John E Davies

Pictures please! And good luck. John Davies Spokane WA

Bump for any updates? I plan to start on my rack project soon (buy the materials at least), and I would really like to know the exact distance from bumper to centerline of the forward-most bike rail. Plus comments on how well that spacing has worked for you, in terms of handlebar and pedal clearance with the hull and tire mostly. Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

That’s a hoot. I totally agree, especially if you have to do chores like buying supplies or lumber. Carrying a long load of studs or heavy sacks of manure in a really nice SUV gets old really fast. I have had a couple of pickups (1500 Chevy and 3500 Ram) and decided that for me a small utility trailer and a nice SUV makes more sense. But there is nothing as satisfying as pulling up to the loading area at Home Depot, dropping the gate, and having the guy drive his forklift right up to it, and lay all those big sheets flat on the bed. Woohoo. For an inner city dweller the equation gets completely dfferent due to tight streets, low parking garage clearances, no need for landscaping etc. In that case, I really don’t understand why anyone would want a pickup as his only vehicle. It does not compute. My son lives in Redmond WA, outside of Seattle, and the ONLY pickups you see there are commercial contractors. Everything else is high end SUVs, Teslas, sports cars and dirt free tricked out Wranglers. LOL. John Davies Spokane WA

Before you get too carried away, put a good long carpenter level on the floor or bottom of the frame rail and see if there is some tilt to the trailer. It is highly unlikely that it is dead level in both directions. Once you figure out the slope, look uphill from that leak point, keeping in mind that for a large leak, the water can pool at an obstruction and flow sideways. For tiny drips, a piece of blue paper shop towel is excellent. Fold it several times and lay it under the suspected leak. Any drips will form a dark blue spot that is very easy to see. Finding them by feel or visually is often difficult. If your trailer is slightly nose down, I would look at the trap and pressure lines in the galley first. OTH I would probably just wait for warmer weather. What is done is done, there is no reason to get cold and miserable chasing it now. It’s probably not going to do any more damage IMHO. Good luck. John Davies Spokane WA

It is full featured, I especially like the super sized 4AWG cables and heavy duty clamps, but I am not sure why you would want to also use it as a trickle charger..... Do you own one of these? How long have you had it? It seems like a great choice for a shop or used car dealer, where it would get used a dozen times a day..... My Viking (Harbor Freight) unit is going strong. I have used it three times to jump other cars. I set up reminders in my Calendar to tell me to when to charge it, every three months, as recommended. My daughter has been using one for several years and I strongly recommend it. You can buy three for the price of that one.... and it has the same safe chemistry and is significantly smaller and lighter. Thanks for the link. John Davies Spokane WA

A word of caution for those of you with bike racks and who are large framed, mobility impaired or just not very agile..... Make 100% sure you can get out the back window with your bike(s) in place. It would be a shame to leave the world while staring out at your mountain bikes blocking your exit. Other than removing them constantly, I don’t know if there is a good solution for this. I would like very much to see pics of an adult climbing out past a couple of bikes. I have to assume that the factory considered this when designing their bike systems..... ? I have not tried climbing out, personally, maybe that will be a spring project. I’ll have my daighter make a video, LOL.... I do not use the rear tire cover, nor do I have a rack. Having the cover off will make it a little easier, in that you have a (lower) high traction rubber surface to kneel on instead of super slippery gelcoat. John Davies Spokane WA

Those are extremely cool, will you please start a new thread about them? thanks. John Davies Spane WA

Just watched the Fast Lane guy try to take the Expedition FX4 up Gold Mine Hill. He had lots of trouble, never got through the third section, and got stuck in a ditch. This truck is definitely not made for that kind of driving. Tires are too street oriented (no grip). Need real All Terrain tires. Not nearly enough wheel travel (axle articulation). Not much can be done about that. That is what gives you a nice soft highway ride. Inadequate clearance. Easy fix, some dealers do it to new vehicles on their lots. ... https://www.blueovaltrucks.com/a-lifted-2018-ford-expedition/ Anyway, for easy maintained gravel and dirt forest roads, no worries with the stock truck. Once you start adding rocks and small ledges, you will not be able to proceed. THIS is why a Land Cruiser can walk up Gold Mine Hill without disturbing the folks inside. This is a stock vehicle, with stock passenger car tires: John Davies Spokane WA

Very correct! It is hard to balance maximum load carrying and passenger comfort. Rear airbags work very well to tune the back end for towing. And you can then deflate them when the trailer is parked. With the small Elite this would not be a concern. However the FX4 package may lower the tow rating and this would need to be verified! John Davies Spokane WA

