00Goodbye, Stinky Slinky. Hello, RhinoFlex!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqL1D3DuN9xVJuBdGurGgVKJEv-0JyO6_1MrC4gKrzxqW232T06Sekeh2F0XcqKhOiXWDQOMVZTPj5p68GyiDDL3HOEySNhDS-HI7FH-lfBbxfZGa82hJeQ8LmADEfdJQ5Wbf_J1OX9Q/s1600/robinwilliamsRV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqL1D3DuN9xVJuBdGurGgVKJEv-0JyO6_1MrC4gKrzxqW232T06Sekeh2F0XcqKhOiXWDQOMVZTPj5p68GyiDDL3HOEySNhDS-HI7FH-lfBbxfZGa82hJeQ8LmADEfdJQ5Wbf_J1OX9Q/s1600/robinwilliamsRV.jpg" width="213" /></a>It was like a scene out of the Robin Williams comedy film, <i>RV</i>. We had just completed a big weekend camp-out with family and friends. Everyone had used our bathroom over the weekend, so the waste tanks in our camper were full, <i>really </i>full. I had already located a great dump site on <a href="http://sanidumps.com/">Sanidumps.com</a> and had made a beeline to it after leaving the campsite. I paid the fee, pulled up to the dump station, and got out to do the dirty business that all RV owners hate.<br />
<br />
The afternoon temperature was 93 degrees, not exactly balmy, but tolerable. With the three-hour drive home ahead of us, I wanted to get this nasty business done and over with quick. I put on a set of disposable gloves, pulled out the Stinky Slinky sewer hose, and hooked it up to the camper's dump outlet. After inserting the other end of the hose into the dump station's sewer inlet, I walked back to the camper, reached into the dump valve access port, and yanked up on the handle to the black tank dump valve. A split second later the welcome sound of rushing water was heard as the sewage began draining into the sewer inlet. So far, so good. <br />
<br />
Three or four minutes later the black tank was close to emptying out. At this point the flow rate had slowed down quite a bit, so I lifted the hose to help move the sewage along. I was in the middle of doing this when, to my horror, it happened--Mr. Slinky pulled loose from the bayonet fitting and flopped straight to the ground. With it a gallon or two of the nasty, foul smelling liquid hit the asphalt and splashed up on my legs and my feet. With sewage still pouring out of the dump outlet and a few choice words blurting out from my mouth (insert your choice of expletive here), I frantically grabbed the end of the hose and successfully reattached it to the bayonet fitting. Robin Williams would've been proud. But, alas, the damage was done. My ego was bruised and my shoes were soiled. Mr. Slinky had beaten me again.<br />
<br />
Yep, this wasn't the first time. I had a similar run-in with this sinister hose back in 2010. In each case the point of failure was the bayonet fitting. The main problem is the bayonet fitting's design. The portion of the fitting that slips inside the Slinky is smooth. There's nothing for the hose clamp to grab onto when it's tightened over the fitting, so no matter how tight you get it the hose can pull away from the fitting with a good tug or twist. This is especially true when the hose is fully extended and full of waste water like
it was for me during this latest mishap. I checked the tightness of the clamp before I used it this time around and it was snug as a rug, but it made no difference. A better solution than the troublesome, unreliable Stinky Slinky <i>had</i> to be out there and I was determined to find it. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl_4gd0vI_Mazn6G6qiQmmzRs1GqwedmEyDhH6Cglg3PfcS2aQ5ZHzE0J0u9Spc2wwEn1V94ltXQ7ZxIDLUATOANgsvYzpt2VknMo9Whaa9JnpwKfMjFy8QdxGzHpjYXi-uFcaWpjDOg/s1600/IMG_3748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl_4gd0vI_Mazn6G6qiQmmzRs1GqwedmEyDhH6Cglg3PfcS2aQ5ZHzE0J0u9Spc2wwEn1V94ltXQ7ZxIDLUATOANgsvYzpt2VknMo9Whaa9JnpwKfMjFy8QdxGzHpjYXi-uFcaWpjDOg/s1600/IMG_3748.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mr. Slinky before being relegated to the trash heap. </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fortunately, I did. The good folks at Camco make what they call the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OUMVWY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002OUMVWY&linkCode=as2&tag=melmikstrucam-20&linkId=LHMZ2VYPEO64RCUN" target="_blank">RhinoFLEX 15' Sewer Hose Kit</a>, a patented RV dumping system with specially engineered hose fittings to prevent mishaps while dumping. The RhinoFLEX sewer hose is sold as a complete kit with everything you need to dump your RV's waste tanks. The kit includes a 15 foot hose, a swivel bayonet adapter, a 4-in-1 translucent elbow (yes, you can view the waste through the elbow while dumping), two locking rings, and two storage caps. The translucent elbow comes with a detachable adapter that fits all dump-station inlet sizes, including 3 inch slip or 3,
