taylor.coyote

I perceive EV technology to be very cool and loved by several friends. Respectfully, range anxiety is not for me. 225 mile range would be very confining for our off the grid style of travel. I'll let the charging stations become better developed and dependable, EV ranges to increase and the let early adopters scout out this new frontier. I'm old enough and my F250 6.7 is young enough that it may out last my ability to drag a trailer around. Best to you and hope your EV tow vehicle serves you well.

I like to learn but with the Ollie, it usually is attached to a price tag.. As they say "you can't take it with you"

And my wife says I over think things..... Shackle and lug nut torque values, grade 8 vs grade 5 bulldog hitch bolts, tire inflation and ongoing managment, packing bearings temperature monitoring. Now an expaned intellectual conversation on safety chains a the length of the emergency brake cable. As before with many issues, my Ignorance was bliss. Now I need to consider the above safety chain / emergency brake strategy with the hope we won't see Ollie pull up along-side our truck.

Jd, I missed your question about remote camping in the Navajo nation. The answer is yes, we were able to camp outside of campgrounds in remote areas. You can get permits at the visitor center in Cameron for various areas. We had planned to camp in the Coal Mine Canyon area but it was closed due to road damage. The folks at the visitor center recommended the little Colorado River Canyon. The Little Colorado River Canyon was very remote but you had to work / very slow go to get there. It's out there, you will likely be alone and have dark skies. Be sure to ask about roads for your Oliver. We were cautioned about some of the roads.

Happy to be home in my driveway after a fabulous adventure and 4,864.5 miles.

Last night on the road after 6 weeks. We are staying at Dumbarton Quarry Campground, part of Fremont Ca park system. What a nice surprise, one minute we are fighting Bay Area 6 lanes of traffic and next you are in what seems to be a remote place miles from the concrete jungle. Besides an oasis in the middle of madness, the price at $73 is very reasonable for the city. This is a great stop over if passing through the bay-area. We'll be on the road at 4am to beat traffic. Should be home in humboldt County, Ca before noon tomorrow.

Pulled in to Dumbarton Quarry Campground (great place to stay if needing a place in the east bay / San Francisco). A Rivian pulling a Pebble Trailer pulls in. The driver un-hitches the trailer and uses his I-Pad to back/drive the trailer in place. Next the leveling jacks automaticly lift the trailer off the ground and self-level. I spoke with the owner and this is the first shakedown night from the factory in Fremont, Ca . The owner said he should get a range of 200+/- miles with the Rivian/Pebble combo. The Trailer motors are said to add about 100 miles to the Rivian's range vs pulling a standard trailer. I have to say it's very cool and makes our Oliver / F250 look and sound like a dinosaur. Regardless of how cool, this guy is way braver them me. I like being able to carry a couple of fuel cans for a bit more range (more than double the Riven/Pebble combo). We need early adopters and I'm not that guy. I wish him the best. Yes, the Pebble is very cool.

JD, we have hull #124 (2016 production) and broke one spring two years ago. Initially we replaced both springs on the damaged side with the stock springs. Later, we learned of the issues with stock springs and replaced all the springs with Alcan parts 5,000 miles ago. It was my understanding the issue is more about the stock spring design than the production year.

Nearing end of a fantastic 6 week trip. Camping at Morrow Strand State Beach, Ca Clear and sunny with blustery winds, 74 degrees.

I like the idea of running without to test for heat with an infrared temp gun. This said, we run a lot on dirt/gravel and it's called a dust cap. Shouldn't you keep the dust caps on for the obvious reasons?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DI7deGkrXww4&ved=2ahUKEwjerbLzot6RAxVMJ0QIHb9gErUQ3aoNegQIIBAV&usg=AOvVaw3Ghgqd1LhlOdnSbB-Ip6ml

Sorry to mislead. Our flat was a truck tire. JD, I rotated every 5,000 miles and have serviced the brake and bearings . The wheels have seized before. I think it may have to do with my home being within 5 miles of the ocean on the north coast of California. I like your idea to drop the jack level to break the bond between the wheel and the hub.

Wow, Shaeffer Trail looks amazing. This will make our bucket list. Did you pull your tailer over the pass or is it just for vehicle passage?

