2021 RAM 3500 Tradesman | AEV Prospector | FWC Grandby

[ramblinChet]

When was the last time you were truly surprised by something to such a degree that you felt like a little boy receiving an amazing gift on Christmas morning? That is an accurate description of how I felt when I hooked up my new phone to my RAM and saw the Android Auto begin to function. When I originally specified the base vehicle for my AEV Prospector I opted for the Tradesman package with a few select options. One was the base Uconnect 4 with 8.4-inch Display and at the time I was pretty sure there was not possibility of enjoying full screen navigation like the more expensive displays. Again, I was not expecting this and it sure felt good to see the high resolution satellite image on this magnificent 8.4-inch display. Yeah, I am hooked.


Here I am exploring again in the Homochitto National Forest, this time up in the north-eastern section. The ground was reasonably wet and there had not been much traffic in these parts although I remained in 2WD the entire time.


While driving and looking for gas and a quick warm meal I came upon this historic site.


A beautiful ride can be enjoyed along the Natchez Trace Parkway that stretches from Nashville, Tennessee, down to Natchez, Mississippi. Here is a historic site between Jackson and Natchez which amounts to a big pile of dirt that has been leveled. I always stop by these places and read the historical information although I wonder how accurate the information actually is. This Emerald Mound is the second largest mound in these United States. Maybe one day I will happen upon the largest one.


When I began really traveling years ago and began to focus on the forests and mountains I had no idea how many cemeteries I would be encountering. When I spot one I always take a moment to stop by, observe, pay my respects, and try to imagine what the area was like when these people were alive. Most every time I walk away wondering just how they survived. No electricity, very basic medical care, no air conditioned grocery stores to purchase milk, produce, etc. It is my belief that the past few generations of western civilizations have lost so much basic information regarding how to live life, it may be a fatal.


Forks of the Road Slave Market at the intersection of Libery Road and D'Evereux Drive in Natchez, Mississippi. The town of Natchez is very interesting and I plan to visit again during the warm weather when it is a bit more active.


Rolling down the banks of the mighty Mississippi to enjoy a fine meal at The Camp. When I arrived at the bottom a few fine gentleman approached and wanted to learn about my truck. This actually happens quite frequently and I always enjoy hearing others stories and plans related to adventure. Around half the time I end up popping up the top and inviting a few inside to sit and talk. It is not uncommon for others to take notice and wander over to take a look themselves. I meet really nice folks everywhere and I encourage them all to get out and explore.


Here is some late night exploration of the western section of Homochitto National Forest. This entire area was sopping wet and slick in many parts. You know that sound when you are driving through a wet mushy area...that is what I heard the entire time. I remained in 2WD and had the rear tires slip just a few times but fortunately most of the ground was pretty flat and the few elevation changes were long and gradual.


Remember early on when I asked when was the last time you felt like a little kid at Christmas? Well, this was the opposite - when this photo was taken I felt like I was somewhere I should not be. I was very deep into the woods, it was wet and slippery, I was not lost but I certainly was not sure where I was going some of the time. And to make it even more exciting, there were times I came across a fence that was blocking the road. A few were locked but a few were just chained and not locked. So, I still felt a bit uneasy late at night opening a fence and driving through it while believing that I was on a public road, but there were times I was not 100% confident. In this instance I hit a dead end and was forced to backtrack a mile or so and try another route.

 

[ramblinChet]

If you are ever passing through Mississippi, south of Jackson, I would recommend you take a moment to stop by the Lynyrd Skynyrd Memorial just off the highway in Gillsburg, Mississippi. It is a beautiful memorial and with part of it reading their "music speaks to life in the American South but touches on the universal themes of nonconformity, freedom, love, loyalty, betrayal, and loss." If you are interested in reading the official NTSB report on this unfortunate accident, see the attached AAR7806.pdf down below. Pay particular attention to discussion regarding fuel consumption.


