GTGallop

I know it's not a good idea but family issues have had me wheeling solo for the headspace recently. I'm not going anywhere extreme and carry an iPhone 14 (w/ Sat Messaging), Ham Radio w/ APRS Messaging, NoCo Battery Booster, Tool Roll, Straps, Jacks, etc. So I'm capable of self rescuing for the most part. I also carry my hiking bag, a flat of water and some MRE's and protein bars when I go so if I have to sit and wait for a few days, I'm good there too. It's all overkill for the kind of off road driving I do like going the front / easy way to Crown King or going to see the ruins in the Agua Fria National Monument or our to Sheep's Bridge. But anything worth killing is worth over killing, aye? So I would like to throw in a few numbers into the cell now while I'm not in need so that later if I have a need I'm not trying to squeeze in some bars out on a ridge somewhere to start googling. Does anyone have one they would recommend? Any you would recommend I avoid so I don't get screwed in the wilderness?

Welcome!

Going to start learning about and trying Lo/Ra (Long Range 915mhz) Meshtastic gear. Have a LilyGo T-Echo on order. Wondering if anyone here is running something and what you have learned. Useful on the trails?

I have an old Coleman lantern that has the sock element in it and it takes these canisters. I keep telling myself, as soon as it breaks, I'm out of the 1lb propane business and going LED only. But the damn thing - JUST - WONT - DIE. Guess I better snag a 4 pack. TKS for the heads up.

HBD!

https://www.daisymountainfire.org/2024-03-22-cert-basic-class-register-today If anyone is interested, the Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical, Citizen Corps, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is holding a G-317 CERT Basic class. Class is open to anyone who wants to learn more about disaster preparedness and there is absolutely no obligation to become a CERT Volunteer. The class seats 20. As of right now there are 5 seats taken. 15 seats available. All Classes are held at DMFM Station 141 43814 N. New River Rd., New River, Arizona 85087 March 22, 2024 Friday: 6:00 - 10:00pm March 23, 2024 Saturday: 8:30 - 4:30pm March 24,2024 Sunday: 8:30 - 4:30pm Prerequisite - Complete IS-317 Online CERT G-317 Covers Community Preparedness Hazards and their Potential Impact Home and Workplace Preparedness Hazard Impact Reduction CERT Disaster Response Within these topics there is a fair amount of first aid, stop the bleed, comms, and a final exam which consists of using the CERT Deployment Trailer as an EOC to conduct search and rescue, cribbing to save a patient, light first aid and utilities management. I've done it twice and taught it twice and will tell you I learn something new each time. If you are at all remotely interested in learning more about these topics and becoming better prepared to serve your family and community (officially or unofficially), I invite you to come out and join us for a great weekend of learning.

Awesome and Great News! Thank you for looking out and being proactive on this one. My daughter just completed her on-boarding at a new job. HR showed them where all of the Fire Extinguishers and AED's are located but then told them that the AED's were "Only for certified and trained individuals to use." Which is total BS because the AED is designed for ANYONE to use. It will walk you through the steps and has "Idiot Proof" Pictograms of what to do. The whole point of the AED Philosophy of use was to put this very powerful tool into the hands of the everyday common man. Everyone should take a CPR / AED class and be certified. In leiu of that or until you can get certified and familiar, here's a video so no one is intimidated by this fantastic piece of equipment! They all look a little different but they all function 99% the same way.

With just 9,400 miles on the OEM battery that came with the truck, I started noticing odd electrical issues. Then one day it wouldn't start. I turned my ham radio on because it has a volt meter on it and the battery was sitting at 8.4v. Did as much diagnosing and trouble shooting as possible. No lights or accessories left on, unhooked the dash cam, unhooked the ham radio, all of it. Hooked up a trickle charger and it couldn't get it to take a full charge. Bell Road Toyota serviced it today and confirmed the battery was bad and replaced it. Quite literally the shortest lifespan of a car battery I have ever had. Noco Jump Pack is on order and will be keeping that bit of kit in the truck from now on. New battery has an 84 month prorated warranty but I don't want to start using that warranty on top of a mesa somewhere that's 30 miles from pavement. Good news is that I haven't had a battery last much more than 2 years in AZ, so the next one might be free too, at most 50% off. But if I have to pay anything, I'll probably let Toyota off the hook and just upgrade. Would like to get an AGM battery and this gives me time to figure out what I need to do so the Toyota alternator will charge it effectively. So check your batteries! And if you are running an AGM, let me know what you had to do to make it work.

YET! Not a Jeep Guy YET! 😉 Maybe my next one.

