taylor.coyote

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.

JD and Jason, Vortex must be applied with special equipment by an experienced shop. I got my inspiration from Bugeyed Driver. Vortex is similar to Line-X spray on pick-up bed liner in texture and feel (a firm rubber like finish) I chose Vortex because it is applied at a much lower temperture than Line-X (best not to heat fiberglass too much) and can be painted with automotive paint to match your hull. Bugeyed Driver estimates it increased his tongue weight by 40lbs. The coating is substantial and tough. We have been on the road five 5 week since the application and are pleased to date.. I feel Vortex is a very good solution to protect your trailer nose. Bugeyed Driver has years of experiences with his Vortex..

Wow this thing has become confused. It may be my fault due to my minimal electrical skills and not being clear. Below is what we have changed Our transfer switch burned-out. We replaced it. We run shore, generator and 12v DC power in our trailer We do not have an inverter.. We run everything at 12v when not plugged into shore power or generator We replaced the 2016 factory installed progressive dynamic controller that came in the trailer (would not support lithium) with new progressive dynamic controller (PD4045-CSV) to accommodate lithium batteries replaced old AMG batteries with lithium 300AH The new progressive dynamic controller (PD4045-CSV) is charging our lithium batteries to 14.5 volts when the recommended is 14.4volts when at 100%. Per the manufacture's battery techs, our batteries can handle 14.6V max. I'm feeling uncomfotable charging beyond the recommend 14.4V, just below to our battery's max of 14.6 Volts. My question is: For those of you running the progressive dynamic controller (PD4045-CSV) with lithium batteries, how many volts is it charging your batteries when at 100%? You can look at your charging history to see your charging levels at 100% less than 14.4 volts ? 14.4 volts 14.5 volts ? 14.6 volts ? more than 14.6 volts ? At what voltage level do you get a high voltage alarm ?

One more issue: put in the new progressive dynamic controller (PD4045-CSV) and its charging my batteries to 14.5 volts.. the recommended for my batteries is 14.4 v. spoke with the battery company techs and they said my batteries top voltage it can handle is 14.6... .. they told me that 14.5 will be ok as long as the control does not change beyond 14.5 v .... what voltage is your PD405-CSV charing your batteries? is my controller opperating as it should?

Geoff, found time today for the rear jack. My electrical skills are weak. Wires were off the terminals for the jack. hooked them back, still no action. I took a bonehead approach and installed a new toggle. The result: jack would opperate going up only. I revised the wires and the jack would go down only. Missing the jack fucntion is a small inconvenience. Power issues have been our priority. We resolved power issues today, The jack will have to wait till we are home. thanks..

And for the rest of the story: Replaced the converter, replaced the TOASTED transfer switch, replaced AMG batteries (300AH lithium) and added the dork converter for the Maxx fan. JD, after this experience, I'm not ready to let go of the generator redundancy and we need it for the air conditioner. Love to jettison the generator, we'll see now how it goes with lithium batteries. AND AS ALL OF YOU ALREADY KNOW...... YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU... AND IT'S ONLY MONEY. Now we are good to go.... almost... while installing the new batteries we discovered broken rivers at the top of the battery box... I found an excellent stream with solutions but this will wait till we get home. We'll keep an eye out but the reduced weight of the Lithium (210 lbs lighter than our AGM batteries). 201 lbs, that's a crazy number. Hopefully lighter batteries will be kinder to the battery box. Thanks to everyone's contributed that has helped get us back on the road.

the box is toasted..... imaged attached. I'll send more about our adventure later.

JD, Thank you for your gracious invitation. I would love visit, patch a few loose ends on the trailer and learn from you. Unfortunately Prescott is in our rear view mirror. Assuming we get our power in order, we plan to loop into southern Ut, then New Mexico and find our way home (humboldt county Califroina) by way of San Deigo. Our style is to have a general travel plan with the flexibility to wander as areas interst us. This is our first time in this region. We will return. We would like to recipocate by extending a standing invitation to visit us. We have 8 acres in the redwoods. King and Coho Salmon run in Lindsay creek next our property in the winter. The general area is special and well worth the trip if you have never visited.

Thanks for the warning regarding fire and the great diagrams/images. Out of caution we are not attempting to run any power from 30amp sources. We are again heating the trailer with an electric portable heater with short 12 gauge extension cable through dinette window. We have the dinette hatch open to warm plumbing here.. Additionally, we have enough battery to run the trailer heater for a while in the early morning to heat the plumbing on under the passenger side bed. With some luck, our dilemma will over tomorrow. The good news, we did not waste the day. The temp was an amzing sunny 50 degrees on the Grand Canyon south rim. Absolutely fantasitic day. Even better, almost no-one around the canyon. No traffic, empty parking area, empty campgrounds and hotels due to the main water line being shut down for emergency repairs. No water throughout. the park was our private playground today.. a once in a lifetime event. Doesn't get any better than this