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Diet Taco... trying to keep things light

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Builds (2005-2015)' started by DVexile, Jan 7, 2016.

  1. Jan 3, 2017 at 10:56 AM
    #461
    HighonFirewood

    HighonFirewood All hail the Riff...

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    Stage Left. Colorado.
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    Any 3rd gen issues with this?
     
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  2. Jan 3, 2017 at 12:00 PM
    #462
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    Not an expert on that, but I believe the 4 cyl still has this pump since it is essentially the 2nd gen engine but the new V6 in the 3rd gen does not. Something different with the new V6 being a direct injection engine. This my recollection from what someone else said in one of the threads related to this problem so take with a grain of salt!
     
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  3. Jan 3, 2017 at 12:05 PM
    #463
    masonhiga

    masonhiga Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for sharing all the books and map selections. I've been slowly trying to find more places to travel to in Death Valley and Mojave. Do you recommend starting with any one in particular?
     
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  4. Jan 3, 2017 at 12:25 PM
    #464
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    The three by Michel Digonnet are by far the very best. And I don't just mean for Death Valley and Mojave. They are the best guide books about any location anywhere. I wish other locations had guide books this good. They aren't really road guides though. They are for specific hikes or sites to visit. Most hikes are canyons or peaks. Most sites are old mining sites. They are spread through the entire region that each book covers. Each has about 50 to 70 destinations in it with a 5 to 10 page write up of each destination and a custom annotated topo map of the site or trail. And each "destination" might actually be multiple hikes from a single trail head". Write ups usually include history and geology of the area. Each sub region in each book also has a few pages introduction with orientation, history, ecology and geology of the region.

    I'd supplement those books with a larger scale topo map like the Tom Harrison or Nat Geo maps. Makes for easier visualization of routes and the area in general for planning trips. These days I use electronic 7.5' topo maps on my phone when actually hiking or driving.

    I'd get his Hiking Death Valley first probably unless one of the other areas is more interesting to you. That will give you a flavor of his guide books and then you can pick up the others if you find it as useful as I do. Be aware that Hiking Death Valley recently came out in a 2nd edition. Be sure you are getting the second edition as it has useful additions and dovetails better with the other guide book he has on the NW Death Valley region.

    Link to 2nd Edition.

    I consider his Hiking the Mojave Desert to be really the only guide worth getting for Mojave National Preserve these days. There is another guide book much thinner with less coverage that was the "bible" for years and years but I never use it now as it is just a poor subset of what Digonnet covers in his.

    His Hiking Western Death Valley probably has the most remote and least visited trails and sites of the three. This covers rarely visited places like the western side of Panamint Valley and hikes so awful into the Inyos from Saline Valley that I'm happy to just armchair hike them from his descriptions!

    If you really like desert peaks, including seemingly random ones outside of parks and well off the beaten path, with a huge coverage across a wide swath of So. Cal and NV then the Zdon book is good too. I don't use it that much but it covers a bunch of peaks not covered in other guides or spread across many more regionally focused guides. I've found a few gems in that one that I don't know of being written about anywhere else. It is nice because the coverage is so broad. If you find yourself on a random lonely road somewhere in the desert there is probably a peak within easy driving distance in this book to hike.
     
  5. Jan 3, 2017 at 12:34 PM
    #465
    masonhiga

    masonhiga Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the fast reply! I've been following you and @Crom builds/posts and can't thank you guys enough for all of the details that you provide.

    I'm really enjoying all of the adventures that you take your family out to. Me and the Mrs had our first kid so I'm trying to plan kid friendly outings but also most importantly places that I can go out and take photos.

    Keep up the great work and Happy New Year!
     
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  6. Jan 3, 2017 at 12:46 PM
    #466
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    Life sure changes with the kid! For me the silver lining was that it forced me to get rid of my old '92 regular cab with a plain shell on it and build Diet Taco. You know, for the family of course...

    I couldn't find a higher res version of your avatar, is that Trona Pinnacles in the foreground?
     
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  7. Jan 3, 2017 at 1:23 PM
    #467
    masonhiga

    masonhiga Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I had to buy the Double Cab for the family but that was the compromise if I wanted to get a truck. I'm good with that!

    It is Trona! I go out at least once a year to shoot Milky Way shots. The last time that I went out this year it was so hot that while flying the drone the iPad overheated. I took it as a sign to get in the A/C and drive home... Oh well... I still had a great time.

    By the way, I ordered the books and now plan on reading during the weekend!

    20140530_Trona-small.jpg
     
  8. Jan 3, 2017 at 2:30 PM
    #468
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    Millions
    Love your organization posts, Ken. :hattip:

    I too very much like the backpack of knowledge. I think I may try that approach. Thanks for sharing.


    That's the valve stem puller tool. They're very useful for when replacing a valve stem. You simply put the cable through the outside hole in the wheel, thread on the new valve stem, and then pull the valve stem into place!

    Here is a product link <--No endorsement, just a random search with a result. I think I bought mine at the local home store.

    :laugh: So funny!
     