Not a Jeep guy so YMMV, but I prefer to keep all of my camping stuff in a pelican case. It's modularized so I can grab the base camp pelican (tent, air mattress, cooking gear) and then accessorize as needed with other pelicans: winter gear pelican (sleeping bag, hand warmers, blankets, tarps), gold panning pelican, ham radio pelican, etc. I don't know why but I don't like sleeping in or on my vehicle. I know a lot of folks here do and that's a fine way to go too. I just find it easier to keep the vehicle light without being burdened by gear until that gear is needed. I also have the luxury of an RV gate that I normally park behind and a shed with all of this gear in it right next to the truck. So I can walk outside and throw two or three pelicans in the bed and a sleeping bag. and be off in less time than I'm going to spend at the grocery store filling the cooler. I am considering upgrading to a tear drop / square drop and some connectivity with it so I can work remote from the National Forest. Would be nice to drive out somewhere far off, toss out the Sky-Link, and then spend a half day working / every other day working, something like that.

@WILL E - Thanks!

Funny - I was just looking at this run this weekend. Came here this morning to post up and ask if anyone had comments and thought on it.

I know this sounds small but I have had an issue with dirt and water filling up the bed of my Tacoma (with Toyota Tri-Fold Cover). Off road is sucks in trail dust - volumes of trail dust. When Bell Road Toyota installed the cover, they just left the drain tubes floating loose in the bed so it would fill up with water when it rains. The other day I had to take it off to move furniture so I took it as a chance to install it RIGHT and sealed up some of the leaks and gaps, plumbed the drain tubes out the bed too. Now it is MUCH improved. I'd be happy with it like it is now but seeing how much better it already is and how much more I could do, I'll be adding a little more gap-gasket around the tail gate. Now it's a challenge to see how much I can keep out.

Hey! Glad to see you here. KF on here as well? I think everything sucks in the canyons. 6M bends further over the horizon though. Agreed about another antenna if you have many already. Or compromising and getting a 2/70/6 triband.

Was going to edit to add - the one thing in my bag that DOES expire rather quickly is medical tape. All it takes is a day or two parked in the AZ sun and that medical tape becomes one solid chunk of fused adhesive and backing material. The Coban (for pets is cheaper than for people - same stuff) seems to last longer but still has a melting / fusing point.

Liquid meds usually expire on or near their exp date - especially if left in your car (temperature extremes). Things like Advil "Liqui-Gel" pills fall into this. But your more solid medications in pill / tablet form can last years beyond the exp date. Obviously if they are vacuum sealed and kept in a coll refrigerator they would last longer (almost indefinitely) than in your truck, but meds in the truck are still good for a long time. Don't hesitate to go 4 or 5 years past the exp.

I'm kinda modularized (really a word?) In the truck at all times behind the rear seat, on-road, off road, commuting, vacationing, working, etc: Fire extinguisher Trauma Bag (think heavy duty first aid - road side accidents) Stop the Bleed Bag (Quick Clot, Gauze, 2 tourniquets) Boost Oxygen - https://www.boostoxygen.com/product/natural/ Gloves Socks Magnetic flashing lights / Electronic road flares (a word on these later) Flashlight Blankets Space blankets Ponchos 3 Cig Lighters Paracord Ratcheting tie downs and bungee cords (need to replace and upgrade - elastic is dying) Camo Tarp Roll of TP Center Console: Flashlight Sharpie Write in the Rain Book Pen Spare iOS Cable Spare sunglasses Spare cheaters Boo-Boo Bag LiPo Battery Charger iPhone 14 on FirstNet with Satellite SOS Hard mounted 50w Ham Radio (unlocked) Glove Compartment Baggie of Drugs - I went on Amazon and bought a box of individual serving ibuprophen, tylenol, benadryl, asprin, immodium, electrolyte tabs, maalox and split them among three cars Baggie of face masks - carried these well before Covid Female Pee Funnel (boiled clean) Manual Knife Traveling I throw in my Hiking Bag (duplicates by design or convenience): First Aid Yaesu FT60 (stepping into an Anytone DMR soon) Storm proof matches Cig Lighter Water Purification Tabs Shemahg Socks Knife Protein Bar Water Bladder Headlight Flashlight Poncho Space blanket Liquid IV We also throw in a flat of water and some MRE's before we leave the house Off-Roading I have a Rugged Tub with some recovery gear: Entrenchment Tool Tire Deflators and Valve stems Air Pump Rope Snap strap Shackles Tire chains if we go into the snow I know this may seem light by some standards but I haven't ever needed more - matter of fact, I haven't needed this much. I'm sure I can carry more and may amend this over time but that's the most of it. I find the more you pack, the more it has the potential to become a liability in a collision or roll over. I don't want to get killed by my survival gear. So I limit it to the basics: Shelter Hydration Nutrition Medical Coms Two books helped me settle on this load out: 98.6 Degrees by Cody Lundin - https://www.codylundin.com/degrees.html Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales - https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Survival-Who-Lives-Dies/dp/0393353710 Ammo? No clue what you are talking about. No firearms in this truck. ;-)

