The Tactical Panda's Sometimes Funny Great White Money Pit Build and Observations on Life thread.

I installed an UltraGauge EM Plus v1.4. to help keep an eye on my engine performance; not to mention my heavy foot.

I had previously been using an Ultragauge Blue which is simply a module that plugs into the ODB II port and transmitted engine data via Bluetooth to an app on my phone. But I didn't want to keep my phone tied up the time with engine monitoring so I bought this dedicated device instead.

The UltraGauge device is hanging on an UltraGauge mount from Spiker Engineering which connects to one of the bolts holding on the driver's-side Oh Shit handle.

 

Also recently replaced the stock headlight bulbs with some LED bulbs from Lasfit.
https://www.lasfit.com/products/h4-...ow-beam-la-series?_pos=1&_sid=a79167a4b&_ss=r

 

Drove down to Chattanooga, TN over the weekend and picked up my new CVT Mt. St. Helen's RTT. When the weather gets better I'll open it up and take more pics.

 

Here's the new tent opened up.

 

Whats next, skids, front and rear bumper?

 

Bumpers and a Winch are this summer's project.

 

I installed some lights in my CVT Mt. St. Helens tent earlier this week.

I bought some underbody LED tubes from LEDglow and hung them from the D-rings on the inside of the roof. Wiring was really simple because they all daisy-chain together. Small 12v battery and I'm all set!

 

Major upgrade. Finally got some decent bumpers and a winch.

 

Big upgrades.

First I added new DV8 bumpers last month along with a Smittybilt winch. The front bumper was not compatible with the factory skid plate so I had one made. Also, the rear bumper was not compatible with the factory trailer hitch but now the two are integrated together so they both work with each other.

Second, since I have so many aftermarket accessories I upgraded to a high-output alternator (240 amp) and a super duper deep cycle AGM battery by X2 Power. The battery was designed for use in an RV and has separate terminals for accessories.

And finally, really neat isolation switch for the winch since I won't be using it all that often.
https://www.lambtekinnovations.com

Big shoutout to Chance at AZ Fabrication and Repair for making all of this happen.
https://azfabricationandrepair.com/

 

A little-known song by Canadian folksinger Gordon Lightfoot. I really like the lyrics.

"The House You Live In"

Go first in the world, go forth with your fears
Remember a price must be paid
Be always too soon, be never too fast
At the time when all bets must be laid
Beware of the darkness, be kind to your children
Remember the woman who waits
And the house you live in will never fall down
If you pity the stranger who stands at your gate

When you're caught by the gale and you're full under sail
Beware of the dangers below
And the song that you sing should not be too sad
And be sure not to sing it too slow
Be calm in the face of all common disgraces
And know what they're doin' it for
And the house you live in will never fall down
If you pity the stranger who stands at your door

When you're out on the road and feelin' quite lost
Consider the burden of fame
And he who is wise will not criticize
When other men fail at the game
Beware of strange faces and dark dingy places
Be careful while bending the law
And the house you live in will never fall down
If you pity the stranger who stands at your door

When you're down in the dumps and not ready to deal
Decide what it is that you need
Is it money or love, is it learning to live
Or is it the mouth you must feed
Be known as a man who will always be candid
On questions that do not relate
And the house you live in will never fall down
If you pity the stranger who stands at the gate

 

So this happened earlier today.

After I took care of my appointments I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things. As I pull in to the parking space, another car pulls in beside me (driver's side). It is an older model 2nd-generation Toyota Prius. It's pretty rough and has seen better days. As I get out of my car the driver (female) of the Prius rolls down the window and says "Can you help me?"

Uh oh. It's either for directions or for money and it is probably not for directions.

Now usually, I am wary of strangers who come up to me and ask for a handout, like particularly if they are hanging around a 7-Eleven, look shabby and dirty, and reek with the sweet aroma of cigarettes and alcohol. In such cases I will just keep walking, not make eye contact and say "Sorry. Not today." since it is usually a good bet they won't be using it to buy food and I refuse to be a party to their vices. But this lady was different. She was about 35, no makeup, her clothes were old but clean, she was having a serious case of a Bad Hair Day but she appeared to take good care of her hygiene. Her toddler, in a carseat in the back, seemed well-fed and didn't show any signs of neglect or abuse.

She proceeds to tell me that she just got out of a 17-year relationship. Like, 15 minutes ago. She says "I have nothing except this car and the clothes I'm wearing. I need to get a hotel tonight for my son and me. Tomorrow we well head north to where my parents live. Can you help me at all?"

So hey, what can you do? I took out my wallet and gave her all the cash I had. She was surprised and thanked me profusely. It probably wasn't enough to solve her immediate needs but I think it was a lot more that she was expecting. She thanked me again and I went on my way. When I came back out of the store, her car was gone.

Was she for real or was she scamming me? I don't know.

But I do know this much: If she was truly in need and I did not help her, then that would be my sin and I would have to answer for it. But if she was lying and taking advantage of my generosity, well, that would be her sin and she would have to answer for it.

I left the store and headed home.

 

I choose to believe that you did good today. Because the alternative sucks in too many ways....

 

Been away for a while. During the first week of September, I did a Four-Day Three-Night bike trip. I rode 150 miles from Pittsburgh PA to Cumberland MD on the Great Allegheny Passage rail trail. Here I am at the Eastern Continental Divide atop Mt. Savage in Pennsylvania; elevation 2392'.