The Emotions in a TC

jefe 4x4 wrote:
Jamin',
You really kicked the ant farm here. It seems we all come into TC-town on a different road.
My road into town was on the 'freedom to boondock' trail via dry camp mesa. But even before that I bought a TC so I could tow my Jeep to the trailhead and have somewhere to hang that was not laying on the ground. The hard core rock crawler thing is receding with age, and now my old Lance (sister to yours) is in the pure maintenance mode. A few things have broken down, over time, but everything works. But, she soldiers on to house Jeanie and I on our travels and is like an old pair of shoes: you just can't bring yourself to throw them away. These old shoes have cleats to get us through any weather and any road or trail condition: be it sand, snow, rain, or mud.
We still have a few trips left in the old girl and are in the planning stages of one of the most epic trips in a TC that I could dream up: The circumnavigation of the continental U.S. boundary states. Clockwise. In time for Fall color in N.E. 16 to 20 weeks. Camping every beach camping possibility on the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Gulf.
Yes, it is small in there, but we have learned to live with it. With just two consenting adults, we've learned the 'TC Ballet' on getting around inside on a wet winter's night. Luckily, neither of us has any claustrophobia. Small tanks? Yes, indeed. Instead of dumping every two weeks, we must dump within 5 or 6 days when dry camping. Even then, we have mitigated the problems of small tanks with some painless, inventive measures. The upside is the lack of weight you carry around with you.
Following much advice gained here, right here, I have worked on sustaining Cabeza de Vaca enough to have a lot of ownership in the old gal. We have gotten a lot more enjoyment of the old box than our initial investment of $6500 would indicate.
Yes, I would say I am attached to the girl.
Here is a pic of her on a dry lake in Owens Valley about a month or two after purchase in 2001 looking trim in her few year old patina, with Mt. Whitney above the box:

which has slowly morphed into the trail eating, trusty, beat up junker we so enjoy:

regards, as always, jefe

Very cool to think we were only 2 weeks apart on the assembly line and both are still out cruising the roads. She's older with a few battle scars but certainly not down for the count.

Unfortunately we didn't get out as much last season since we have a family member with health issues. Dementia is a terrible disease.

This year we hope to make up some time. I look out now and see snow but just a head tilt to the left and I see her in the driveway waiting. She puts a smile on my face!

I think we're loading her on the truck this week.