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RE: Thanksgiving in Death Valley
camping, jeeping, geocaching, and friends - doesn't get much better. TFTTR
And don't forget the broken axle (jeep people don't seem to think they've had fun unless something breaks) and the good food!
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/07/09 04:38pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Thanksgiving at Anza-Borrego, hiker's version
Actually, I wasn't there for the weekend. I went T-W-Th-F, since my family voted to have the big dinner on Saturday. On my way home, I think I saw every toy hauler in southern CA coming the other way as they headed out to the desert. Amazing! It's a good thing that the state park and the riding areas are big enough for all of us.
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/07/09 01:25pm |
Truck Campers
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Thanksgiving at Anza-Borrego, hiker's version
Quadzoo isn't allowed to have all the fun. While he and crew were out roaring around the Ocotillo Wells SVRA, I was camped for three nights at Blair Valley in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in blissful quiet, hiking and just puttering around.
Camping here is free, and any TC should be able to get to the campsite shown below unless it has rained a lot. There is some soft sand on the road, and some other traffic because there are several trailheads in the area. Park rules: Camp only in previously used area. No dogs allowed, except in camp and on roads (not trails) on leash. No fires on the ground, must use metal pan.
No, those aren't the Nazca lines. The little blob at the bottom is my campsite at the foot of Ghost Mountain, about 3.5 miles from pavement and no other campers in sight or sound.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2v2y7on.jpg
View of Granite Mountain from Ghost Mountain trail:
http://i50.tinypic.com/28vrbdu.jpg
Ruins of the Marshall South family home at the top of Ghost Mountain:
http://i47.tinypic.com/33w2hjl.jpg
View of Carrizo Mountain from Ghost Mountain trail:
http://i49.tinypic.com/35mmq6p.jpg
Local fauna (a tarantula, possibly dead but I didn't poke it to make sure):
http://i50.tinypic.com/4ufk01.jpg
Local flora, much less friendly than the tarantula:
http://i47.tinypic.com/1zdbqcp.jpg
Late-day view toward the west from camp:
http://i49.tinypic.com/dfxcw1.jpg
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/07/09 09:02am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Oregon coast trip advice- never been there-help, please
Two good guides:
paperback: Oregon Coastal Access Guide: A Mile-By-Mile Guide to Scenic and Recreational Attractions
website: http://www.oregoncoasttravel.net/
Both helped me a lot in planning 3 weeks on the Oregon Coast a couple of years ago.
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/05/09 06:06pm |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: What are the slabs
I drove through there once a couple of years ago. Not scary, but not my kind of place and so I did not stay. It is interesting to note that my old AAA maps of this area showed the location and it has been removed from the newer AAA maps.
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/03/09 09:20am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: 4x4 Roadtrek
Nice! That vehicle looks much more capable than the 2006 4x4 Roadtrek which I drove hundreds of miles to see before buying my 4x4 Tiger CX.
I do have to say that it was more than midpoint in the film before I saw anything that I haven't driven in my old Toyota Corolla wagon :), but the RT redeemed itself with the last shot of going up the very bumpy hill. Down is easy because you've got gravity. Up is more difficult because you need better traction and it did great! Way to go, Roadtrek!
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/03/09 09:16am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Nothing But Sky! The Saga of the Missing Vent Cover.
I had a couple of plastic vent covers disintegrate from sun damage (neither had a pad or a Maxxair). One I caught in time, the other was like yours - vanished on the road. I finally replaced that cover with a totally metal one.
I have a plastic bathroom vent cover, small, now that I cannot find a substitute for (no metal, no Lexan that size), and am experimenting with Rustoleum's plastic fusion paint to see if it will extend the life of the plastic.
It's a shame that such a cheap little part can mess up our RVing pleasure. Surely the industry can come up with something more durable.
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/02/09 10:44am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Calif State Parks? Whats the deal?
Maybe call the individual park and get the info you need? I, too, have been frustrated trying to plan my usual annual trip to that area, so please share whatever info you get. Others are probably in the same boat infowise.
Also, FYI, SLO Tribune said yesterday that a huge dredging project is going on in Morro Bay through February and hotel owners near the bay are complaining about the disruption.
link to dredging news story
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Tiger4x4RV
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12/02/09 10:35am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: Over night
I stayed once at Los Alamos USFS campground near Gorman. Info & directions on this page (scroll down):
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/pacficsw/angcmp.htm
This was a mid-week stay and surprisingly quiet. I could see the I-5, but barely hear it. Weekends are probably pretty crowded there with the off-road folks.
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/29/09 05:07pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Any feedback about Advanced 4x4 in SLC?
I imagine it would as capable if not more so. The Traverse is built on a Ford truck/van chassis. It's 3 feet shorter than my truck. Would you not say that Sportsmobile vans are as capable as the standard 4x4 Ford/GM pickups for off-road?
I spoke with PW about whether they thought the Traverse could handle the added strain of 4x4 driving and they didn't see any issues. Don't know what other small 4x4 RV's you've had but there are a lot of converted 4x4 vans with basic RV amenities that are used in far more aggressive circumstances than I would expect to use mine. My truck is a part time 4x4 with push button high/low and open differentials.
