The Fellowship of PNW Tacomas | PDX Area Wheeling

Anyone been out and about in the Tillamook Forest recently? Any fun to be had in a stock truck with good tires or is there too much snow? I think we might need to see if we can get to our favorite plinking site over the long weekend....

 

In some areas you’ll probably be fine in a stock truck and other areas you won’t. There were places where I could make fresh tracks pushing snow and places where I couldn’t. Plenty of main forest roads had some existing tracks making it easier, but overall slippery and kinda crunchy. Some areas had softened up by afternoon and others had not.

As always the ditches trying to get the better of you, and saw a few monster holes in ditches where some poor souls were previously stuck pretty badly. We carefully avoided those with success. I imagine if you go Sunday there will be more tracks than the day before. That could help you out.

Here’s a few short vids from this past weekend.


https://youtube.com/shorts/U4Tk88aMugw?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/FAXweD_RfO8?feature=share

EDIT: Won’t let me embed the shorts. Just click to watch the vids.

 

Back to recovery board chatter.

Don't forget that ActionTrax is another option made of similar materials and almost identical mold as the Maxtrax.

Also, just a bit less expensive and 100% USA made.

With that aside, I would suggest if you plan to use your boards to recover someone else and you don't want your boards polished down with a lead foot, you may consider taking the drivers seat and let them watch or do the grunt work outside the rig.

Otherwise, they can offer up some collateral prior to you tossing your boards under their tires.

If it's a friend or family member you are recovering, you can zing them later with a UOM (you owe me) cloud hung over their heads.

 

Thanks much for the info!

 

Anyone else been out lately? This place sure is quiet these days. Post up some pics or videos if you’ve done anything even remotely cool or fun.

 

Did some snow camping, one night outside of Bend, OR, the other near North Bend, WA but made the mistake of not taking many pictures. Taco handled as well as it could in 15"-18" of snow. On first day of the second trip, we spent 4 hours clearing 8 miles of fallen trees on an NF road, slid into a ditch and had to be pulled out (ordered a bumper+winch upon return), and used chains for the first time only to find out the Snoqualmie area was to get 24"-36" of snow overnight. We bailed.

 

That’s a crazy amount of snow overnight. Glad you were prepared enough to not be stuck out in those conditions! What bumper and winch did you order?

 

I’ve been getting out tons… just not wheeling. My focus shifts to snow this time of year.

 

Aye, was to be a 3 day hot spring trip that included 9 miles of snowshoeing so we had plenty of gear just in case. Ordered the Victory 4x4 Blitz bumper and going with the HF 12k winch. They recommend a 9k, so hopefully the 12k will fit. Will see when the bumper arrives.

 

Little update,
One large step into a smaller world!
We got the trailer. We picked the 2022 Nash 29s, then got exceedingly lucky to get our hands on the last one in the area. We will be taking delivery on Tuesday.

 

nice looking TT! Can't wait to see it behind your Taco

 

Be sure to do your own PDI. It should take you 1 to 2 hours to complete. You WILL find things that will need to be addressed before signing on the dotted line, or if time and parts are an issue, get everything signed by the dealer to have it fixed before you sign on the deal.

This is no different than buying a house, as RV' and houses are built similar and not at all like a car or truck.

I have performed three extensive PDI checklists on my own RVs, and many more for close family members. I have found a lot of expensive things that I (or they) would have been on the hook for after signing if I didn't catch them up front.

The dealer will tell you that they already performed a PDI and that's great, get a copy of it before you start yours. They most likely paid a guy minimum wage to gander over the rig for the obvious stuff. You want to look at EVERYTHING, and assume nothing.

You can search Google for RV PDI checklists and use several to create your own to work from.

Trust me, you won't regret performing your own PDI checklist.

Be sure to let the dealer know in advance that you will be doing your PDI before signing and should be 1-2 hours. They are welcome to walk through it with you to help explain why something isn't right and to sign on your PDI that it will get remedied before signing.

 

^^^^ This.

I hear the industry is in a bit of a shit show at the moment. So many deficiencies to watch out for. Major blatant issues of missing parts that are back ordered for months, poor workmanship and poor quality overall. Many factors at play theses days causing this.

 

No worries mates.
Ive spent the last few months finding the best built trailers out there. Been through a few hours of online training from the national certified rv inspectors site just so I know the ins and outs. As a certified home inspector for the past 6 years I have a bit of a leg up. And all the right tools. I tend to make dealers cry! LOL I took the day off and plan to spend at least 4 hours doing my own inspection after they finish their orientation. Cant wait to make these people my Bish's LOL
"I got the trailer from Bish's in Junction city"

 

This is all so great lol

 

You absolutely got this!

It's fun to catch the salesman or RV tech off guard with things like a misaligned door, missing screen or blind in a window, some random valve that goes to nothing, mismatched or under rated tires, sloppy wheel bearings, drawers missing hardware, peeling trim, missing caulking in around sink, tub or shower pan.

So many things. These are just the ones I can remember off the top of my head.

 

I purchased the Lolo Overland Adventure Pack! If anyone wants to go out looking for the prize capsules with me, I will be ready once I pick up my pack.

 

What does that entail?

 

It’s basically a treasure hunt for prizes. It’s almost like geocaching. They give hints and gps locations and you go out looking for the prizes. Also you get grand prize raffles.

 

Does anyone that goes along with you need to also purchase their adventure pack?

Where are these adventures generally located? Mountains, desert, other?