**** Finally Started and Finished--> Day 1 through 15 are posted- start at Post 128 and go from there!! ****
So as the title reads, me my wife camera and rig will be heading out this early fall for a trip. With places we've both wanted to see and do over the years and having some banked up vacation time (working all but 27 days in the 1st 1/2 the year overseas helps:lol
So the places my wife has wanted to see-
Grand Canyon
Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs (been there before on business and left part of her heart there- she loves that place)
So I added the places I wanted to see
Wheeling anywhere with FJ's - Not really a place yet but more of a reason for this epic journey- this will be an ever expansive list of places and folks Ive spoken to over the years in the forum and have been wanting to cash in on all those beers promised :lol:
Moab- wheeling too
Colorado- Because Texas is mostly flat where I live- wheeling too
Wyoming- I like windy places since being in Scotland- wheeling too
Yellowstone National park- Went there as a young lad and its impression on my mind has never left.
So we originally planned to do this with an RV, towing the FJ and going in style. This was partially due to the fear of being stranded with a broken rig and then wear on the rig. The idea seemed romantic enough but then I got sticker shock.
To rent what would have been an "all inclusive" except fuel (not including a trailer) would have been $4300 for 2 weeks. Yikes! Thats a whole lot of nice hotel rooms and with a fuel economy of 4-6 mpg on gas, thats another $3400-3600 in fuel! Plus- the rig has seen only a few thousand miles since 2011 so Ive really been more worried about losing my 2K+ worth of tires (replacement costs) to dry rot versus wearing them down. :lol:
So being all wise and such- I pleaded the idea of doing this old fashioned "Americana style" with some camping under the stars and hotels scattered throughout to freshen up and keep my wife happy. This also works since the $$ save could be interpreted as mod money...:rofl::lol: Always have an angle- thats my word of advise toi those who wonder how my rig got this way being married
So with that said- No set date until I find out when my next job/ hitch will begin which will also give me my return date. I'll be coming back from another possibly long hitch of about 3 months+ so between jet lag from living in New Zealand for over a month to getting things done on the rig- my first days home will be filled
To be done-
Build up back up LT CV- After Jambo I decided one wasnt enough so I purchased a new Toyota CV and +2" axle from All pro
Change all fluids in diffs and TC to Amsoil
Oil change
Lube zerks- all 20+ of them... :lol:
Consider re-balancing tires without the sporting goods store and doing a straight machine balance- this means full tear down and rebuild. Lots of little bolt to tighten up :lol:
Possible TPMS fix- tired of that light and the blinking compass one too... :lol:
Install-
Complete sound deadening of FJ with Fat Mat
New Stereo Head unit, speakers and amps- never done before- this could be intersting. If not for having Old Sarge stop by- I'd still be soldering wrong :rofl:
Slider for ARB fridge onto custom rear platform
Change lower rear links to MT long travel set up
So aside from my brain telling me that 12 midnight is actually 2 in the afternoon, I should have my hands full.
The trip
The plan is to head due east towards New Mexico and eventually into Arizona. Wheel and visit GC. This has me heading northeast through Abilene, TX, Lubbock, TX, over the state line towards Clovis, NM and onto Albuqurerque, NM, across to Flagstaff, AZ then North to the park.
The other route is more easterly across TX on I-10 thru El Paso TX, onto Las Cruces, NM towards Tucson, AZ, Phoenix, AZ and then the park
So aside from two plotted paths on Google Maps (stating "Some roads may be tolled and some may be closed" :worried: gives me goose bumps :lol:
The trip will aim to hit the following places in this order but remain "fluid" enough to change and allow flexibility. The best part is we may have 3 weeks instead of 2 which should allow even more relaxation and a chance to really soak in surroundings and not be so focused on "getting there" and enjoy the journey.
Here's the "Open Plan"
AZ- Wheel/ Grand Canyon National Park
Utah- Moab- Wheel/ camp
Colorado- Wheel/ garden of the Gods
Wyoming- Wheel/ Yellowstone National Park
Head home
Lots to do and plan so as this progresses and my mind changes with new ideas input by you all- so will the trip.
