I'd cut some cloth about the size of a half door and get some large magnets so that you could at least cover up a portion of the doorway if you get aggrivated with the sand coming in. Compact and easy to store but useful.
Just an idea.
Carl
I'd cut some cloth about the size of a half door and get some large magnets so that you could at least cover up a portion of the doorway if you get aggrivated with the sand coming in. Compact and easy to store but useful.
Just an idea.
Carl
I am taking a four day, three night trip to Death Valley and planning to leave my doors and windows at home. Have any of you done the same or similar and regretted not having your doors? Anyone wished they'd brought something and didn't? Thanks in advance.
The weather is forecast to be sunny and in the high 90's during the day and high 60's at night. It's just my dog, my Jeep ('04 TJ w/mods), and me. I'm leaving April 20th and plan to return the 24th. I'll post some pics when I get back.
I have no clue about driving in the desert, the only time I ever did I was driving a Dodge Diplomat and it rained!
However your trip sounds like a lot of fun, and I bet your dog will have a blast, dogs and Jeeps seem to go together!
Jeff DeWitt
Daniel Bibbens wrote:
take some cheap traps (you can pre cut them to fit doors and top) and some duct tape. If weather or conditions get bad you can at least duct tape your panels on and stay comfortable.
Snow...
What a kool idea Carl...I think I'm gonna try this for those days without the doors when ya hit a mud hole...damn mud in the seatbelts really messes them up... Thanks for the idea Carl!
Jeff
In my experience the desert can be cold at night, even if they say "high
60s".Earle
L.W.(Bill) Hughes III wrote in message=0D=0A...= =0D=0A=0D=0A> Why do I always have to be the one to make the first move?
I recall that. You S. CA wusses! That was about the only time I was _really_ comfortable.
question is are you going off road or not? are you camping or not?
prepare for it to be damned cold at night. also for the wind to blow all the time. or for it to be scalding hot. If it were me, I would take at least the doors - you can always leave them in camp or in your hotel room.
When we were wheeling there in 2000, I ran with doors off and the softtop skin (roof) on. Sometimes it was interesting. Others it was fantastic. I cant recall off hand if I even had the doors with me on that trip or not.
Just looked at the pics on my web site (
-jenn
Yes, I'm going off-road. Starting with Titus Canyon and then on to as many of 8 more trails as I have time for.
If by camping you mean putting the keys in my pocket and reclining the seat, then yes.
Thanks for the link to your pics. I was looking at those last night :)
Thanks, also to all who responded to my original post.
I'm bringing winter clothes and summer clothes and am expecting cold nights, hot days, and temperatures that fluctuate with elevation changes. I'm also bringing a sleeping bag, a coffee pot, and jerry-cans of water and gas. I still have room for me and the dog, too.
I've always done day trips and have always been glad to have my doors and panels. The Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York had it's cold and rain, the Badlands OHV park in Indiana had it's mean mosquitos and thunderstorms. Since I've been in Southern California, I've left home with sunshine and 65 degrees in February only to find blizzard conditions at 5000 ft. in the San Bernardino Mountains. Yep, each trip I was glad to have my doors and panels. But each time was also longing for a time when I could go without.
This time I'm determined to go without. I've got my soft-top for noon-time sun and rain that's not wind-driven sideways. For everything else -- well I'll just have to deal with it. It's a Jeep for Pete's sake.
I suggest a full set of rain gear or rain suit. Does wonders if its wet. Does wonders if its cool out and with no doors you are freezing - gives you a wind break. Otherwise sounds like you got your shit together and will have a great time! =)
-jenn
Good advice. I'll take it. Thanks :)
A sunny forecast in death valley, go figure. Seriously, the winter rains on the coast are still sticking around so you can freeze your behind off or need to spend a night on the wrong side of what *was* a dry wash for centuries until you crossed it.
You might want to open side flaps for ventilation, but the top provides valuable shade which is quite difficult to come by out there.
PS. If you see a broad flat stretch, make sure it isn't deeper than an inch or two as there are stretches of alkali snot all over the place and the top may get enough wind and sun to look like dry land but underneath is really greasy alkali mud. Is fun to play in if you are used to it, but make sure you get it completely off your vehicle as it is just a tad on the corrosive side.
Take lotsa film if you've never been there before. I prefer the areas north of death valley, roughly even with Goldfield and west to the mountains.. say around Silver Peak and south and west.
Jerry Bransford proclaimed:
Well I did it. Almost nothing went according to plan, but Death Valley is spectacular and a sight to be seen regardless of what you drive. Pictures are here:
-- there is *no* cell service, the canyon walls, cliffs, mountains may block a CB signal, and the main roads are frequently a day's hike from the far points of the trails.
Here are a few notes. In summary -- amazing views, bad and expensive fuel, and no cell signal to be found:
Today I can hear the fighter jets and imagine what an Iraqi or Taliban soldier must have pondered when hearing the "thunder" *before* the "lightning". Poor bastards. What were they thinking? I did take some solice in this season of the IRS in seeing and hearing what my tax dollars help build. These are awe-inspiring machines. After completing this trail, a heavy coating of dust turned the interior of my Jeep, my dog, and myself to an unmistakable desert khaki color. The scenery was amazing. The value of the views has overcome my disappointment with the trail.
Next trip "The Mojave Road" with lessons learned.
Glad to hear it was a good trip overall.
Carl
In the summer you can usually keep your water cool with a canvas bag, but you do need a bit of velocity. Where cool is relative if you are near Furnace Creek area.
Carl proclaimed:
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