92Shawman's 1992 3VZ-E SR5 Pickup

Yeah I've been throwing the idea around of trying to make it to the Rock Therapy meet.. I'm gonna try, but idk if my truck will be ready by then. If I can get a rebuilt 22re in by then, I'll take off and hope for the best.

I really want to go out west. The desire almost consumes me. I want to take those week long expeditions through Montana & Idaho like in the SOS trip report by Blackdawg. Unfortunately, I just can't make it happen at this point in my life. My GF (Bekah) is still in school and I refuse to leave her behind. Plus I haven't even finished school (if I ever even do).. I just want to go explore, but it takes money & I just don't have enough to strike off and not come back for 6 months. BUT one day, it will happen & when it does I want my truck to be ready. Its getting close.

 

For sure, man. Take the time to dial in your truck just the way you want. If you and your girlfriend are serious (seems like you are), make some good solid plans for the next few years and see what happens! I'd definitely finish school, imo. I mean, you've started and if you're into your studies then enjoy it and put off the real world for a bit (if you can financially, too, of course). I really enjoyed school and miss it and can't wait to go to grad school.
I'm in the same boat with the SOS trip. Super jealous! I've already hooked my girlfriend into it so when she finishes with peace corps we'll do a trip, but that's at least a year and a half out. Still gotta plan!

 

Yeah we'll be getting married in the next few years. We've been planning a trip out west the last several years & may even make it out honeymoon. She wants to see Ouray and I'm dying to wheel Moab. I also want to make it up to the forest in NorCal & into Oregon and Washington. I want to run the Rubicon trail badly. Then head back out through Montana & Idaho then straight SE back to Alabama.

So as you can tell.. I'm gonna be asking a lot of my truck. But I want to be able to drive it across country and wheel the Rubicon and drive it back. Slowly but surely it's coming together. It'll take me awhile to get where I'm ready to go. Still lacking gears, lockers, & a motor swap. Then a bunch of little things like seats, bedliner, storage platform, softtopper, winch, etc.


I HATE school. Maybe it's because I haven't figured out what I want to do so I hate taking all these classes that I don't like lol.. In my area, there isn't many jobs with just your average 4-year degree.

I actually plan to start my own business. Most likely doing automotive work & fabrication. I'd like to get into custom work, but also some sort of aftermarket production.

 

Nice, man! Sounds like an awesome trip you got on your mind, and some great plans you got for the truck and you and your girlfriend! Keep me posted and I might be able to meet up with you.

Aw that's too bad, but yeah I get it since you're not interested. Basically my universal statement, "Do what feels right, man!" Whether you're climbing, wheeling, in school or work, whatever, do what you want so that you're interested, excited, and happy!
What about taking a few classes at a community college to figure out what exactly you want to do and then go off that into a university for a 4-year degree, if you need to?

 

I have a full 4-year academic scholarship.. There's just nothing at that college that I'm interested in. Or that I feel like I could actually get a good job in.

I've got time to figure it all out..

 

That's awesome, congrats! Bummer that it doesn't offer you much that you're interested in, but it's still pretty cool!

For sure, man, you'll get there!

 

Yeah I scored pretty good on my ACT.. Lol

I just want to own my own business..

 

Props, dude, that's awesome.

Major in business?


Build-ish related, I went to Joshua Tree last weekend and had some fun climbing and exploring around with a good friend from high school. On Sunday it was super windy and cold so we didn't do any climbing and went on the geology tour road to berdoo canyon for a bit of off-road fun. The truck seems to really like the desert, 'cause the speedometer worked for this trip and the trip out to Anza borrego, but usually doesn't anywhere else...
Some pictures:
DSCN9361_edit_small_mark by 92shawman, on Flickr

JTrees are bizarre
DSCN9379_edit_small_mark by 92shawman, on Flickr

Some cool old broken down trucks out there from the mining days in the 1910's-1930's
DSCN9396_edit_small_mark by 92shawman, on Flickr

Geology Tour Road
DSCN9430_edit_small_mark by 92shawman, on Flickr

At one of the many mines
DSCN9434_edit_small_mark by 92shawman, on Flickr

Last overlook on the trip
DSCN9478_edit_small_mark by 92shawman, on Flickr

Fun times!
Oh and I guess my truck has a name now. My girlfriend says my truck's a fierce blonde named Bobbi.

