tjZ06

2 minutes ago, L.R.S. said:

Beyond stoked for you and Melissa! Can't wait to see the upgrades cause, we'll, you're TJ, and tend to go above and beyond for all your projects. Few questions- where does my RV go? When do I get 'my' keys? When's the house warming party?

That is about 55' long.  I plan to have full hookups there... and if you happen to have a trailer with you we'll open the gate and that'll work too. 😉

-TJ
 

The writing has been on the wall for a long time, and we've been thinking of getting out of CA for years now.  I was born in Santa Cruz and have lived my entire life in CA other than 1.5 years just before college, and a few years in "interesting" places (both bad and good) for work.  I still love the geography and weather, but I don't think I have have to explain to this group that the politics, taxes, homeless encampments, etc. have all just become too much.  I always thought we'd leave CA for Idaho, and Idaho is still our goal "someday."  But today we got the keys to our new house in Las Vegas.  Now, I say we only "sort of" escaped CA, because I'll still be coming to the Bay Area for work regularly for another couple years.  

I've worked for the same company for about 13 years now, and I've always technically worked from our Palo Alto office.  I've travelled for work from Afghanistan to New Zealand and lots of places in between, but some years ago I changed roles in order to be home more.  When I made that change, we decided to rent in Palo Alto (no way we could buy) and did so for ~4 years.  Rent was insane, and renting is just lighting money on fire, so just over 3 years ago we bought a home in Lincoln, CA (~30min past Sacramento, aka 2.25-3hrs from my office depending on traffic).  Obviously I wasn't going to do that drive daily, so I got an apartment in Palo Alto and I generally work Mon-Thurs (drive to PA on Sunday evening, drive home Thurs night).  

Earlier this year we began kicking the idea around of selling the Lincoln house and going "somewhere" else since I already don't come home during the work week and already have the apartment established.  Houses in our Lincoln neighborhood were going for way over asking, way too quick, and for way more than we paid so we went ahead and sold. We considered Idaho first, unfortunately the logistics just weren't as good.  Glamis will remain a HUGE part of our life, so being in Idaho would have challenges.  We already live pretty far away from G (Lincoln to Glamis is ~12hrs towing a trailer with an RV), so my wife has stayed down south in or near G (never for more than 14 days, of course) for years now.  Last year we actually bought a RV spot at the Motorcoach Country Club in Indio, CA.  This made things much nicer for her in between the G trips.  Still, it wasn't ideal and the Lincoln house was basically just empty for ~6 months while she stayed down south and I'd split time between Palo Alto and the Motorcoach Country Club or Glamis (I had no reason to go up to Lincoln if she wasn't there). 

So we decided we wanted to buy somewhere we could live year-round but still be close to G, and we'll sell our spot at the MCC.  That kind of left Phoenix and Vegas, and we have friends in both areas.  After doing some research and home-shopping, we picked Vegas.  Both Vegas and Phoenix have their up and downsides (both are hotter than Satan's taint), but ultimately Vegas won-out due to some of our closest friends being there, as well as longer term tax implications.  The market in Vegas is way, WAY up (like anywhere that people go when they leave CA is) so of course it's super competitive.  We were coming from a nice 3/2.5 at about 2278 sqft w/ a 3-car garage (2-car width with one side tandem) on just under a quarter acre that we really loved, and was a great size for us (it's just us and our two schmedium dogs).  We had an RV pad next to the house, but it just ended up being overflow parking and maybe would store one (of my 3) trailers.  We were paying for indoor RV storage, and outdoor trailer storage for at least 1 trailer. 

When we began looking in Vegas I had some delusions of grandeur and looked at some pretty big houses, but ultimately we found something perfect for our needs (and budget).  It's a 3/2 (would have like to still have the extra .5 bath, but that's okay) at 2350 sqft (so a tiny bit bigger than what we sold) but it's on a half acre.  It has a real 3-car garage that's deep enough for my truck (our previous garage wasn't deep enough on the non-tandem side, so my truck had to dominate the longer side of the garage making it effectively just a 2-car) but here's the kicker: RV garage/shop and tons of trailer parking.  We're going to do a full remodel inside, completely landscape the backyard + pool, do an outdoor kitchen under the rear covered patio, etc. etc. etc. which will take some time - but it'll be exactly what we want when it's done.  

A couple pics...

From the street:

We plan to paint it and change the colors, as well as adding stacked-stone to "class up" the front a bit.  

The important stuff, RV garage/shop:

This will get drywalled, finished/painted, insulated and AC'ed.  I'm thinking about a 2-post lift on an angle in the back left corner as well.  It might look like a lot of space, but obviously it fills up quickly and the RV will dominate a lot of area.  I've roughly laid it out already with tape, and it will work out nice, but it's crazy how quickly space goes.  

The seller let us move some stuff in prior to closing, so right now my 24' box (28' total) trailer, 20' box (25' total) trailer, Broverland trailer, Heep and Duramax are all in it: 

As you can see, just with this stuff in there it's a little tight.  But, that's a lotta stuff. 😉 I'm thinking the lift will be sort of positioned where the little Broverland trailer is, on a similar angle and the trailers themselves won't be stored in here.  They'll go on the other side of the house, where there is ample room for 3 trailers (and I'll prob put up a shade structure to cover them). I'm pretty excited about all my junk being in one place, not paying for storage, and easier trips.  The driveway in front of the trailer storage part of the lot is plenty long that I can hitch the RV up to the trailer the night before a trip and be ready to roll in the AM. 