Forgot to post up the IG. Occasionally put Camping and OR trips on there. But it's mostly just tequila and food. https://www.instagram.com/gtgallop/

Accidentally stumbled across this site from TacomaWorld. Kinda like it here! Seems to be low or no drama and full of good posts / info. Is this forum all AZ or are there other states here too? I'm a 12 year AZ Resident. Originally from East Texas. Loved it there but got tired of the Hurricanes. Currently live in the Anthem Area where my wife and I are active members in the Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical CERT Group. Day job is Program / Project Management. My vehicle lineage runs: 84 Ranger 93 Ranger 00 Xterra 07 Titan 13 Fusion Hybrid (we don't talk about the dark years) 19 Ranger 23 Tacoma TRD OR - Still stockish. I've got an Amateur Radio and GMRS license and I'm one of two Arizona Admin's for RepeaterBook.com. Once upon a time I moderated the Arizona Gun Owners Forum so I appreciate from the bottom of my heart, how well run this forum seems to be. For off-roading, I frequent trails out here around Cave Creek, New River, Table Mesa, Crown King, Agua Fria, Areas West of Prescott, Sedona, Rim Rock, and Flag. My daughter is headed to Tucson soon so I'll be learning trails in that area as well. As far as off-roading goes, I'm not into the extreme stuff. Not a rock crawler or any of that. This is my DD. I like hobbies that allow me to do other hobbies. Example: I'm not into Ham Radio so I can make random contacts with strange men in other states (I still haven't figured out that appeal - but also, I don't judge). I prefer to use Ham Radio to elevate other hobbies like Off-Roading. But I'm not into Off-Roading to see how many obstacles I can surmount or how technical I can get. I like Off-Roading to get me off grid and get away from the hum of society. Fine Dining to me is whisky with hotdogs and chili under the stars where you can't see the light haze of the city and sitting around a campfire. Well, that's about it in a nutshell.

Super Glad Everyone Came Out OK! I know after a roll like that there are bound to be some aches and pains but the fact that you are posting is a great sign. 👍 I notice that all respondents to the OP have Amateur Radio Call Signs. Don't forget to keep an AutoPatch Capable repeater programmed in your radio. Sometimes you can't get cell service but can get to a repeater. I've had to do that out towards Sheeps Bridge and was able to hit W7ARA on Mt. Ord, linked into Phoenix Shaw Butte and started an AutoPatch call. https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/keyword.php?func=result&keyword=Autopatch&state_id=04

The fan in the back died early on so I ordered a $12 replacement. But the plug was different so I had to cut and solder some of the old wire on to the new fan. The wires were so fine, something didn' take right and the replacement fan didn't work either. Figured I'd keep running it until it dies. That was 5 years ago. Radio is about 10 years old now. Been in 3 vehicles, bounced around off road in two of them. No issues. Technically speaking no - you can access 6M and 10M on a Technician License, but it is just a teency weency slice of the band and no one is on it. Basically useless. Best to get General anyway. Not that hard, but yes I agree - passing two tests is too much of a barrier. If I was running the FCC... Technician would be folded in as your GMRS License (why do we need two license categories and two call signs?) General would be all of the current 2M 70CM standard stuff plus a sizeable chunk of 6M and 10M Extra would be all the HF stuff above that.

Following so I can post up after I get pics taken.

Have four radios in the home as a base station (two licenses): 1. Ham HF 2. Ham VHF/UHF 3. GMRS 4. CB In the truck is an unlocked Ham Radio that does Ham (2/70/6/10) and GMRS. - TYT Quadband Radio. If I had my way, Off road would convert to 6M FM Radio. It is a FANTASTIC band for the kind of one size fits all application on the trail. Antennas are low enough to not be an issue and it works well with tough terrain blocking it. Then if you summit a mountain top or some high ground you get line of sight plus a little curvature to extend your radio horizon. There's just one thing that makes GMRS better.... People. No one is on 6M. It is a ghost town despite the significantly better performance. It does you no good to be on a trail ride and have the only 6M radio in the group. GMRS is easy and ubiqutous. Makes it a clear winner.