While the forum was down...

[paddlenbike]

...I had to stop web wheeling for a week or two, which resulted in actually getting some stuff done.

This is big, important stuff, like plasti-dipping my emblems.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kkIiDjd1daw/UVBfZy9S0MI/AAAAAAAAJaI/zk1e3VJ-Auk/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg

Making a trim piece to cover up the hole that used to reside next to the ham radio.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IYt6Q__Nato/US0rqZsciFI/AAAAAAAAJXw/jLtRAi-DH60/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg

Installing Homelink.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Pod1-fa6vz8/UVBfcJmrzKI/AAAAAAAAJaQ/67SNnTw4um0/s400/%255BUNSET%255D.jpg

[paddlenbike]

Installing my Samsung nav tablet.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-whBo614j7Z0/UVUbz3gCUbI/AAAAAAAAJas/AjKfZG2HpQs/s400/DSC_0024.JPG

And new front Bilsteins to replace my blown Tokico Trekmasters.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lpcil5P2LO4/UVZ2HjzNYYI/AAAAAAAAJbI/QIYC22puUho/s400/DSC_0026.jpg

The latter was fun...I literally carried 50 lbs of strut/coil assemblies plus the new shocks in a backpack.....on my bike....to the local shop to let them risk their lives with the spring compressor. Bet you $50 no one else brought that shop parts on their bike that day.

Glad the forum is back; now I can go back to my regular web-wheeling self. (After this weekend's wheeling trip, that is.) :)

[4x4mike]

Installing my Samsung nav tablet.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-whBo614j7Z0/UVUbz3gCUbI/AAAAAAAAJas/AjKfZG2HpQs/s400/DSC_0024.JPG



There is something about this picture. It reminds me a lot of my 4Runner.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ASrpiiYS7xU/UVpOf8AtBbI/AAAAAAAA2n0/pSS0oLJUjUw/s640/20130330_163741.jpg

Not to hijack the post but how did everyone else survive? I know everyone has been busy but checking in seemed like a daily occurrence for a lot of the regulars.

I gutted and remodeled a bathroom, got the garden planted, family stuff, kids birthdays and Easter but none of that is vehicle related.

[paddlenbike]

I think I got my tablet mount installed at least 2 or 3 minutes before you finished yours. :tongueout:

I also went on a couple of rides, did a hike, started running again, went to Alcatraz and planned a wedding while the forum was down. Hmm...

[Seanz0rz]

I finished my last quarter of school. Did the Mojave trip without a hitch. Uh... I think those are the highlights. Now lexi and I are having a nice outing for our anniversary.

[YotaFun]

I really want to do a tablet mount now!!!!

I've lost track of time as to how long the sites been down.
With the initial frame swap done (frame engine and trans - thread to come later)
I have been slowly buttoning stuff up on both Runners and making plans for the future of them both.

I've done my fair share of web wheeling else where and trying to find simple mods to do that don't require to much $$ since the bank here is still dry....

[DHC6twinotter]

I flew back home to NC to see family (awesome!), drove from NC to VA to see more family (awesome!), attended a small LEGO event in NC (awesome!), did the Mojave Road trip (awesome!), spent several days in Death Valley (awesome!), drove up to Pinnacles National Park (not much there), watched my 4Runner turn over 120k (sad), and between yesterday and today, I cleaned the 4Runner a bit (outside still looks terrible).

Now I just need to fix my low idle.

[Robinhood4x4]

Ken's is better because his steering wheel is straight.

(we need some smilies, like the tongue sticking out one)

[paddlenbike]

Ken's is better because his steering wheel is straight.


That's what I said. I can't handle the turned steering wheel.

Dan, you won't feel so sad about your 120k if you look at the "how many miles on your 4runner" thread over on t4r. There are plenty of guys with 250k, 300k and 400k that haven't done any more than replace a starter or rear axle seals. I would be pretty confident in saying the 3rd gen 4Runner has to be one of the best built vehicles ever made.

[Good Times]

you guys don't want to know what I was doing while the site was down....

ken, mike... you guys are.... too funny! :) (two peas in a pod....) !

[paddlenbike]

...or we are just cheap and like to split shipping on things. I will usually just drop the packages at his house while he's at work; and while I'm there I also like to throw a little crab grass seed/promoter on his perfectly manicured lawn.