3-1/2 and 4 inch. Camco sells kits with hose lengths of 15 feet and 20 feet. The best price I could find online for the RhinoFLEX 15 foot version was $28.00 through Amazon.com. <br />
<br />
When you first remove the RhinoFLEX hose from the box, it looks like your normal, everyday Stinky Slinky. Unlike the others, however, the RhinoFLEX hose "clicks" into the shape you want and remains rigid, meaning it can be extended or compressed like an accordion and can hold it's shape when bent like a drinking straw. No other sewer hose on the market can do this. For storage, the 15-foot-long hose compresses to an amazing 56 inches with the end fittings or 43 inches without them. Need additional length? No problem. Extension kits can be purchased in 5 and 10 foot lengths. Need a shorter hose for those extra short storage tubes like the one on my truck camper? Cut it to the length you need. <br />
<br />
The RhinoFLEX end fittings are well-made and offer some neat, innovative features. The fittings are reverse threaded and are attached by rotating them onto the hose in a counterclockwise fashion. The locking rings, which are placed onto the hose first, are also threaded and are tightened by turning them clockwise until the locking tabs on the ring engage. Together, the two result in a hose connection that won't fail during use. Moreover, each fitting is designed so that they can swivel a full 360 degrees while connected, thus if any adjustments to the hose needs to be made while you're dumping you can do so confidently without mishap. I should note that the fittings come greased from the factory and that you'll need to grease them periodically to keep them limber and loose. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vUH1hymlim4VoqsZ3qUJMKLM39ffx71hjcQkYLB7F8l95ikDcupRVeYbMpYXdYyxGtP9XfVF4T-Hb3tnced9DNR7zognPGqoLBYrSctl5f2zbBXRcBb9BBkc0kEWMKAYKahWJX3IdRo/s1600/IMG_3747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vUH1hymlim4VoqsZ3qUJMKLM39ffx71hjcQkYLB7F8l95ikDcupRVeYbMpYXdYyxGtP9XfVF4T-Hb3tnced9DNR7zognPGqoLBYrSctl5f2zbBXRcBb9BBkc0kEWMKAYKahWJX3IdRo/s1600/IMG_3747.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>RhinoFLEX sewer hose (4-in-1 adapter & caps not shown). </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8IIfBeiGAdu5aX24TIGwf487BzumwzxxIB7uqUUIm2FNZ7eV6fSFiP3pVCGTd24SRDmMm_uE2jMvmPYq2tu5FPcWzxwgcwLcnKQ8YXNQek130ikG5LfrnTIjQ0LEzgKGtQmJAiA5WzQ/s1600/IMG_3743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-8IIfBeiGAdu5aX24TIGwf487BzumwzxxIB7uqUUIm2FNZ7eV6fSFiP3pVCGTd24SRDmMm_uE2jMvmPYq2tu5FPcWzxwgcwLcnKQ8YXNQek130ikG5LfrnTIjQ0LEzgKGtQmJAiA5WzQ/s1600/IMG_3743.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Closeup of RhinoFLEX bayonet adapter with locking ring. </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnvfWjOTvmIKRdDJCy__gDAheYBcfQf2IW-vJUAaPndEUc1e2g9-A_YV6O3csWLyePWyZtYG2lbY6doSZMpSsLdxFON0lKNXhFqjon3cyAGy-4mq0PX44nU94W0RdLFl1tDQdGg_h5Z4/s1600/IMG_3793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnvfWjOTvmIKRdDJCy__gDAheYBcfQf2IW-vJUAaPndEUc1e2g9-A_YV6O3csWLyePWyZtYG2lbY6doSZMpSsLdxFON0lKNXhFqjon3cyAGy-4mq0PX44nU94W0RdLFl1tDQdGg_h5Z4/s1600/IMG_3793.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Plastic container where I store the 4-in-1 inlet adapter. </b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Are there any negatives with the system? I can think of only two. First,
because of the size of the end fittings you'll
need a storage tube with a 4 inch diameter to store it. Unfortunately,
not all RV's
have a storage tube with a diameter that large, so you'll need to
either remove the fittings or find another place in your RV to store it.