Have you ever pulled over on the side of a rural road, in the deep south, to enjoy some southern fried rabbit prepared and served by a bunch of cute girls with even cuter accents?


I spent an afternoon in the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum and plan to visit again and take even more time. It's a mid-sized museum although it is packed with information and historical pieces. Below I planned on posting a picture but will refrain from doing so until I receive permission from a site moderator. In today's world, as crazy as it is, some forums prohibit posting images that are historical in nature and this includes ones posted in a federal military museum operated on an active military installation. If a moderator would like to review, I will be happy to send one. I would hope that a picture titled "Kinder, Kirche, Keuche," of a beautiful young lady, who is proud of her country, is not offensive nor would we pass judgement on an entire group of people while referencing the actions of a select few. Out of respect for this forum, I will not post the picture unless given permission.


The museum contains several displays similar to this one. Each contains dozens of artifacts with some even containing personal references to who the item originally belonged to. Just an amazing collection and well worth a day.


Our beloved rotary-wing guys have no need to worry, they are well represented in this full size display. They did a great job and the best thing is you are literally standing a few feet away from everything. BTW - the first helo I jumped from was a member of the Huey family, it was a UH-1N. Very cool aircraft!


Many of the items and arms present are from foreign countries. It was refreshing to see M60s nearby MG34s and AK-47s. It offered a wonderful opportunity to study and compare the differences and similarities.


Outside are several dozen tanks, artillery, and a few aircraft. Here is a CH-54 heavy lift helicopter with a M114 armored reconnaissance vehicle slung underneath. Seeing this in real life makes it clear to understand why it was nicknamed SkyCrane. This beauty is a beast!


The Arny OV-1B Mohawk observational aircraft has always had a special place in my heart. One on hand, I think it's kinda cute for a military aircraft. Then again, with twin engines and vertical stabilizers in back, I bet it would be really fun to zip around low and slow. Have you ever realized that our US Army has not had any fixed-wing combat aircraft since the late 1940s?


Bedding down for the night on base, adjacent to a lake. I do hope to catch the sun rise in the morning. Good night y'all!

 

[ramblinChet]

Spend one night on Camp Shelby at Lake Walker. It seemed like many of the campers there had been there for an extended period of time - like weeks, or months. It was a really nice campground overall though and I would not hesitate to stay there again. Although they had hot showers and free laundry, I was not able to take advantage of either since I was motivated to depart Mississippi.


Here is Lake Walker an hour or so after sunrise. It was a cool crisp morning and the warm sun felt great. Off to the right of the frame was a dock. Since there was no movement I didn't pick her out immediately, but there was a pretty young lady with her dog sitting facing the rising sun and soaking it all up. It was a very peaceful morning after a very chilly night.


The strangest thing about this base was the fact that there were thousands of pieces of equipment and hundreds of buildings, but the entire time I was there I only saw maybe two or three other vehicles and just maybe three of four people. Lights were on, building HVAC fans were spinning, but it was deserted. The only other time I saw other people were the gate guards, the two folks at the museum, and all the campers. It was like driving around an abandoned city. Strange.


I am not sure what attracts me to them although I always want to photograph trees and water in various lighting conditions. These beauties were on the north side of Geiger Lake in the De Soto National Forrest.


So we hit 1k hours of engine run time with 85% being driven and 15% at idle. The numbers seem to be accurate, how do yours compare? And here is a riddle, is my average speed 33.7 or 39.4 MPH?


Many of the roads in the De Soto National Forest are identical to this one. There were some narrower ones but they seemed largely overgrown and a bit too tight for my rig. It was a smooth and pleasant ride.


It seems that the northern section of De Soto NF is used by the Army for tank and artillery practice. Up in that area I came across many signs like this and others ones warning of shells flying overhead. It would have been cool to be there during live fire exercises to hear the shells whistling overhead.


