Thanks to mother nature we had a snowy trip to get our Christmas tree this year. We have made cutting our Christmas tree in Pike National Forest and annual event. Our Toyota FJ Cruiser has just made this more fun. With the FJ chained up with Rud Grip 4×4 chains we were able to head…
Trip Reports
Thanksgiving in the Swell – Our first Day
by tomas •
After switching, this fall, from a small private school to a larger public school for 9th grade my daughter stated that she needed some time in Utah to commune with nature. To fill this need we planned a short trip over Thanksgiving break to the San Rafael Swell. The plan was to drive to the…
Recovery
Recovery Techniques – Joining Straps
by tomas •
There are a number of things that you are not supposed to do when using a winch and one of them is use recovery straps as winch extensions. The reason for this is that recovery straps stretch and store kinetic energy and if the line were to break this energy would be released at once.…
Trip Reports, Videos
Alaska 2011 – Grizzly in action catching Salmon
by tomas •
This was very cool to watch. We spent about 2 hours waiting for here to show up pand then spent about 30 minutes watching her catch Salmon as her to cubs played in the creek.
Electrical
Auxiliary Battery Upgrade
by tomas •
Over the last few adventures that we have taken in our Toyota FJ Cruiser and especially the trip to Alaska I found that I undersized the auxiliary battery. The battery was getting run down most nights and I was even having problems with is getting fully drained at home. I am a believer in the Odyssey…
Communications, Electronics
New Wilson Cell Phone Amp
by tomas •
Wilson has redesigned their Cell Phone amps to take less space. The dual band amp that I use now takes about 1/2 the space. I currently have an amp from SmoothTalker. When I ordered the amp they convinced me that I only need a single band amp. My experience with the SmoothTalker amp during our…
FJ40
New Addition to the Family
by tomas •
Last week I made a new addition to the family. We acquired a Toyota FJ40. This will be a fun FJ40 to work on and then let LJ use as her first car. It already has a well done Chevy V8 conversion that includes a 2 speed overdrive transmission. I was able to start it…
Hot Springs
The Springs Resort and Spa at Pagosa Springs
by tomas •
We have stopped at this spa/resort a number of times. Whenever we pass through Pagosa Springs and have the time we spend a few hours a The Springs Resort and Spa. The facility has both a bath house and a resort which have different access. The bath house is a very up to date facility…