Howz everyone doing these days? Been a while since I posted last. I got busy with other hobbies and fabricated toys. We're gearing up for a long road trip next summer out east (hot humid weather) so the '97 Ford will get some upgrades, and some general replacements. Same with the Snow River. Looking to add a 3" down pipe and 4" exhaust, new rear springs (right side is finally showing some mileage with some sag). New rear shocks, brakes (drums/shoes, rotors, pads and calipers), tires, and maybe even a new windshield. The Snow River is getting a new Polar Cub 9200 in place of the current 13,500 BTU unit that is up there now. We want to be able to run AC via the Honda 2000 while camping off the grid. States we plan to hit (not in this particular order), Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. Maybe Texas? It's going to be HOT, HUMID and us web toes will need to adjust to it. :BGimme some places that we need to see along the way. Keep in mind, I prefer the non touristy kinds of places that brings us into rural America and lets me share time with the less visited folks, and not so much the mainstream folks. Whatcha got? -INSAYN

Good to see ya posting again Craig :), it's been a bit dull without ya here!Let's see, for off the tourist route stuff, it depends on yer interests. Something I don't normally hear mentioned often is the U.P RR Museums and Omaha Steam Works where they keep their active steam locomotive fleet in between runs (a couple of things I hope to visit along my trip over the next couple months). Idaho is supposed to have good fishing up on Priest Lake, but I've never been. There's the two decommissioned railroad grade bike trails of course.

I'm good on Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. Been to these states many many times. The south eastern states I have very limited experience with, if at all. Looking forward to some greasy spoon diners off the beaten path somewhere in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Fried chicken, chicken fried steak, gator, catfish, frog legs, yumm!!

Insayn, nice to see you back. Wow that is going to be a great trip. In Oklahoma if you are near Clare more go to the Will Rodgers museum it is fun and they also a really big gun museum in Clarmore. You can camp at the fair grounds for a real reasonable rate. Clarmore is a small town and nice. When we went to most of those States we tried to stay off the freeways and on the smaller two lane hi-ways that get you to the same spots. Got to see lots of the rural places that way. I am sure I will come up with more places and I will let you know. Great trip. xnorp

Graceland in Memphis, TN is worth seeing atleast once, even if you are not an Elvis fan. Nashville is the country music capital. Dollywood is very popular. And dont forget to hit alot of the Ma and Pa BBQ joints when in the south.

Don't forget Sleepy. He's quite an attraction in TN too.

Insayn's 2013 road trip prep. | Good Sam Community

INSAYN
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
Just a few short weeks shy of hitting the road. God I with the tornado season would dry up already. I have plans that include going right through parts of the midwest that are getting some nasty twisters. Then they predict that the hurricane season will be nasty as well, and probably right when I get down in the Gulf area.

Finishing up the last bit of truck details, and just started getting indications that my valve cover gasket/wiring harness is melting. Had my drivers side bank of injectors quit firing. Then they would come back. Pulled the valve covers and found two connectors starting to melt. Putting in new gaskets and harnesses this morning after work.

Then it's just a routine oil change and start packing. :)
JoeChiOhki
Explorer II
May 14, 2013
INSAYN wrote:
Spott wrote:
Hey Craig,
I didn't see Michigan on that list...

Yeah, not this year. In the future when the kids are off and running their own lives, I would like to hit some of the north eastern states and catch the fall colors.

I've been all over OR, WA, ID, CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, WY, (not really interested in NM. Been to parts of FL, TX, NE, SD, and MT.
So this year we are hitting more of the mid and lower south east.

Totally looking forward to the sweltering heat and bugs! :E

I can tell you from having just done that last year, that those colors are awesome, nothing in the NW looks near as eye popping as Wisconsin and the UP in Fall.
INSAYN
Explorer
May 13, 2013
BTW, I'm loving that new Coleman Polar Cub 9200. Damn this thing is quiet! I can't even hear it running while standing outside.
Inside on Low Cool, it is way cooler than the heater blower fan.

The Honda EU2000 seams very content running it as well, so we should be set in the lower elevations at least. Still pondering my options of how to securely lock the Honda to the trailer tongue so we can sleep at night with it running.
INSAYN
Explorer
May 13, 2013
Spott wrote:
Hey Craig,
I didn't see Michigan on that list...

Yeah, not this year. In the future when the kids are off and running their own lives, I would like to hit some of the north eastern states and catch the fall colors.

I've been all over OR, WA, ID, CA, NV, AZ, UT, CO, WY, (not really interested in NM. Been to parts of FL, TX, NE, SD, and MT.
So this year we are hitting more of the mid and lower south east.

Totally looking forward to the sweltering heat and bugs! :E
Spott
Explorer
May 12, 2013
Hey Craig,
I didn't see Michigan on that list...
INSAYN
Explorer
May 12, 2013
sleepy wrote:
I'm glad they will have Air conditioning.... 80 plus degree days are already here... and Tuesday morning we may have a frost.

My figs are already about 1 1/4" in diameter... most of the flowering trees have already gone to seed....

It will be scortching hot by the time you hit the deep south.

Going home through the high mountains will feel very good...

Let me know if you need anything from this end... I'll pm you with my cell phone number... just in case.....

Sleepy

Thanks Sleepy.
sleepy
Explorer
May 12, 2013
I'm glad they will have Air conditioning.... 80 plus degree days are already here... and Tuesday morning we may have a frost.

My figs are already about 1 1/4" in diameter... most of the flowering trees have already gone to seed....

It will be scortching hot by the time you hit the deep south.

Going home through the high mountains will feel very good...

Let me know if you need anything from this end... I'll pm you with my cell phone number... just in case.....

Sleepy
INSAYN
Explorer
May 11, 2013
Update:

Most if not all of the little 5000btu window air conditioners have changed styles this year. I have yet to find one that has the controls as well as the cool air output to be on the top or top front edge aimed up. So, my parents decided that a small 8000btu portable unit will work for them (exhaust plumbed outside of course) and will be easy to store in the garage for the cooler camping trips.

This month my truck got a new windshield, new tires and both tanks now have fast fill mods done to them (by me), so roughly 6-8 minutes to fill both tanks combined, rather than 35+ mins as it used too. Also replaced front tank sender unit (float had a pinhole and sunk).

New Rancho 9000XL's. The bodies are physically larger on these new ones. BTW there is a rebate going on right now buy 4, get a $100 prepaid Visa card. Rock-Auto has them for $89 each (they were only $85 when I purchased a few weeks ago). Many places they are $100-$125 each.

1997 truck feels like a new truck again. I just hit 109000 miles on the OD this week. :C

Soooo, looking forward to this trip!
INSAYN
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
sleepy wrote:
Whats wrong with the old one.... is it worth fixing? Times short.

worst case... pick one up along the way... Ouch!

Sleepy, I need to install one as there hasn't been one installed in my folks trailer yet. The pic above was of another Aliner owner's trailer for reference to give you an idea why a particular unit is needed to work in the space given.
sleepy
Explorer
Apr 22, 2013
Whats wrong with the old one.... is it worth fixing? Times short.

worst case... pick one up along the way... Ouch!

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