My van camper

[highdesertranger]

I run the BFG's, both MT and AT. excellent tire. I recommend them highly. nice pics as usual. that Clown Motel gives me the creeps, always has. highdesertranger

 

[Ballenxj]

I run the BFG's,  both MT and AT.  excellent tire.  I recommend them highly.  nice pics as usual.  that Clown Motel gives me the creeps,  always has.  highdesertranger

I'm afraid it would me too.
I've always had good luck with BFG A/T's, and I hear the newer KO's are the cats meow.

 

[Campor99]

I run the BFG's,  both MT and AT.  excellent tire.  I recommend them highly.  nice pics as usual.  that Clown Motel gives me the creeps,  always has.  highdesertranger

Thanks for tire recommendation, what type of mileage can be expected, I have run cooper tires for last 7 or so years with good results, not one mishap. See ya at RTR

 

[highdesertranger]

with the BFG's you will get better mileage out off the All Terrain's. I have just started running AT's I have always ran the Mud Terrain's. I would get about 25-30k out of the fronts and about 50-60k on the rears. I have some buddies that routinely get 60k plus out of their AT's. the reason I get such poor mileage out of the fronts is because I don't rotate(dually). highdesertranger

 

[Campor99]

with the BFG's you will get better mileage out off the All Terrain's.  I have just started running AT's  I have always ran the  Mud Terrain's.  I would get about 25-30k out of the fronts and about 50-60k on the rears.  I have some buddies that routinely get 60k plus out of their AT's.  the reason I get such poor mileage out of the fronts is because I don't rotate(dually).  highdesertranger

Thanks much for that info, I've read and heard that BFG's are a great tire. Canada Tire on You Tube has some good videos on several AT tire brands, with +and- issues. I would assume that
we drive pretty much the same, as I'm not interested in tearing up tires or my truck, Just some fun back roads etc an some easy off road mountain meadows and the like. I guess sidewalls are
and issue that needs some understanding  Thanks for the good info. C99

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR

THANKS ALL YOU VAN LOVING BUCKAROO GUY'S AND GAL'S FOR CHECKING THIS THREAD!

TIP OF WEEK: TRY TO KEEP YOU VEHICLES AS LIGHT AS POSSIBLE, YOUR FUEL ECONOMY IS REDUCED AS YOUR VAN GAINS WEIGHT. 
                          PLUS THE MORE YOU LOAD UP THE LESS LIVING SPACE YOU WILL HAVE IN YOUR VAN.


VEHICLES: THE "BEAST" PAINT IS "RHINO LINER". CONSIDERING ASTRO VAN WITH AWD, I WOULD GET A PRE 1998 AS IT'S  SYSTEM IS 
                     MECHECIAL NOT ELECTRIC CONTROL WHICH CAN BE TROU BLSOME.  FORD AEROSTAR HAS AWD. 2 WHEEL DRIVE, FRONT 
                     WHEEL DRIVE WILL GIVE YOU BETTER TRACTION THAN REARWHEEL DRIVE UNITS.

AREA OF WEEK: HIGH DESERT AREA OF NEVADA. CHECK OUT THE CRESENT DUNES SOLAR PLANT JUST NORTH OF TONOPAH, AND GET 
                              A GUIDE THAT HAS GHOST TOWNS AND HOT SPRINGS FOR SOAKING THE OLD BOD.

WILL BE LEAVING THIS WEEK FOR HIGH DESERT FOR 2 WEEKS TO VISIT FRIENDS AND THEN WIGGLE SOUTH TO DO THE RTR. WILL TRY
TO TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES FOR THE THREAD.  MAYBE GET SOME OF THE YOU TUBE VIDEO HOSTS.  SHOULD BE A FUN TIME.  HOPE TO 
SEE SOME OF YOU THERE.  I WILL BE IN MY ASTRO VAN WILL BE DISPLAYING OUR FLAG. 

THANKS TO HIGHDESERTRANGER AND BALLENX FOR SUGGESTIONS ON BF GOODRICH KO 2'S AT TIRES. WHICH WILL BE MY NEXT SHOES
FOR THE "BEAST".

BE SAFE OUT THERE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.  

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR

HI ALL YOU BUCKAROO'S AND THANKS FOR CHECKING THREAD

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! 

TIP:  VEHICLE PREP FOR THE 4000 MILE TRIP STARTING TOMORROW.  WENT THRU VAN PRETTY THROUGH! OIL CHANGE, FILTER, ALL FLUIDS
          TO INCLUDE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE, DIFERENTIALS.  BRAKES, CV JOINTS ON AWD, RADIATOR AND BATTERY, WHICH NEEDED
          TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAK CELL.

           WAS IT A BIT COSTLY "YUP" WAS IT WORTH IT? I THINK SO!  IF IT RUNS THE TRIP WITHOUT A HITCH, DEFINITELY. NO NEED FOR TUM'S FOR                    TUMMY.