This picture was taken at 0511 in the morning, an hour or so before I normally wake up. While preparing to go to bed I opted for my intermediate sleeping bag since it was in the mid-50s. To my surprise, the temperature dropped like a rock and it was in the very low 30s when I finally decided it was in my best interest to crawl out of bed and pee in a bottle. Since I did not feel like dragging out my cold weather bag I decided to turn on my stove for 10-15 minutes to warm up the interior of my camper. It would be warm enough to keep me sleeping well for the next hour or so and it worked great.

 

[UglyViking]

So we hit 1k hours of engine run time with 85% being driven and 15% at idle. The numbers seem to be accurate, how do yours compare? And here is a riddle, is my average speed 33.7 or 39.4 MPH?
View attachment 49034

I like riddles, this doesn't seem like a riddle though, it seems like it would be dependent on how you argue average. Kind of depends if you try and infer intent from idle or not. I'd say 33.7 though, because the average number for most things is pretty meaningless anyway, median is where it's at

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

How do you rack up miles if you’re driving in kmh?
(;

 

[jsalbre]

How do you rack up miles if you’re driving in kmh?
(;

You’ve just gotta figure out the current exchange rate and see if your bank charges a fee.

 

[ramblinChet]

Here is an example of the glamorous side of overlanding - spending the night in a parking lot across from the casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi. My adventure began earlier in the day with what I believed to be a possible unicorn. A short time later this unicorn easily slid through the wife zone and landed squarely in the date zone. At one point my primary brain fully engaged and I realized I was deep into the danger zone of the hot (8-9) and crazy (10+) matrix. If you would like more details they will be shared around a campfire provided you have no recording devices with you.


While praying for forgiveness and getting out of town as far and fast as possible, I landed in Bayou La Barte, Alabama. I hung around for some time checking out the dozens of working boats. It was here, around seventy five years ago, that Father Alex O'Neil held the first Blessing of the Fleet. This is an old world custom asking God for a bountiful harvest and protecting for the men while working out at sea. Lot's of fresh seafood in the area also!


Here we are on the Mobile Ferry departing from Dauphin Island and arriving in Gulf Shores, Alabama. I met the coolest dude who was riding a bicycle across country alone, unsupported, as fast as he could. He left San Diego, California, twenty five days earlier with his final destination being Saint Augustine, Florida. He had some great stories to share and I enjoyed listening to them for the better part of an hour.


Here is a super-secret project I have been working on at an undisclosed location in the deep south. This is an prototype amphibious attack submarine being built for the ultra-secretive North Coast Militia. NCM are charged with defending against the upcoming Canadian invasion. Reference Defense Scheme No. 1 for additional information and don't share this with anyone


Around two decades ago I frequently explored Elgin Air Force Base in Florida, more specifically, the thousands of acres of auxiliary fields. This is me rolling in late at night searching for Escribano Point which is a very special place with wonderful memories. Unfortunately, the exact location is gated off now and it appears my only means to visit would be from the water. I was able to get within a kilometer or so driving to the shore so maybe next time I will bring a kayak or just walk and swim over to the point. It is a super cool area and if I am able to get back and take pictures you will see why.


After bedding down for the night I enjoyed yet another storm which was mostly heavy rain with some gusty winds. This is the area I relaxed and prepared for my early morning shoot.


My eyes were opened to a strange sound I had never heard before. Two or three dozen pelicans crashed into the water just feet away from where I was resting. It was a crazy but cool sound and that's one of the things I enjoy most regarding camping deep in the forest and mountains. Hearing nature in a natural setting. The howls from a pack of coyotes in the distance closing in, the crash of dozens of pelicans into the soft morning water, the wind whistling through the trees...

 

[Great White North Eh]

Awsome adventure! just don’t get torpedoed by a pelican … although that would make a ‘’killer’’ story.
Don’t worry about being invaded by the North … we couldn’t defend ourselves in a spirited game of Croquet.

