The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

TW reaching out and helping fellow Tacowners!

 

Mid March was usually the time of year I'd visit Palm Springs as I use to stay with my grand parents during spring break. I have been up the Tram on San Jacinto Mountian but that was probably 15 years ago. The last time I was down in SoCal was 2010. I'm definitely overdue for a trip down south.

 

Going back to stick shackles soon.

 

Thanks a lot. And that's unfortunate to hear.

I have SS extended brake lines I need to get installed on my truck. Once I do that, I'll do the disconnect existing shock, measure droop and compression. I was thinking of using the Bilstein 5100 B110 extended travel shock. But still uncertain.

 

I will let you know the whole deal as I complete this project. Bottom line is that I want a truck that I can load down with my crap - or - not, and still have a good blend of being able to go as fast as my front suspension will allow me as well as an occasional rock crawling. I have the right advisor now.

 

So curious how this will turn out

 

Thank you. Sounds like a great plan, and the right advisor makes a world of difference.

 

That is what I want as well. I am beginning to think that even the beefiest apearing leaf springs don't hold the weight we are requiring them to

 

Nice. Yeah I'm using Droid primarily but sometimes the Windows tablet with APRS-isce. I have the mobilink and it wasn't working too well until I found out that the cable that you can buy for it with the 6-pin miniDIN connector works much better with the tm-v71a when you change one of the wires in the din connector from pin 4 to pin 5. I just changed that and am so happy with the results! If you ever do end up going the mobilink route, feel free to ask more about that. The Yahoo group was incredibly helpful.

I understand your worry of privacy, though.

 

That's great intel right there. Thanks a bunch. I would have found out the hard way and the last thing I need is more pain. lol

Do you know if packets transmitted through APRS-IS are digipeated out on RF within the local area?

Even though I've only had the Dakars less than a year, I've been impressed with them over the stock ones. lol For $400 shipped to my door, I'm quite happy. I think they really take the weight well. My only issue with them is the lack of leaf spring isolators in the second, third, (and

$81 D29XL Leaf Spring

D29XL AAL) leafs.

I just updated this post with pics of my zip tie solution for noise elimination. 3-of-4 of the zip tie clusters are holding. lol

 

I've used them for at least 5 years after my AP ones sagged like Roseanne Barr's tits in less than 6 months. I am more than happy with them. I may have mentioned it but a few months ago I bought new ones to refresh them and I only gained maybe 1/2 inch.

 

That's pretty impressive. I recall very favorable similar comments from Dave (TacoDoc) about his Dakars + 5 years.

Paul, have you given any thought to separating the leaves using isolators on the tips to cut down on the Dakar squeak?

I'd seriously consider boring holes in the leaf spring tips and put

$25 APDTY 035181 Rear Leaf Spring Insert 20870046

these leaf pad insulator / separators in. If I ever have a need to do leaf spring maintenance I may do it. If I had a lot of $$$ laying around, I'd just buy new leaf packs put the separators in and swap them into the truck.

 

It's never been an issue for me. Either my ears are going, the radio is too loud, or the hum of the KM2s hide it.

 

What device/software are you using to track you and create this?

 

For sure!

I'm not entirely sure how location beaconing works with IS, but I would assume so. The only IS stuff I've played around with is messaging, and that worked just fine. I'll receive packets from the area that my map is centered on, so I would assume that my packets are digipeated in that same area. Not sure if that answers your question, though.

 

While I'm waiting for the next few dominoes to fall (truck building stuff), I figured it would be a good time to tell a story.

This story goes back to Feb. 2010. My good friend is an Agent with DHS and I got to go on patrol with him for a full shift. The location is Campo, CA. There is an installation that was built to support DHS activity where Cameron Truck trail and Old Highway 80 intersect. That's where I left the Tacoma and began my adventure with DHS.

I went through the official procedure, and paperwork and then got a tour of the facility. Then we began to patrol.



Our vehicle for the day was this Chevy Tahoe. The ABS on this vehicle almost killed us, which I understand is a common complaint.


Got to love those off road tires.


One of the first places we went to was the Navy's Mountain Warfare training site.