  9. Jan 3, 2017 at 4:38 PM
    #469
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    Ah, cool beans! I saw the valve core tool in your post and didn't connect that you also had a puller for the assembled valve stem. That makes a lot of sense. In my Amazon cart for the next time I place an order!
     
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  10. Jan 3, 2017 at 8:50 PM
    #470
    samiam

    samiam Always here, never there

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    Workin' on Workin' on it
    Really? I didn't know that.
    Maybe I should find mine.
     
  11. Jan 3, 2017 at 9:10 PM
    #471
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    Well so now I went to check the statute and in fact it does not need to be in the vehicle. I think I misread it in a hurry the last time I checked. You do need to retain the second plate and turn it in with the rear plate should it be time to surrender the plates for some reason. But you don't have to carry it around in the vehicle.

    NRS 482.275 is the relevant statute.
     
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  12. Jan 3, 2017 at 9:18 PM
    #472
    samiam

    samiam Always here, never there

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    Workin' on Workin' on it

    Cool. Thanks for checking that.
    I moved to NV eight years ago and I think I remember the lady at DMV say you only have to mount the front plate if there is a "holder" for it on the front bumper. Oddly enough, I was going to drill holes for the front license plate in my Pelfrey bumber before going to PC, but I forgot.
     
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  13. Jan 4, 2017 at 6:44 PM
    #473
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    Inventory - Under Raised Floor
    December 2016

    I built the raised floor right when the Flip-Pac went on just weeks after purchasing the truck. Initially I thought of it as an easy thing to do while I figured out a more complicated build out. Having lived with (and on) the raised floor for a number of trips I've decided to just stick with the raised floor. Paired with the two action packers it provides a very flexible layout allowing for many configuration changes.

    The idea behind the raised floor was to create a "dusty" storage area separate from the living area. Things that might be dirty or damp can be kept under there. There is about 8 inches clearance under the floor. Many builds do some very nice build in drawers but I wanted to avoid the weight and lost space from such. In my experience with some thought and an appropriately sized container or two you can usually fit things into a functional jigsaw puzzle where everything stays in place.

    Forward (against cab)
    • Two 20L Sceptre water containers
    • One 5 Gal NATO gasoline can
    Driver side mid
    • Mixing tub "drawer"
      • Flip-pac rain fly
      • Propane fire ring
      • Tent stakes
      • Copper stake hammer
      • 1lb propane bottles
      • Camo net pole and accessories
    • Trekking poles
    • Ridgerest sleeping mat
    • Reflector stakes (2018 UPDATE: Removed as their experimental purpose for supporting a camo net proved not necessary)
    Passenger side mid
    • Roll-a-table with short legs
    • Three folding chairs
    • Lynx levelers (7, remaining 3 behind rear seat)
    • 10'x20' camo net
    Rear
    • "Camp" bag (digital camo, see later post)
    • "Electronics" bag (olive drab, see later post)
    • "First aid" bag (red, see later post)
    [​IMG]
    Driver side under floor, contents removed except fuel/water cans

    [​IMG]
    The "drawer" which is a plastic mortar mixing tub

    [​IMG]
    Driver side with all "mid" contents

    [​IMG]
    Driver side with "electronics" and "camp" bags at rear

    [​IMG]
    Passenger side, contents removed except fuel/water cans

    [​IMG]
    Passenger side with table and three chairs

    [​IMG]
    Passenger side with levelers and camo net

    [​IMG]
    Passenger side with "first aid" bag
    NOTES
    • I can extract the water/fuel cans from the front using one of the trekking poles. During the day we use water from a number of 1L Nalgene bottles and only need to get a Scepter out once a day at most.
    • The mixing tub makes a great drawer for randomly sized things. It is extremely durable, light, cheap and slides out smoothly.
    • The tent stakes and hammer are amazing but expensive. I've dicked around with different stakes over the years but the Mojave laughs at most of them. Not these things. They bang through desert pavement on an old aluvial fan like its nothing.
    • The reflector stakes are primarily going to be for an experiment in supporting a camo net draped over the Fiamma awning. That said @Crom pointed out they could be useful in general flagging a side road to a campsite as "occupied" to avoid midnight guests.
    • If you haven't tried a propane fire ring you should. So many places don't allow wood fires these days. I wouldn't recommend running one from 1lb bottles like I do but the little bottles match my four year old daughter's attention span.
    • The Roll-a-Table is awesome. Can pull out the table and chairs and setup a lunch spot in a few minutes. I bought shorter legs to match our low profile chairs. When my daughter gets a bit older I'll probably switch to the standard legs and taller chairs. Sitting low in a desert sucks (hotter).
    • I have a camo net to make a larger shade footprint at a permanent camp. The plan is to use the Fiamma awning to hold up part of the net, connect one edge along the open Flip-Pac, use one pole to support near the front of the truck where the awning isn't and then stake out. Haven't actually tried this yet since I usually move camp every day!
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2018
  14. Jan 5, 2017 at 10:22 AM
    #474
    GHOST SHIP

    GHOST SHIP hates you.