I certainly imagine this van would be more capable off-road than a Tiger considering the simpler systems, body on frame design, etc. (although I'd rather have the Tiger for it's additional features, wet bath, space, etc.).
What am I missing?
BTW, 4x4 "light", whatever that means, would be a lot better for my type of traveling than none at all. I'm not interested in trail running or "wheeling" but many roads out here in the west benefit from 4x4 especially in off weather.
By "lite," I meant no rock-crawling and such. I usually stay off the roads marked as jeep roads on topo maps. I avoid mud after one long-ago slipping sliding experience. Much of my travel is on western state USFS and BLM roads: dirt, small rocks, sand, and (UGH) washboard.
RV's usually have a higher center of gravy than pickups due to those comfy amenities we all enjoy. Therefore, they tend to do more rocking and rolling on rough roads than do pickups. On my first Tiger trip, every cupboard and the refrigerator did self-ejects of their contents at one time or another (that had never been a problem in my previous 4x4 rv). I had to double-up the cupboard latches and add a sway control bar to the Tiger. Such behavior may not be a problem for your Traverse, since it has the pop-up roof and is therefore more like a plain van and has a lower COG than an RV you can always stand up in.
Sportsmobiles are VERY capable. Everything is bolted in and rock solid, unlike more RV's. They still have the issue of the higher COG than a plain truck. I almost bought an SMB. Up close, a factory full of their huge 4x4 vans was quite an intimidating sight!
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/29/09 04:50pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Inside Privacy Curtain or Outside Windshield Cover for MH
For travel, I made use a ready-made accordion-fold Reflectix cover for the windshield interior and homemade side window press-in covers from the same material. Easy to make, easy to store, keep heat in or out, and quite durable after nearly 200 uses.
Can you give more details on how you made the folding windshield cover...particular how it folds?
"Ready-made" means I bought it, I think at Walmart and certainly for under $15. Standard truck-size sun shade. The Tiger has a stock Chevy 2500 HD cab. It looks sort of like the one in this picture only better, folds into a neat package as long as the windshield is high and about 5 inches wide, 1.5 inches thick.
http://i49.tinypic.com/21aa7uh.jpg
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/29/09 04:38pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Anybody ever have a wheel bearing go out
Don't forget to listen. Wheel bearings starting to go make noise.
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/28/09 07:08pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Egg on MH
Try a mesh scrubber, not too abrasive.
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/28/09 07:04pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: back on the 4x4 topic....
Wheel base is too long for any serious rough road stuff.
Don't let the porta-potti issue stand in your way. My first 4x4 RV had one and it was great for the 15 years we were together. You can dump a PP in any toilet or at home. Seals well, no odor issues.
The other issues - look very very carefully. My personal recommendation is to say no unless you are good with tools or have a lot of $$$ to spend on getting this rig ready to go and even then it won't be great for anything but those places you can take a car.
And something else that folks don't think of unless they've lived it: people will knock on your door everywhere you go to ask you about this vehicle.
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/28/09 07:03pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Inside Privacy Curtain or Outside Windshield Cover for MH
I have a "snooze bonnet" outside cover, which does keep the windshield clean and keeps the wiper blades out of the sun, but I don't like it for travel. Too much trouble to get on and off for daily use.
For travel, I made use a ready-made accordion-fold Reflectix cover for the windshield interior and homemade side window press-in covers from the same material. Easy to make, easy to store, keep heat in or out, and quite durable after nearly 200 uses.
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/28/09 06:54pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Any feedback about Advanced 4x4 in SLC?
Are you being realistic to ever think a 4x4 RV, van type or otherwise, would be as capable as your 4x4 pickup? I've had small 4x4 RV's for many years and find that all I can really expect is "4x4 lite." Get rough with them and the pipes break, things fall off the wall, etc. Plus, they don't fit through the same space as your pickup. Think about this before your spend $$$ on a conversion.
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/28/09 10:49am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
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RE: Hwy 120 from Eastern Sierra to Yosemite Closure Date
Here's a chart of Tioga Pass opening and closing dates since 1933, in case you need something to do while you cannot drive over it.
http://www.monobasinresearch.org/data/tiogapass.htm
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/27/09 05:51pm |
Roads and Routes
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RE: Earthbound TTs instead of an Airstream?
http://www.earthbound-rv.com/
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/20/09 04:48pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Morro Bay State Park
If you drive the RV, any size, to the harbor restaurant area in Morro Bay watch carefully for the zones that do not allow large vehicles to park. Nothing over 8 ft tall or 20 ft long. There are free public parking areas at both ends of the strip which allow RV's and you would need to walk several blocks to the harbor restaurants. There are, of course, other areas of town that also have restaurants and parking is allowing there. My favorite "restaurant" is my RV parked at some great view along the bay.
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/20/09 09:42am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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RE: A night in Ventura County, Ca
I like McGrath, but no hookups. Plus, I heard that they are closed Sun-Th nights now because of the budget cuts. Lake Casitas is great!
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Tiger4x4RV
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11/20/09 09:38am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
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