The Next Big Thing....

[tcm glx]

That truck looks so good! I really like that build. I need to catch up on the thread.

I'm going with 31" tires. 33's would defeat the goal of good fuel economy. But, I am considering having a set of 33x10.50's for play time.

There is a new set on DR for 500 bucks I think........

[SteveG]

Thanks, but I'm not ready to start buying parts yet. I need to catch it up on maintenance, make sure it's reliable and fix some odds and ends first. Oh, and unload the Bronco!

[SteveG]

So three of the four windows took a dump. I figured the regulators crapped out since I hear it's a common issue (although I haven't experienced it). It turns it it was just the bushings in the window motors like every other Ford window problem I've had. $8 and about 25 minutes per door and I'm back in action. I have one left to do... will get to that one later.

Disassembled with all the chunks taken out.

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Ready to go back together.

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[SteveG]

Also got the radio mounted... still need to mount the antenna and find good spot for the mic.

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Waiting for an adapter harness for stereo installation....

[SteveG]

A couple inspiration photos from Huckfest.

[SteveG]

Got some new (to me) shoes put on today. A little noisier than what I was doing but they're like new and the price was right.

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[Seabass]

I like the idea of a sleeper explorer. Dont make this thing too cool or your gonna cost me a bunch of money

[SteveG]

The family and I took the Explorer on it's maiden voyage... camping at Limekiln on Highway 1. We spent a few hours on Saturday exploring some of the fire roads off the highway (mostly on 23S01) and up into the forest scouting potential non-developed campsites. We found a few OK spots and a couple really cool spots. One could probably spend weeks driving all the roads back there and sight-seeing but we doubled back as it was getting late. Unfortunately, both Kelci and I forgot out cameras, so I only took a few camera phone shots. The fire roads were just begging to be shot with a GoPro on the hood... sigh. Next time!

Here is most of the path we took.

http://goo.gl/maps/WQMCR

Google Maps wouldn't mark it any further, but we finished the road past the "B and drove down Willow Creek Trail a ways.We gave the stocker a bit of a work, used 4-Low a few times out and definitely would have been sweating without the new shoes! Here's the best part. We get past San Martin Top (close to "B" on the map above) and through some fairly steep and rutted stuff, I'm thinking, "it's a good thing we have these tires and 4wd and find some people camping out at the end of the road with an 80's 4-door Mercedes sedan! Ha!

Anyway, it was good times with lots to look at. Photos to follow....

[SteveG]

San Martin Top (roughly the "B" on the map.

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[SteveG]

The last leg of Los Burros Spur Rd. There are a few campsites overlooking the Pacific at the end of this road.

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[SteveG]

We found a couple cars that had gone off the road. One was way too far to get to. We got out and looked around at this one, though.

[SteveG]

A couple photos of a hike at Limekiln.

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[SteveG]

Sorry, no poser shots!

[Rmc]

Pretty country bro. That one pos has been there a long time judging by the sapling through the back window.

[SteveG]

I'm on a fire road kick, so the family and I were planning to drive to Pozo Saloon via High Mountain Road which is mostly a fire road, rough in some spots but not super bad... passes through some really beautiful country and puts you out within a few hundred feet of Pozo Saloon. My in-laws just bought a new Rubicon Jeep and happened to be visiting, so we made an afternoon of very mild wheeling and drove the back way to the saloon. We also found a few Geocaches along the way... good, mellow times.

A quick and dirty photo/video of the trip there (starting a mile or so in). I wish I'd mounted the camera higher to capture some of the scenery.



The crew at our third (second successful) Geocache:

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I've lived in the area for years and have never made the drive over to Pozo Saloon... definitely worth the drive. Good people and good atmosphere. We even had live music to listen to while we had lunch.

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[SteveG]

A few shots of the big music venue directly behind the saloon. They actually host some pretty cool bands here. I missed Social Distortion here last year... bummer!

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And finally, LUNCH!

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On the way home, we checked out High Mountain Campgound... seldom used, very secluded, very cool... will have to camp there this winter.

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[AussieRod]

I had a Pozo Saloon T shirt back in '87, given to me by an American I met in Perth. He was over to see the America's Cup and I caught up with him 13 years later in CA. He lives in Montana now, but his Dad still lives in Creston.

[SteveG]

I bought this steering wheel at a swap meet a couple months ago and have the cruise control switches and adapter from the Bronco... thinking about putting it on the Explorer. The wheel is a little blingy for me, though. Maybe a coat of flat black is in order.

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[tcm glx]

Nope, stock is better...... And sell me the cruise control thingy... Yup!!

[Rmc]

I always enjoy flipping through your thread, awesome pics and 2 things that are rare in my neck of the woods... Trees and water. But since I've commented, you could always sell me your steering wheel