| Author | Message | ||
     Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 291 Registered: 05-2003 |
Is there a book available where I can learn more about my D2? Specifically, I have been attempting to learn about the inner workings of my electrical system for some time. With help, I've been able change the capabilities of my rover. However, I am still practically clueless when it comes to amps, voltage, fuses, spikes when anything is turned on. I really don't want to learn about the vulnerabilities of the electrical system the hard way (by blowing stuff up). I keep thinking of that old show Green Acres where the wife on the farm could only plug in certain appliances at one time - or the electricity in their farmhouse went totally out. Does anyone know of a book that I can read that will give a good overview of the system? My techs have been patient and answer any questions I have - but, as usual, with each answer I come up with 10 more questions. Thanks for your input, Jamie | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 293 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks Greg, I have a workshop manual. It doesn't tell me what I can and cannot do without breaking stuff -- at least not that I have found. That book is about as clear as mud as far as I am concerned. What I am looking for is to learn about the "operating limitations". I need something that will also give me specifics on what any changes that I make will have in changing the stock operating limitations. I need some charts, some hard numbers, some sort of "guide". I find it extremely frustrating that something that is readily available for aircraft seems to be a huge mystery on land vehicles. I've gone around in circles with Corp LR (even tried to get them to let me come to LR school which was a no go). Corp LR referred me to Greenbriar (has anyone ever seen the specs on THAT place?? Gee Whiz!!), quickly ascertained that I was not going to learn anything by going there (besides who can imagine off roading in fancy clothes - they don't allow dogs anyway). It's pretty much a guarantee -- if I don't learn about it now, I will learn about it by breaking it -- which can be more than extremely annoying for me. If that info is in the workshop manual and I have overlooked it, can you please post the page numbers where info is located?? Thanks SO MUCH, Jamie | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 1948 Registered: 02-2002 |
I have some friends that attended the Equinox LR school. Yes it is expensive; but I here it is very well worth it. Jaime, you posted above; "It's pretty much a guarantee -- if I don't learn about it now, I will learn about it by breaking it -- which can be more than extremely annoying for me." Well, like it or not, sometimes breaking things is how you learn. The plus side is that breaking things can also show you the true weakness of your vehicle as well as increasing your driving ability. I am not saying to drive your D2 off a cliff; but rather exercise caution and learn from your mistakes. If you do not want to spend the $$$ to go to the Greenbriar or the Equinox; the next best place to learn the limits of your D2 is by attending club and dealer events. "I find it extremely frustrating that something that is readily available for aircraft seems to be a huge mystery on land vehicles" Jaime, if you exceed a limit or parameter in an airplane (yes I do know this); you will fall out of the sky. If you exceed a limit or paremeter of operation in your D2; either the truck stops moving, or you simply roll over. Paul Morgan | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 974 Registered: 02-2003 |
jamie, in short, there is no book. it's called life experience if you want to rapidly learn about the electrical system on your rover properly you need to take some college course on electronics and electricity. once you have learned the fundamentals then you will begin to understand why things work and it applies itself to the truck , your home and airplanes. this also goes with all the other 5,000 questions you ask. you apparently have absolutely zero background in anything mechanical and electrical. i'm guessing. maybe it was just something you never needed to know or never had the opportunity to learn. a lot of us on this bbs were brought up with taking stuff apart and fixing and then had some schooling on top of that. our experiences took 20-40 years to get to where we understand things in the way we do. i also assume when you bought this land rover something inside of your mind clicked and you became interested in a whole new world of trucks and mechanics and electronics. you want to learn and understand like the people you are asking the questions to here on this bbs. basically you cannot cram a lifetime of experience into 6 months, i'm sorry to say. funny thing is many of the people here are driving land rovers today because of all the experience they had with other cars. from that perspective you can understand the thoughtful engineering that goes into our land rovers. your sudden passion for learning all this is unfortunately really becoming a drag on the bbs. every tenth post is you wanting something