Winter is fast approaching, so I have started enumerating what I need to do before winter. That checklist is at the bottom. I wanted to be able to park one of the vehicles in the carport this winter, but that isn't looking probable. Even if I finish the carport and move the excavator and other equipment from the carport up there, I won't likely move the tractor up there since it needs to be accessible for the snowblower. So if the tractor is in the carport by the house, I am not sure if any of my vehicles will fit alongside it (it is only 12x20, the size of a single car garage). Maybe I can finagle at least getting the front end of the CR-V or something in there, but I am not sure if it will fit side by side with the tractor.
For winter projects the biggest ones are the CR-V conversion improvements, and making sure I am ready to build the deck next year. Here are the CR-V conversion improvements I had in mind:
- Build my own electrical wiring harness that doesn't fall out for the 12V and doesn't get mutilated when charging the Jackery (there is a reason a new car charger is on my christmas list).
- Raise the conversion a few inches so I can access stuff on the bottom without removing the bedding.
- Add a little more support so it doesn't twist. After Acadia, I put a strap across the front because the top with the microwave was tilting heavily down towards the bed, even though the bottom was tilted the other way (so things didn't fall off). I think this is because it only has supports at the back and in the corners; the middle is sagging and twisting.
- Reconfigure the base part to just be what I need. I didn't use my 2.5 gallon water jug for example, but I had the second power center in use >80% of the time.
- If possible, I would like to make it so that to change from "driving mode" to "sleep mode" doesn't require moving multiple totes, a cooler, the battery for that cooler, a bag, and the suitcase into the front seat from the back. Ideally maybe just the suitcase and a single tote.
- Eliminate the cargo net, and replace it with something hard built that I can slide in and out quickly and painlessly. Ideally remove the time suck of unclipping everything which is time consuming and a pain.
- It would be nice to be able to remove the spider web of bungee cords I have holding trying to keep everything taught.
- If I put hooks in and use carabiners, the smaller cargo net might be usable, but having the extra support while driving when not using the conversion might make it a bit easier on it.
- I need to find a solution to the problem of a wet towel and possible wet carpet squares and the like. This trip I just spread them out over the totes and stuff in the back, but on rainy days, I also had no place to put the umbrella, so it just got put on top of the towel, and the towel never dried, and then it mildewed. Plus the umbrella never dried, so it pissed on my head after the second or third time when some of the water ran down inside the umbrella.
- Something else that would be nice is find a way to leave the shoes outside when I go to bed. I leave them outside when it is supposed to be dry, but I brought them in and plopped on top of the pile when it was raining. This both smells bad (despite what cats think of my shoes), and is kind of annoying to have to pull them down and plop them out before I get out of the car. I did try leaving them under the car, and that sorta worked for the shoes.
- I need to find a way to support the side a little bit more on the bed side. I noticed several times when I woke up that things (most notably my butt) had started sliding towards the car door since there wasn't as much support on that side. Perhaps I could build a shoe holder or something on that side to hold flip flops (which I forgot on the last trip) that rests on the door sill plate for support
- It might be nice to fix the cut out for car molding too, since that piece has now all but completely popped off now, and sometimes pops in the night. I sanded and cut out sections to go around it, but they aren't sufficient.
- Come up with a way to move the lamp and holder for my glasses and whatnot to the front of the seat. This way my lantern isn't sitting on my head when I sleep. The lantern is easy enough to just flip to the front, maybe I can do something similar for the little holder I put my glasses, wallet and so on in.
- I don't know if I have space, but look into some sort of awning that can also double as a privacy screen for the tailgate. The netting worked fine for keeping out bugs, but did little for allowing me to change and wash up without mooning the campground.
- Add lips to some of the edges. I did one set for the stove, but some on top for example might be nice too.
- Figure out why I continually pack waay too much food. I usually count how many days and bring the appropriate amount with maybe one or two extra meals, but for each of the last several trips I have had waay too much. The tote of dry goods I brought last time I didn't eat a single piece out of while on the road.
- Figure out why my car charger melted. The XT60 on the Anker is a nicer plug than the DC8020, but my car charger for that appeared to melt.
I know it looks like a lot of modifications, but most of these are tiny things, and many of them are gear and/or packing changes. As noted above, this was the charging situation for the Jackery, because my other cable failed. I ended up using the propane cylinder to try and keep enough space.
I also had a charging cable issue with the Anker. It looks like it got melted, but it still works fine. I intend to replace it anyways though since that doesn't strike me as being safe, even if the metal parts all appear undamaged.
Thankfully it wasn't an issue, but I noticed on the drive home that my tires were well past their prime and I am surprised I didn't have any issue driving several thousand miles on these. To be blunt, it is a scary thought to think of having to change a tire on the road since I have to completely remove the
conversion to get to the spare (which I have never looked at and might also be flat). I have already bought new ones and they go on next week.
Some interesting food notes. Those containers I got recommended from Aunt worked far better than expected. Even after three and a half weeks, my lettuce was still fine, and just starting to brown on the edges a little.
I also bought some bananas for the trip that I forgot to bring. I was happy to note that even after three and a half weeks, they didn't turn to gelatinous goo. Still rotten, but I didn't have to clean up them liquefying.
I am also running out of room for souvenirs. The side of my fridge where I put the magnets is full, and my shelf for shot glasses is also over full.
I also picked up a neat looking crystal thing from the caves in KY. It joins my crab shell from Acadia, and the petrified wood from the Petrified Forest.
Some minor updates from before the trip. This is where I left off with the carport. I think I need to put it in place before I put the roof on.
The weekend before I left, I went and helped uncle clean a lot of stuff out of his camper and get it ready to sell. The car was full. I am headed out this weekend to finish everything up.
I did get everything but the tractor put under shelter before I left.
I grabbed a freebie bike for Heather. It needs a little work though, the rear shifter is frozen.
While I was in KY, I did do a couple of things. I helped with their garage sale and fixed their storm door.
In part because this vacation was so poorly planned, I have already
started looking at my trip for next year. I am leaning towards
finishing up the northern central part of the country, so doing North
Dakota, finishing up South Dakota, hitting Wisconsin, Minnesota, and so
on. I have also started planning my spring vacation, which is mostly
what got postponed out of this year's trip, so Assateague island,
Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Mammoth Cave and so on. As long as I
don't wait until the week before to make reservations I should be good.
So with all that out of the way, here is the preliminary list of winter projects. It is surprisingly short this year, though it always gets longer as I remember more things.
- Before winter:
- Finish carport
- Equipment prep (install snowblower, winterize lawn mowers)
- Winter Projects:
- Prep for back deck
- Fix Craftsman mower
- Finish data gathering and decide on the truck vs trailer approach long term.
- Finalize designs
- CR-V upgrades
- Fix bike
- Kitchen Island for Jess/Heather
- Clean/organize third bedroom.
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