Kathryn, The Land Cruiser 200 does have multiple cameras, one in the center of the grill, one bi-directional one under each side mirror, and one in the tailgate, slightly off center. While they do not integrate as nicely as Ford’s system, they are very useful. They are really designed for offroad, so you can see obstacles like a big rock, and lines where the tires will go, depending on the steering wheel position. Very cool, IMHO. They do not have automatic trailer backing assist, which would be nice. I am a little unsure why you would use cruise control in slow speed stop and go traffic, that seems VERY risky, regardless of how smart the system is. The Radar mode of the LC works well in variable speed highway traffic, and can easily be disabled for regular driver controlled cruise control, which I prefer away from lots of cars. The problem with Radar mode is that if the idiot in front of you can’t maintain speed, your vehicle will mimic his car. I prefer to not have my truck speedng up and slowing down all the time. If the guy ahead is ditsy, I prefer to go around him rather than dance with him. The LC has hill start assist, it holds the brake on a slope until you accelerate. That has been around for a decade, it is not unique to the Navigator you looked at. The LC is definitely not for everyone, that is for sure, but it is a worry free vehicle that will take you anywhere. I have no personal experience with any Ford product, ever, but I think the 450 bhp Raptor motor in the Lincoln would be a stellar unit for towing an Elite II. And yes, Ford dealers can fix it if needed. You just have to put up with a down scale waiting area... ;) I don’t know anything about the Lincoln drivetrain, but Ford offers the FX4 offroad package, which would be a wonderful choice. It gives you Low Range 4wd, under chassis skidplate protection, locking rear differential and those necessary LT tires, standard. Woohoo! Perfect for exploring those high Colorado passes and those loose sandy tracks in Utah.... On June 16, 2017, Ford announced that an off-road package Expedition FX4 will become available starting with the 2018 model year, with an announced MSRP at around $63,000 (US). This option, available to 4WD XLT level trims only and targeted towards the 20% of Expedition owners who use the vehicle for off-road purposes, is expected to compete with the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe Z71 package in both standard and MAX versions. Among the detailed features are patented electronic locking limited-slip rear differential, Off-road-tuned shocks, All-terrain tires, Seven different skid plates that serve as underbody armor and protect critical areas, Unique 18-inch Magnetic Metallic-painted cast-aluminum wheels. Note: 18” LT tires work MUCH better on rough surfaces than 20’s or heaven forbid, 22’s. They are way cheaper, offer a wider selection, ride softer, protect the rims from pothole damage, and are easy to find in any small town if you mess one up. A LC comes with 18’s only, and its Lexus sister comes with 20’s. John Davies Spokane WA

Perhaps you could explain what makes this rally unique? If you won’t post the events list, how are we suposed to know what is planned? I am OK with a band, or BBQ, or target shooting, or canoeing, but definitely not fire walking or deep meditation.... Just trying to understand the event. What is going to happen, besides socializing? And enjoying nature? Which, I have to comment, will be a little hard to do from your second commercial venue, which is pretty close to Interstate 14.... Thanks again. John Davies Spokane WA

Would you mind explaining those? Does this actually mean something? I have been to Rushmore and the Black Hills and cannot connect what I experienced there with this mystical symbology... except maybe the rumbling, which could be half a million Harley Davidson riders leaving Sturgis. They should mostly be gone by the last week of August. Nature’s quiver has me and Google stumped.... Is there an actual schedule of events? There is nothing on the website. Thanks. John Davies Spokane WA

I understand the screws, but what is the reason for the single big bolt in the center, and why just one? What glue did you use? Other than wanting to do it yourself, was there a reason you didn’t just buy some indestructible black rubber chocks? They grip both the ground and the tire tread (sort of) and are not as large. I agree that plastic ones are not satisfactory for these heavy trailers, tho they are OK for a little one. Thanks, John Davies Spokane WA

Mine is usually open when not moving, for ventilation. If some rain comes in I don’t worry about anything getting damp that shouldn’t. Are you talking about having a fixed glass pane, or eliminating it entirely? That would make it kinda dark and gloomy, which I would hate. John Davies Spokane WA

Not really.... for example -20C is -4F, and that is not an unusual temperature for a large part of the population. At that temp you have lost 40% of your theoretical range. Not an insignificant number. I am not completely against electric trucks but I think hybrids make so much more sense. Unless you are just using it as a daily driver and for distances that don’t push the envelope too far. It is cool technology tho. John Davies Spokane WA

All three work fine on my iPad Mini 4. These 3D videos are cool. I like that you can go into the bathroom. Great work! John Davies Spokane WA

Ha ha.... snake oil! None of the numbers make sense with the technology we have in 2020. Maybe in another decade .... You can't do a full recharge of a big pack in 15 minutes, and all the wild range claims mean nothing when the temperature drops. Range vs temperature for a Tesla: When a startup goes belly up you are severely screwed; your cutting edge vehicle now has a number of "unobtanium" parts. Like Alta motorcycles: ... https://electrek.co/2018/10/18/alta-motors-closing-operations/ OTH I really like the styling and features. The frunk with tailgate is brilliant, as long as it has great weather seals. I don't know how you could possibly keep it dry. John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks for the comments. I am too slow to use my hands. I really like your idea of drawing them away from the front door, but I tend to keep a dark campsite and am reluctant to string lights of any kind. Though the ability to repel other campers is a huge bonus that I had not really considered... How about a small residential style 110 volt bug zapper. Hang it from your neighbors trailer and it will draw all the bugs away from your site, to theirs...... Cool. I don’t normally have too much trouble with flying insects, except in spring in the wet mountains (Cascades), when the skeeters hatch out and swarm all day long. I tend to avoid those situations, since I prefer to not be sucked completely dry. John Davies Spokane WA