 

[ramblinChet]

Much time spent off-road exploring trails in Florida the past few days. The pictures below begin in Eglin AFB and move eastward into Point Washington State Forest and finally ending in Apalachicola National Forest. If felt as if all I did was drive off road yet I barely even began to scratch the surface. Consider Eglin AFB is 464k acres with around 250k open to exploration while Apalachicola NF is 633k acres itself. My plans is to visit again and spend at least a week or two - so much to see over such a vast amount of area.

Here is a typical shot of the roads on Eglin AFB during the day. Some primary were paved but the majority looked like this. Beware, you are not permitted to just drive around where ever you desire. Eglin AFB is huge and many areas are used for bombing practice. I was working in the area when GBU-43/B MOAB was tested two decades ago and people could see the mushroom cloud from twenty miles away. Some areas also require you to attend unexploded ordnance (UXO) training since there is a reasonable possibility you may encounter UXO. Call base security and ask for additional information.


Of course, there were many trails leading off the roads with most looking like this. Some were pretty tight and would be perfect for an old narrow Jeep. And crooked trails again on flat land, just like before, lol.


Here is a shot on a secondary trail in Apalachicola NF. If you have no desire for east coast pin-striping, the secondary trails may not be a good choice for you. They did lead to some awesome primitive camping spots and were so secluded I felt they were very much worth it.


Your typical primary road in Apalachicola NF - wide and smooth with tall trees. Keep in mind there are only a few gas stations around the perimeter of this forest and all were at least an hour or more away. If you plan to visit I would recommend filling up just before you enter and carry additional fuel just in case.


Here is my only shot from Point Washington State Forest. It was right near the Gulf of Mexico and even though it is quite small at 15k acres, there are still places to camp, hike, etc. In this section I stopped and walked around for a bit. In a strange way this section of the forest looked like some sort of safari, lol. The panhandle of Florida is a very fun place and I am looking forward to exploring more when I have more time.

 

[ramblinChet]

Since I was passing through North Carolina I stopped at Main Line Overland. Over the past five years I have also visited their locations in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. They are a pretty cool company overall and I always do my best to support them and have purchased products from them in the past. Since I have a few outstanding projects to complete on my rig I figured why not ask for a labor quote. At $150 per hour labor the handful of small tasks I had them quote added up to thousands of dollars very quickly. I will pay myself, thank you.


Here is half of the front of their shop. They do carry a nice assortment of equipment that you most likely will not find elsewhere so if you are nearby I would suggest stopping in. They also host events that I have attended several times such as the Mid-Atlantic Overland Festival in Pennsylvania.


Another wonderful place to stop in North Carolina is Zarges. This is a German company who has been making the finest aluminum cases for over 75 years. They were originally used by the German military and are also currently being used by US armed forces. If you want the best, buy Zarges.


Here are two cases that have been used for decades and are still fully functional.


So I am heading down a country road in North Carolina and in the middle of nowhere I come upon this accident. It appeared to be recent so I stopped and looked round. No one was anywhere to be found so I assume someone else had picked them up already. This vehicle was buried in the brush and barely visible.


Ok, maybe I become excited over goofy things but I finally found the percolator I have been looking for. No, I do not drink tea or coffee - this is to boil water for hot showers. This is 18/8 stainless steel and has a capacity over eight cups along with a semi compact shape. The handle and spout are important also so this is perfect for my application, for now. If you have not showered for 3-5 days and your only option is ice cold water, you will understand why I become excited over a shiny tea kettle.


Driving into another National Forest under cover of darkness. This is Uwharrie in North Carolina. Any x-rays on here ever attended Robin Sage in Uwharrie?

 

[Great White North Eh]

Tea kettle! ………why not just boil water in one of those expensive German suitcases?

 

[Jeff1759]

I participated in Robin Sage in that forest back in ... maybe '83. I was not Special Forces, but a Parachute Rigger from Bragg and volunteered as a peasant to be trained by the SF.
An interesting 21 days in the woods for sure!