From Wikipedia:

The 1,063 acres (4 km2) site has a firing range, an administration building, barracks, and a 5,000 m length mountain endurance training course. The Navy has operated on the 1,300 acres (5 km2) plus acres since the early 1960s, and is seeking to set aside an additional 4,486 acres (18.15 km2) of federal Bureau of Land Management property for the facility. The Mountain Warfare Training Facility served as a satellite tracking station for many years until current technology made the giant tracking dishes obsolete. The property was reconfigured as a training center when the station was shut down in 1986.

In 1998, Naval Base Coronado gave permission for the Naval Special Warfare Command to use the site for mountain warfare training of the Naval Special Warfare Group One which trains its SEAL and SDV teams there, and conducts BUD/S classes.

The La Posta Navy Mountain Warfare Training Facility plays a critical role in military training because the area’s land and terrain closely resemble the environments found in Korea and parts of Iraq and Afghanistan.[1]

Its close proximity to most military bases in San Diego County allows for maximum training time with limited travel time and expense for its Group One.[2] The unencumbered area around La Posta and its proximity to the Laguna Mountains makes it an ideal location for special reconnaissance training, map and compass training, and other specialized special warfare training. La Posta, like San Clemente Island, is one of the few places that allow special forces to train in a real life environment with limited encroachment problems.​

At this location, high on the mountain is a Ford F-450 with a flatbed with a special mounted sensors aimed at the border fence. It sees all, and nothing goes undetected.

Nothing moves without being seen by the sensor. And as I understand it, this equipment in the photo has been replaced with even more advanced hardware.


The Navy's site has this impressive satellite dish which dates back to the cold war era as I understand it. It was related to tracking airborne objects.

This is a direct TV satellite dish attached to the base of the antenna.

Another view, lol at the modern satellite TV antenna attached to the base.

After spending some time up there, we cruised the fence.

The fence in Campo was rebuilt within the last 10 years or so.
Here is a section of old fence next to the new.

The new fence is impressive. Me standing next to it

We had inclement weather for most of the day.

Explored this canyon.

Then we went and checked out some caves. Well known hiding places.



Then we climbed up boundary peak. Our rig parked down below.

Me looking off into the distance.

This is a great high spot on the terrain to see what's happening down below.

My buddy and I on top of Boundary Peak.

In this photo you can see where the border fence ends at a seemingly random spot in the foothills, and then begins on the other side far off in the distance.

A zoomed view of the photo above.

From the top of boundary peak I watched what was a private citizens group called "border patrol axillary" or minutemen group practice at a private shooting range.

Nice long rifle range with elevated dirt backstop. Notice how it parallels the fence line.

We also visited the location where Agent Robby Rosas, Jr. was murdered (7) months before in an ambush. A trap set by (5) Mexican nationals who plotted to rob and steal his night vision equipment and firearms. They shot him (9) times. As of March 20, 2014, four individuals have been sentenced in the federal courts for his murder, and a 5th person is still at large, but presumed dead. Full story is here. And U.S. Attorney's sentencing report is here. Very sad indeed, breaks my heart 30-yeard old father of two daughters...




On this shift, we watched (4) people cross the border and they were eventually detained by other field agents.

At the end of the shift, you power wash your vehicle clean and go inside.

I recommend to anyone who has in interest in what law enforcement is like to do a ride along.

 

Going back in time now to April 2010. Truck was still very new, very stock, and before kids. The location is Pine Valley, CA. A day trip. It's all Cleveland Nat'l Forest land with lots of forest service trails and places to camp. It's also adjacent to an OHV park called Corral Canyon with lots of popular trails.

Here is the truck with a view of Interstate 8. Looking left of center in this photo a trail can be seen climbing the mountain. That trail leads up to Sheephead mountain. I was just there recently with the kiddos.



Nice views can be had.


Old historical buildings can be found, or ruins of them.




I found a few asphalt helicoper pads in the wilds. Firefighting personnel use these things during emergencies.

The trails are mostly very mild, but there are some rocky sections.

And my favorite are these big ruts to play on. In this photo, just messing around I was able to balance my truck on two tires. I got out of the truck to take the pics and noticed that it only took about 20 pounds of pressure to transfer the weight diagonally between opposing front and rear tires. Fun stuff!

 

You ever let others tag along? Once my truck is out some of these trails look like fun. I love the slow going and sight seeing trails.

 

^ THIS!!

 

You local to us? If so look forward to meeting you out and about some time!