 

Nice photos, looks like fun. And I like the name, Bobbi the fierce blonde *growl*

You have to growl when you say it... Trust me and just go with it.

 

Had a great trip this weekend with Mike (Trowbocop)! Went up to the Trabuco Ranger District of Cleveland National Forest and then hit up holy jim on the last day for something more technical. Not a whole lot to explore in vehicles out there but man are there some views!
Didn't take too many photos but what I have is up! https://www.flickr.com/photos/109053146@N07/sets/72157649462586485/

IMG_8836_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

Will post a trip report-ish thing later.

 

awesome truck

 

Thanks, man!

Guess I still need to do that trip report...I'll get on that today.

 

you install the locker yet?

 

Nope, not yet! I'm in Ecuador right now, so that'll definitely happen after christmas, probably after New Years, too. We'll see.

Also going to head up north in the end of January to try on Jerry's (JLee) rear bumper! If it fits, I'm goin' for it. After that I think the truck is going to be set for a while, until new tires

Because the bumper might not fit, I'm going to make a trip out of it. I'll hit up Davis, Berkeley, and probably come down the coast through SLO (maybe) and Santa Barbara, if you're around, Micah! I'll probably try to bring some beer to Pliny (if he's feeling better) from a Sac brewery that scocar recommended in the beer thread. Maybe (more like definitely) I'll even try to find some actual Pliny, too! I'll keep you posted.

 

What!? Ecuador? ha When did this happen?

I'm trying to plan a trip to S.America this Summer...let me know how yours goes!

 

Haha, it's been happening! This summer I was here for 2 months and then right now I'm here from December 1st through the 19th. My girlfriend is here serving with Peace Corps through June or July of 2016.

If you are going to hit up Ecuador I can give you the low-down on a bunch of cool places to check out!
I'll probably be here next July and August, too. I'm hoping to get in on the bird banding expedition that I did this year again next July and then my girlfriend and I and our families are planning on travelling around for a bit in August.

 

Is it Jlees bumper from his first gen?

 

I was headed Argentina way possibly, but if you'll be there around and I happen to be I'll have to swing by haha I'm looking for good street photography spots I don't know if it will even happen, but if it does, I'm hitting you up ha

 

Alright, time for that trip report! A bit over-due... Not to the extent of Pliny, yet, but still

Santiago Peak and the Trabuco District of the Cleveland National Forest
November 21-23, 2014
With Mike (Trowbocop)

This was a pretty relaxed trip, mostly just to get out somewhere close but still nice and out of the city. After not really being sure where to go we decided to just do a quick trip up to Cleveland National Forest and Santiago Peak, with the North Main Divide trail as the main trail that we would run.
We started off Friday evening after Mike got off work. Anticipating him to hit traffic, I left later so that we would get to our meet spot at roughly the same time. Turns out, 15 minutes into my drive, I had forgotten all my toiletries so I had to turn back. Then, literally as I was leaving my house for the second time, Mike texts me saying he's almost there! Damn! So here I was, 45-55 minutes out and he's almost there. Lame!
I blame Monte...he was late to the SOS trip, which Pliny was part of. Then Pliny came back to CA and went on a trip with me and he was late due to traffic. Then here I am, late to my following trip! Watch out, Mike, you've got the curse now.
Anywho, I ended up making pretty good time and then we headed up into the national forest in the dark with our goal of the Blue Jay campground. Thank goodness for gps and google maps...I don't think I would've been able to find the turns in the dark without them!
Made camp at like 9 and tried to start a fire for dinner but the wood would NOT catch. It was ridiculous! We ended up eating mostly in the dark, but then, at like 11, right when we were considering hitting the hay, the fire was going and would NOT die! :gah: But so it goes, we had some good beers and bs'd listening to our neighboring campers hoot and holler all night long.