 

[UglyViking]

Mainline Overland are good dudes. I'm not terribly far from their NH location and have gone to a few of their rigs and coffee. The only downside is their NH location is rather small, and the showroom is about the size of a small living room, so they are limited in what they stock on hand. Similarly, hourly rates are pretty high and I'm guessing that is where they are making most of their money. They seem to do a good job though, and if I don't personally have the time, equipment, or skills, I'll gladly hand it off to someone else and pay the price.

 

[DevilDodge]

 

[ramblinChet]

It was a cold and very windy night in Uwharrie National Forest. It was nice listening to thousands of trees singing as the high winds blew in throughout the night. When I arrive during daylight hours I always take a look at the trees in the surrounding area to make sure they all appear to be healthy and strong. That last thing I would want is for a weak tree to topple over onto my camper.


This picture does little to illustrate the actual conditions but Badin Lake was really rough with a mixture of white caps and swells. It was a treat to witness this naturally beautiful area during these unusual conditions.


Four Wheel Pop-Up Campers are a great three-season camper but were never designed for four season use. Minus a constant supply of heat inside the camper, everything freezes within hours. If you are using propane inside for cooking and occasional heat, moisture builds up very quickly. Within a few days virtually everything has a thin film of ice coating it. I do have a diesel heater waiting to be installed but am also considering other options for maintaining an above freezing temperature while driving. As I was falling asleep it was -10° C (14° F) outside, when I awoke, it was -13° C (9° F). No heater, only a bag.


If you are carrying propane with you during cold weather a good place to keep it warm is in the floorboards of your vehicle. Reference Boyle's Law for additional information on why this is a good idea. There is nothing worse than finishing up a long day exploring in freezing conditions and not having your stove light off.


This is what most of the service roads in Uwharrie look like during the winter. There were a number of OHV areas with places to park that I came across in addition to some pretty narrow and tough looking Jeep trails.


It was refreshing to see some green in this section of the forest.


Dropping down Deep Water Trail heading towards Yadkin River. This will be my last update for some time since I am back in Virginia to celebrate Christmas with friends and family. Over the past year I have ordered parts and had them delivered to Virginia so my goal is to take time to have a few of them installed. Of course, the weather has been unusually cold so that adds difficulty.

 

[jsalbre]

A standard propane RV furnace shouldn’t produce any moisture inside as the combustion intake and exhaust are both on the exterior and sealed off from the inside. When we were full timing in our Airstream the furnace stayed running even when we traveled if it was cold enough to need it (and the AC in the reverse situation). Obviously the furnace our 30’ Airstream used would be massive overkill for your camper, but I’d assume there are smaller versions.

 

[ramblinChet]

Merry Christmas to everyone from Yorktown, Virginia.

 

[ramblinChet]

Today I took a few minutes to resolve a minor issue which involved the rear door of my Four Wheel Camper contacting one of the 20 liter Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister manufactured by Wavian in Latvia. The door opened just fine but when I attempted to "lock it open" using the locking arm the door would contact the can. It was not that big of a deal although I decided a few spacers, washers, and longer machine bolts would move the mount out far enough to avoid contact. Here is the mount moved out 3/8 of an inch.


Here is a shot of the locking arm engaged with the mount. My cost for the four spacers, washers, and longer bolts, was around $15 and it tool about ten minutes of work. All the arm does is keep the door from swinging closed which is nice on a windy day or if you are parked with a bit of roll to the starboard side.


Here you can see where the lock on the door has around 1/4 of an inch clearance now. Previously, this is where contact would take place.


In a previous post I had mentioned how important and easy it is to repair expensive cold weather gear with a patch. This morning I work up and standing tall in the morning sunlight was a piece of goose down sticking out of my cold weather bag. It was time to dog around and find my patch kit.


It was not long before I located the repair tape which was was originally purchased 10-15 years ago. If you recall my previous post I had used this same packet of tape a decade ago to repair my three season bag in addition to a down jacket. I still used both pieces regularly and the repairs are holding fine.


