The "TACO WAGON" has arrived

[oosik]

You know - the Taco Wagon sits so high - it's quite easy to wash the underside. I just used a garden hose with nozzle and got it all clean. Actually, most all the "wheat field" mud had washed off in the torrential downpour - on our way home yesterday. At the least, I know, the moon roof does not leak.

I used the Ram Box on one side to hold ice cubes and our favorite beverages yesterday. That worked well, also.

Had to do some fiddling with the Navigation system. The "arrow" was always pointing in a southern direction. The Taco Wagon wants to go home. To warmer climates. Its blood will thicken.

 

[coldsteelva]

They make undercarriage washer heads for power washers - little rolling carriages with up-facing fan nozzles.

 

[oosik]

I saw those units. Four fan nozzles on a rolling manifold. I have the pressure washer. Might be a good addition.

With my fearless navigator leading us down every slick, slimy & soggy wheat field road yesterday - the Taco Wagon got pretty dirty. Running up I-95 in the torrential rains washed most off the underside. Hit the asphalt on I-95 and threw domino sized clods of mud for about half a mile. The Goodyear Wranglers are pretty aggressive - but it was obvious - they got loaded up real well.

The "navigator" - my fearless son - has never had to winch a vehicle. He would have been real upset if we would have got stuck on one of those wheat field roads. There is NOTHING to attach a winch to within miles. And I'm not about to start carrying around a double fluke boat anchor as a winch point. My days of getting into those type situations are LOOONG over.

Four wheeling in the Alaska tundra required that a boat anchor was alway on board. Even if there was a tree, which there never was, two grown men could have easily pushed it over.

BTW - these "wheat field" roads are shown on the maps as secondary roads. They meander from here to there. They are maintained by nobody. I suppose if one really needs work - the farmer might do some work on it. They are primarily used by the farmers to get from one field to another without going thru one of his fields. Sooo ... it would have to be so bad that he could not use it with his 500hp/8 wheel tractor before even considering any maintenance.

 

[oosik]

Leave it to the "navigator" to get a pic of the wheat field road. I had just decided - "we had gone far enough". Time to find another road that was a tad bit dryer. We did find a dryer road and finally reached our intended goal.


View attachment 600611. The decision to look for a new road was a good choice. About a quarter mile down the road, the water is about four feet deep and the mud is never-ending.

 

[BigBlue1]

I don't blame you for turning around!

 

[oosik]

Most all the "wheat field roads" are in this condition - this time of year. The wonderful Palouse loam/silt has washed off the fields and settled out on the road. It's like driving in axle grease. The tires load up - you have a vehicle with slicks and 410hp. 4WD only means that four wheels will spin rather than two. Forward momentum and steering are almost at zero.

My son & his friend kept yelling - "Whee, Whee". I had a difficult time not crapping my pants.

Give it another month and this road will be a virtual dust bowl.

 

[BigBlue1]

Most all the "wheat field roads" are in this condition - this time of year. The wonderful Palouse loam/silt has washed off the fields and settled out on the road. It's like driving in axle grease. The tires load up - you have a vehicle with slicks and 410hp. 4WD only means that four wheels will spin rather than two. Forward momentum and steering are almost at zero.

My son & his friend kept yelling - "Whee, Whee". I had a difficult time not crapping my pants.

Give it another month and this road will be a virtual dust bowl.

I know the feeling! It's all fun and games until you realize that it is your vehicle and you'll have to fix it, get it unstuck, or clean it off...

 

[k0ua]

Leave it to the "navigator" to get a pic of the wheat field road. I had just decided - "we had gone far enough". Time to find another road that was a tad bit dryer. We did find a dryer road and finally reached our intended goal.


View attachment 600611. The decision to look for a new road was a good choice. About a quarter mile down the road, the water is about four feet deep and the mud is never-ending.

Yeah, that looks like trouble ahead!

 

[Jstpssng]

Who is it that said "wisdom comes from pi$$ing on the electric fence"?

On the topic of climbing into your truck... I had the exact opposite experience today when I backed my mother's Camry out of the garage. I thought that I would have to crawl out on my elbows it sets so close to the ground. I suggested that she put in a Mexican lift kit, so that she can raise the vehicle when exiting.

 

[oosik]

Strange as it sounds - I have somewhat the same problem, Jstpssng. My ten-way drivers seat is adjusted to full height - upward. I have to bend my head pretty much to squeeze in and get in the seat.

More investigation is required. There is a feature where the seat "defaults" to a preset position. This "preset" can be the lowest position. Then when you are in the seat - press a button and it will adjust to the "driving position".

If I were in a real big hurry - the top of the doorsill would almost take my head off. More time with the "features" is in order. Some vehicles are simply designed for folks more limber than I am.

This spring is far and away the wettest I have ever experienced in the 38 years down here. Thank God - it's still too cold for the mosquitos. But things better start drying out pretty soon. Warmer WX is on its way and I haven't seen hide nor hair of the cliff swallows( Mother Nature's mosquito cure ).

Time will tell - what this very wet spring will do for the ticks. They are due to be here soon, also.