Tuttle Trip 2012

[Grench]

Grench what was the biggest difference between the two CBs? I see the midland is portable. Any reason you went with the Cobra later on?

Also would going later help you? The boys and I could leave later if that would help.

I had the Radio Shack version of that handheld Midland for many years before I got the Cobra all-in-the-mic. The handheld reaches out around 1/2-1 mile. Although I could and did run it on a 4' antenna - it just didn't have the reach. Also keeping track of the battery packs, the little antenna and parts was annoying.

The all-in-the-mic is a full power unit that I can disconnect and throw into the console easily. It's still a compromise vs the larger mains that the truckers use, but it suits my purpose. I can reach out a couple of miles with it. Mine was on sale - it's translucent blue, illuminates when the mic is pressed and came with a glowing antenna - Cobra's racer version of it. But for $29 its made a good CB.

My wife and I are going to see Momix (show) on the 11th. To be on the road with kids by 7 I have to be up and running at 6:30. Call me a wimp, but a 7 hour road trip + wheeling + twin 10 year olds... I'll want a good night's sleep first. If we don't get home from the show until after midnight - then my presence on the trip becomes very iffy.

It's sounding like I'll be packing overnight bags and swim suits for my boys and myself and grabbing a room at whatever motel we find with an indoor pool for Saturday night rather than driving back - or at least being ready for that possibility. A few hours in a hotel/motel pool is a good bribe to keep them behaved through a long day. If any of you are bringing kids, you're welcome to copy that plan.

My power steering is working. The rear locker engages when on the lift, but isn't getting signal back to the dash. Truck is mostly there...

 

[samuelsmith]

What channel should we run on? We're two weeks out on this already, I'm waiting for something to randomly break last minute on my Landcruiser.

 

[corn man]

Hotel not a bad idea...I was checking reviews/prices in Beatrice and New Victorian Inn has indoor pool and is reasonable that night.

If the cobra was $29 now that would be a no brainer. How painful is the cobra to hook up? I'm assuming no cig lighter adapter comes with it. Where did you mount the box? I am leaning toward the cobra handheld just for ease of installation (none)!

Since my truck is only mall crawler status, what should I worry about that I don't worry about normally for Tuttle:

1. never tried the e-brake....
2. still have stock spare, but running 295s....
3. should I pull the trailer hitch and rear mud flaps or let Tuttle pull them off for me?

 

[Grench]

Hotel not a bad idea...I was checking reviews/prices in Beatrice and New Victorian Inn has indoor pool and is reasonable that night.

If the cobra was $29 now that would be a no brainer. How painful is the cobra to hook up? I'm assuming no cig lighter adapter comes with it. Where did you mount the box? I am leaning toward the cobra handheld just for ease of installation (none)!

Since my truck is only mall crawler status, what should I worry about that I don't worry about normally for Tuttle:

1. never tried the e-brake....
2. still have stock spare, but running 295s....
3. should I pull the trailer hitch and rear mud flaps or let Tuttle pull them off for me?

You've done more research than I have on the hotel/pool idea. Pick one and give them a call to verify that the pool will be open?

Yeah - thats what I thought on the CB - for $29 I can put up with the translucent blue and chuck the 'glows when transmitting' magnetic 12" whip.

I put a cig lighter adapter on the end of the power wires that come out of the little box, shoved the little box between the console and the passenger seat, ran a 12' pre-made CB antenna wire under the floor mats and back through the rear pannels through the tailgate seal and up to the mount on my rear swing out.

The little box that things connect to for it is about 1"x1"x2.5". I simply re-plug my 'all in mic' back into it, the connector into one of the lighter sockets (split cable) and go. Crude, but I was in a hurry when I put it together the first time - and haven't bothered to change it.

 

[corn man]

I just realized the boys got these from my inlaws for xmas--I'm thinking these will work won't it?

Midland Radio - Midland Radio | Communication Solutions For Your World

 

[Jrob80]

Yeah they should work.

As long as we stay between channels 1 - 22, at least we will have a channel we can go to, to talk about you

 

[Grench]

If the weather is nice, there will likely be several groups there.

Murphy's law states that whatever channel we could pick would be otherwise occupied.

Pick an off-beat channel for the trip down to Tuttle (Channel 18? <-random pick) then once there listen for a minute or two to a few different channels to find a clear one. Just stay off 9.

 

[corn man]

Wifey wants me back so I won't be spending the night anywhere. My neighbor is thinking of coming along and bringing his dirt bikes. He has a Tacoma...

 

[Jrob80]

Bad news... I don't know how I spaced this off. We just got the invite for one of our good friends sons graduation on Saturday the 12th. Don't think I will be making the trip down.