explained to you. i know personally the explanation people give to me rarely provides me with the kind of knowledge of doing things myself. for instance , if you really wanted to learn about your truck. you should not take it to the dealer to have mods installed. you should do it yourself and fuck it up a few times until you learn what you are doing. there is no shame in that. instead, you ask questions and don't quite understand the answers because you don't have any hands on experience. i also understand you don't like doing things twice. that's not going to help you in the long run with the vehicle you own. you will need patience. maybe try asking fewer questions and try to figure things out on your own. or maybe i'm wrong about you, your motives and your reasons for asking all these questions. rd | ||
| Curtis N (Curtis) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Curtis Post Number: 701 Registered: 05-2002 |
"for instance , if you really wanted to learn about your truck. you should not take it to the dealer to have mods installed. you should do it yourself and fuck it up a few times until you learn what you are doing." I believe that this captures the essence of what I would say. Most of us here have screwed up many more things than we would have wished to get "experienced". Either you are going to have to risk screwing up when on the learning curve, or pay others to do your dirty work. There is no shame in either. It is just a matter of preference. Likewise, I think most of the people on this board try not to be too hard on newcomers and thier questions. Especially these days. However, Rob is right in that you DO ask a lot of questions that are better taught by experience. An example would be the questions about driving in snow in the "SNOW!" thread in general. I can tell you how to drive in snow all day long and it will not equal what you could learn in five minutes time behind the wheel yourself. Many things are this way. You just gotta do it! Curtis | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 537 Registered: 03-2002 |
wow...nice buzz kill. sure there are some things where experience is the best teacher, but there are some mistakes that will kill you. personally, i would rather be on the road with someone who has never driven on snow but asks first than someone that slides into my truck because they have no idea what the hell to do. having followed her buildup, i know she belongs to a club, goes on runs, and seems to be pretty active on a steep learning curve. i give her credit. maybe rob is right that she is trying to cram a lifetime of learning into six months, but i would rather have her represent rovers than some grocery getter with all the poser gear looking for his or her next paved adventure at mc donalds. imho... mike | ||
| Curtis N (Curtis) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Curtis Post Number: 702 Registered: 05-2002 |
Jamie, I think that Mike misunderstood what my point was and I want to make sure you do not do the same. I was simply trying to illustrate the value of learning by screwing things up once in a while. While I cannot speak for Rob or Paul, I believe this was the the gist of thier posts as well. I also encourage you to ask questions when you need to know something. However, a suggestion would be to check back to the threads that you post questions. I am guessing by Mikes response that he did not even research the thread I brought up. Had he actually looked at it he would have seen that I did answer your questions three days ago with no response. In and of itself this is no big deal. I am sure I have not responded to a lot of things I started. However, your questions will carry more merit if you stay involved in the thread. As far as electronics go: Just go to your local Auto Zone (or other auto retailer) and buy a Haynes or Chiltons book on basic auto electronics. While each vehicle and make tends to be unique, they also all operate under the same basic principles. This even applies down to the ECU. Since ALL current vehicles must have OBD diagnostics, they all operate in similar ways. These books will also likely cover the basics of Ohm's law which get you started in understanding voltage, amperage, and resistance - the cornerstaone of all electronic theories. Good Luck, Curtis | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 538 Registered: 03-2002 |
curtis, i do know the snow thread, if you will look on it as well, you will see i was on asking to know when the waterfalls freeze. my post was directed mostly at rob talking about questions becoming a "drag on the bbs." so as you say, i don't want my post misunderstood. as i see it, there are plenty of posts on this site that i think have less merit than jamie asking how to find more info on her truck, i was just using the snow quote as an example of how a better informed rover owner can be better for ALL of us. it was just an easy way to make what i think is a valid observation. mike | ||
| Jack Parker (Jack) Member Username: Jack Post Number: 219 Registered: 03-2002 |