Second, the removable 4-in-1 inlet adapter is too bulky to fit in a
standard 4 inch storage tube. This means you'll need to detach it from
the translucent elbow and store it in another location. This can be a
pain, for sure, but it is what it is (I
store mine in a small plastic container with a lid). As you can see,
neither issue is what I would call a "show stopper" and in no way
detracts from what I think is an outstanding product.<br />
<br />
How well does the RhinoFLEX actually work? I've been an
RV'er for 12 years and the RhinoFLEX is simply the quickest, easiest,
most sanitary dumping system I've ever used. The bayonet adapter
attaches easily to my camper's dump outlet and stays firmly secured
while in use. The hose is flexible, yet firm, and holds its shape no
matter how much waste water is rushing through it; no need to
place a large rock on the inlet side of the hose to keep in in place. The
translucent elbow allows you to see the rate of flow at a glance and
helps take the guesswork out of dumping. The hose is easy
to clean
and compress, while the storage caps make storing the RhinoFLEX a
joy, no more messy spills while placing the hose in the storage tube. I
can't say enough good things about the RhinoFLEX. My only regret is
that I didn't buy one years ago. It works that well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tMYmZjDsFGRZpNhyHMRZKJt9zSSR80LZ-45-A-ltdEBh5JP13MUck_irLGSpPNrZBUuox34M0m0mhnKLFOEnmEVrrbx9aPOi57LjmQx4FPn-1TKPPJ4mYr_eI7URCDUM1L2PKb9Aa3g/s1600/IMG_4651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tMYmZjDsFGRZpNhyHMRZKJt9zSSR80LZ-45-A-ltdEBh5JP13MUck_irLGSpPNrZBUuox34M0m0mhnKLFOEnmEVrrbx9aPOi57LjmQx4FPn-1TKPPJ4mYr_eI7URCDUM1L2PKb9Aa3g/s320/IMG_4651.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The RhinoFLEX in action.</b></i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now you may think it's lame for an experienced RV'er to get excited over a sewer hose. I can understand that. But the simple fact of the matter is that if you own an RV, waste tank dumping is an smelly, unfortunate fact of life that we must all do. Wouldn't you rather dump confidently each and every time without worrying about an embarrassing Robin Williams mishap? If you're still not convinced
that the RhinoFLEX system is for you, check out the reviews on Amazon.com.
Hundreds of testimonials have been written by RV owners stating that it's a superior product. So if you want a clean and reliable RV dumping system, and you're tired of Mr. Slinky getting the best of you, give the RhinoFLEX system a try. Your ego and your shoes will thank you.<br />
<br />
<i>Disclaimer: I'm an independent reviewer. I do NOT get paid to review
products on this website. I will only recommend products which I
use and believe in and which I think will benefit my audience. The views
expressed are my personal views and are written without any influence,
whatsoever.