Here is the repaired area on my cold weather bag. Problem solved in a minute - no more goose down will escape from this location.


Recently I left Yorktown, Virginia and crossed the York River over into Gloucester, Virginia. While driving through Gloucester I noticed a sign I had not seen previously; it was for Machicomoco State Park. A few miles later I entered the park which apparently opened just a few years ago so that explains why I had not noticed previously. This shot was taken from a "car-top boat launch" in the Catlett Islands area of the Chesapeake Bay which is managed by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

 

[ramblinChet]

While home I procured three additional RotopaX two gallon water GEN 2 from my Jeep. This brings my water up to ten gallons stored in five RotopaX. What is even better is the fact that they fit perfectly behind my refrigerator up against the bulkhead so the center of gravity is low and between the front and rear axles. When you lift the top cover on the refer it rolls back on the hinges so you must install it three inches from the bulkhead to be able to open it fully. I love utilizing "wasted space" and storing other objects in there.


Recently, I was invited by a longtime friend to camp on personal property near Farmville, Virginia. This was a great opportunity to sleep in my vehicle each night within about 100 meters of a very nice log cabin. During the day, and many times late into the night, I was able to hang out with around a dozen absolutely wonderful people.

Since the weather was cool to nice at night this provided me with an opportunity to establish a mix ratio for my shower water. My initial ratio was ten cups ambient and six boiling - this was acceptable although the ambient temperature was on the cool side. A few other nights I went with eight ambient and eight boiling - since ambient was a bit warm this turned out to be a very warm shower, maybe a bit too warm. On colder days the eight and eight might be perfect but on normal days it seems ten and six works well. I will continue testing. And yes, a gallon seems to be enough for washing my hair and critical areas in addition to brushing my teeth.

We had some really night camp fires which lasted 6-8 hours each night.


We had a Polaris Ranger Crew 1000 available for play on the local trails. All the trails were very tight, very rough, and had significant elevation changes and many off-camper climbs and turns. If you have never been in one of the newer Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) you need to make arrangements to spend some time in one - they are very impressive. It was nice to know the 12 Vdc 100 Ah deep cycle AGM battery was enough to keep my 80 liter refrigerator at 0° C for three full days even though it was warm outside.

Here is a picture of where I "camped" each night:

 

[ramblinChet]

During my visit to Yorktown, Virginia, I spent a full day at the American Revolution Museum. The museum is very nice and although not heavy on items, it makes up for it with much information. Each item displayed has approximately one paragraph dedicated to providing detailed information. There was also a primary theater with a twenty minute show, in addition to approximately five tiny theaters spread throughout the property with short 3-5 minute shows.

Layout and lighting are second to none. The interior decoration is quite pleasing so kudos to the designer!


The route you take is much like any other modern museum, a maze with many nooks and crannies.


Many life sized displays are accompanied by soundtracks and choreographed lighting. Quite entertaining compared to just standing and reading.


Here are a pair of British officer's flintlock pistols. I am a sucker for fine craftsmanship and there is a surplus on display here. This particular pair were manufactured by Joseph Griffin in London around 1771.


In one area there was a life sized hologram which spoke and shared information - pretty cool.


A full-sized cannon for the big-bore folks.


Life-sized statues and very nice displays are common. Around each corner is something new.


Another life-sized display depicting work on the docks. There was so much more information although I do not wish to spoil your visit.


In summary, the French helped us since they hated the British. German soldiers joined the British since they were offered lots of money. Loyalists in the Colonies picked the losing side and native American indians split their allegiance based upon what was best for each tribe. The men who risked the most, gained the most...freedom.


If you visit the Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown are, make sure to enjoy a scenic drive along the Colonial Parkway. The parkway is a twenty-three mile scenic drive running between the James and York Rivers, and connecting the three aforementioned cities. There are no stops signs or traffic signals and only a few entrances and exits. During the drive you will drive along the banks of both rivers and pass through wooded areas. It is a wonderful drive.