"...for instance , if you really wanted to learn about your truck. you should not take it to the dealer to have mods installed. you should do it yourself and fuck it up a few times until you learn what you are doing. there is no shame in that. instead, you ask questions and don't quite understand the answers because you don't have any hands on experience." Very true Rob. I posted a simliar suggestion in ../31524/32179.html"ffff00">"...It sounds like you are over-whelmed by some of your modification attempts, and frustrated by your lack of results. It sounds like you have the right attitude (most important), but as yet, you have not gained the knowledge or skills necessary to complete some of the tasks. Hang in there - you'll be surprised how much you'll learn in trying, even if you don't succeed. And never be afraid to ask questions! Have you investigated the local community college or trade schools? Many offer a basic auto maintenance course (some developed specifically for women)- which would be a good place to start." Wanting to learn and asking questions is great, but this bbs cannot teach you, in many cases hands on experience (good and bad) is the best teacher. Don't be afraid. Everything in the Disco is protected by a fuse, so if you do overload something, it will become very obvious where the problem lies. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 975 Registered: 02-2003 |
i think the fact that jamie is a woman with a land rover and wants to offroad and learn about it is cool. it's just the volume of questions that is annoying. i guess me voicing my opinion might be considered bashing her. whatever. i am trying to give her the kick in the pants to try this stuff on her own. rd | ||
| Jack Parker (Jack) Member Username: Jack Post Number: 220 Registered: 03-2002 |
I don't think it's "bashing" - this is a public forum, her questions and your opinions do not constitute bashing in my book. I too think it's cool she loves her Rover and wants to learn. I was ready for every mod in the book when I got my D2. But I decided to drive it a while and see what mod made the most sense - as it's a progression. Bumper means HD springs/shocks. Winch equals electrical, lights, bars, everything starts to add up ($$$literally) in the work to install it. Bottom line - I now know that a stock D2 kicks ass. And, I know what I'll do and in what order. The past two years have given me the opportunity to learn a stock Rover fairly well. If I had started adding mods from day one, even with my mechanical experience, it could have been overwhelming. I think Jamie is in this position. My only regret is that she doesn't live in Colorado, otherwise I'd have that D2 of her's in my garage and help her with the installs - my own version of Monster Garage! Jamie, drive that rig out here - I'm only 4.5 hours from Moab  | ||
| Koby (Koby) Senior Member Username: Koby Post Number: 559 Registered: 02-2002 |
Rob Davison, you're my hero | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 294 Registered: 05-2003 |
As ALWAYS guys, thanks... I know that I have been a terrible nuisance. I hope that I have ALWAYS expressed my gratitude for your input, answers, and heading me off into the right direction. Many times that I posed questions, I was only grasping at air... with your responses, I was able to form real questions, then head off in pursuit of answers and solutions. There is much truth in all of your posts, and I do appreciate your honesty. Amazingly, I only felt like crying for maybe an hour. If there is one absolute truth that I have learned, it is that one MUST have the "temperment" of a Land Rover to get "out there", wherever "there" turns out to be. I am continually amazed at the "tools" that you have at your disposal in other areas of the country to assist you in the pursuit of off roading. I live in an area of the country that is supported by the tourist industry - we are also known as a retirement state. That is reflected in all areas -- including our schools, businesses, and neighborhoods. I still have no interest in "trucks" or "land rovers" as a thing, and I doubt that I ever will. Sometimes, I think that would be nice to return to the days when I lived under the illusion that there was more than enough "time" to do what I wanted to do in my life. That illusion was completely shattered when received the diagnosis of cancer #3. The cancer itself did not trouble me. I can't even say that the prognosis I was given troubled me at all. What was most heart breaking to me was that I could barely function at all just from the side effects and treatment I was receiving for diagnosis #1 and #2. I never knew that it was possible to be so sick, so unable to care for oneself, so totally helpless - how could I have ever known what it felt like to travel way past being humbled into total humiliation?? Being isolated during radiation from all human and animal contact -- that was the end for me. In many ways, that also marked the beginning of what has become one of the most important things that I have ever attempted to do. I was still dreadfully sick when I bought my rover. I was permitted to "test drive" it and take it home and it just sat in my garage for a full week - side effects hit, and I was too sick to even walk outside to look at it. Do I luv my dealer?? You bet