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I just arrived home from my latest ill conceived trip...
I left out of Tucson last week in a tan M1009 loaded to the gills with everything from slave cables to an MRAP bumper.
I made my way across I 10 to Baton Rouge uneventfully, leaving a trail of MV related items in my wake and putting faces and names to SS identities.
The blazer did just fine, the only hiccup being that the low coolant light came on one morning right after I had checked to make sure it was full. I dropped the blazer with the new owner and picked up the M35A2C.
From Baton Rouge I went to Jeepsinker's place and picked up an item for a guy in OKC to be dropped off the next time I make it by there. I had to hurry off from Jeepsinker's to make it to the GP lot in Deridder before they closed. I made it with about 40min to spare. Even though the GP description said no loading assistance available the guy there was very helpful assisting me get the M989A1 connected to the deuce.
I'll interject here that the empty weight of the M989A1 exceeds the deuce's tow rating by 1000lbs. It pulled fine, and I tested braking to be sure there weren't any surprises there either. The deuce actually had a shorter stopping distance with the trailer than without it (yes, downhill too).
About now is when a wasps nest fell out from under the dash. How fast can you stomp wasps at 45mph? I survived and they didn't.
So off I went towards TsgtB 's in granbury tx. I had planned to drive only part of the way there, but I was unable to find a safe and legal place to stop so I ended up driving until about 0200 before stopping at a picnic area and crawling into the back and going to sleep.
I was awakened by the sheriff's dept. He was "checking on you soldiers to make sure you're ok". It was pretty clear he had assumed the vehicle was active military, and never saw me as he was talking to me through the cargo cover. I left his assumptions intact and assured him it was a safety stop for some rest.
So I got to TsgtB ' s earlier than anticipated and we spent much of the day loading an engine shipping container onto the trailer. I'll leave out the details, but much was learned and fortunately nobody was injured and no equipment was damaged
. While I had the trailer disconnected I took the deuce and filled it. 30 gallons for 300+ miles, most of it with the M989A1 on the back. I had anticipated 7mpg, and was prepared for 5mpg so this was a very pleasant surprise.
We went back and hooked up the trailer and they fed me (greatly appreciated) and let me use their shower (even more greatly appreciated).
Off I went towards Ft Bliss. About 10 pm I filled up the truck and got a bite to eat and went to sleep.
Got up the next day and continued on towards carnac's. About 160 miles into it the truck starts stumbling and the dies. I was just short of dead certain I had a clogged fuel filter. I mean, it can't be empty.... but when I looked in the tank it was empty. I texted carnac with an update.
Nothing like PT in the thunderstorm.... walked to the truckstop, bought a scepter can and 5gals of diesel and then a couple of pipeline workers took pity on me and gave me a ride back to the truck. I put 46 gallons into the tank. I began to worry about a leaking tank....
i stopped about another 100 miles down the road and the truck only took about 10 gallons to fill. Hmmmmmm.
I was going to drive the rest of the way to carnac's, but I got pulled over....i had my 4 way flashers on, and apparently the rest of my trailer lights were not on. Cop took a good look at bumper numbers and I got out and jiggled the trailer electrical cable and lost all lights, then jiggled it some more and all lights came on. I made a comment about how I'd much rather him stop me for inoperative lights than to have to come along and scrape me off the road. He asked me if I was was going to ft bliss. I agreed that I was and continued on my way...
i stopped at the next rest area and coordinated meeting up with carnac the next morning. There was a Mexican family selling burritos, and I availed myself of that opportunity to get some good food. I charged my phone in their van and talked trucks with the guy.
Up this morning and met up with carnac. We loaded 24 enormous grade 100 chains into the trailer and then had breakfast. After breakfast, off I went. The drive up transmountain road is always enjoyable. 8% grade up, then 8% grade down the other side. I guess you can say the M35A2C has been thoroughly proven...
pictures to follow
I left out of Tucson last week in a tan M1009 loaded to the gills with everything from slave cables to an MRAP bumper.
I made my way across I 10 to Baton Rouge uneventfully, leaving a trail of MV related items in my wake and putting faces and names to SS identities.
The blazer did just fine, the only hiccup being that the low coolant light came on one morning right after I had checked to make sure it was full. I dropped the blazer with the new owner and picked up the M35A2C.
From Baton Rouge I went to Jeepsinker's place and picked up an item for a guy in OKC to be dropped off the next time I make it by there. I had to hurry off from Jeepsinker's to make it to the GP lot in Deridder before they closed. I made it with about 40min to spare. Even though the GP description said no loading assistance available the guy there was very helpful assisting me get the M989A1 connected to the deuce.
I'll interject here that the empty weight of the M989A1 exceeds the deuce's tow rating by 1000lbs. It pulled fine, and I tested braking to be sure there weren't any surprises there either. The deuce actually had a shorter stopping distance with the trailer than without it (yes, downhill too).
About now is when a wasps nest fell out from under the dash. How fast can you stomp wasps at 45mph? I survived and they didn't.
So off I went towards TsgtB 's in granbury tx. I had planned to drive only part of the way there, but I was unable to find a safe and legal place to stop so I ended up driving until about 0200 before stopping at a picnic area and crawling into the back and going to sleep.
I was awakened by the sheriff's dept. He was "checking on you soldiers to make sure you're ok". It was pretty clear he had assumed the vehicle was active military, and never saw me as he was talking to me through the cargo cover. I left his assumptions intact and assured him it was a safety stop for some rest.
So I got to TsgtB ' s earlier than anticipated and we spent much of the day loading an engine shipping container onto the trailer. I'll leave out the details, but much was learned and fortunately nobody was injured and no equipment was damaged
. While I had the trailer disconnected I took the deuce and filled it. 30 gallons for 300+ miles, most of it with the M989A1 on the back. I had anticipated 7mpg, and was prepared for 5mpg so this was a very pleasant surprise. We went back and hooked up the trailer and they fed me (greatly appreciated) and let me use their shower (even more greatly appreciated).
Off I went towards Ft Bliss. About 10 pm I filled up the truck and got a bite to eat and went to sleep.
Got up the next day and continued on towards carnac's. About 160 miles into it the truck starts stumbling and the dies. I was just short of dead certain I had a clogged fuel filter. I mean, it can't be empty.... but when I looked in the tank it was empty. I texted carnac with an update.
Nothing like PT in the thunderstorm.... walked to the truckstop, bought a scepter can and 5gals of diesel and then a couple of pipeline workers took pity on me and gave me a ride back to the truck. I put 46 gallons into the tank. I began to worry about a leaking tank....
i stopped about another 100 miles down the road and the truck only took about 10 gallons to fill. Hmmmmmm.
I was going to drive the rest of the way to carnac's, but I got pulled over....i had my 4 way flashers on, and apparently the rest of my trailer lights were not on. Cop took a good look at bumper numbers and I got out and jiggled the trailer electrical cable and lost all lights, then jiggled it some more and all lights came on. I made a comment about how I'd much rather him stop me for inoperative lights than to have to come along and scrape me off the road. He asked me if I was was going to ft bliss. I agreed that I was and continued on my way...
i stopped at the next rest area and coordinated meeting up with carnac the next morning. There was a Mexican family selling burritos, and I availed myself of that opportunity to get some good food. I charged my phone in their van and talked trucks with the guy.
Up this morning and met up with carnac. We loaded 24 enormous grade 100 chains into the trailer and then had breakfast. After breakfast, off I went. The drive up transmountain road is always enjoyable. 8% grade up, then 8% grade down the other side. I guess you can say the M35A2C has been thoroughly proven...
pictures to follow
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