Yardo's pixtures of however often I feel like posting them, August 25, 2023 Version

[1958 F.W.D.]

So a while back my Cousin who lives in Phoenix, Az bought a Tab400 Camper from a guy in Massachusetts. Long story short she didn't do homework before she pulled the trigger on buying it (although it is a super, super nice camper that she got for a good buy....) and didn't realize how expensive it'd be to get it shipped to her. So My Dad and I stepped up to the plate- I had some use or lose vacation time so Dad and I loaded up the green Ram 1500 and went on a road trip. We left Hellertown Pa 18055 on Friday July 28 aroud 7:15pm. We headed west on I-78 and south on I-81 and picked up I-40 in Knoxville. We went hard for 24 hours arriving in El Rey Oklahoma Saturday night around 9pm. We got up early Sunday and hammered down and got to Phoenix on Sunday night around 9pm. Monday during the day we went to the Hall of Flame, the largest firefighting museum in the world and is a must see if you are into that stuff. We dropped off the camper to Cousin's storage place Monday afternoon. It was 117 degrees which sucked. Monday night we went to dinner and when the sun went down it was 102 which was very nice! I can deal with a dry 102. 

So a week before we left, I was looking through the Fazebooks and was in one of the antique firetruck groups and a gentleman from Morristown NJ was looking for a trucker to give a transmission a ride from Estes Park, Colorado back to Morristown NJ. Since we were gonna go to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley and then head back via I-80 to visit a friend in Hinckley, Illinois (southwest of Chicago) I looked where Estes Park was and we would have gone right by it. I called the gentleman and asked how big of a trans were we talking- it was an old 5-speed Spicer for a 1949 Ahrens Fox pumper. Was currently sitting on a grocery pallet and the pick up point has a forklift and the delivery point has an engine hoist. No brainer it would fit in the pickup bed so I threw a number at the guy to reimburse me for gas and put a few bucks in my pocket and he jumped on it. So for the first time in a LOOOONG time Dad and I would be hauling some revenue-earning freight together.....LOL

We got up early Tuesday and left Phoenix. Had breakfast at a place in Flagstaff and had the biggest, fluffiest and best tasting bistits I ever had. We got to the Grand Canyon about 2-3 pm, hung out there for about an hour. Let me tell you that if you have never seen the Grand Canyon with your own eyes, you can look at all the pictures you want but it just doesn't do it justice. Make a point and go sometime. We then went to Monument Valley, about 2.5hrs from the Grand Canyon. It was cool in it's own way- probably the closest a human can come to stepping onto the surface of Mars. It is all Navajo Indian land. We then went north to I-70 and hung it up for the night at a hotel in Grand Junction. Woke up Weds morning, made our way to Estes Park got there about 1 or 2pm (the sights on 70 between Grand Junction and Estes Park were incredible!)  and loaded up the transmission. Northbound on I-25, hung a right on 80 in Cheyenne and made it to Sidney Nebraska and got a room. Thursday we made it to my buddy's place in Hinckley Illinois around 8pm, visited with him and his lady for 2 hours and then got a room in Aurora. Friday we made it to Toledo and visited with another friend, and left Toledo around 530pm and got home to Hellertown around 0315 Saturday morning.. It was an absolutely fantastic trip!!! 

See pixtures for more lies errrr ahhhh I mean descriptions.

 

Mileage at departure

This is the camper, a Tab 400. Very nice little unit, very well built. About 3000lbs empty. Got 10mpg the whole way to Phoenix. 

Dad and I hadn't been on a real long road trip in years so I blew the dust off my trusty old Cobra. Wasn't transmitting but was receiving well. 

Someone's turbo puked just outside of Knoxville on the hill. 

We took a side trip and saw the Great Pyramid of Winfall. 

This super friendly little guy met us in the parking lot of the hotel in El Rey, Oklahoma. 

 

Westbound on 40, in New Mexico

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum

I saw several big Mack trucks at the Hall of Flame 

The Green Machine next to some kinda green plant. 

Every red-blooded American needs to see the Grand Canyon with their own eyes. 

Monument Valley- like the surface of Mars maybe. The grooves in this rock were carved by the wind over thousands of years. 

Somewhere on 70 between Grand Junction and Estes Park, Some of the prettiest country in the United States. 

A Sedan Cab American LaFrance 400 Series (1938) at the place where we picked up the transmission in Estes Park Co. to go to NJ. 

A Classic front-mount piston pump Ahrens Fox at the place in Estes Park. 

The transmission secured. Otherdog told me I should have used chains and binders but I told him to go bleep. 

Triple 28's and double 48's on 80 in Ohio

HOME Saturday August 5, 5347 Miles total. 

