Builds I bought a Whale, now I gotta build it and use it (9 Viewers)

[Valgrind]

Terlingua Ranch is the gateway to the Christmas Mountains. Highest drivable point in Texas. 4 vehicles max. Morning slot. Afternoon slot. Book it. Phenomenal.
View attachment 3631780

Looks like you had a great trip! I just went out to Big Bend as my first big trip with my LC200. I did a lot of the same roads you did but didn't get to do backcountry camping because I was with the whole family. It was pretty amazing, had a great time. I did not get out to the state park, how was that? Seemed like it wasn't the spot to have only one rig.
What is the story of this spot? Who do you reserve with?

 

[wngrog]

How is the truck holding up? Rattles? Still tight/steering etc?

No rattles. No squeaks. Tight as new. Honest. A buddy of mine that has a 2021 with 4500 miles drove mine 2 weeks ago and he was shocked how tight it still is.

 

[wngrog]

Looks like you had a great trip! I just went out to Big Bend as my first big trip with my LC200. I did a lot of the same roads you did but didn't get to do backcountry camping because I was with the whole family. It was pretty amazing, had a great time. I did not get out to the state park, how was that? Seemed like it wasn't the spot to have only one rig.
What is the story of this spot? Who do you reserve with?

Guale 2 campsite can be booked via Texas State Park website. It’s the best campsite I’ve ever been to.

The state park is rough. Much slower going than the national park. Not hard, just rough. Last year we did every trail in the state park. Took us 2.5 days of hard driving.

Here are some old pics

 

[wngrog]

Finished up the afternoon checking in with Clay

Lunch at El Patio in Presidio

Dodged some longhorn on the way to Ruidosa

Drove the magnificent Pinto Canyon road to Marfa

Took the scenic route clockwise through the Davis Mountains and then sadly hit the road for home about 5

Some of the most scenic paved byways are in these mountains. Absolutely worth the drive.

 

[Valgrind]

Guale 2 campsite can be booked via Texas State Park website. It’s the best campsite I’ve ever been to.

The state park is rough. Much slower going than the national park. Not hard, just rough. Last year we did every trail in the state park. Took us 2.5 days of hard driving.

Here are some old pics

Oh wow thats awesome its just a campsite! Cant wait to go back already haha

 

[wngrog]

Great trip.

Long trip. It’s basically 1000 miles each way so we played about 700 miles a xtra miles along the way.

The 200 with Dobinsons MRR is an absolute hammer on a trip like this.

14 mpg average.

I’m damn glad my original plan to take the FZJ70 fell through. Might have been a bit too much in a 90 in wheelbase

 

[wngrog]

The trailer hitch is in the Dobinsons drawers now. The Whale has been retired from tow duties.

 

[wngrog]

A long time ago I bent my passenger side Slee Slider on a hard hit crossing a river in Missouri.

I knew it was bent but it’s never bothered me. On this last trip it got right up on the body seam and started squeeking.

Maddening.

But I just fixed it. Two straps on the slider and jacked up the frame.

 

[Willie G]

Is the GMC the new tow-pig?

If so, I think you'll be happy. Never owned a Duramax, but I'd much prefer to tow something with my F350 over my LX - everything else being equal.

 

[wngrog]

Is the GMC the new tow-pig?

If so, I think you'll be happy. Never owned a Duramax, but I'd much prefer to tow something with my F350 over my LX - everything else being equal.

It is. I’ve had a duramax before. It’s a good combo with the Allison.

 

[wngrog]

Sooooo, 150,000 miles. All I have ever done is change the oil, one battery and a brake job.

I’m about to baseline it. I really don’t know what to do. I work on old junk and this truck……everything still looks brand new to me under the hood.

Anything like the 100 heater T or 80 PHH I need to consider? This one has the good radiator. It looks great.

What would Mud do? I thing at this point this truck may get 5000 miles a year on it going forward

 

[Leelanau]

Man, that’s awesome. 30k each year you owned it? That’s so far beyond any year of my life of driving. I doubt I’ve driven more than 15k in a year.

I need to get out more…

 

[wngrog]

Man, that’s awesome. 30k each year you owned it? That’s so far beyond any year of my life of driving. I doubt I’ve driven more than 15k in a year.

I need to get out more…

I have 4 other vehicles I spread miles around on. My numbers have come way down since I went full time Land Cruisers. My sales job had me 50-60,000 miles a year.

 

[residualboulders]

A long time ago I bent my passenger side Slee Slider on a hard hit crossing a river in Missouri.

I knew it was bent but it’s never bothered me. On this last trip it got right up on the body seam and started squeeking.

Maddening.

But I just fixed it. Two straps on the slider and jacked up the frame.

View attachment 3633197

surprising you bend that slider, but good to know how to potentially fix it if I end up bending one of mine.

I wondered when you'd pull the trigger on a HD truck for towing. I've been using a 3rd gen tundra which tows great, but not quite like a diesel would. I may be making a change soon.

 

[wngrog]

surprising you bend that slider, but good to know how to potentially fix it if I end up bending one of mine.

I wondered when you'd pull the trigger on a HD truck for towing. I've been using a 3rd gen tundra which tows great, but not quite like a diesel would. I may be making a change soon.

I was crossing a river and slammed an underwater rock.

 

[wngrog]

Happy Birthday to the Whale. I dropped it off with my buddy Austin for a tip to toe fluid flush and once over. He’s a superb tech and owns a 200 as well.

 

[BamaHeel]

Then it was 3 years ago today I drove my old LS430 over and picked up the gas tank out of Blue from you!

 

[onemanarmy]

I have 4 other vehicles I spread miles around on. My numbers have come way down since I went full time Land Cruisers. My sales job had me 50-60,000 miles a year.

dang. missed this! big moves!

 

[wngrog]

dang. missed this! big moves!

Covid showed me I could make an honest living.

 

[onemanarmy]

Good deal! I was wondering how you were able to handle the uptick in truck work.

Love all the builds!