This is the lot:

We're going to move the little wall dividing the storage area (and playset, that we'll be getting rid of) from the "primary" backyard area over to roughly where their trailers were, about where I drew the red line in the image above.  That'll create a bigger yard, but still leave room for all my crap.  I'm thinking a firepit (yes, in Vegas... it does get pretty cold there in the winter, lol), horseshoe pit, and cornhole set will go between the house and the RV garage too.  

-TJ

Congrats, beautiful extremely capable coach!  I had that same motor/trans combo in a heavier rig and a stacker and it got the job done.  Bath and a half is a game changer, even if you don't have guests but one of you tends to sleep in (me) and the other is up early (her).  I'm jealous of the tank sizes (my MA is 105/65/45).  

-TJ

12 minutes ago, Bobalos said:

now mix in a nitrous system (or 5) & see what that does to booster signals.  LOL.  Or try to blow through a 4150 & make 1200 HP.   

I never did anything more than a basic plate setup on a carb vehicle... and I'm sure it wasn't perfectly dialed in. 😉

-TJ
 

13 hours ago, Bobalos said:

And even fewer car guys that say they know how they work, actually do........ 

Yeah, I "get it" and am familiar with 4150-type stuff and Q-Jets, but certainly am no expert. 

-TJ

It's funny, carbs are just one of those things I tend to assume "car people" understand... but less and less do, and certainly few "regular" people do.  Cool vid. 

-TJ

4 minutes ago, Yarder said:

The only thing worse than calling yourself an "Overlander" is calling it "Broverlanding"...

 

Which is exactly why I do that. 

-TJ

30 minutes ago, Rockwood said:

FIFY

I'm triggered. 

-TJ

1 minute ago, matt86m said:

I like what you’ve done to your WJ but I think its too modified/specalizied for me. Wouldn’t know how to work on it. And I know you need good $$$ for it. 

Yeah, and I'm mostly kidding anyway.  Even if I get a Gladiator or something for towing the Broverland trailer most of the time, I think I'd be keeping this thing (and set it up to flat-tow behind the RV). 

-TJ

15 hours ago, Darkjuju said:

Saw this the other day, not sure your budget but its seems nice with all the upgrades. More than just my 36' toyhauler but I understand this is a different level than my sand/off road experience.

 

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/tro/d/lake-havasu-city-renegade-all-aluminum/7329709639.html

They're certainly asking "all the money" for that one.  I love that they use the good old "won't last long" line in their post, but I've seen it in my Stacker searches for some time now.  It's nice, but not a belly-lift, no mention of fuel or water, etc. 

-TJ

On 7/4/2021 at 12:36 PM, matt86m said:

Someones gotta know someone with a Jeep for sale!

I know of a WJ...

29 minutes ago, Realbadlarry said:

You know Rubicon in jeep speak translates to  "beat the Crap out of it"......hard to find rubi's that are not destroyed...and remember you are in silly season so prices are stupid....good luck. 

Yes and no.  Around the Bay Area lots of Rubicons are just status/mall-crawlers.  It all depends on the demographic you're buying from, and the exact unit itself.  

-TJ

$35k should do it, no prob.  Even with Covid-pricing I would think you have to be able to find a '12-15ish JKUR for $35k.  I'll sell ya my WJ for less than $35k. 😉

-TJ

6 hours ago, L.R.S. said:

I have a set of chrome CBM coil covers all standoffs and hardware and matching oil filler. 

And they came off a Funco, and not just any Funco, my Funco... so they're extra SPESHUL! 

-TJ

2 hours ago, lincster said:

Understand the determination.

We did a clutch swap on a Tatum Prerunner with twins and a whipple.  That was alot of plumbing to unhook/rehook!!!!!

Took about 4 hours in his enclosed.

Can't keep up with you and all of the different cars.  🙂

I did a clutch on my Buggyworks in my first enclosed... but that was cake because it was a NA Honda.  

-TJ

Interest rates are still super low, so people are refinancing and pulling out cash.  There are also more people Working From Home than ever, allowing them more time to use toys and justify buying them.  

This too shall pass, and if you keep some cash in your pocket I think 12-18mo from now will be a great time to pickup lightly used RVs/Boats/SxSs/etc. 

-TJ

16 minutes ago, DZRTRUN said:

Haha, I probably had 20 people walk by and tell me I was out of my mind for doing everything right there in G. 

And tell you "you can't do it that way" or "that'll never work" right? 

-TJ

Man, somewhere I have pics of you doing the motor swap in G.  You're not giving yourself enough credit, it was a full motor, fuel system AND engine management system swap.  Looking forward to seeing this car when it's all done, should be a basically perfect duner. 

-TJ

Late to the party, but I agree I kinda hate the controller itself.  It takes a zillion pushes to get it to dump.  Then sometimes, I start it and it won't go to the ride height setting.  Or it'll go all the way up to like 80 all around, so I hit ride height a few times and get frustrated and dump it but then have to wait for the tank to fill to get back to ride height while everybody is taking off for the ride.  I didn't even realize it's BT, so I haven't tried the phone app... but that controller is one thing I really want to change. 

BTW I read somewhere that the issue with not dumping with one push is it'll only dump for a certain period of time.  So if your valves and lines aren't big 'nough it times out before you're dumped.  That seems like a poor design to me. 

-TJ
 

If you haven't listened to his podcast the other day with Bret Weinstein and Pierre Kory do it NOW - but be prepared to want to beat every politician and big-pharma executive to death with your bare hands.

-TJ