CO/UT trip

[ajordan1975]

i have to rebuild my rear diff. Weld a new cover on the diff and a new ring and pinion. Also need to get a new parking brake cable.

 

[Elbert]

Haven't touched the Gecko yet, but did get the trailer moved out of the shop last night. Structurally, it is pretty much done now. Only major work left is to run the wiring including the breakaway box and hooking up the brakes. Still gotta figure out some ramps, but that's not a high priority since I have some 3"x10"x8' boards and some similar sized thin I-beams that can be utilized if needs be.
Word on the street is that next weekend will be a four-day for me, so that should be my golden ticket to finishing the majority of everything left on the to-do list. Good luck to everyone in their projects.

You taking a trailer you just built over on this trip....courage I guess

 

[Elbert]

I'm in, driving myself...trailering the 60. Someone please PM me details on camp location etc (physical address).
I'll chip in on whatever costs are associated in the deal...etc. I don't mind sharing my cell # or whatever. I'll depart here (AL) on the Friday the 2nd (OCT)....should arrive 'there" on Sunday mid day I'm thinking. Headed over on I-40. (tentative planning).

Uncle "Sam" said he would approve my leave/vacation time...so unless things change I'm a "go".

I'm assuming its a none issue to camp there with you guys... I know I was not in on the front end...etc.

 

[TeddyBoy]

Nuthin' like breaking in gears on a wheeling trip, been there done that.

Rear shocks relo'd finally, not done but as much as I care to do while laying on my back on a creeper. The rest of it'll wait until the lift if open.

 

[4xsteve]

You taking a trailer you just built over on this trip....courage I guess

A little bit of courage, a lot of trust [in my own design and fab skills]. I've already had it on the road for a few hundred miles, but that was before it was massively reinforced and with only a few thousand pounds of steel on the return trip.

I'm in, driving myself...trailering the 60. Someone please PM me details on camp location etc (physical address).
I'll chip in on whatever costs are associated in the deal...etc. I don't mind sharing my cell # or whatever. I'll depart here (AL) on the Friday the 2nd (OCT)....should arrive 'there" on Sunday mid day I'm thinking. Headed over on I-40. (tentative planning).

Uncle "Sam" said he would approve my leave/vacation time...so unless things change I'm a "go".

I'm assuming its a none issue to camp there with you guys... I know I was not in on the front end...etc.

No problems with adding another to the group in any aspect that I can think of.

I'll put the address here so that everyone can write it down.
4061 Thurman Court, Moab, UT 84532

 

[4xsteve]

Nuthin' like breaking in gears on a wheeling trip, been there done that.

Wheeling on new gears isn't an issue; driving down the highway with new gears is a BIG issue.

Rear shocks relo'd finally, not done but as much as I care to do while laying on my back on a creeper. The rest of it'll wait until the lift if open.

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

[4xsteve]

Hardest part of the trailer build is finally done. I'd say the structural part of the build is about 98% complete now.

I was wrong. Spent the evening reinforcing the front-most crossmember to help hold the weight of the crawler. Thankfully the shop next to me had the perfect piece of steel to fit where I needed it; 3"x5"x3/16". Also installed a light-duty jack on the back to hold some weight while loading and unloading. Also bought the brake controller for the semi and the brake-away box for the trailer.

 

[Elbert]

Ok...I'm in planning mode. Since I've never been to Moab and never been to this guy's place to "camp"...got a few questions.
If I miss the obvious or have tunnel vision...feel free to show me the light...i'm gonna ask the stupid stuff now so I don't ask the same later. Since I don't have a camper/motorhome... I realize we'll be at this person's place which is apparently in a neighborhood but just wanted to refine my expectations...or understand the ground rules so to speak.

For the base-camp location what are the plans for bathroom/shower? Are we setting up tents in the yard or on our trailers (metal deck)?

I've camped multiple times here in AL/GA/TN/NC...South East.... what's different out in Moab and the general area that one needs to plan for?

Some may know but I've got this wonderful condition called sleep apnea... so I generally bring my honda generator along for power.

Assume we can park our tow rigs...etc at the base-camp site? For me that means a 3/4 ton pickup with 20ft trailer.

Anyway...let me know what I need to plan for and or bring with me. Better to ask questions now than to assume and not have a shot on being prepared. I'll have the obvious stuff...cooler,tent,sleeping bag, extra fuel, water, food, clothes, misc gear/tools/stuff, cb/ham.

Let me know...thanks.

 

[DSLTOY]

None of us have been there,just going on what Woody has posted. I looked at the place on google earth ,appears to be a house and large shop with a sizable gravel area for tow rigs and trailers and some space for tents. Woody said there was a bathroom and shower in the shop we could use. I plan to bring the club 20x20' canopy and the kitchen. I plan to sleep in Little Red.

 

[DSLTOY]

Update on my progress ;
Trailer
Structural repairs complete
All hubs pulled, bearings cleaned and inspected, need to replace 2, brakes inspected need to replace 1 set- parts on order.
Need to repack and assembly hubs, pull tires off other GN and install, touch up paint, rewire running lights and build rack for ramps.
IH
Install rear fenders, build mounts and install rear lights, build cab protector/ wind wing mount, install aux fuel tank and tool box.
FJ -60
Replace rear springs with large heavier ones and fix a few small issues from last ride.
Hope to get it all done by 26th.