I do, because my sales guide came to my home to close the deal so that I could purchase my rover. I still have great respect for him, most especially b/c he did not attempt to take advantage of me financially in my decreased capacity. Trust me, I am NOT rolling in dough -- and it has taken some creativity to even attempt to reach my goals. I live in one of the most beautiful areas of country imaginable. I have never taken that forgranted and have always been thankful for that. At times I have wondered what the rest of the country looks like. When I was confined to bed, I would occassionally feel well enough to look at magazines - for very short periods of time. One of my favorites was (and still is) National Geographic Adventure magazine. I would stare at a picture and wonder -- what does it FEEL LIKE to see and experience such a place?? I WANTED TO KNOW... at some point, it was if my soul was screaming that I HAD TO KNOW... I NEEDED to experience that... Have I been scared?? You better believe it. That fear continues on a daily basis. However, fear has become my friend, for fear is what motivates me, and one simple statement keeps me going. You don't even want to know how many times per day that I repeat this to myself to continue forward: WHAT SCARES ME MORE THAN ANYTHING IS THE THOUGHT OF REACHING THE END OF MY LIFE, BE DYING HELPLESS IN SOME HOSPITAL, AND HAVE THE THOUGHT.... I COULD HAVE DONE IT, IF ONLY I HAD TRIED HARDER, IF ONLY I HAD SOMEHOW BEEN BRAVER. You could never know how many times a day that I repeat that to myself. Even after all that I have been thru, it never ceases to amaze me that I have to fight my ridiculously logical math-type brain and thinking in order to continue forward. I had owned my rover a full 9 months before I was well enough to attend my first off road event. As always, I headed out in the faithful & luving companionship of my dogs. I can not tell you how beautiful that weekend was, and how it became THE turning point in my life. Off roading is the most extreme opposite of being sick, in a hospital, and totally helpless. Amazingly, the fear that is felt in some situations is equivalent to that of being a supposedly terminal cancer patient. The DIFFERENCE IS THIS: it is physically possible to get past, through, over, around, up, and down the obstacles. You will never ever know how empowering and freeing that felt to me. It did not even matter that I was covered from head to toe in mud - or that my rover was covered and full of mud (I still luv and am grateful for the mud stains on my ceiling). How could I ever imagine that I had it in me to make the choice to sit in a chair - totally covered in mud - making the choice to rest up between trail rides - instead of getting the icky mud off of me? That first day, I ran out of energy at the start of the mid-afternoon trail ride. My 3rd getting stuck in the mud was it for me, and I actually got out of my truck, started jumping up and down, and yelling at Mike Bauer who was apprx 100ft ahead and had directed me INTO the mud (he was right in doing so due to easements or whatever they are called). Not only was my first ever tempertantrum in my entire life a surprise to me, it was also amusing for the camel trophy guys behind me (I had no clue what CT was back then). After being extracted from the mud, I parked and had every intention of staying put at our next stopping point - I knew that I was way too tired to drive, and it was a totally acceptable stopping point. Little did I know that the most breath-takingly beautiful site I have ever seen was to be down the same trail and only few hours into the future. How could I have known the gift that awaited me when the kind gentleman got out of the CT rover and offered to drive?? Being surrounded by the safe company and approval of my freinds, I accepted his kind offer. At first, I was just grateful to sit and rest while he drove. I had spent the morning feeling the greatest freedom flying down well scouted trails - I was so exhilerated that I cared little that the trail had been narrower than my truck - every branch that had hit my truck, then bounced off during forward motion, it had just felt so freeing... PLOWING thru water at high speeds just felt awesome, liberating... I was sure that nothing could feel better - how wrong I was. Riding with this kind man was a totally different experience... it was slow, it was gentle, it was deliberate, it was STRENGTH, it was my first "feel" of working WITH MY ROVER to cross terrain. It has been 6 months now, and I still recall water crossings while riding with him. I recall every vivid detail. We sat quietly waiting on the bank until the rover in front of us had left the water and the water was still again. He drove slowly into the water, gently, working WITH my rover keeping the "throttle constant" as my rover displaced the water. All were GENTLE crossings, the bow wake stayed just where they should have, all were "textbook" crossings. I did not know that at the time -- what held me transfixed during each crossing was THAT THE REFLECTION OF THE TREES IN THE WATER STAYED SMOOTH -- we entered and exited with total grace. It was so beautiful that my breath still catches as I recall each second. That was it for me, I KNEW that there was beauty out there in the world beyond anything I could ever imagine. I would never KNOW what places felt like by looking at a book or pictures. From that moment on, I KNEW WHAT I NEEDED. I still don't know why, I just know that is how it is -- the furthest reaches of my soul continue to scream to get out there. The odds that I would even get out there for that first weekend were about zip, so I don't put any faith at all in statistics. Each hurdle I come upon looks too big and overwhelming to cross, but at lest now I can look back and tell myself to continue to move forward - they all looked that way - I fortify myself by telling myself that I will get past _________ (fill in the blank with whatever I try to figure out). March 2003 marks the start of my medical "rebellion". Scary thing... that. But not doing it, not trying... way scarier, that WOULD feel like death. I knew that a solid "foundation" had to be built. For me, that meant facing reality and being prepared for the worst and to be realistic about being prepared for probabilities, but at the same time NOT TO EXPECT them. For me, this meant facing that I would need to be prepared to stop, be totally self sufficient, and stay wherever I happened to be for up to 8 days at a time, IF I were hit with "out of control" pain. THAT does not scary me at all, actually... it sounds like heaven... Think about it, IF you had no choice but to be hit by crippling out of control pain, would you prefer to do it in a hospital being filled with horribilistic drugs or outside, free, in the fresh air, and experience the wundurfulistic BEAUTY OF PLACES? It was several months before I "officially" announced my REBELLION to my medical team. With each obstacle that I have hit, each loud voice telling me that I can't do this, I just apply more stickers. I just decided that ok, if I was going to have a rebellion, I might as well make it bright, loud, and ridiculously filled with humor. I have been tremendously blessed that each time I was ready to give up, that I have been pointed in the right direction to continue forward. Darned if that did not start with getting online and assignments to read every Dweb Discovery post. I sure wish I had the time on my side to just remain a spectator, but I realized that if I was going to get anywhere that I was going to have to display my stupidity, ask stupid questions, be a terrible nusaince, and put everything else aside in my life to get out there... I can't tell you how blessed I have been for the off road friends that I have made. I am very, very, very fortunate that every single person at my dealership totally understands the WHY of what I am doing, and has been willing to help me, to build my rover as solidly as possible, maximizing my room for error - in the midst of other circumstances that have been beyond my control. You'll never know how very grateful I HAVE been for those of you that have found solutions, even posted tech pages to copy. Most every supportive off roader knows the truth of why I started this. Just a few weeks ago I forced myself to call John Lee and express my gratitude to him in the best way that I could - by telling him the entire truth. As I told him... you know, we can tell someone thanks, better yet we can tell them thanks in person so that they can see the sincerity in our eyes... However, as human beings, we are remiss if we are too proud to tell them what exactly is behind our gratefulness. Only then, can we give them the full gift of knowing how much blessing they have provided to our lives. I did that with John Lee, I called and told him what was behind my efforts, why I was so grateful for his advice, why I was so thankful for the tech pages that he had on his site, how grateful I was to follow the pictures on work I attempted myself, even how grateful I was to print an entire thread, enlarge and print each photo, and carry all to my techs to install something that was beyond my capablitities. I could not help crying as I did so. Thankfully, John Lee IS John Lee - and I have a well honed sense of humor, so we had a positive conversation without doom and gloom stuff! We even talked about my beginning to collect tools that WILL WORK, although I know I need to start in on the "learning to camp" section too!! On the few trips that I have participate in, I have found that all of us have ouchy things that we have left behind at home. We all face our own share of pain in our lives. I have not met anyone who on the trail who is living pain free - not by a longshot. If anything, I have found that THE ONE COMMEN THREAD I have seen over and over and over again, is that off roaders are not in anyway willing to allow the obstacles to stop them. Off roaders find solutions. The trail is nothing more than a vivid display of our every day lives. My most breath-taking sight of off roaders is the way that the entire herd comes to a halt when one of the members is brought to a stop. Even limping along with their own injuries, everyone is out of their rovers, and the shackles start flying from one person to the next. That is a beautiful sight - something