Moving to the DC area...

[Mantaray]

just to add to the wheeling info... alot of people have mentioned Big Dogs in both a good and bad light, but it hasn't been pointed out that it is on private land and is only open to the public during their events, unless you know someone in the organization than can arrange for you to wheel outside of one.

Crozet is descent, though the trails are short and you need a good spotter. it's very easy to come away with custom sheet metal work, but i've had members of my Jeep club go through with stock or nearly stock JKs and come away unscathed. they have switched to a members only system with a smattering of open weekends for non-members to wheel and hopefully (for them) become members. i've wheeled there once and cut a trail there back before they went members only. haven't been back though.

GWNF has some light duty stuff. mainly just fire roads that aren't routinely graded and stoned. check the with the rangers before heading out as there have been some trail closings recently and not all of them are marked or gated yet. best example of that is an area called Salt Shed. it's actually city property and part of their watershed.

Rausch Creek is excellent wheeling and only about 3-3.5 hours from the DC area depending on where you start from. yes, there is coal dust, but also trails ranging from green to red and lots of them. there's primative camping or hotels close by.

 

[LRflip]

Yea dude, some lady plowed into my uncle in his 5 series while he was on his way to the pentagon...She was driving a tahoe so the 5 series was toast. He bought a seqouia so he could fight back.

 

[knewsom]

Hey all, thanks for all the awesome info and kind words.

Jen - we're not planning on driving through the Lou, but if we were, I'd definitely take you up on that. Well, everything except the fruity drink. Had it been an offer for 36 more hours of wild animal sex, I might be tempted to make a detour, if only for my brother's sake.

RE: traffic and snow - I LOVE snow, and winter (maybe it's because I never had it growing up), I can only wish we were moving to Maine instead of DC where it REALLY gets cold. Meanwhile, it's all about the metro, that's how the wife will be commuting. In fact, we're selling our Subaru before we leave. As for me, I will probably NOT be working in DC, just taking care of the boy - while there is enough film and TV industry in LA to keep me off and on busy, DC will probably not have many jobs in my arena that pay enough to justify the cost of child care and the sacrifice of not getting to raise my kid. The loss of income will hurt, but that's why we're downsizing.

MT tires and anti-rust stuff at the top of the list, eh? Ugh, with all that slippery stuff I may have to shell out for HD axles and a rear locker too.

Good news: I'm FINALLY getting a roof rack! I abandoned my plan to build my own because I got a job again and don't have time, added to the fact that I'm driving cross country and need more storage room! I talked to Andy over at Rover Racks - apparently they had a fabricator they had to let go, and this is where some of the quality complaints came from. They've also JUST started powder-coating their own racks now, so when mine comes in a week from tomorrow, I'll get it installed, take some detailed pics and post up a review! Truth be told, I didn't 100% NEED one before, our trips were served fine by packing light and tying things to the stock bar - but I WANTED one, and now I have justification for the purchase.

Bad News: We keep getting turned down for apts in Del Ray! For some reason, folks in VA don't seem to like big dogs. Weird. Who'd have thought that it'd be easier to get an apt in LA with an 80 lb wolf than in VIRGINIA!?

Other news: The apt in Navy Yard is small but serviceable, the garage has 12 foot clearance, and security in the building is tight since there are politicoes that live there. It's also only 100 yards from a metro station, so the only thing that has me really concerned is walking the dog at night, which I will be doing, not the lady. Even still, it's no kinda permanent solution for us. We've GOT to find a better place.

 

[specops1526]

Cancel your order from Roverracks...last time I was over at Four Oaks in Santa Monica, they had a "like-new" DII rack for $700-$800, I think.

Good luck in DC, I moved out to LA from there 15 years ago. Kinda miss it now. The winters definitely used to be worse there. You'll miss LA but change is always good.

 

[knewsom]

Thing is, I have a DI. Finding a DI rack in any kind of condition is nigh on impossible.

 

[Mantaray]

Bad News: We keep getting turned down for apts in Del Ray! For some reason, folks in VA don't seem to like big dogs. Weird. Who'd have thought that it'd be easier to get an apt in LA with an 80 lb wolf than in VIRGINIA!?

more than likely, the problem isn't the size, it's the breed. people see wolf and they think it's dangerous. lots of restricted breeds for apartments here and it's different depending on the management company. i've got a 70lb. Husky mix and there are places here that won't allow Huskies, but my current place does. breeds almost universally restricted are Pitbulls, Rotties, Akitas, and to a lesser degree GSDs. i've not specifically seen "wolf" listed, but i have a feeling that's what it is.

 

[p m]

Bad News: We keep getting turned down for apts in Del Ray! For some reason, folks in VA don't seem to like big dogs. Weird. Who'd have thought that it'd be easier to get an apt in LA with an 80 lb wolf than in VIRGINIA!?

I think you could get an apartment in LA with a hyena or a grizzly bear.

 

[knewsom]

Well, how else would animal-actors have a place to live?

 

[abrooks]

Try extending your search to Arlington -- considerably more inventory and you'll likely be able to find a single family home for the price of an apt. in Del Ray. I'd underscore Robbie's sentiments about the Navy Yard, thats a nasty area and there is Nothing nearby.

Wheeling's a hike away, but there's a good network of rover people locally, you'll enjoy it. Obviously, feel free to reach out if I can be of any help.

Tony

 

[KngTgr]

Try extending your search to Arlington -- considerably more inventory and you'll likely be able to find a single family home for the price of an apt. in Del Ray. I'd underscore Robbie's sentiments about the Navy Yard, thats a nasty area and there is Nothing nearby.

Wheeling's a hike away, but there's a good network of rover people locally, you'll enjoy it. Obviously, feel free to reach out if I can be of any help.

Tony

X2

 

[specops1526]

Thing is, I have a DI. Finding a DI rack in any kind of condition is nigh on impossible.

Ah, ok...drive thru huntsville and pick this SD up:

http://huntsville.craigslist.org/pts/1374706518.html

 

[Timmy!!!!!!!]

You know I have never seen that disco in town at all but if someone on here wants it I can try to help out.

 

[Ballah06]

Ah, ok...drive thru huntsville and pick this SD up:

http://huntsville.craigslist.org/pts/1374706518.html

Will fit 94 to 03 Disco? Doesnt make sense, its either a D1 or D2 rack (unless you want it to be short on the D2).

 

[knewsom]

Ah, ok...drive thru huntsville and pick this SD up:

http://huntsville.craigslist.org/pts/1374706518.html

Nice thought bro, but really, that kinda defeats the purpose of buying one in order to carry more stuff with me when I move from Los Angeles to DC.

Anyhow, it's a moot point, since Rover Racks already shipped mine. Andy said he was very VERY proud of this one, so I've got my fingers crossed, and I will of course be posting pics.

Arlington will have to be within my search parameters, I think. Nobody in Del Ray wants to rent to someone with a dog (the breed issue has not even come up - they just hear "dog" and run)! Which is insane - my landlord AND the other tennants in my building are THRILLED with my dog. She's very very quiet except when a stranger is walking around and knocking on doors, my neighbors have all said they feel safer, and have all offered to write a note to any potential landlords singing my pooch's praises. Not ONE complaint in a year and a half.

 

[abrooks]

You might also want to thing about getting a real estate agent's help, the rental market moves Very quickly up here, especially for single-family which is likely what you'll need with a dog. Happy to provide a referral if needed.