New Years Ride 2012

[Elbert]

Me, BillRiiiley, and Heckler are still thinking of heading up there the earlier weekend if anyone wants to join us...

what are "yall's" plans...? I might go for a day or so... I have some time off that I have to use no matter what or I loose it. I know you are most likley talking about across the weekend.

Someone in the group have a clue about the trails? as far as navigation..

might be better to follow up via pm or over on the other TN club area as to avoid confusion?

 

[pillguy]

If everyone is wheeling on the 6-8th, then imwill bring mine.I would set up some prespecfied frequencies using repeater or just simplex at one of the update posts as Andy or designee posts logistic.
Also, bring your manual with you as you mentioned below

can we agree that if possible people bring their HAM radios....

I would like to test mine on simplex and duplex, assume there is repearter coverage in the area?

Can we agree on a simplex freq and duplex freq prior to the trail ride so I can study my nice owner manual so I have at least a partial clue how to use the thing (ham radio)?

I have a repeater guide that I've not looked at (ARRL)...don't know if you look up repearter coverage by county or what. Anyway I'm wanting to make sure my junk works.....I might even get my CB working right by then too.

 

[Elbert]

If everyone is wheeling on the 6-8th, then imwill bring mine.I would set up some prespecfied frequencies using repeater or just simplex at one of the update posts as Andy or designee posts logistic.
Also, bring your manual with you as you mentioned below

yes I'm definitly in for the 2nd weekend... I may go with the guys from Memphis area on the 1st weekend just to see how the truck is running. THere is no real place around where I live to really stress the truck in rocky situation/hill climbs.

I would like to test both modes... repeater and direct...as I have not even tried to use the radio since I got everything working and the license...but that may be a good idea anyway. I'll do some reading between now and then.

 

[DSLTOY]

Rob and I will both be there and we both have 2 meters in our trucks.
I have a good clear frequency set on my radio, let you know what it is when we meet.

 

[Elbert]

well I see I have some last minute repair work to do...which seems about normal.

I had a rebuilt steering gear installed on the 60 today....when we got it done...I noticed a lot of play in the tie rod ends....(time for replacemen).... ordered a tie rod "kit" from cruiser outfitters and hope to get it installed right after christmas.

I did not want to get stranded with a steering linkage failure

 

[jasharp]

...I noticed a lot of play in the tie rod ends....(time for replacemen)....

Trouble after trouble; you need to get rid of that heap, fast and cheap. I could help you out with that.

 

[Elbert]

Trouble after trouble; you need to get rid of that heap, fast and cheap. I could help you out with that.

Yes I'm sure....

I've done most of the R&D work on this thing by now....maybe I'm approaching a period of less work/maintnence/repairs and more just driving/having fun. That's my desire anyway.

I guess the rocks play hell with the steering components...I'll have to pay more attention to that stuff.

 

[Elbert]

Ok... I promise to read the radio manual at least twice....before I show up.

 

[FJ60Cam]

The stock 60 ends have a lot of play to begin with. Make sure to over tighten them (compared to the recommended specs). If you need to, you can put a nickel inside the adjuster cap to make it work.

 

[Elbert]

The stock 60 ends have a lot of play to begin with. Make sure to over tighten them (compared to the recommended specs). If you need to, you can put a nickel inside the adjuster cap to make it work.

the play now is pretty bad...causing poping in the linkage...i know at tleast the drivers side front one is in bad shape and the rubber boot is torn as well. the shop doing the swap of the steering gear may have helped things along now that I think about it....with the pickle fork and BFH on the pitman arm. I look around better tomorrow but I've got a "set" of tire rod end on order and I'll get that fixed right after Christmas.

 

[radioridge]

What time do you guys want to meet?

 

[4xsteve]

Well I usually drive in the night before so I say as early as possible; We can get in, assess any possible water/campsite issues, then set up camp, prep the fire and still have a good bit of time to wheel. Andy, you ARE referring to Saturday the 7th, correct?

Date corrected - Thx Roger.

 

[Elbert]

I don't have a hard line preference...but if we agree on early then would like to get buyin from folks that it works for them. I know I'm not the farthest away but its at least a 2 hour drive from where I live just to get to the paved parking lot. I would agree that early is better..espically if we plan on setting up camp.

Hopefully no rain and the river/creeks are not crazy high.

 

[4xsteve]

What would most of you consider "too early"?

Here's my very rough estimate of how I see time working out:
Meet around 0830; unload trucks by 0900; get to air-down spot by 0930; get to camp by 1030; set up camp/drop supplies by 1130; eat lunch and be on trail by 1200.

 

[DSLTOY]

The 6th is Friday. I vote for around 10 am at Andys shop.
Usually we wheel and set up camp where we end up in the evening. Usually this is an expedition type run vs a base camp run.
We might want to camp at the A/C cave as this time a year it is warmer

 

[radioridge]

The 6th is a friday thats why im worried about what time to set out for the trail. Im guessing that most people will have to work friday. So do we try to go in the evening or have two groups one going in fri morn. the other meeting them sat. morn? Just trying to get an idea of everyones schedule

 

[RSHARPfzj80]

I will hopefully be leaving Knoxville around 7ish Fri morning. I've never been there so ? on how long it actually takes to get there.

 

[pillguy]

From Atlanta

I have to come up from Atlanta, so early is a bit difficult for me. Usually a 2.5hr drive up to Andy's parking lot. I was hoping for a bit later in the morning that Steve is proposing. I know he likes to wheel as much as possible though...

 

[4xsteve]

Roger - When you say "at the cave" I assume you're referring the the site right above it?

Andy - If a group goes in Friday night, is there a qualified leader/guide for the Saturday group that can get us to where y'all will be? Or is somebody willing to come back out Saturday mid-morning to take us in?

Andrew - You're referring to Saturday morning, correct? I'd say 10am would be okay if we could be rolling out of the P-lot then, not just getting there. That is gonna feel way late for me, but if everyone is coming in that morning, I understand how early that'd be for some. Besides, somebody may need to run me to Andy's house to pick up my rig; I guess whoever shows up first on Saturday can have that honor.

 

[Elbert]

I generally don't have to work on Fridays........so I"m flexabile. If we don't make it fairly early in the AM then there is not goign to be much time to wheel in the daylight as dark hits around 5:00PM and Im guessing people generally want to setup camp in the daytime if possible but that is just a thought to make things easy I'm still a novice with the tent business so I'll take that as a challenge if I have to setup in the dark. (Yeah maybe I should practice the tent setup before I show up) but that would mean more planning..

Andy you might want to put out the address to the parking area so that people who have not showed up can find it and figure out how long its going to take them to get there. Just for planning purposes...for those in the never been category...use Jasper, TN (City Center) as your GPS route that will give you a good timeline because the parking lot is not far off from that point. I know street and Trips works, my TOM-TOM works... I assume google maps and others will work too. I'm sure more details to follow.

I don't mind getting up early to meet in TN as I've done that a few times already, daylight hours are a premium in the winter...

I'll come up on Friday and leave out if others are going to show....some 18 people voted but I don't know who is confirmed for the 6th (headcount time?), I know a few said they were only in for a spcific weekend, and it looks like we have 10 voters for the weekend in question plus the tie-breaker.