PHOTO'S  AWD ASTRO AND SAFARI VANS

BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL GO FAR

HI ALL YOU VAN LOVING BUCKAROO GUY'S AND GAL'S THANKS FOR CHECKING THE THREAD

TRIP UPDATE: TRIP WENT WELL KINDA SORTA, HAD A OOP'S ON ONE OF THE VAN ADD ON'S PREPPING FOR TRIP.
THE NEW HEAVY DUTY TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE SPRUNG A LEAK AND REQUIRED A STOP AT TRANSMISSION 
SHOP FOR A SPEEDY FIX. WAS ONLY DELAYED ON ROAD FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. SO FIRST DAY OF TRAVEL WENT 
OK AND SPENT NIGHT IN CLINTON OK. DAY TWO WAS A BIT DIFFERENT. AFTER LEAVING AMARILLO TX, RAN INTO
A BLIZZARD ON I-40, IT WAS RATHER INTENSE, TOTAL WHITE OUTS AT TIME, BUT, ROAD CONDITIONS NEVER GOT
BAD DUE TO WARM GROUND TEMPERATURES. MADE IT TO FLAGSTAFF AZ BY DARK, TEMPS DROPPED TO 4 DEGREES
OVERNIGHT SO IT WAS A CHILLY WAKEUP. DAY 3 AND ON THE ROAD BEFORE DAYBREAK, TRAFFIC JAM ON I STATE
DUE TO 18 WHEELER VAN CATCHING ON FIRE AND STOPPED US FOR LITTLE OVER A HOUR, MADE GOOD TIMIE AFTER
THAT ISSUE AND ARRIVED IN TONOPAH EARLY PM. 

AREA OF WEEK IS GOLDFIELD NV. (SEE PIC} 

TRUCK OF WEEK: FORD AEROSTAR AWD

BE SAFE OUT THERE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.

 

[highdesertranger]

so you are heading east? you're not coming to RTR? if that's so I am bummed. Goldfield is a great throw back town. thanks for sharing. highdesertranger

 

[Ballenxj]

  Goldfield is a great throw back town. 

I've been through there a few times at least.

 

[Campor99]

I've been through there a few times at least.

Its a cool littke town that has slowly built many new businessess on main drag.

 

[Campor99]

so you are heading east?  you're not coming to RTR?  if that's so I am bummed.  Goldfield is a great throw back town.  thanks for sharing.  highdesertranger

Hi, I came west starting a week ago today for Tonopah, took me 2 1/2 days. Will be here til 2nd of Jan, then heading to Saline Valley and warm springs. Will 
be at RTR on 10th.  Hope to see you there. Merry Xmas. Took a swing thru Manhattan and Belmont plus Monitor valley yesterday visited a abandoned dug out
dwelling that could be habitated if one cared for such a life.

Best

 

[highdesertranger]

Manhattan and Belmont are great towns. I can give you some great campsites if you are still in the area. tip for all you boondockers Belmont is totally off grid. no gas, no electricity, no cell service, and no land lines, my type of town. oh yeah see you at RTR. highdesertranger

 

[waldenbound]

Hey Campor99, ya buckaroo! Thanks for the tour of Nevada. I can't wait to get there. You know what I want to see the most? Dark skies, with millions of stars and the Milky Way. There's so much forest in Washington that you can't see any horizon, just trees. Big open skies, yeah, and millions of twinkling stars at night.

 

[highdesertranger]

be careful going into Saline this time of year. winter storm warnings are in effect. the north pass will probably be snowed in and the south pass might be. might want to check here, http://forum.salinepreservation.org/ . highdesertranger

 

[Campor99]

Manhattan and Belmont are great towns.  I can give you some great campsites if you are still in the area.  tip for all you boondockers Belmont is totally off grid.  no gas,  no electricity,  no cell service,  and no land lines,  my type of town.  oh yeah see you at RTR.   highdesertranger

Thanks for notes, will check for pass conditions., much appreciated! Hadn't even thought of that. Had a beer at Miner's Saloon in Manhattan
Sharon is still the best barkeep out there.  SEE YA!

 

[Campor99]

Hey Campor99, ya buckaroo! Thanks for the tour of Nevada. I can't wait to get there. You know what I want to see the most? Dark skies, with millions of stars and the Milky Way. There's so much forest in Washington that you can't see any horizon, just trees. Big open skies, yeah, and millions of twinkling stars at night.

Yup on stars, are you heading to RTR ?, if so will be good to meet ya! Merry Xmas!

 

[highdesertranger]

did you stop at Dirty Dicks in Belmont? we got free drinks there once for getting rid of a rattle snake in their wood pile. highdesertranger

 

[Campor99]

did you stop at Dirty Dicks in Belmont?  we got free drinks there once for getting rid of a rattle snake in their wood pile.  highdesertranger

Nope, didn't stop at Dirty Dick's had a few there last 4th of July, like the fest, town was packed.

 

[Campor99]

GO SMALL, GO FAR!

Hi all you BUCKAROO GUY'S AND GAL'S AND THANKS FOR CHECKING THE THREAD!

HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON, IN TONOPAH WE HAD A WHITE XMAS. COLD LOWS WAS SINGLE DIGITS.
SEE PHOTOS.  

WILL BE LEAVING FOR DEATH VALLEY NP ON MONDAY TO HIT THE SALINE WARM SPRINGS WILL HAVE PHOTOS ON 
NEXT POST.  LOOKING FORWARD TO HITTING THE HOT WATER TUBS IF WEATHER PERMITS, WILL FEEL GREAT ON
THE OLD BONES. WILL ENTER SALINE VALLEY VIA NORTH PASS OFF OF HWY 168.

TRUCKS OF WEEK CHEVY/GMC FULL SIZE HIGH TOPS AND SOME OLDER SUBURBAN HIGH TOP AMBULANCES THAT WOULD
MAKE A SWELL BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING RIG. THE CHEVY'S AND GMC'S WERE BUILT WITH A ALL WHEEL DRIVE OPTION AND
WOULD ALSO TAKE YOU FAR ON SOME PRETTY ROUGH GOING. MY AWD ASTRO NEVER SLIPPED A TIRE ON THE SNOW AND
ICE THIS LAST WEEK. YOU GOT TO LUV THAT TRACTION.

HOPE TO SEE YOU AT RTR IN QUARTSITE AZ THE 10TH OR SO.

BE SAFE OUT THERE AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY.