The TexaCali 45 Emprise—Dani California Rising

[Living in the Past]

Won’t miss this. And these were some of the lower prices we saw in Cali.

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Believe my last time in California was 2008. Certain areas in So. California $525 was the cheapest I could find. Dollar bought more back then. Was happy to get back to Arizona. Making Arizona wages and paying California prices I would have gone broke pretty quick.

 

[MadMace]

Great visit at the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum today. We got to meet @cruiserdan and see some wonderful cruisers. Anybody who has met Dan doesn’t need me to tell them how cool of a dude he is. He showed us some pretty cool cruiser stuff. Thanks for your hospitality Dan.

One cool fun fact—our 45 serial number is 13334. The beautiful white one here at the heritage museum, 13317. To have started on the assembly line 17 trucks apart, be 58 years old and now be a few hundred yard apart again is pretty cool. I’m weird, I think stuff like that is cool.

Mason: “It’s nice to go to a museum that has cool stuff.”
Yes, it sure is.

Colorado, here we come!!

 

[JLawson]

Cruiserdan is the man! Drove from Jackson WY to SLC trying to get back east a couple winters ago. Spent about three hours in there with Dan just geekin’ out on all the Landcruisers and stuff. Awesome!

 

[MadMace]

 

[MadMace]

Arrived at our KOA in Ouray.

 

[MadMace]

Man, I love Colorado. The only thing prettier than Colorado in the summer I s Colorado in the winter.

 

[MadMace]

Grew up skiing here. Neat to be here now on this journey.

 

[MadMace]

Any Breaking Bad fans. We’re in ABQ at the Dog House.

 

[MadMace]

Couple of other pics from Colorado while we’re waiting for our hotdogs.

The pictures do not do Colorado justice. I already miss it.

She wanted to say “hi” to a couple of friends.

 

[65swb45]

So, you have friends in high places?

 

[MadMace]

She’s now a Texan.

 

[MadMace]

And she’s home.

My wife is a super trooper—best there is. She worked the winch getting her off and steered her onto the lift in the garage while I pushed with our Kubota. Even though cruisers aren’t her thing, she is always there to help with my “girls”.

 

[MadMace]

One thing I remember researching with my son is safe tie down. We used a tire lasso for each tire and 4 chain tie downs with axle straps. The chain tie downs we used were military surplus ones we tracked down on line. The best tie downs I’ve used and simple. Over 2000+ miles they didn’t have to be adjusted once—and let me tell you, we went through some pretty hairy roads on the way home, especially through the mountains in Colorado. Should anybody need any info on them, do not hesitate to PM me.

I’m going to put some trip stats together later and things I learned/recommend should anybody plan a trip like this in the future. I’d do it again in a heart beat and other than going to Vegas, literally would not do anything different.

 

[middlecalf]

Great trip. Love the look on your wire’s face, says everything.

Now the fun begins. Put him (Mason) to work.

 

[MadMace]

Great trip. Love the look on your wire’s face, says everything.

Yes, it does.

 

[65swb45]

Yes, it does.

Reminds me of an “Eye on LA” segment from 1984 on 4wheeling that featured my local club.
When the host asked one of the wives what she thought about her husband’s hobby she basically said “I love it. Many wives wonder where their husbands are, out drinking, playing pool and who knows what. Me, I can open the door of the garage most nights and find my husband under his truck.”

I can’t believe that was 37 years ago. I ve been doing this a long time.

 

[65swb45]

BTW, good on you for throwing in some safety chain tech. Might actually keep this thread out of chat.

 

[Eric_FJ40]

Oh those aircraft tie-down chains...

 

[MadMace]

Oh those aircraft tie-down ...

Oh those aircraft tie-down chains...

When I saw them in pictures being used to tie down M1 Abrams tanks on C-17s I figured they’d be more than adequate, especially with 4 of them. Only disadvantage is they are heavy—but their robustness is what makes them so secure. Super easy to adjust with the tightening ring.

 

[MadMace]

The best hitch ever. Pricey, but worth it, especially on a long drive. Any of you who have towed a heavy load know the trailer can really push/pull the truck around. With this hitch, you barely feel the trailer. I know that’s hard to believe but it’s true.

This Gen-Y torsion spring hitch is a complete game changer for me in terms of towing. Very, very heavy and cumbersome but easy to get set up. You’ll never have to buy another hitch in your life. When you pick one up and see how it’s constructed, you’ll know what I mean.