 

[Elbert]

None of us have been there,just going on what Woody has posted. I looked at the place on google earth ,appears to be a house and large shop with a sizable gravel area for tow rigs and trailers and some space for tents. Woody said there was a bathroom and shower in the shop we could use. I plan to bring the club 20x20' canopy and the kitchen. I plan to sleep in Little Red.

ok..Yeah I checked it out on google too. Just checking in, guess I'll pitch the tent and do whatever works....I'm flexable...sounds like a great deal, been trying to check off things to get and do. Got some brake pads/shoes for the hell of it, got steering gear, starting to prep non-food items and make some lists. Got to grease and inspect the trailer and come up with a way to lock the spare tires (probably with a padlock/cable setup, so no-one gets a few tires/wheels free without working at it), found some pre-made cables from my favorite place ...amazon (only concerned about this with my trip out and back in the motel areas).

so far so good.

 

[Elbert]

Rand McNally - TripMaker

simple trip planner, easy to use.

I like google maps for the raw map data, but was messing with the randmcnally site and you can figure miles rather easy and various other things. FYI... I know there are some apps for phones etc, some of which are painful to use and figure out. Just posted this link as it might help others.

 

[ajordan1975]

Pack for cold weather. You never know

 

[4xsteve]

Ok...I'm in planning mode. Since I've never been to Moab and never been to this guy's place to "camp"...got a few questions.... ~

In my opinion, the short "cover-all" answer is this: Plan for camping and be ready for hot AND cold weather. And parking shouldn't be an issue.

There has been mention of rooms and bunks available for guests, but I haven't inquired as to how that works; I'm just planning to camp and, once there, maybe we'll be lucky and get some accommodations. I think the shower and bathroom are available no matter what though. The general rule is that Danny doesn't charge, he just accepts donations. One thing mentioned is that he likes non-local cheap beer too.

Pretty sure power for the C-PAP won't be an issue either, but I'd bring the Honda anyway just to be safe.

Lastly, if you get the time, scroll back in the thread and read up from just after GSMTR (late May); that's when the serious planning began and most of the important stuff from the previous years has been readdressed at some point since then.

 

[4xsteve]

Update on my progress ;
Trailer
Structural repairs complete
All hubs pulled, bearings cleaned and inspected, need to replace 2, brakes inspected need to replace 1 set- parts on order.
Need to repack and assembly hubs, pull tires off other GN and install, touch up paint, rewire running lights and build rack for ramps.
IH
Install rear fenders, build mounts and install rear lights, build cab protector/ wind wing mount, install aux fuel tank and tool box.
FJ -60
Replace rear springs with large heavier ones and fix a few small issues from last ride.
Hope to get it all done by 26th.

Damn Roger, you have some serious "heavy work" yet to do it sounds like. Wish I was still in Memphis so I could assist. Good luck with it all.

 

[4xsteve]

As of last night the Gecko is now wheelable. I finished up the install of the new tie rod and PSC ram. Still have other things to do, but nothing that will keep me from wheeling if I don't get it done.
- Remove both diffs to tack weld all studs (inside-out gr8 bolts)
- Setup new gears in spare front diff

Trailer basically just needs reassembling at this point.
- Mount breakaway box
- Wire 7-way plug to box, brakes and lights
- Replace and secure deck plates (eight aluminum diamond plate sheets)
- Figure out a secure ramp system

Semi still needs the brake controller installed, but that doesn't look like it'll be too difficult.
Hopefully will get around to the interior part tonight since it's raining and won't be conducive to working on the trailer.

Hope to have the trailer and semi done by Friday night so Saturday I can do a shakedown run on everything: Crawler mods, trailer hauling two rigs, brake controller. Got an engagement party for a buddy this weekend near my favorite wheeling spot.

 

[pillguy]

BTW, remember gloves for the trailer. No blisters wanted on this trip.....

 

[4xsteve]

Haha. This one doesn't have 200 pound ramps like that one. If this one ends up dragging parts, it's because it broke in half and the frame is on the road! :/

 

[schmitty]

[QUOTE="4xsteve, post: 9919447, member:
Hope to have the trailer and semi done by Friday night so Saturday I can do a shakedown run on everything: Crawler mods, trailer hauling two rigs, brake controller. Got an engagement party for a buddy this weekend near my favorite wheeling spot.[/QUOTE]

Where is your favorite wheeling spot now? Better then the Cove or Fordyce? If so I want to come and check it out sometime soon .

 

[4xsteve]

Where is your favorite wheeling spot now? Better then the Cove or Fordyce? If so I want to come and check it out sometime soon .

My favorite spot is called Reiter Foothills ORV Park. All the trails and obstacles are 100% engineered and man-made. It is a rock crawler's paradise and is only two hours from my place. And no, it does not hold a candle to Fordyce; it is just my favorite LOCAL place. If you want to check out a place on my favorites list that you haven't been to, start planning to hitch a ride with me to K2 next March.