1993 Splash in SC

[Curious Hound]

Finally removed the A/C system and installed my non-A/C blower housing. The A/C version came out pretty easily. The non-A/C version was a royal pain to install. I had to shorten the mounting studs at the end closest to the engine. Then I had to unit the transmission for its mount and jack up the transmission to tilt the engine forward and get enough clearance to get the blower housing past the corner of the valve cover. Did all that late at night in the rain because I needed to drive it today.

After getting home, I installed a new stereo. The JVC that the PO had installed finally ticked me off too much. It had a removable face. Those don't do well in an offroad environment. Finally got so bad I couldn't even turn the radio off. I found a Jensen "heavy duty" stereo. I know that may not be a top name brand. But this is exactly what I wanted. No removable face. No remote. No CD or tape deck. Just simple am/fm and weather band radio with an easy access aux input for my satellite radio receiver.

 

[Curious Hound]

I have created something cool.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have created something cool.

I kept waiting for the "but wait, there is more!"... but no dice.

By the year 2021 how has nobody ever thought of this before?

 

[Roert42]

By the year 2021 how has nobody ever thought of this before?

Just wait for next years F-150.

 

[Curious Hound]

Tablegate works great. With the Coleman stove on one end, I have lots of room for food prep right next to it. The hitch pins for leg stowage are handy for holding a garbage bag.

 

[Curious Hound]

Birthday weekend. I’ve had some fun exploring over the past couple weeks. Went to Hurricane Creek twice and explored some other roads.

This weekend, for my birthday, i made camping reservations at Uwharrie, hoping to get some good wheeling in. Then I saw an announcement for an organized trail ride on private property called Big Creek, in the Uwharrie mountains. So I got signed up for that. Supposed to be an 8 hr ride on Saturday hosted by FMC Overland. Up to 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend. This should be fun.

 

[RobbieD]

Happy Birthday! That sounds like a nice getaway; I hope that you have a great weekend

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Sounds like an awesome weekend. Have a happy birthday and fun time wheeling.

 

[sgtsandman]

Happy birthday and don't break the truck!

 

[Curious Hound]

Note to self; Uwharrie doesn't have enough elevation to be cool enough for tent camping in July.

Also, when the weatherman calls for 50 or 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, that means 99% probability that one will go past you about 1000yards away and you won't get one tiny drop of nice cool rain.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Note to self; Uwharrie doesn't have enough elevation to be cool enough for tent camping in July.

Also, when the weatherman calls for 50 or 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, that means 99% probability that one will go past you about 1000yards away and you won't get one tiny drop of nice cool rain.

Taking some good videos? I hope so haha

 

[sgtsandman]

Note to self; Uwharrie doesn't have enough elevation to be cool enough for tent camping in July.

Also, when the weatherman calls for 50 or 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, that means 99% probability that one will go past you about 1000yards away and you won't get one tiny drop of nice cool rain.

That generally isn’t how it works for me. If there is a chance of rain in the forecast, it’s going to rain and I’m going to be packing it away wet. Last vacation was a very odd fluke. I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time...

 

[Curious Hound]

Wow! What a day. The trail ride was hosted by a group called FMC - Fully Mission Capable. We had 14 vehicles - 12 Jeep thingies, 1 old Toyota forerunner and my Ranger. We hit mud, rocks, hills, off-camber stuff and really tight trails. This was not a place for full-size vehicles. The owner of Big Creek is a great guy. I had a blast, the Ranger doesn't seem to be damaged and I didn't have to be winched.

Pictures later when I can find a more reliable signal.

 

[Curious Hound]

Weird. I can text pix to mom. But they hang up at about 10% trying load here. They'll have to wait until I get home tomorrow.

On bright(?) Side, I just experienced my first MRE. Back in March, someone gave me one after I had mentioned I had never had one. My meal for tonight was going to be leftovers from Last night that I didn't particularly enjoy. So I dug into the back of my kitchen box and pulled out "beef ravioli in meat sauce". I followed the instructions for the water heater gizmo. Woe! That thing gets hot, hot, hot! Meanwhile, I mixed up my tropical fruit punch - Kool Aid in a bag, and ate the whole grain bread-shaped thing with cheese goop squeezed out of an envelope. I didn't need any condiments. So, they're still sealed. They can go back in the kitchen box. Finally, after figuring out that the heater is never going to stop, I ate the ravioli. Finished it all off with a chocolate banana nut muffin top - looked like it had been sat on by the driver if a humvee traversing Kuwait at high speed all day.

It all tasted decent. Very survivable. On the whole, I would rate it "3 rifles up". Much better than the leftover sausage from last night.

Note; no desiccant packages were eaten during this meal, as far as I am aware.

 

[sgtsandman]

....So I dug into the back of my kitchen box and pulled out "beef ravioli in meat sauce". I followed the instructions for the water heater gizmo. Woe! That thing gets hot, hot, hot! Meanwhile, I mixed up my tropical fruit punch - Kool Aid in a bag, and ate the whole grain bread-shaped thing with cheese goop squeezed out of an envelope. I didn't need any condiments. So, they're still sealed. They can go back in the kitchen box. Finally, after figuring out that the heater is never going to stop, I ate the ravioli. Finished it all off with a chocolate banana nut muffin top - looked like it had been sat on by the driver if a humvee traversing Kuwait at high speed all day.

It all tasted decent. Very survivable. On the whole, I would rate it "3 rifles up". Much better than the leftover sausage from last night.

Note; no desiccant packages were eaten during this meal, as far as I am aware.

The beef ravioli is one of the better ones. After eating in an Army chow hall, you'll appreciate an MRE even more.