Pheonix and back via Durango.

[monsterbronc]

it cant be worse than southern utah, I found it tolerable, and it was only around monsoon season. Here in misery its humid year round, and in the summer 80 deg feels just as hot as 120 there, and since its 90% humidity, your sweat wont evaporate to cool you. at least there you can sit in the shade and let a breeze cool you off. here the shade and breeze are just as hot and dont feel any different, so the only way to survive is central air.

Ill take 120 in arizona over any temperature in this boring miserabe place.

[Ökensörn]

It's only humid here about 2 months out of the year, other than that it's just the heat you have to get used to.  At least here in the valley.  Head an hour or two up north and it's beautiful all year round.

I'll tell you what Monsterbronc, my ac in my car was out when it hit 120 and by the Gods I thought I was going to evaporate, I love the heat but that was a bit much.

[Route 66 Rambler]

There are still some beautiful places, and cheap land.  Just research your water carefully.  Northern Arizona is full of likely places to set up in the sticks.  Income is very low except for certain professions.  As a mechanic you  would stand a better chance than most of making a real living.  Most places in this state will set you at minimum wage no matter what you do.  To be fair, though, most will raise you substantially in the first year or two if you're a worthwhile employee.
mike

[mick]

It is inspiring to me to see a young family hit the road in a 20 year old car.  A person get gets a feeling of pride (at least I know I do) driving what many would consider old junk, and reaching their destination with little problem. 

It looks like you had a great trip, and even more than that, you made some great memories!

[monsterbronc]

It is inspiring to me to see a young family hit the road in a 20 year old car.  A person get gets a feeling of pride (at least I know I do) driving what many would consider old junk, and reaching their destination with little problem. 

It looks like you had a great trip, and even more than that, you made some great memories!

Id rather drive a 20 year old car that is  simple and easy to work on vs driving a 5 year old car thats complicated, and expensive to fix. face it, they dont build em like they used too.

[Prafeston]

I understand this thread is pretty stinking old, but what a great trip. Bummer about the tire tread doing some damage, but good to see an Eagle take such a cool trip like this! Thanks for the pics and the story!

[fulsizjeep]

Just catching this one too and agree with Prafeston.   

[monsterbronc]

funny thing, just three weeks ago I finally replaced the torn off fender flare. 

[DaemonForce]

About time...Hah!

That blowout looks like it would have been a total nightmare. All of my blowouts happen after I park the vehicle. So far none on the Eagle though. My tires are a bit expensive.

Were you in 2WD or 4WD when it happened?

[monsterbronc]

I was in AWD,
truthfully, since I live off the dregs, I tend to have used tires on all my stuff so Ive had a few blowouts, they arent so bad usually, in fact that was the most violent Ive ever had, I think it was because it didnt actually blow, it just tossed half the tread off, and in the process it whipped around and bashed things up a bit before it came off all the way.

my last was the right front at 60 mph on the freeway on a left curved ramp. you would think that spells disaster, but actually wasnt bad. About a mile or so before it happened, I thought the steering was odd, kinda sluggish or squishy. then as I rounded that corner on the interchange ramp (you know the one that is a single lane overpass over the whole knot of interchanges?) there was a wooosh sound and the wheel got shakey, but not violently. and she still seemed to go and handle decent, it wasnt pulling me into the rail or anything. so I didnt stop, I just slowed a bit and finished my route around the interchange ramp and pulled off once I had a spot to do so.

not sure what did it, but it was toast, the sidewall was all ground up and it was barely on the rim anymore. I think it broke the bead when I hit the brakes on the shoulder. popped on the spare and was on my way.


usually I break a chord, Ill be rollin a long and it will start to shake, and shake more, and when I cant stand it anymore, I pull over and whichever tire I suspected is no longer round, more egg shaped. but the dont loose air. In fact I have learned to stay away from Goodyear wrangler radials. Out of the 8 I had, 5 have done that.