 

[Grench]

Wifey wants me back so I won't be spending the night anywhere. My neighbor is thinking of coming along and bringing his dirt bikes. He has a Tacoma...

My wife looks at me taking our boys on an overnight outing as her own little staycation. She generally can't get us out the door fast enough.

Unless she's on call, have your wife meet the family at the motel for swimming with the family? We'll only be 90 mins away by then - or better yet, bring her with you for the wheeling?

This isn't a TLCA event - no real vehicle restrictions. Your buddy on his bikes is going to be way more mobile than we are - which is fine.

 

[Grench]

Bad news... I don't know how I spaced this off. We just got the invite for one of our good friends sons graduation on Saturday the 12th. Don't think I will be making the trip down.

Send him a card with $50 in it and go wheeling. He'll be more grateful than if you showed up instead.

 

[Jrob80]

I know... our families are close and I remember working out on the farm when this kid was knee high. It wouldn't feel right missing it.

 

[samuelsmith]

That's a bummer if you can't make it JRob. Ordered a handheld CB so I should have it by next week. I'll be on channel 18 for the drive down there.

 

[2 E L O]

I got my new fan clutch today... I need to get that installed, grease my knuckles, get the spare tire tied down inside the truck and then I'm ready to go!

Are there any fees or passes/permits required there?

 

[Grench]

My rear locker now engages - but the light keeps blinking. Should be interesting.

My power steering pump is replaced.

It's now at the shop again for a P0125 though - hopefully that will get sorted quickly.

 

[samuelsmith]

There are no fees or permits for the ORV park. I believe there are fees for camping but I am sure its minimal and easy to figure out.

I got my new fan clutch today... I need to get that installed, grease my knuckles, get the spare tire tied down inside the truck and then I'm ready to go!

Are there any fees or passes/permits required there?

 

[2 E L O]

Thanks, samuelsmith.

I got my new fan clutch installed yesterday after work. I just bought a new blue hub fan clutch from Lowe Toyota as the LT modified fan clutches were backordered. Josh at Ajik tried to expedite the order to get it to me on time, but I don't think it would have arrived in time for the trip this Saturday.

After the trip I'll decide whether to send this new fan clutch off to LT to get modified ($65 plus shipping both ways) or if I'll refill the fluid and adjust the timing myself... I'm leaning towards just doing it myself--can't be that hard.

I think the truck and I are ready for the trip! I have driven it to Kearney and back and Peru and back in the last couple of weeks...running good!

 

[Grench]

I ended up taking my truck to Auto Station at around 134th & Q.
http://autostationomaha.com/

On my grey '96, they replaced the power steering pump, welded an exhaust leak in my custom SS pipes, found and fixed a corroded connector on my rear locker, then found and fixed a worn through wire on my front O2 sensor.

I even had them do a front brake job on my wife's red '96 FZJ80. They turned the rotors and put on new Toyota pads.

In all - they did fine work. I'm happy. The price was reasonable - more so than dealerships. So, I now have a good answer of where to take a LandCruiser to in West Omaha. They don't see a lot of them, but they seem to be patient and willing to look things up and understand them.

So, I no longer have any mechanical issues holding me back from going on Saturday.

In order to meet at the gas station at Hwy 77 & Saltillo by 8 AM I'll need to leave home by 6:45 with kids. Possible - maybe. I can try, but the odds of me being able to be there by somewhere between 8:30 and 9 are higher than they are by 8.

We should probably PM back and forth some mobile phone numbers so those who ARE there on time can call and harass those who aren't - and to make sure they either are or are not coming so they know whether to wait or head out.

So - who wants to be the central person to get everyone's phone number?

 

[2 E L O]

I can do it...

PM me with your number and I'll compile them and distribute the list to all the people on the list.

 

[samuelsmith]

Here's my final list of those coming, if I left someone off let me know so I can be sure to wait for you. My friend who has a FJ80 is also coming along. Looks like we are going to have a good sized group down there.

Grench - Looks like you are planning on it but may be running late, do you want me to wait in Lincoln or just meet us at the ORV?

2ELO - Looks like you are planning on going too, want to meet us at the gas station in Lincoln or at the park?

Cornman - Meeting you and possibly your neighbors at the gas station on Hwy 77 and Satillo at 8:00 right?

JBob56 - Meet at the gas station at 8:00 too?

JRob80 - Still sitting this one out?

I'll be on channel 18 on my CB. If people want to PM their phone numbers that would be great, I'll reply with mine. If for some reason you can't make it just let me know, so we don't wait around for nothing. This should cover everything and everyone if not let me know. I'll check this forum from my phone before I leave the gas station too.

Looks like 2ELO is in charge of the phone numbers now.