What do you use? I am currently using an old school analog device, a plastic swatter, with limited success and it is disgusting. I was thinking about a Bug A Salt but my wife vetoed that pretty quickly. https://www.bugasalt.com How about an electric swatter? Anybody use one? Comments? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F3N8A4Q/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&smid=AEPHQXND4EGVF Some reviewers say it just stuns the bigger fliies and pisses them off. That might be unpleasant.... Please tell us your war stories. John Davies Spokane WA

Thanks, I had not seen the trailer tour. It continues to PISS me off that the hidden storage areas are shown to the world in videos and mainstream magazine articles... With enough exposure they are no longer secret, which was the whole point of putting them there. These should only be shown to future owners or on a private tour. Anyway.... that horse has left the barn, thanks again. John Davies Spokane WA

Why two? I bought a cool folding Camco bucket, cleaning stuff, wash brush, cleaner, rags, etc etc etc, and carted it all around for two seasons. I never did use it, not even once. I guess if I was on a long trip I might need it. But with the outside coated with Rejex, a quick spray with fresh water at a quarter car wash, with no soap, gets it clean in a few minutes. Driving away blows off most of the water, so no spots. No need for washing stuff IMHO. I would rather have the space for other gear... all that is needed is cotton rags and detail spray to get off bugs and small stains. John Davies Spokane WA

The Internet is full of videos showing how to open cheap safes. Often in less than a minute. Sometimes by just jiggling the knob or whacking the cover hard. Of course this assumes that a crook has watched those, has remembered the techniques and has the suitable bobby pin/ Bic pen, etc to defeat your particular lock. Of course also, any safe is definitely better than no safe. Just like any gun is better than a sharp stick.... But if you do decide to invest in a safe, it would be prudent to consider a high quality one with a secure locking mechanism and a 3/16” steel lid or door.... not one that is just barely good enough to meet any state requirements. And bolt it down hard, so the crook won’t just take it home to work on. I got this one for Christmas, to comply with the new state “secure gun storage” law, and it is a real dandy. Highly recommended. ...https://www.gunsafes.com/Fort-Knox-PB1-Original-Pistol-Safe.html It is installed onto a fixed bookcase shelf inside a cardboard box, through bolted with 3/8” bolts, with “red herring” road atlases and travel magazines piled on top. It looks like a pile of old junk but is very quick to access the contents. John Davies Spokane WA

Red herring: “something that takes attention away from a more important subject” There are enough secure areas in an Ollie for stuff like a medium sized purse, laptop, etc, but the best solution is to keep a crook away from those places using red herrings. Bait the more accessible places with things that you don’t mind losing. A typical crook is looking for a quick in and out, less than a minute usually. He isn’t going to check every single storage compartment, he will go for the drawers, the closet and the bathroom cabinet, before anything else. Often he is just looking for enough cash for his next fix, or something that he can carry easily and that he can pawn rapidly. Which is a very sad statement about our society. Fill an old prescription bottle, preferably one that had an opioid pain killer, with Tic Tacs and leave it on the bathroom counter. Leave an old phone or tablet plugged in and sitting on the table. I use an old iPad, with its dead battery. Make sure there is no personal info on it! Store small tools in one of the galley drawers. Mine contains multimeter, muliti-tool, hatchet, electrical adapters, etc. Total value is low but it looks impressive to a thief. Leave an electronics case with a logo on it (Go Pro, Garmin) with an obslolete or dead unit in it, like an old radar detector. I have a shotgun locked in a rack in the closet. That and the stuff on the shelves will keep him occupied for a while, but he won’t get the gun out unless he has power tools. If you have some apparently valuable stuff that is visible and easily accessible, it is very unlikely that a bad guy would spend much time digging into more obscure places. I do recommend that you never leave behind your personal IDs and credit cards in the trailer, never ever. Never travel with irreplaceable heirlooms or jewelry (Rolex). Everything else is just mainstream “stuff” that can be easily replaced. John Davies Spokane WA

If I were going to do this I would bolt down a high quality front opening handgun safe in one of the overhead compartments using 3/8” tamper proof “security” bolts. Don’t skimp on the safe. The $100 ones are junk. The electronic locks are junk. This one would be excellent .... https://www.gunsafes.com/Fort-Knox-PB4-Personal-Pistol-Safe.html You would need to mount it with a thick spacer underneath so the door would clear the lower compartment lip. Use a stout piece of solid metal, like an aluminum plate, so a thief could not jam a prybar into the gap and lever it out. John Davies Spokane WA

Ours is completly silent. I weigh 165, if you are heavier I think it could maybe creak a little, but popping or cracking noises would be a worry. That sounds like a break in the material. I think you should check with the factory on this one.... are there any physical signs, such as small cracks? John Davies Spokane WA