Long Trip Ends

[charliem]

[font size="5"]This is what retirement is supposed to be!

[/font][font size="3"]Just returned from  a 10.5 week, 8400 mile trip out west. FL to ID via CO and back to FL. Total Camplite sightings = 2. Came home with a 25 item TODO list from fixing the counter top lamination to replacing and staking missing screws to adding tools to my onboard toolkit. [/font][font size="3"]I also found some places I want to add wall insulation. [/font][font size="3"]Generally every thing worked OK except the cell phone booster failed and the SeeLevel tank gauge gave some funny readings. SeeLevel seems to be working now, but cell booster needs replacing. One note: When I called Seelevel (Garnet) and described the problem I had a new sensor waiting on my doorstep upon my return. I picked up a screw in my TV tire that could not be repaired so I now have 4 new LT tires on the Tacoma in place of the OEM P-metrics. I'd planned that upgrade already, just not quite so soon.

 FL sure is hot and muggy. As they say "West is best and East is least".
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[leslie]

Congratulations! So you averaged at least 800 miles per week? Give or take?

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Averaged, yes, but we stayed several weeks in the Denver/Fort Collins area and a week plus around Boise. Some weeks were just one night stops on the way to elsewhere.
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[daplumbr]

[quote timestamp="1472421774" author="@charliem" source="/post/24251/thread"][font size="5"]This is what retirement is supposed to be!

[/font][font size="3"]Just returned from  a 10.5 week, 8400 mile trip out west. FL to ID via CO and back to FL. Total Camplite sightings = 2. Came home with a 25 item TODO list from fixing the counter top lamination to replacing and staking missing screws to adding tools to my onboard toolkit. [/font][font size="3"]I also found some places I want to add wall insulation. [/font][font size="3"]Generally every thing worked OK except the cell phone booster failed and the SeeLevel tank gauge gave some funny readings. SeeLevel seems to be working now, but cell booster needs replacing. One note: When I called Seelevel (Garnet) and described the problem I had a new sensor waiting on my doorstep upon my return. I picked up a screw in my TV tire that could not be repaired so I now have 4 new LT tires on the Tacoma in place of the OEM P-metrics. I'd planned that upgrade already, just not quite so soon.

 FL sure is hot and muggy. As they say "West is best and East is least".
[/font][/quote]Thanks for demonstrating a proper retirement!

I had Sean list the WeBoost cell phone booster I use in the forum's Amazon store. It works great and is a nice balance in price between the super cheap ones that don't work and the super expensive ones that re-process the signal back to "like new". I actually bought mine from the Repeater Store along with better indoor (directional wide-band panel) and outdoor (omni wide-band) antennas. 

How does the Taco ride with the LT tires? 

[pinstriper]

This kinda irks me. With some better planning, you were ~8 hours from Ft. Stevens and it would have been SOOOoooo cool to have you with us.

Howsoever, since you are retired and clearly willing to travel such distances, maybe we'll see you next year !

One thing I sure wanted to chat with Merlin about was the cell booster, but the topic never came up because bourbon.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/24256/thread" author="@sandroad" timestamp="1472425364"]Thanks for demonstrating a proper retirement!

I had Sean list the WeBoost cell phone booster I use in the forum's Amazon store. It works great and is a nice balance in price between the super cheap ones that don't work and the super expensive ones that re-process the signal back to "like new". I actually bought mine from the Repeater Store along with better indoor (directional wide-band panel) and outdoor (omni wide-band) antennas. 

How does the Taco ride with the LT tires? [/quote][font size="3"]I just ordered the WeBoost drive 4G-S, the single phone cradle model like my old Wilson Sleek. Almost all my usage is via the hotspot link, so the single phone in the cradle is fine. The Sleek worked well while it worked and it's cheaper too. The Taco rides fine, but I've only driven it 4 miles home from the shop. More tests and reports to follow. [/font]

[charliem]

This kinda irks me. With some better planning, you were ~8 hours from Ft. Stevens and it would have been SOOOoooo cool to have you with us.

Howsoever, since you are retired and clearly willing to travel such distances, maybe we'll see you next year !

One thing I sure wanted to chat with Merlin about was the cell booster, but the topic never came up because bourbon.

[font size="5"]Correction: [font size="3"]Final mileage was actually 8800 miles. And while you guys were congregating in OR we were camped along a river north of Boise with our son and his wife. They are still working so have limited vacation schedule options. I know a good time was had there in Ft. Stevens and we also enjoyed our week. Maybe next time, and remember: West is Best. Don't come to FL in the summer.[/font][/font]

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/24256/thread" author="@sandroad" timestamp="1472425364"]How does the Taco ride with the LT tires? 

[font size="3"]The Taco rides fine, but I've only driven it 4 miles home from the shop. More tests and reports to follow. [/font]
[/quote][font size="4"]Update: [font size="3"]I just took the Taco up to 75MPH  and not a hint of unbalance. These are BFGoodrich LT265/70R16 All Terrain T/A KO2s. The Internet buzz on these is they are hard to balance and my tire dealer admitted so, but these seem perfect. Very smooth and quiet, but they are brand new. Tire guy said I'd be happy and he'd seen these tires go 90K miles. Well..........we'll see. I did have to educate him on inflation of LTs vs P-metrics. He said SOP is to inflate per the placard on the truck, but that's 32 psi for P265/70R16s. To carry the same load an LT needs 50 psi. Different construction and requirements. He didn't have a clue, but maybe he will now. These tires are load range E which I didn't need, but LR D is impossible to find. So I'll just have to live with the stronger sidewalls and higher road hazard protection.     Sigh.................. [/font][/font]