1993 Ford Club Wagon (Juanita born again)

[AbuelaLoca]

Good idea! I had a little panic attack thinking about not being able to hear my surroundings... maybe I'm a little more chicken than I'm admitting??

 

[Queen]

Good idea! I had a little panic attack thinking about not being able to hear my surroundings... maybe I'm a little more chicken than I'm admitting??

It's definitely a compromise, but a couple of nights without sleep wrecks me, so I'll deal with the blissful silence.

 

[Dennis]

Until you get some steps, come out the same way you go in. Be a crawdad coming out. If you aren't already doing that. Sounds like a grand adventure! Going to the Arbuckles in Oklahoma?

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Eufaula Lake, just south of Checota. The family rents out the cabins for a weekend. I'm going to try to stay in my van, but it might be too hot even overnight there. I need to grab a 12V fan for now!!

 

[AbuelaLoca]

I know, I know... I just don't shut up sometimes... but this picture really says how I felt about the weekend. The prospect of real freedom just makes me very, very happy!!!

 

[Cammalu]

That's great! I so get it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rvpopeye]

That all sounds so very typical.
AND it sounds like you were SO much more prepared then most first time campers that I have seen so many times when working or camping .

The things you found out are a great payback for the things like the head egg and sleeplessness you had happen.
I do earplugs too, "Party in the band room" is not just a saying.......

Next trip will be way better and the next after that and after a few more you will be all tuned in with just a few things for the to do/get list..

Well done.

 

[Gary68]

yes a little insulation and paneling will kill the echo and dull the outside noises,a fan at night is enough for me so i dont notice every little noise

the first thing to check about the steering is tire air pressure

a dog will add to your security,someone to take walks with and something to cuddle at night

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Good idea about tire pressure! Will do that this week for sure. I do have a dog but I knew there would be way too many people with dogs at the campground! I'm glad I didn't take her because she would have just barked her fool head off the whole time. I also need a way to keep her cool in the van before venturing out with her alone!! I am getting a fan this week, too! Not much breeze through the windows that open.

 

[Almost There]

Insulation and/or reflectix/bubble wrap and then wall finishing and the floor done will definitely cut down on the noise. BUT, remember a full size van is NOT going to ever sound (or feel) like you're riding in a Cadillac. It just ain't!

Get the steering looked at and make it a priority...first of all, you need safety on the road and loose steering can be dangerous. It will also cause premature tire wear.

I use a center console unit in the van so I have cup holders and all purpose (read 'all that shit') storage handy (auto dept of W/M).

Buy your firewood at some place just outside the campground rather than from the campground itself. Do NOT transport firewood from home if it's in a different firewood region (stop the spread of tree killers).

You do need to learn to relax...leaving a campground at 5:30 AM is pure heresy!!

I used a couple of pool noodles slit and cut back to 3/4 round for the head bumpers on the original roof where the high top is open. I used pipe wrap (smaller diameter and pre-split) for along the side walls where the original roof still exists. Both have saved my head numerous times!

I opted out of putting in running boards. They have too shallow a step and even the non skid stuff doesn't keep them from being slippery when wet. You can really hurt yourself skidding off those things getting out of the van. I carry a Rubbermaid step stool that gets placed outside my side door when I'm camped. Just make sure that it's still in place in the morning BEFORE you step down....mine was 4 feet away this morning because the wind last night chased it across the asphalt...

Glad you had a great time! Don't worry, we all forget something at least a couple of times.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Are you able to step over the center console easily? One of the things I like is being able to just jump into the driver's seat and take off!

 

[Almost There]

It's not a particularly high one and as long as I don't kick over the coffee mug with my foot as I step over the console I'm good.

I had it in my Chevy Astro and then in about 3 other vehicles since that time. It's got 4 cup holders (2 front/2 rear) a tray that holds all that loose shit you end up with when you've got someplace to put it...lol and a storage compartment I keep my CD's in.

The only problem you might have is if the 93 has the engine compartment coming too far back between the two seats.

With my seat in driving position (far forward cause I'm short...sigh), I still have about 6" between the front corner of the seat and the engine doghouse.

 

[bkrunaway]

Congrats on your first trip! The steering in my 95 Dodge Ram felt a bit loose to me too. Add the high top, a windy day, and a lead foot, and I was a very nervous driver on my first highway drive.

My mechanic says it was the way they built the steering in those days and that there's a high chance that trying to tighten it would cost me a lot of money for not much return. Getting a couple parts of my suspension replaced helped with feeling more stable in the van on the highway and made the looser steering much less noticeable for me. As Almost There said, tire pressure is probably a good place to look too.

Different vans of course, but thought I'd share my experience as a nervous, shakey, first time van driver!

 

[highdesertranger]

congrats, you will relax with more experience. get that steering checked ASAP. highdesertranger

 

[GotSmart]

The steering in my 95 Dodge Ram felt a bit loose to me too. 

My mechanic says it was the way they built the steering in those days and that there's a high chance that trying to tighten it would cost me a lot of money for not much return.

I have had a lot of problem in that area.  My solution is going to involve a mechanical U~Joint to replace the rag joint steering. Yours is the next generation. 

I would find a mechanic that is willing to correct the problem.

 

[Txjaybird]

Well it sounds like you had a loverly time  :huh: right?  It took about 2 mos. for me to learn to duck going out the slider door and from rear of van to the front seats.  My "Hightop" is only high in the middle...sorta...I'm 5ft 5in tall and I can't stand up straight in it.  As it is my daily driver I think I learned to duck sooner because I've used it a lot for hauling stuff.  I have learned that backing out from the cargo area is way better for me and I can use the passenger assist bar to hold on to.

Lake Eufala is a pretty area.  I used to get routed thru there when I drove escort for O.D. {wide loads} out of Tulsa OK.  Someone mentioned the Arbuckle Mtns.  We used to go thru there on our way to Ada from Dallas I liked seeing the folks coming down the Turner Falls.  At least I think that's where I saw them. 
 Right now I wanna see Alabama in my rear view mirror.  I keep tellin' Q one of these days. 

Happy Trails

Jewellann and Q

 

[Txjaybird]

When I first got this 1998 Safari sometimes the steering and turning felt like what I call "wallowing"  The steering checked out O.K.   I figured it was because it was new to me and I had driven the Ranger for 13ys and it was a 4x4 and I was used to it.   When I went just 1 size larger on new tires on the van and had the front end aligned it started driving and riding so much better.  I know its different year/make/model just info that helped me.  I was really surprised at the difference & not expecting it.

Jewellann

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Got a lot of cleaning done today (well my son-in-law did, I took pictures!!) so we'll be ready for the trip to Oklahoma. I wanted to show my "throne" area and why it's just not going to work out. I'm wondering if I could use a hanging shoe organizer cut up and velcroed around the doghouse to hold stuff I want... anyhow, here's a pic of that:



And here are a couple of pictures of Juanita getting cleaned and scrubbed and the final product so far. Having the floor clean allows one to see the rust areas that will need to be addressed! I'm not looking forward to that wire thing, but I guess it must be done!!





I've put a couple of my scarves on the yucky seats to remind myself of what the interior will someday resemble!!



The next post will have some engine pictures that I'm hoping y'all will tell me what's what.

 

[highdesertranger]

your SIL did a fine job. can you send him over here. highdesertranger

 

[AbuelaLoca]

He's a perfectionist! I had to make him stop for the night! LOL