jgaz

You may know this but the only road to the bottom of the canyon starts in Peach Springs AZ. It is about 80 miles from Williams. The road is a, usually rough, 20+ miles and 3000+ feet of elevation loss down to a river raft take out area at Diamond Creek. No road exists to supply Phantom Ranch. All the supplies and all the trash goes in and out on the backs of mules.

You’re brave Kris! I would never post I had a phantom CEL fixed. I’ve fought a slight EVAP leak code (P0456) on my 2017 Ram for about 9 months. Every time I even think I “fixed” it the code comes back. If it weren’t for our stupid, mandated emissions test I wouldn’t worry about it as it’s so random and seldom. But saying out loud that I fixed it, no way!

Kris, I missed your post on the latest mods and additions to your trailer. Nice work. The single screw, in a slotted hole no less, makes me want to scream, and it’s not my trailer. Yes, you start with one screw during installation and open and close the drawer a couple of times to let it find its “happy place”. Then carefully remove the drawer and add a couple additional screws, preferably in holes not slotted. You didn’t even have that option! Disgusting workmanship! I just did a reinforcement similar to your pocket hole screwed brace on the Neighbor’s toy hauler. A factory installed towel bar they were using to dry ski socks and gloves over a heater vent pulled right thru the cabinet side! Rant over!

Yes to this source. Being able to avoid shipping is a good perk, Their prices are usually a bit better than I can get using my MOPAR discount as a Chrysler retiree. I’d have to drive to Avondale to beat their prices and then it’s only another 10% or so.

But you did it! Congrats, that hike is no joke I received this tee shirt (not my photo) from a friend, for Xmas. The note in the package said, “I already have one picked out for your 80th birthday”🤣 Something to shoot for as I just made 70

Kris, another product you might consider to help water usage with dishes is this: I have had good luck with this stuff the last couple of years staying in NPS housing at the Grand Canyon. The provided housing can be hit or miss as far as hot water availability among other things. This stuff works well with a scrubby sponge, a paper towel and a quick rinse. I use paper plates as well but my Cup, bowel, and lexan utensils, glass cooking dish etc. all get either boiled in the microwave or a boiling water rinse before the next use.

Nice when the tongue jack is bolted to the tongue instead of being welded to it.

Thank you Steve.

Okay Steve, I gotta admit that I can relate being just a little OCD. That trait has served me well

“Hack” is the definition of what you’ve already had to fix of the OEM design and workmanship. The worst your current repair could be called is “field expedient”. And I’m not sure is even that. Nice work

Looks good Kris Are you able to work on your RV and the same place you store it? If so, what’s your secret for remembering to take all your needed tools?

Nice work Kris! You could have saved yourself a lot of time, materials, and effort if you had just adopted the OEM wiring methods.😜 The picture where you showed the factory wiring is almost unbelievable. A company should be ashamed to have a mess like that leave their factory.

I was looking for dedicated storage for my misc. cutoffs instead of having them in six different places. Saw this on instagram. Added a few things to the original. The drawing I used (screen shot from the orginal idea). Mine has an additional 13” x13” base with a lazy Susan bearing allowing it to turn. I used ABS for the 4” pipe at about 40” only because that’s what I found during my dumpster diving. 2” pvc pieces are each 5” shorter than the previous piece. Mine takes up about the same floor space in my shed as a std. milk crate.

Dayuuum! That’s some next level organization right there Kris!

Damn shame these repairs are necessary after your maiden voyage. You are so right that an RV owner should be willing and able to work on their rig.

Not in my RV (I don’t own one) but storage boxes I made for a neighbor’s toy hauler. She was tired of looking for the perfect size plastic boxes or wicker baskets. I made 7 boxes in 3 different sizes for their RV. FYI. In the box I’m gluing up you can see what looks like a lid with two knobs. It’s not a lid, it’s just a piece of wood to help me square up the box. Worth making when I have a “production run” of the same size box. I ended up making an addition 4 boxes to use in our own kitchen with the left over materials.

My sister bought a new airstream two years ago. There were several issues early on. One was a water leak that took several dealer visits to repair. Another concern was a bent axle early on that chewed up a tire very quickly. The axle was replaced with the “old part number” mostly because my nephew knew they had changed to a new part number (cheaper) axle and called the company out on this fact. If I’m not mistaken there was a change in ownership of the company a few years back (don’t quote me). My nephew has refurbished and flipped three of the old school Airstreams in the last six or seven years and believes their quality has slipped on the newer models.

YES!!! Good call on no slide outs. I’ve fixed two in recent years, one for each sister, on my trips back to Michigan. Floor delamination, janky mechanisms, rodent intrusions, etc. Neither coach was very well built, IMO, to start with so that didn’t help things.

Nice Kris, covered storage will help the life

Covered storage for the new trailer?

Congrats Kris! Looks like a nice rig. I was going to ask about the planned mods because we all know that she ain’t gonna be “stock” for long.

Thank you for your efforts, John.

I’m sure most of you know that there is a large wildfire burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This fire hits close to home for me due to my volunteer work in the park the last ten years. I know a number of people personally that have been effected by this terrible fire. The cabin I’ve stayed in during my shifts there is a total loss. These pictures were taken by a friend who is a volunteer in the same program where I work. All pictures were taken from the south rim. Tragic! Saturday July 26. Afternoon, evening, and 10:00PM that night Sunday July 27. Afternoon and Evening Monday July 28

Cleaning out the garage and don’t feel like dealing with Craigslist idiots or Fakebook flakes. I have a bear canister that might be of interest to some of you. I’ve used it on three or four trips in the Sierras. Large enough for two backpackers for three or four days if you pack right. i Located in Peoria. You pick it up and it’s yours. Not interested in shipping this local pick up only. Jim

Great pictures! I too, love that place. The displays have gotten so much better over the years .