Tuning

Final adjustment to the deck today, laid the carpet and checked position for utilities.  (Spent all morning trying to find staples for our stapler.)  I also got around to pulling the CB out of our other Jeep and swapped it into the Comanche.

Plumbed the 9 gallon water tank and wired in the pump.

Next the cap goes on and we start to pack.  Still hoping to leave tomorrow!

Setting the stage...

After running errands all morning, I finally got to work on the sleeping platform.

I also sanitized our water tank prior to install.  It holds 9 gallons and will be mounted  near the front of the bed.  Filling and use will be via a 12volt pump to be mounted near the tailgate.  Parts for the tank plumbing took the better half of the day as Tyler and I went to no less than 5 hardware stores to find the two fittings we needed.

While the tank soaked in a bleach solution, I finished cutting and shaping the deck.  Access hatches were cut and a notch cut for our 5 gallon jerry can (our reserve fuel tank).

I intended to put the carpet on the deck, but as Murphy struck again, I found I was out of heavy duty staples.  An errand for tomorrow.

hiccups....

Last minute repairs for the Jeep.  
Our clutch slave cylinder let go.  Better here than on the road, as shifting without a clutch was difficult at best.  At any rate got it repaired and all fluids checked.  It is cleared for take off.  

It was in the garage a few days and I find we are a bit behind schedule...not that the 'schedule' matters anyway.

I have yet to be cleared for take off though...hopefully I'll be green lighted tomorrow.

Bloggin from the road....

Picked up a HP Pavilion G41016DX series 14in laptop for $349.

Windows7 Premium, 2.5Khz duel core with 4G RAM,  320G hard drive and integrated web cam.

When we can get wireless on the road we'll be able to update our blog, Skype and check email.

A 3G card would be ideal but may bust the budget.

4x4 restored.

The Jeep has been suffering from a temperamental vacuum switch on the front axle, preventing 4wheel drive engagement.  I found a helpful write-up on a Jeep web site and was able to 'fix' the vacuum switch on the axle. 

Basically I locked the axle in the engaged position and disconected and sealed the vacuum lines.

It works! Success!
I learned that Jeep eventually abandoned the vacuum switch on future Jeeps due to reliability issues.

Memorial Day Weekend

Tyler and I took the Jeep to the North East Kingdom Memorial Day weekend.  More specifically East Burke, VT and the Kingdom Trails network.   Kingdom trails is all about mountain biking and we had the bed of the truck loaded with bikes.  My Surly Pugsly was towing Tyler's "Shocker" Trail-A-Bike plus we brought my Gary Fisher Rig and Tyler's Fuji Fazer.

The Jeep cruised happily at 70mph most of the way, though climbing some of the bigger hills forced us to drop to 4th gear just to maintain 60mph.  It is a heavy little truck and we were well loaded.  We still managed better than 20mpg on the way up, not bad for a tired 25 year old truck.