Squeaky Penguin's Ongoing Road Trip Thread

Well, not the post I wanted to make - but looks like the trip is coming to an abrupt and unexpected end.

An opportunity arose, and I'm trying to play my cards right so I can spend much more time traveling and doing the things I love in the not-too-distant future, versus 2 or 3 weeks of PTO a year.





Nevertheless, the last 4.5 months and 14.5k miles have certainly been one hell of an adventure, and I was not ready for it to end. But I guess that's a good reason to make another trip like this happen in the future.

Huge thanks to those of you that were able to help or join along the way.

Had a lot of fun spending the last week catching fish and riding my bike in SW CO, and hanging out and riding shotgun at RT in Moab, which of course was followed by some bike riding. All while taking exactly zero pictures. Feels kind of fitting that the trip ends there, being that's where I got hooked on off roading in the first place.

 

Congrats and sad all at the same time! Hope whatever it is works out great. You made the right call to do this I think.

 

A new adventure. Congratulations on this new opportunity.

 

Best of luck with the new opportunity, Brett, and thanks for letting us live vicariously through your adventures!

 

Here’s one to prove you were there.

 

I’ve really enjoyed following along…thanks
Can you give me info on your rear bumper?

 

100% was the right call. Was an awesome trip and a much needed reset. I'm definitely bummed for it to end.

It's going to be one hell of a new adventure in it's own right. Nervous and excited. So we'll see what happens.

Thanks Jason!

I feel like this short thread doesn't cover it very well, but diving into too much detail is certainly not my MO.

See, I wheeled it!

Must not build the 2nd gen!

I built in myself. Mostly 3/16" plate. I think there are some in-progress pictures in my 2nd gen build.

 

Did you end up using the inverter at all? How was it? If I keep my truck, I'll likely buy another to have some clean AC power for working remote.

 

I used it for charging the laptop pretty frequently and a few other odds and ends. Never really pushed it anywhere close to it's max. Worked with zero issues.

Should try running an instapot or something for extra overland points.

 

Instapot AND electric water kettle. Come one now.

 

I honestly considered an electric kettle for quick coffee but it looked like most were over 1,000 watts.

 

I ran an angle grinder off of it to cut up a bed rack when I rolled my truck back in the day. Couldn't lean into it but it worked.

 

"back in the day" makes me think you used the OEM 400W one in the back of the bed on the passenger side... I was asking about the 1000W PureSine Xantrex inverter I sold him. If that's the one you hooked up to, then… ignore me.

 

That is correct. The 400w OEM one.

I've run a Mac mini, two mic pres, a audio converter, screen, hard drive off of 1000w easy.

 

Have fun with the next thing. You're so young that you can probably have many next things, including more of what you just had.

So much power! Wow. I have a dinky little 175W fanless job, and it runs two Lenovo laptops just fine and with no fan noise. Usually just charges camera batteries though. Should be enough to run the fridge if I ever end up in the same situation as Mike where the DC input stops working.

I've been wondering about starting to pick up some (more) of the cordless Milwaukee tools (angle grinder, mostly) as it means I could charge the battery with the inverter, but then not have to worry when I went to use the tool.

 

I stumbled across your build and trip thread, maybe from AdventureTaco's thread. Anyway, nicely done on the build and trip. Best wishes in your new endevers.

 

I spent 6 years climbing and fishing as much as possible and working as little a possible in my early 30's. I will tell you this. You'll be beyond glad you did it in 20 years and the next part of your life will be made that much stronger because you did it. I miss the road but not more then I'd miss my wife, my house, my job, and the place I now call home. I found all those though that trip. lol