Here is the long awaited thread. 
Many of you know that I work at Erskine College in Due West, SC. We have a January/Winter term where students take one class the entire month of January. Many students really enjoy this because it gives them a chance to get back in the hang of school and you get to see everyone without the full load of classes hanging over you.
We also have mini sessions in which current students, staff, or faculty teach others a skill or hobby. I decided that I would do an "Off-roading" trip that would include camping. We started with approx 7-8 guys who were willing to drive. By the time we had our organizational meeting we had 6 drivers: (2 TJs, 2 Nissan 4x4 trucks, a Tacoma quad cab (Prerunner), and my f62).
With the 6 drivers we also had 14 people who were passengers. So all total we had 20 people! (This was one of my first learning experiences about this trip) I would find out the next day that the Tacoma was a 2wd Perunner and not 4wd. However, we needed the space for everyone so I told him he would be OK. (Which to be honest he would have been on some trails.)
I had been working almost every night until 11pm or even 1 am on the 62 so that I could get everything done before we (Erskine Off-road) left on this trip.
For those of you who do not know I was upgrading to 4.88’s, 4runner brakes, and rebuilding front and rear axles completely (bearings, seals, the works!). I finally got everything buttoned together after hours of work. (I work very, very slowly.) When attempting to bleed the brakes I had 0, none, nada pedal! I was very worried at this point b/c I had already turned in my stock calipers for the core charge refund on the reman '92 4runner calipers. So what was I to do???? None other than use the newly picked up parts cruiser! By the time I had everything else finished but the brakes it was after 2pm. (We were to leave by 3:30 and be over to meet around 3.) I jacked up the parts cruiser, (Which is somehow stuffed into my single car enclosed garage.) pulled the wheels, got the calipers off, cleaned them, and swapped them with the 4runner calipers, and bleed them all in 45 min! Yes I was haulin’ b/c I still have not purchased my air tools. I then took it for a test run and put some gas in her. She did well, I could notice the 4.88’s but I would like to get all of my other bugs worked out b/f I make a final decision on them.
Thank goodness for my wife and my cousin Jason who helped pack and clean out the 62 from a months worth of work. (I still needed to shower, pack and change.) My wonderful wife had packed most all of my clothes for me and also helped organize and pack up the food. Which if you have never packed for 20 people in the wilderness is a lot of food!!! By the time Jason, Lori (my wife), and I got everything together enough to get Jason and I over to Moffatt (Erskine’s dining hall) to leave it was after 4:30. Yes, the guy who planned everything and said, “Do not be late or you will get left!” was extremely late!
I also had not eaten lunch (working on the 62) so Kendall went in and made me a sandwich. Now we were set!
Many of you know that I work at Erskine College in Due West, SC. We have a January/Winter term where students take one class the entire month of January. Many students really enjoy this because it gives them a chance to get back in the hang of school and you get to see everyone without the full load of classes hanging over you.
We also have mini sessions in which current students, staff, or faculty teach others a skill or hobby. I decided that I would do an "Off-roading" trip that would include camping. We started with approx 7-8 guys who were willing to drive. By the time we had our organizational meeting we had 6 drivers: (2 TJs, 2 Nissan 4x4 trucks, a Tacoma quad cab (Prerunner), and my f62).
With the 6 drivers we also had 14 people who were passengers. So all total we had 20 people! (This was one of my first learning experiences about this trip) I would find out the next day that the Tacoma was a 2wd Perunner and not 4wd. However, we needed the space for everyone so I told him he would be OK. (Which to be honest he would have been on some trails.)
I had been working almost every night until 11pm or even 1 am on the 62 so that I could get everything done before we (Erskine Off-road) left on this trip.
For those of you who do not know I was upgrading to 4.88’s, 4runner brakes, and rebuilding front and rear axles completely (bearings, seals, the works!). I finally got everything buttoned together after hours of work. (I work very, very slowly.) When attempting to bleed the brakes I had 0, none, nada pedal! I was very worried at this point b/c I had already turned in my stock calipers for the core charge refund on the reman '92 4runner calipers. So what was I to do???? None other than use the newly picked up parts cruiser!
By the time I had everything else finished but the brakes it was after 2pm. (We were to leave by 3:30 and be over to meet around 3.) I jacked up the parts cruiser, (Which is somehow stuffed into my single car enclosed garage.) pulled the wheels, got the calipers off, cleaned them, and swapped them with the 4runner calipers, and bleed them all in 45 min! Yes I was haulin’ b/c I still have not purchased my air tools. I then took it for a test run and put some gas in her. She did well, I could notice the 4.88’s but I would like to get all of my other bugs worked out b/f I make a final decision on them. Thank goodness for my wife and my cousin Jason who helped pack and clean out the 62 from a months worth of work. (I still needed to shower, pack and change.) My wonderful wife had packed most all of my clothes for me and also helped organize and pack up the food. Which if you have never packed for 20 people in the wilderness is a lot of food!!! By the time Jason, Lori (my wife), and I got everything together enough to get Jason and I over to Moffatt (Erskine’s dining hall) to leave it was after 4:30. Yes, the guy who planned everything and said, “Do not be late or you will get left!” was extremely late!
I also had not eaten lunch (working on the 62) so Kendall went in and made me a sandwich. Now we were set!
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That wasn’t fun figuring out on top of a mountain! So we made the breakfast for Sunday morning instead. Grits, cheese, bacon, OJ, and Milk! 
