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Post by mexgrizzly on Aug 21, 2009 13:45:11 GMT -5
My trip to Sacramento, CA started on Thursday about 4:30, 3 days later than I wanted. Unfortunately it was rush hour but Leroy and I pushed through. Near Framingham I heard a funny clicking noise in slow traffic and pulled over, turns out the lug nuts were loose, thank god for traffic. Note to self, check lug nuts even when a professional puts them on. We met someone in Palmer to sell off one of the last remaining parts and continued on our way. I was planning to stop on the west side of Albany but was feeling the energy so we kept on, until the west side of Toledo. Albany/Toledo, I get those confused sometimes.
At a fuel stop checked out the rear bumper/hitch. A bolt is missing and there is too much flex in the bumper when I put weight on it. Locate a hardware store for some better hardware. Ask about someone who welds. Long story short a small town welder welded on a piece to better connect the bumper to the frame, rock solid now. Grabbed a campsite to chill out for a while and take a nap. Tomorrow should be cool but then some hot days across the desert, will probably plan to hit those at night if I can find someplace to be during the day with Leroy, maybe a hotel where the unsecured stuff in the jeep seems safe.
Thanks to those who bought stuff, took stuff, and helped me get on my way. I am going to try to squeeze in Moab but will need to see how the class schedule goes.
This is cool, I added a plan to my Verizon Wireless that allows me access to the internet from my laptop via cell phone Bluetooth connection.
-Andy
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Post by Kurt on Aug 21, 2009 14:19:05 GMT -5
My trip to Sacramento, CA started on Thursday about 4:30, 3 days later than I wanted. Even Ryan is more on time than that!  Near Framingham I heard a funny clicking noise in slow traffic and pulled over, turns out the lug nuts were loose,  Albany/Toledo, I get those confused sometimes. ;D Hopefully any future issues are small on your journey across the lower 48! Keep us posted on your progress. We'll be following in your tracks (mostly) in October. Sure hope we can meet up in Moab  Don't forget to update your profile. Malden |
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Post by schwalby on Aug 21, 2009 15:14:29 GMT -5
Like Kurt said hopefully any future issues are small and you make it on time and safe.
We need pics though. I have never been cross country I need to live through a bit.
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Post by DOUG® on Aug 21, 2009 19:10:57 GMT -5
Except for a few snags it sounds like your doing OK Andy.
[Bugs Bunny poking head out of ground]"I knew I should have turned left at Albuquerque"[BBPHOOG}
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Post by Scott on Aug 24, 2009 20:52:58 GMT -5
Andy's been updating his facebook regularly with photos. Looks like all is going well. |
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Post by Carl McFly on Aug 24, 2009 21:11:54 GMT -5
that's good to hear! I'm not sure I'd put "....or Bust" in the subject line, but he's making it and thats what counts
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Post by mexgrizzly on Aug 26, 2009 1:46:25 GMT -5
I made it to Sacramento on Tuesday morning. Some highlights of the trip are as follows: Got a pretty cool lightning show in Wyoming. My leg insisted so I improvised a hand throttle with some string from Lowes. Not real fancy but it gave my leg a break once in a while. For curiosity I drove on some scales at a truck stop to see how much the jeep weighed, it cost $9. The combined weight was 6400#, the trailer axle was 1500#. I didn't know it when I pulled on the scale but there are 3 separate pads that are set up to take the weight of the steering axle, tractor drive axles, and trailer axles. After you stop the jeep you need to press a button to talk to the attendant in the fuel island. It is set up to be at the window level of a tractor trailer. I had to stretch to hit the button. Then you go to the fuel island, pay, and they give you a printed ticket. Some truckers in the parking lot told me how to use the scales before I did it.
The jeep did well on the trip. It struggled a bit in the 7000-foot mountain passes of the Rocky Mountains, a few required 3rd gear at 50 mph but I was still passing trucks. 5th gear makes more vibration than when I left Massachusetts. I broke the rearview mirror off by accident somewhere in Utah, or was it Wyoming..... Interstate 80 from the Nebraska border to Sacramento is highly recommended to drive at some point in your life.
I will post some pics of the trip soon.
-Andy
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Post by fortyfour on Aug 26, 2009 4:09:05 GMT -5
Very cool, good luck with the next leg of your journey.
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Post by ddewar53 on Aug 26, 2009 6:58:13 GMT -5
Never went past Reno. but drove I-80 from Sacramento to Reno a couple of times. Goes right thru Donner Pass, and follows the Transcontinental Railroad ROW for a ways, too. Amazing scenery. While you're out there, try to get to Yosemite. Be sure to get up above the valley floor, there's some landscapes high in the Sierras out there that look more like moonscapes. Beautiful country, but you have to put up with the crazies.
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Post by mexgrizzly on Aug 26, 2009 11:51:08 GMT -5
Beautiful country, but you have to put up with the crazies. Or they might have to deal with me! ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by frank on Aug 27, 2009 5:15:53 GMT -5
Who the heck can be posting at noon time ? Dont you people have jobs ! Sorry Andy. FjR68
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Post by ddewar53 on Aug 27, 2009 6:59:37 GMT -5
Beautiful country, but you have to put up with the crazies. Or they might have to deal with me! ;D ;D ;D Go get'em, Andy |
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