Our camp spot in the daylight:
IMG_8826_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

The next day we packed up and planned to hit the North Main Divide road all the way to Santiago Peak. It took longer than expected, but had some awesome views along the way! Nothing too technical, so we just kinda drove and only took a few pictures when the view opened up. The road winds basically along a ridge line and goes through mostly just low-growing shrubby sage habitat but had some neat and unexpected pine forested bits.

IMG_8829_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr



IMG_8835_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

IMG_8836_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr



Nice view out East with Lake Elsinore:
IMG_8847_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

IMG_8843_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

The Adventure Mobile!
IMG_8860_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

We just meandered our way up, only had to pull over to let some jeeps and dirt bikers pass a couple times

Then we passed the Holy Jim trail and all of a sudden there were TONS of people hiking and mountain biking up to the peak. It was crazy! A lot of the hikers didn't really look too happy, either...quite the huff and puff trail. We were very glad to be in vehicles!

Even if hiking, though, the view would've definitely been worth it. It was amazing from up there!!



IMG_8862_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

IMG_8864_edit_small by 92shawman, on Flickr

After spending a few minutes at the top and then driving down to a turn out near the top for lunch, we headed down the mountain, hoping to get to the next camp before dark. We took the Indian Canyon road out, which was also quite scenic. There were a few parts with very steep drop-offs to the side, which made me a little nervous for potential on-comers! Luckily we only came across a few dirt bikers and they had plenty of room to pass, so no biggie.

We got to the bottom, aired up using just my compressor because Mike's wasn't putting any air out for some reason, and headed around the forest and back up to El Cariso Campground.
The campground was right off the highway, so it was a little noisy, but we found a nice spot with some trees and set up camp! The good thing was that there were only a few other groups in this campground. I'm guessing that Blue Jay was absolutely packed, so it was nice to not have too many other people around!

Unfortunately, we had the SAME DAMN PROBLEM with getting the fire going! The wood was quite dense, so maybe that was it? Or it might've been a bit damp, too? Who knows. Eventually we figured out that just piling on pine needles got it going and then we just threw all of the wood on and it lasted for a long time.



So we spent the night drinking more good beer and bs'ing. At one point there was a minivan that pulled into the campground to put water in the radiator because their engine overheated. I'm glad I caught them before they did, because they were going to put campground water into their engine! Lesson: If you overheat and need to add water, ADD DISTILLED WATER. Normal water has minerals in it that will build up and cause problems in your engine.
Other than that, pretty chill evening!

The next day we packed up and found a relatively open area to finally set up Mike's CB radio that he had had for 2 years but hadn't installed.
Of course he had forgotten his mic so we couldn't use it anyways but at least this time we got it tuned and set up well!

After that we headed down to Holy Jim to play around in the creek bed there before heading home. We ate lunch and found a weird creepy hide-out place that someone had built. Mike was just expecting that we might find a booby trap right as I found a pipe cleaner that I tried to pick up but it was attached to some other sticks in the ground. Probably nothing would've happened, but I carefully set it back the way it was and we went back to the trucks.

We saw a sweet VW Thing out there wheeling, too, which was awesome! The poor thing busted a ball joint or something, though, so we saw him getting towed out when we got back to the entrance to air up.

Aired up and headed home in the early afternoon and that was the end of the trip!

It was a lot of fun to get out for the weekend and it was really nice that it was so close. I really enjoyed the awesome views and the excellent company, too!
Until next time, Mike,

 

Yeah!!

Right on! Yeah Ecuador is not really anywhere near Argentina...I can recommend a bit for Argentina, though, having traveled there for two weeks with my girlfriend following her month-long study abroad in Buenos Aires.

Haha, I just hope you can enjoy beer again soon!

I should be pretty open in January after the 6th. My parents might be interested, too, I'll have to check. Just keep us updated!

For sure, will do!