[4x4mike]

Cheap and lazy. I'd say Ken does most of the research on stuff I want any ways which makes it easier. And for things I don't want he's a pretty good salesman.

[DHC6twinotter]

And for things I don't want he's a pretty good salesman.

lol...he's just about got me sold on a supercharger.

[YotaFun]

lol...he's just about got me sold on a supercharger.

Same here! lol

[paddlenbike]

mmm....supercharger.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V5IwOIbkMLw/UJsQNai2VNI/AAAAAAAAHh0/dyk07l4fnag/s800/SC34.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lSF-h2S23eo/UJsQNcQgarI/AAAAAAAAHhs/8A11wSLGofo/s800/SC34-2.jpg

:)

[4x4mike]

Damn it. Get back to work phone duty boy.

[fenrisx]

Very productive guys. :)

I spent most of the time hitting refresh and crying.... now that the site is back I've ordered a new keyboard and mouse to make the most of it.

[paddlenbike]

Lol.

Now what's not a laughing matter is my status above my avatar reads "Senior Member."

[Seanz0rz]

Ken, it reflects how much we prematurely aged while the site was down.

as the #1 poster on the site (I'm not proud), I want my web wheeler status back!

[paddlenbike]

Ha! But I'm not so sure about your web wheeling status, I see plenty of trip reports from you, unless you're really good at photoshop.

[4x4mike]

Sean, were you a web wheeler before? I guess I didn't pay that much attention. Also your post count, wowza!

[Seanz0rz]

yeah, I'm not sure how the hell the post count got so high. I think someone is playing a joke on me, then I remember I practically live here...

I still have a bunch of content to write up, but I was hoping to have that go up on the articles page (front page?) to draw in more traffic. For the time being I might just write it up and post it on the forums or in the blog.

I was thinking some gear reviews and some how-to articles including trip planning strategies. Anything specific I should look into and write about?

[paddlenbike]

I was thinking some gear reviews and some how-to articles including trip planning strategies. Anything specific I should look into and write about?

I like the trip planning strategies idea. I seem to spend a lot of time trying to find locations to go wheeling. I usually consult google first to see what online trip reports come up, then I usually hit my Backcountry Adventures Northern California book. I always wish I could collect people's GPS tracks, post them in google maps like I do with my Canada trips and compile a west-coast wheeling trail map to help you find trails wherever you may be traveling. Of course, I can never find the time to do such a thing.

In general, I find trip reports to be the most entertaining thing here, followed closely by tech write-ups.

[4x4mike]

yeah, I'm not sure how the hell the post count got so high. I think someone is playing a joke on me, then I remember I practically live here...

I still have a bunch of content to write up, but I was hoping to have that go up on the articles page (front page?) to draw in more traffic. For the time being I might just write it up and post it on the forums or in the blog.

I was thinking some gear reviews and some how-to articles including trip planning strategies. Anything specific I should look into and write about?


The trip planning strategies is a good idea. What I would do is look through yours and other good trip reports and look for common themes and expand on those. Small write ups on these themes would make a good resource.
Topics might include: Location, travel to location, logistics such as comms, fuel, food. Together it would be somewhat of a checklist before you hit the road. Part of the write up might include gear reviews or suggestions and even have quest writers.

For instance, food. You can describe your chuck box and contents. What is used, what isn't. What is necessary and what you can wing. Somewhere in there could be a link or guest spot from Overland Gourmet or something similar.

You could do the same for shelters/sleeping, recovery, first aid, navigation, tools/trail fixes, etc.

These seem to be items people, especially newbies, either overlook or spend a lot of time perfecting. Of course everyone has their preferences but UY could be a good depository.

[Seanz0rz]

Thanks for the ideas. I think I have an idea of where to start.

I think I will do short write ups and then eventually compile them into one big resource.

[Seanz0rz]

New blog post: http://www.ultimateyota.com/entry.php?4-Trip-Planning-The-Checklist

Thought I would start with the checklist. It is probably the easiest way to make packing for a trip better.

[DHC6twinotter]

Awesome blog post, Sean!

So, I have a dumb question: I noticed the forum auto-saves a post as I'm typing it out. Where does it get saved to? How do I retrieve it?