Re: My (Utah teardrop)- Hatch rebuild

[Junkboy999]

Looks like a nice trip, but man you need a heater in that thing.

A small generator and an electric blanket would of came in handy. I’m sure there was no noise
limitations in a place like that.

[Modstock]

Im starting to think the same thing. A few people with roof-top tents had small propane heaters that were safe inside tent,ect.
Just something I could warm the tear up before going to bed and the rest of the night Id be fine .
Or if I had to, I could jump in the jeep to get warm beforehand .
I may have one more trip this late winter. or not if projects get in the way.

[Wolffarmer]

Nice trip. If you want to warm up the cabin before you hop in bed get a Coleman white gas lantern and put a hook in your ceiling. Hang it from there for an hour or 2 then turn it off before retiring. It works great and they are a great camping lantern. I have hung mine from a hook in the ceiling for several hours. Before I did that I made a mock up on my ceiling and let it go for 6 some hours and it was just comfortable to put my hand on.

That is the area I go to a lot. I have driven the rail bed from Lucin to Golden Spike but only about 1/2 of it with the tear drop. The last time I camped along it I went up a hill near Matlin. You remember all those little places don't you? It is where the "Y" is. But any way, That night I could look down over the lake bed from the Hogup Mountains to the east to the Pilot mountains to the west and not a light to be seen. Nor did I hear any man made sounds ( unless I made them ) from about 6 pm to mid morning the next day. I like it out there.

I last drove the Pilot mountain road from Lucin to Wendover in july, yup the southern part was a bit bumpy but I have seen it much much worse. Did you know that the Donner Party trail is along the southern part of that road? There is a information kiosk out there about it but probably pretty much destroyed. The actual trail is mostly between the current road and the lake bed. I stumbled upon it on my first trip that way. There are markers which I did not see until I woke up after camping right on the trail.

Randy

[Modstock]

Yeah , I learned alot on this "Cold" camping trip. A generator or heater will be on the list for next years expedition .
Didnt get a chance to go to the Spiral jetty or other places like I wanted. Being so wore out from hardley eating anything all day from stuff being frozen. Heck I didnt even go into the Golden spike building. Oh well I saved somethin for next time.

Shortly after leaving Lucin I miss-read a hole in the road (filled with dusty silt) and couldnt slow down fast enuf, the trailer bounced on its side.
It didnt tip over but one wheel went up a foot or two. The guy behind me said it was spectacular. The standard hitch prevented it from going over completly. I checked for damage but none to be found . What a tough lil trailer .
About 10- 15 miles later the Jeeps "check gauges" light came on and the voltmeter went to zero. I puleed over to see if a wire had come loose or something. The jeeper behind me busted out his multimeter and said I had a charge so on we went.
A few stops later the light went out and everything went back to normal. The rest of the trip went well.
A freind that we met up with later was amazed at how stable the TD was while hauling butt on those gravel roads.

In the future I would like to explore that area more and the city of rocks also. Maybe the Moon-rocks area in idaho too.
I did see those markers you were talking about but since it was dark I didnt pay much attention to them other than checking them off to get my bearings on my map book.
I think I'll give the teardrop a rest for the next few months till I get ready for its first trip to Moab.

[Wolffarmer]

There have been times on that rail bed and the roads along it the dust was almost a foot deep and go on damn near forever. Great waves of it coming up over the hood. You roll up the windows and turn the vent fan off and wonder if the heat or the dust will kill you first. Great fun.

I live about 15 miles south of the southern boarder of the Craters of the Moon. And I like the City of Rocks. Have not camped there since May 2011. Need to get back. I camped there one Nov. and I was the only person that night in there. Of course it snowed over night.



Randy

[Modstock]

I picked me up one of these yesterday . I thought the other heater buddies would have been too big and start a fire.
This is just perfect.
I gave it a test and fired it up in the tear for about 15 minues .
It raised the temps frome 41* to 56* in that short amount of time .
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/spor ... /cat100894
Nothings stopping me from winter camping now.

[Wolffarmer]

Now we need to get you over to the Vintage Camping Gear group and get you hooked on white gas.



Randy

[Modstock]

Pulled it outta the shop the other day and gave it a wash. Its still dirty from the last trip.
Guess I better get it ready for its first time to Moab in a month or so.

[Modstock]

Took the teardrop to Moab for its first time. Spent 2 nights there. Trails we went on are ; Elephant Hill, Top of the world, Onion creek, Tower arch .

The night before we left I had the TD outside and it rained. Well the original owner/builder didnt build the hatch very well and it leaked. So I had enough time to dry out the sleeping bag before we left. This was the first time Ive had a problem with it but I knew it would happen. Thank goodness I keep it stored inside. I'll hopefully rebuild the hatch this next winter.

The trip went well and the TD aired out in a day while we went wheeling.
Here's some pics.





Just a few days ago I picked up some parts for the TD so I can do some improvements this winter. Mad improvements

[Junkboy999]

Nice. I saw in a jeep forum somewhere a picture of a TD on that same rock. He had it backed up there, and the guy was standing on the edge.

Ya I’m still rebuild the door on my TD as well. Got one more to do.

[Modstock]

Boy that would be a rough ride gettin a TD up there .
We really wanted to get near the edge but it was extremely windy that day and didnt want to take the chance .

Looks like I'll be converting to summer mode and switch out sleeping bags to get ready for the next trip .

Lincoln Highway .

[Junkboy999]

FOUND IT Hell it was not in a Jeep forum. The picture I was talking about above. It is in this Forum.

It is one of schaney small fiberglass bolt together kits. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=47704&start=60#p1010360

[Modstock]

Well the past few months I haven't done much (even camping) but I have collected some vital parts.
heres what I got. All for free. cool.
21 circuit painless wiring fuse box
A sink from a tent trailer w/ hand pump
White shower lining (from our bathroom rebuild) Im gonna use in the galley walls .

pics soon .

.

[Modstock]

Here's the parts Ive collected.
Oh and I got a roof vent also.
I did do some mock-up with the sink and now have a pretty good idea on how that will be mounted .
Im lovin the moab red dirt color of the sink which will go well with the moab theme im going with.

[Modstock]

Here's my latest trip behind Utah lake.
I left while it was raining but since I was heading out to the desert I knew it would be clear.


Did I mention I went by myself. If you've never done this it is soooo relaxing just being away from everything for a bit.
I came back refreshed .
Here was a cool erie lookin red rainbow in the distance.


Brought my deep fire ring so I didn't start any fires. (half cut down barrel 18 inches deep)
Burned a lot of wood that night.


For some reason I seem to wake up early when camping and was waiting for the sun to come up (5:45am)


Hiked around camp for a bit.



Finnaly the sun is up.


Un hooked the TD and did some rock obstacles till about noon then hooked up and head home.