that I think has been lost over the years. Alone, none of us can do anything - Together we ARE strong. Early on, I learned that the ones who know the most in the pack - those that we can learn the most from - they will pick up the cubs shaking them from the scruff of the neck to keep them from danger. There are those that are just plain ornery -- but, on the trail there is no disguising the true heart of each individual - we all find out quickly who we CAN and who we CAN NOT count on. Not only that, as a "newbie" to the internet, I have been surprised that we also find out who we CAN and who we CAN NOT count on - just by sitting at our keyboards. So, oh great - now, not only am I on the bloomin' internet, here I am really uploading my true motivations. I think I am gonna' want to go and hide now maybe -- uh, oh. Everyday, I think to myself, this is either the dumbest thing I have ever done in my life, or else it is the smartest thing I have ever attempted in my life. Actually, I've gotta hand it to you guys - even though there has been "a method to my madness", you all HAVE BEEN very patient with me. If I were you, I think I might have been tempted to conclude that I had to have been totally looney tunes long ago. However, I have absolute proof to the contrary. This is just the oddest thing... since I started my "rebellion", I have been getting better, stronger, healthier, and I am healing -- can you believe that?? It still suprises me, but the part of me that is still screaming to get out there is not at all surprised!! WITH CONTINUED GRATITUDE, Jamie BTW, Equinox school was gone by the time I came along. Greenbriar sent me brochures and rates and I spoke extensively on the phone several months ago - they still sent me all their brochures, there biggest concern is ladies being attired in skirts and dresses while on the resorts, and formal dining room attire in the evenings - however, they will allow ladies to wear "nice" slacks while on their land rover trail - somehow, I could not imagine that I would get much hands on learning in that environment. Curtis, I'm heading out right now to auto stores to find books you mentioned - THANKS, that does sound exactly what I need - I printed your info so that I can show the guy at the store to make sure I get the right book(s). One of the things I like best about this BB is that it opens up my mind to things I would not even ever think of - yep, like snow - here in this state of blazing temps there is snow falling in other places?? That too makes me wonder things like -- wow, what would it be like to run and play with my dogs in snow?? I can't EVEN IMAGINE that, but you never know -- I may get to do just that someday.... and if I do, I'm gonna stop in Colorado to meet Jack. Of course, on my way there, I am also going to stop in TX to meet Mikeyb Of course, I can't go anywhere until I get my rover back!!! Thank God my techs care enough to do a slow and thorough job - doing all that they can - for succesful ventures of seeing what is out there I can't wait to see, but I know that all will come together and work out better than I could ever even imagine When I begin to doubt, I thinking of water crossings on a beautiful Saturday afternoon 6 months ago... Enough day dreaming, there are books out there at the auto parts store to hunt down!! It's just a darn good thing that I did not know about all the things that I would need to learn about 6 months ago!!! | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 226 Registered: 04-2003 |
Dang, Jamie.....(I am sure I will get laughed at) but that was touching. If I was you I would start to write a journal of what has happened and what you do. If nothing else maybe your experinces and learning will help someone else one day. Personelly I wouldn't go to the Greenbier, I stopped by and chatted with them once and a few people who just got done doing the trail. All you get to do is drive one of their Disco's and go up into the mountain. It would be much cheaper and more of an experiance to take your own and get a on a trail ride and go. | ||
| Paul D. Morgan (V22guy) Dweb Lounge Member Username: V22guy Post Number: 1954 Registered: 02-2002 |
Well, since the Greenbriar atmosphere is a bit demanding for you, try these guys: http://www.aoadventures.com/ The McCaigs organize an outstanding trip that lodges you in a nice Bed & Breakfast, feeds you great lunches on the trail, and completes the day eating in a great resturant. Mike Boggs is a trail leader for them and does a great job of it. Some other highlights of an AOA trip are: #1 Everyone is nice #2 Your Rover will get dirty on some demanding trails. #3 You will get dirty. #4 If you get stuck or break something, you will not be left behind. The entire group pulls together to help out thoses in need. Here are some pics of a winter trip I did with them last Feb: http://www.discoweb.org/aoa2003.htm http://www.discoweb.org/pauldmorgan.htm Paul | ||
| Kenny Bissett (Jetson) Member Username: Jetson Post Number: 69 Registered: 07-2003 |