That said, I reserve the right to engage in paid affiliate marketing and
promotion
with brands, companies and individuals whose products I review. </i><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B002OUMVWY&asins=B002OUMVWY&linkId=WTVRYDF36JTLZ3UP&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B007H2RR78&asins=B007H2RR78&linkId=HYDT6VHODWCRUOYV&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B006OQ35GU&asins=B006OQ35GU&linkId=4NDD2ZURHXDBG6ZV&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=melmikstrucam-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B002OUIXU8&asins=B002OUIXU8&linkId=42NAAYB2FJXPY7Z4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123130656419833445.post-88952210020064045002015-02-27T05:30:00.000-07:002015-03-01T09:17:09.598-07:00Moving and Getting Sick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI6lrAZdP_HlUJOVpBt2E7RbKhAes-INkxXkhrgINYoN-VxHgjqdtdOLkQNnzYDQuLRwvACebXBX1aCeg-GC6DZfVpkBJwysR_5iGNiZ_Q-XpU2BexJ83bqJXH36ydTv8zH_JZ8vDszs/s1600/IMG_5020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI6lrAZdP_HlUJOVpBt2E7RbKhAes-INkxXkhrgINYoN-VxHgjqdtdOLkQNnzYDQuLRwvACebXBX1aCeg-GC6DZfVpkBJwysR_5iGNiZ_Q-XpU2BexJ83bqJXH36ydTv8zH_JZ8vDszs/s1600/IMG_5020.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Wow, things have been crazy busy at the Mello Mike household lately. In December, we moved into our new home and my oldest son and his wife had their first baby (yes, I'm now a Grandpa). The holidays, of course, are always busy with family gatherings, and we've been busy unpacking, organizing the new household, and getting rid of stuff we no longer use. After a terrific five day visit to Quartzsite in late January, I got hit with a cold that soon turned into a bad case of bronchitis or whooping cough. I've had it four weeks now. The chest congestion, which at first was awful, has gone down quite a bit, but I still get intense fits of coughing that make me light headed. In fact, a few days ago I ended up passing out during one coughing spell and fell and hit my head. I had to get staples in the back of my head for the deep gash and was admitted to a local hospital for overnight observation. I'm told that bronchitis can last 6 weeks and whooping cough 3 months. I'm still not sure which I have. The doc said Bronchitis, but the coughing resembles whooping cough more. I hope it's not whooping cough. We have some trips planned that I've had to put on hold while I recover.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, that's why I haven't posted any trip reports lately. Moving and getting sick can put a big damper in activities. In meantime, I thought I'd show everyone our new homebase. It's a four bedroom, two bathroom house with a two car garage. No HOA. There's a gated, side parking area large enough to accommodate a large RV, plenty big for our small truck camper. Unfortunately, there are no electrical outlets and water spigots on the side where the RV parking is located, so I'll need to do something about both soon (look for a 30 amp installation here on this blog). I may also have to erect some kind of covering on that side of the house to protect the camper.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKKJOSOzFoD1B30AgCogP47j6Cw_DL84_5k9GcpPeufxKRHooLpttyyF1336nOn7BOGWoDGMGg26nH1OEGwylAxQeO_5as1g4vssWdoZ0Ryl8M7ixN9QFXO0HSBsGuuemS-WXgnlADxE/s1600/IMG_5023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKKJOSOzFoD1B30AgCogP47j6Cw_DL84_5k9GcpPeufxKRHooLpttyyF1336nOn7BOGWoDGMGg26nH1OEGwylAxQeO_5as1g4vssWdoZ0Ryl8M7ixN9QFXO0HSBsGuuemS-WXgnlADxE/s1600/IMG_5023.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The gated parking area for Wolfy. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One big reason why we bought this particular house was for the location. It's located in east Mesa, just a few miles from the
Usery Mountain Regional Park, the Superstition Mountains and the Apache
Trail, and the Salt River Recreation Area. The Tonto National Forest and the Four Peaks Wilderness Area are close as well. We're about 2 minutes from the 202 freeway and maybe 10 minutes from the 60 freeway. Easy access for long distance traveling. There are even a few RV dump stations nearby where you can dump your tanks for just $5. Hopefully, we can get out soon in the camper and do some exploring. Mello Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773539826384472593noreply@blogger.com10