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    Really digging the organization. I tell my GF that all those years playing Tetris pay off when I need to pack or store things. You can usually tell who cleaned the garage last by the way things are organized or just spilled out everywhere. When she needs to get at something from garage storage, she never puts things back so one of my "honey-do's" is to pick up after her, at least in the garage.
    These last couple posts remind me that I need to go through and catalog/reorganize my storage in the truck. I have the molle panel and pouches behind my seat and everything has it's place, but as I add things here and there they usually will occupy the first available spot until I can get back there and clean house. Thanks for the thorough postings, Ken. My Amazon cart just got full again.
     
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  15. Jan 6, 2017 at 6:57 AM
    #475
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    The first time I went camping with my now wife then GF she had everything of hers in plastic shopping bags which she just wanted to throw in the backseat of my Civic. I allowed it for about a day of a ten day trip before repacking everything. And it was strange because she is typically really organized and likes lots of containers for things!

    Well I don't have to use them very often. I usually can orient the truck so that things are level enough. I don't mind a mild front to back slope so I'd really only need them for a side to side slope or one particular wheel low. I think I've used them twice and they did the job both times. More than once though I've also just moved some rocks around if one wheel is low. I think they are probably more useful on pavement - where rock piles don't work so well!

    Sure aired down tires flex more, but they flex on all the wheels. Aired down just means a larger contact pad on the ground which means you might need to have your top layer of levelers be two squares long instead of one. Or just remember if you've got one at the top its effect is going to be reduced to say half height as the effect is the "average" across the entire contact pad of the aired down tire.

    While I probably don't use them enough to justify the space on their own they are very light and I consider them dual use as part of my emergency gear since you can build an effective wheel chock out of them.
     
  16. Jan 6, 2017 at 7:59 AM
    #476
    Crom

    Crom Super-Deluxe Member

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    My old friend Tim, used his O. Ghost Ship, to level out his truck by lifting from a slider. ;) I mean Hi-Lift. Picture here. :D
     
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  17. Jan 6, 2017 at 3:49 PM
    #477
    PaulK

    PaulK Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid.

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  18. Jan 10, 2017 at 10:28 AM
    #478
    Arctic Taco

    Arctic Taco Firefly, Serenity Ed. -Arctic Taco, a slow build

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    dents and missing bits Gravel garage, hillbilly trained mechanic…
    Great build thread, impeccable attention to detail, provides some inspiration. I wish to thank you for your appreciation and care in your promotion of DEVA. I worked there for 3 yrs with NPS back in the 80's and spent a few more winters there. I have always found a sense of peace while I am in the backcountry there. There are many places yet to see, most of my backcountry travels there were with friends and co workers, via summer trips into the canyons of the west side road, and heaps of mountain bike riding on the '4wd' roads throughout the valley. I am putting my rig together to get back to the high desert and do some long awaited re introduction to the valley.
    Enjoy your future travels.
     
  19. Jan 12, 2017 at 2:29 PM
    #479
    Gaunt596

    Gaunt596 Well-Known Member

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    I really need to build a platform of some sort. They seem incredibly handy if you have a cap of any sort
     
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  20. Jan 15, 2017 at 6:02 PM
    #480
    DVexile

    DVexile [OP] Exiled to the East

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    Inventory - Camp, Electronics and First Aid Bags
    December 2016

    At the very rear under the raised floor I have three tool bags. I use these bags multiple places in the truck and each one is a different color or pattern so I can tell them apart. Already shown were the Black and Brown bags which live behind the rear seat.

    Camp Bag

    The digital camo bag contains typical "camp" needs that come up all the time. Scissors are amazingly useful, note the make shift tip protector and a pouch to keep everything around the scissors save. Hatchet also has a pouch over the head. It is good to have shop rags all over the place, this one is used to dust of chairs and things before being put back in the truck. In the upper right the little black things are "Figure 9" tensioners for tarp lines and such - incredibly useful things. The camo pouch contains an actual military AMES E-Tool - not a cheap ass Coleman variety or other knock off folding shovel. The military ones are in a whole different league and I consider it part of my recovery kit even though 90% of the time it is for potty needs and 9% of the time it is for entertaining my daughter who likes to dig holes. If you've got a junky folding shovel throw it away and get one of these. Black container by the screwdriver holds strike-anywhere matches.

    [​IMG]
    Electronics Bag

    The olive drab bag contains electronics often used in camp. Upper right is a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer which is great for monitoring cooler temperature. The black folded thing on the right is a solar panel with a USB power output. Most everything I have with me except my laptop can charge from 5V USB. I usually also have a USB power pack and so often I charge the power pack with solar during the day and then charge accessories at night from the power pack. This only comes into play when I stay in one location for many days. Charging clips are for my emergency jump starter. There are also battery powered glow sticks. Pro-tip - hearing aid batteries can power one of those glow sticks for a whole week! Shown here are the items that usually stay in the truck but the bag is often supplemented with other things during a trip (camera battery chargers, USB power pack, etc.).

    [​IMG]
    "First Aid Kit" Bag

    Yeah, this is totally laughable at the moment. I just hucked some random crap in the bag along with a common household first aid kit. Totally inadequate. A well thought out and stocked first aid kit is on the to-do list. Also realized it has been about 15 years since my last wilderness first aid course - better sign up for a refresher!

    [​IMG]
     
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