Thank You Jamie, I can only imagine what you have gone through to get to where you are now. I applaud your bravery and newfound outlook on your life and life in general. Our time on this earth is too short to spend wondering what if. I'm just getting started with modifying my D2 and I love looking at the photo on your profile (mine is also white so I use yours as a model). I can see what mine could look like as I start building it up. I just finished watching abunch of youngsters going crazy with their 4x4's in giant mud holes. Stark contrast to the serenity of what you described when the CT gut took over for you. Made me realize I prefer the more peaceful approach! Brute force can only spell trouble somewhere. Good luck to you Jamie - you're an inspiration to others! Kenny - San Antonio, Texas | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Senior Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 545 Registered: 03-2002 |
you BETTER come this way! if you drive past texas without stopping i'll come looking for you! mike | ||
| Kennith P. Whichard III (Kennith) Senior Member Username: Kennith Post Number: 386 Registered: 05-2002 |
That is so wonderful to hear, That something so simple, that we all take for granted, can bring so much freedom and happiness to you. I can only imagine how it feels to you to be able to see all the beautiful sights of the wilderness, and surpass obstacles with strength and agility. Your elegant words truely bring light to a sometimes dark arena. Off road driving isn't just a sport to some, it's a means of getting out there, and that's one of the reasons we need to preserve it, and for our own reasons, it's the reason we live. If your ever about in NC, drop me a line. Cheers, Kennith | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 528 Registered: 04-2003 |
bummer Jaime, but you already knew that... So when are you hitting the trails? We want to see that Discovery in action! | ||
| Kai Dussling (Kai) Member Username: Kai Post Number: 85 Registered: 06-2002 |
Jamie For more inspiration go to: http://www.lancearmstrong.com/ Read his first book; "It is not about the bike" KD | ||
| Curtis N (Curtis) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Curtis Post Number: 717 Registered: 05-2002 |
Jamie, Also - like I said before, if you want to know more about electronics there are some great resources out there. Life deals us some hard blows sometimes, and yours is a HARD blow; however, you are still here and kicking so take advantage of your time and go wheel that rig! Curtis | ||
| Eugene (Eugene) Member Username: Eugene Post Number: 85 Registered: 02-2003 |
I'll echo Paul's sentiments about the McCaigs and AOA trips. The people and atmosphere are great and you will have a wonderful time. Despite the varying experience levels of trip participants, the McCaigs and the Boggs work really hard and succeed in keeping things flowing. FWIW, my girlfriend and I both had our first off-road experience at the Greenbrier. We signed up for the 4-hour tour and got to drive an '03 Range Rover. Our instructor was nice and geared the trails based on our comfort levels. He spoke with as much or little technical jargon as one wanted. The major disadvantages of Greenbrier are cost and the "snooty" atmosphere. The trails seemed somewhat laid out and I'm sure they adjust them such that they are non-damaging. (Neither of us dressed up for the trail ride. We wore sweaters and jeans.) Our second off-road experience was at the Spring AOA trip. It was a big difference from the Greenbrier. The trails weren't as "predictable" and you drove your own truck. It was much more fun and I learned more about recovery and off-roading on that trip than at the Greenbrier. If you do join up on an AOA trip, Nancy's gingersnap cookies are divine! Good luck to you, -Eugene | ||
| Kim S (Roverine) Senior Member Username: Roverine Post Number: 458 Registered: 03-2002 |
Hi Jamie, I have been online very sporadically as of late, so this is the first I've come across you or your posts. For what it's worth (IMHO) you're on the right track ... Take that bull by the horns and go!  Best wishes, Kim | ||
| Ian Bentley (Ibentley) New Member Username: Ibentley Post Number: 39 Registered: 06-2003 |
Jamie, Check out http://auto.howstuffworks.com/channel.htm?ch=auto&sub=sub-under-the-hood for a lot of good basics. And don't be afraid to try to do things yourself. Given what most dealers charge, you can often screw up several times, wreck a couple of parts, and still save money. Or at least be able to convince yourself you probably did. And its a lot more fun. | ||
| Ray Wallace (Rayd2) New Member Username: Rayd2 Post Number: 7 Registered: 05-2003 |
Jamie, you're going to absolutely love your time with Bill Burke when he comes to Florida. I'm really sorry you couldn't make it to Moab, because I wanted very much to meet you personally. I think we all deeply admire your spunk and zest for life (especially in the out-of-doors and on the trails). Go for it, and keep on being you. Best wishes, Ray | ||
| Jack Parker (Jack) Member Username: Jack Post Number: 225 Registered: 03-2002 |
Jamie, You've got mail. | ||
| Jack Parker (Jack) Member Username: Jack Post Number: 226 Registered: 03-2002 |
Jamie, My email to bluevelt@aol was returned. Send me an email, and I'll respond. Thanks! jackparker@ski-wp.com |