Leaving camp at Kelso dunes in the Mohave Desert. the road is in poor shape due to storms In mid-November but the slow go is well worth this place for a nice overnight spot.

it was our turn to change a tire in the wild. good news, we carry all the tools (impact wrench, bottle jack, impact socket set, gloves, torque wrench, on board air compressor and maybe the most important tool were my knee pads). All good, all lug nuts off, jack the wheel up for clearance and X!!!@!!, the aluminum wheels are bonded to the steel hubs, electrolysis in action). I kick, got a strap through the wheels and yak and they don't budge. I need a heavy hand sledge and a block of wood to bang the wheels loose from the inside of the wheel. The sledge is the only tool I don't carry. The good news we were not off the grid in the back country for the first time all week. Many of you may know AmBoy road that runs between Route 66 and the 29 Palms / Joshua Tree. Still remote but it didn't take gps cordanates to find us. We had to call a tow service just for a heavy hand sledge. Took about 2 minutes to knock the wheel loose... back on the road and my wife will be getting a hand sledge for Christmas. You may want to check your tool inventory for a hand sledge if you have aluminum wheels.

We continue westward and are camping in the Mojave Desert at Kelso dunes. A very warm afternoon and beautiful sunset

More activity for us in the Navjo Nation with a visits to Canyon De Chelly and the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert.

Look up Moki Dugway.It's a road in UT.. the most amazing road I have driven. It climbs 1,300 feet in 3 miles, hanging off a rock face overlooking Valley of the Gods. Valley of the Gods is spectacular but an afternoon drive to the top of Moki Dugway will make a little vertigo set in. and see if you can find Ollie in the below image..

Staying in the Valley of the Gods tonight. Unlike Monument Valley you are free to camp at any pullout or road spur. We were graced with a freshly graded road and parked the trailer about 5 miles in, just outside of the canyon on the east side of the 17 mile loop. We explored farther up the road. We could have made the loop but decided the sharp dips and rougher road was more than we wanted Ollie to endure. a few images:

I'm a late comer to this party but I have copied many of his ideas and upgrades that has improved my rig and enjoyment.

Monument Vally We are camped in the only open campground in Mounment Valley and there are only two other rigs tonight. We are lucking out with amazing weather and empty parks. Tonight's sunset. I generally avoid shooting classic images that have been shot by 10,000 phtotogrphers that are better than me. These are so classic, I wanted the images.,.. enjoy

Monument Valley tonight. Took quick and dirty images from Goulding campground. Will tour the loop tomorrow. Weather is still amazing,. 60 day time 30ish night and clear as a bell.. very nice but no clouds makes for boring photography. Slow / slack season and few people.. good time of year to visit. Dinosaur tracks off AZ Hy 160 on the way to monument valley..

Stopped to get permits to camp on the Navajo area called Coal Mine Canyon for tonight. The roads into the area were closed so the people at Navajo parks in Cameron suggested the Little Colorado River Canyon. We were told it's a great place and only 12 miles off AZ highway 89. Our first clue we are about to have more than we bargained for should have been the Navajo road #6134 did not have a sign marking the cross road on AZ hy 89. Fast forward: 2 hours and 20 miles on bad gravel / some light 4x4ing due to steepness we arrive at the spectacular overlook of the very remote canyon. Maybe 1500-2000 ft deep with blue water winding between the walls. There is no doubt we are alone. It's an amazing place but we would not have chosen the 20 miles at 10 mph trip. Another real adventure in the books. Looking back (east) 20 miles towards AZ hy 89. We asked for a remote and quiet place. BE CARFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.. Camped at the edge of he Little Colorado River Canyon overlook. note the big rock behind the trailer is the canyon wall This is the big rock / canyon wall in the above image behind the tailer looking down into the canyon.

Mossemi, turning off the PD4045-CSV breaker @ the PD Power is so simple. Of course, turn off the power feeds to your battery.

Mather campground Gand Canyon NP An amazing week to be in Grand Canyon N P. The main water supply is shut down for repairs and the whole Park is almost empty. That would be Hotels, campgrounds, parking lots and South rim drive. The park is a ghost town. We are among the few dry camping in Mather Campground (only campground open). Might be 20 campers tonight. No traffic, no lines, no people. This might be a once in lifetime event to have the greater Grand Canyon N P uncrowded and as our personal playground. Doesn't get better than this.