 

 

 

 

[h67st]

It says it's unavailable.

[BOBWhite]

Unavailable for me too. 

[1958 F.W.D.]

SORRY!!! JUST EDITED!!!! You should be able to see the pics now without downloading or clicking on anything. 

[1958 F.W.D.]

Saw this old Ward LaFrance pumper somewhere up in the Mountans between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. 

The hugest, fluffiest, bestest tasting bistits at breakfast in Flagstaff

A closeup of the rock at Monument Valley

[hicrop10]

I made the same trip back around 1980 but we continued on to California.

[1958 F.W.D.]

8 minutes ago, hicrop10 said:

I made the same trip back around 1980 but we continued on to California.

Funny you mention that, if we had more time we would have gone the rest of the way (600 miles +/-) and went to the Los Angeles County Fire Museum and also visited a friend who now owns the FDNY Super Tender and the LA City F-Model Mack/Holmes Wrecker 

[other dog]

Those are fantastic pictures, thanks for sharing. I don't get around like I used to, but I sure did love running out west. 

And I would have put at least 8 chains on that transmission.

[BGarofalo]

Do you remember the name of the restaurant where you had the good biscuits?  I happen to have been out in Flagstaff about 2 weeks ago and that dining area sure looks familiar.  

[1958 F.W.D.]

5 hours ago, BGarofalo said:

Do you remember the name of the restaurant where you had the good biscuits?  I happen to have been out in Flagstaff about 2 weeks ago and that dining area sure looks familiar.  

Mike and Rhonda's Place.

We found it by accident! But it looked good so we gave it a shot and it was a grand slam!

[1958 F.W.D.]

The temp during the day in Phoenix that Monday. It was gross. Recommend 0/10

[mowerman]

Man, what a cool story glad you had a swinging  time and made money. I thought the trailer was a lot bigger, but that thing must’ve been a breeze to pull. Thanks for sharing. Yes Arizona has gorgeous scenery. I wish I would’ve moved there instead of this. Ice Haven and yes 102 dry heat is not bad at all. We get it here a lot. I am out there working on it. Bob 

[mowerman]

And yes ,,, there’s shipping ,, looked into  rebuilt steering box Florida to Reno 1200 bucks plus 900 for the part…. Forget it 

[Brocky]

In 2019 we made a similar loop when we went to the ATHS show in Reno.. A word word of warning.. If you plan on doing the Hoover Dam and generating system think "Airport Security" to get inside the visitor center and generators... Had my pocket knife and was not allowed in!!

[mowerman]

I  used to run through there every night years ago… after 9/11 you can’t even park along there anymore and look over the side. This is what they tell me anyway, I haven’t went through there in 30 years.bob

[mowerman]

Oh by the way bud thanks for shaking up the website. Hasn’t really been anybody on here lately.bob

[mechohaulic]

super story and pictures. purpose of buying the 2017 GMC 2500 diesel was to retire and pull a decent RV and see the country. like you say= all the pictures of things like the grand canyon don't do it justice. you have to see with your own eyes. seems someone (wife) decided "I don't want to go in an RV". now back in the taxed over state of CT ; sold the GMC .

[mowerman]

We were also talking about that tent trailer we decided it’s easier to fly and get a hotel bob

[mowerman]

I have never been camping in my life I would like to try it just wants to say I did it And yes, his trip sounds amazing. I am afraid oh I am a little bit envious ha ha it would be nice to travel somewhere where you are not  always trying to beat the clock.

[Vladislav]

Many thanks for the story details and fantastic scenaries!

Great to hear you have that done with your dad. Pretty sure a lot of to talk about during long hours of driving. The Grand Canyon photo's take the breath away. And just cry "you should go there look that yourself!". Maybe some year, some day... 

The only thing I haven't figured out is what were those bistits you've got at breakfast in Winfall? Ok, I see, that wasn't Winfall. So never mind. 

[mowerman]

Plus, there’s no hot chicks we know it wasn’t windfall ha ha yes personally I always really appreciate a great breakfast. We have a few here in town with fabulous plates chicken fried steak and eggs baby ha ha

[NycHeavyIron]

That Ward La France pumper is really cool! Very similar cab design to the Oshkosh crash trucks of the 1990's.

[hicrop10]

I will be out in Colorado at the end of September (daughter getting another tattoo).I can’t get over the scenery out there.I will head up to Cheyenne Wyoming area for the day,going to check out a fella that has a antique caterpillar collection.Any truck collection out there.

[Brocky]

Hicrop If you are coming north on I-25 thru New Mexico there are 2 private collections in Cimmeron NM. One guys name is  Norm Pick and the other is Miller. 

[h67st]

That Ahrens Fox is really cool! What is the chrome ball on top of the pump?