I also want to visit the 4 corners so I can beat my younger sisters record of visiting all 4 States 100 times (I was told to go back to the car for pushing :rofl: and had to settle with 37...). This will be broadcast live on FB since my sister needs to see it for it to be official...:jester:
So any weird, exotic and strange things to see along the way- let me know I can deviate some to see them if they captivate me enough. :bigthumb:
So let the ideas start flowing!:rocker:
-OC
So as the title reads, me my wife camera and rig will be heading out this early fall for a trip. With places we've both wanted to see and do over the years and having some banked up vacation time (working all but 27 days in the 1st 1/2 the year overseas helps:lol
So the places my wife has wanted to see-
Grand Canyon
Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs (been there before on business and left part of her heart there- she loves that place)
So I added the places I wanted to see
Wheeling anywhere with FJ's - Not really a place yet but more of a reason for this epic journey- this will be an ever expansive list of places and folks Ive spoken to over the years in the forum and have been wanting to cash in on all those beers promised :lol:
Moab- wheeling too
Colorado- Because Texas is mostly flat where I live- wheeling too
Wyoming- I like windy places since being in Scotland- wheeling too
Yellowstone National park- Went there as a young lad and its impression on my mind has never left.
So we originally planned to do this with an RV, towing the FJ and going in style. This was partially due to the fear of being stranded with a broken rig and then wear on the rig. The idea seemed romantic enough but then I got sticker shock.
To rent what would have been an "all inclusive" except fuel (not including a trailer) would have been $4300 for 2 weeks. Yikes! Thats a whole lot of nice hotel rooms and with a fuel economy of 4-6 mpg on gas, thats another $3400-3600 in fuel! Plus- the rig has seen only a few thousand miles since 2011 so Ive really been more worried about losing my 2K+ worth of tires (replacement costs) to dry rot versus wearing them down. :lol:
So being all wise and such- I pleaded the idea of doing this old fashioned "Americana style" with some camping under the stars and hotels scattered throughout to freshen up and keep my wife happy. This also works since the $$ save could be interpreted as mod money...:rofl::lol: Always have an angle- thats my word of advise toi those who wonder how my rig got this way being married
So with that said- No set date until I find out when my next job/ hitch will begin which will also give me my return date. I'll be coming back from another possibly long hitch of about 3 months+ so between jet lag from living in New Zealand for over a month to getting things done on the rig- my first days home will be filled
To be done-
Build up back up LT CV- After Jambo I decided one wasnt enough so I purchased a new Toyota CV and +2" axle from All pro
Change all fluids in diffs and TC to Amsoil
Oil change
Lube zerks- all 20+ of them... :lol:
Consider re-balancing tires without the sporting goods store and doing a straight machine balance- this means full tear down and rebuild. Lots of little bolt to tighten up :lol:
Possible TPMS fix- tired of that light and the blinking compass one too... :lol:
Install-
Complete sound deadening of FJ with Fat Mat
New Stereo Head unit, speakers and amps- never done before- this could be intersting. If not for having Old Sarge stop by- I'd still be soldering wrong :rofl:
Slider for ARB fridge onto custom rear platform
Change lower rear links to MT long travel set up
So aside from my brain telling me that 12 midnight is actually 2 in the afternoon, I should have my hands full.
The trip
The plan is to head due east towards New Mexico and eventually into Arizona. Wheel and visit GC. This has me heading northeast through Abilene, TX, Lubbock, TX, over the state line towards Clovis, NM and onto Albuqurerque, NM, across to Flagstaff, AZ then North to the park.
The other route is more easterly across TX on I-10 thru El Paso TX, onto Las Cruces, NM towards Tucson, AZ, Phoenix, AZ and then the park
So aside from two plotted paths on Google Maps (stating "Some roads may be tolled and some may be closed" :worried: gives me goose bumps :lol:
The trip will aim to hit the following places in this order but remain "fluid" enough to change and allow flexibility. The best part is we may have 3 weeks instead of 2 which should allow even more relaxation and a chance to really soak in surroundings and not be so focused on "getting there" and enjoy the journey.
Here's the "Open Plan"
AZ- Wheel/ Grand Canyon National Park
Utah- Moab- Wheel/ camp
Colorado- Wheel/ garden of the Gods
Wyoming- Wheel/ Yellowstone National Park
Head home
Lots to do and plan so as this progresses and my mind changes with new ideas input by you all- so will the trip.
I also want to visit the 4 corners so I can beat my younger sisters record of visiting all 4 States 100 times (I was told to go back to the car for pushing :rofl: and had to settle with 37...). This will be broadcast live on FB since my sister needs to see it for it to be official...:jester:
So any weird, exotic and strange things to see along the way- let me know I can deviate some to see them if they captivate me enough. :bigthumb:
So let the ideas start flowing!:rocker:
-OC