Drinking from the Firehose – or – when downsizing dramatically upsizes your work list
If Valentines Day makes February the month of love, we both agree we fell in love with our beautiful red truck. The more we drove it and got acquainted with all its features, we realized that it must have been somebody’s dream truck and they had taken very good care of it. It became our dream truck and we named it Marvin after a dear friend who had a red truck he also adored.
We made a list of upgrades and projects to do inside and outside Marvin and the Ute, then categorized each task on a spreadsheet by priority and days to be accomplished. No surprise on Larry’s organization skills here! Our plan is to start heading North by the end of March so that gives us about 8 weeks—GO!
Ute Interior Projects
Change out Maxx air fan over bed to temperature sensor controlled
Install 110 outlet near bed for heated mattress pad
Install 110 outlet in upper cabinet for microwave
Install 110 outlet in electric box for outdoor cooking
Install 300W inverter
Get small 800 watt microwave to fit in bins over sink (in red?)
Buy & Install soft start on air conditioner
Buy & Install chill chaser (heat) on a/c
Deep clean interior, vinyl, screens, windows, walls (product for vinyl)
Clean and condition wood surfaces, cabinets
Replace carbon monoxide sensor
Replace LP/propane sensor
Change out Solar charger controller
Relocate Pizza stone from RV oven (measure to check fit)
Relocate induction cooktop from RV (where to store?)
Relocate GoVee temperature sensors
But & Install See Level tank monitors for
grey/fresh
Replace LP tank monitor
Purchase soft sided/storage bins for all upper cabinets
Decide which table to take (larger one is lighter weight)
Leave behind extra (long) bolster
Investigate how rear tarp awning works – store?
Febreeze and air out all cushions and bedding, twice
Store sash lock, bathroom door lock, 2 crank handles for jacks
Buy & install new water conserving shower head inside
Vinegar soak outside shower head
Buy nicer carpeting and install – keep old for during electrical install
Get plastic finger floor mat for by entry door
Replace carpet over battery/bed step
Replace fire extinguisher?
Lube and check screws on lift mechanism
Remove/store all curtains
Install Fridge defend on refrigerator?
Buy & Install UV water filter under sink, hole in countertop for spigot
Buy Rollup draining tray (thanks for the idea Zoe)
Decide where, when to put USB charging ports
Cellular booster relocate and install
Data connection cabinet if possible
Ute Exterior Projects
Ceramacoat all exterior
Buy keys for fast gun locks
Inspect and wash awning
Check LP tank inspection requirements
External low pressure connection on LP tank
Replace rubber gasket on door stop LP door
Lube/clean/paint Happy Jack bases
Paint Happy Jack Frame
Relocate 30-20 amp adapter and outlet tester
Buy surge protector – internal or external
Purchase cassette toilet treatment
Check cassette toilet vent
Get sisal, wash (multiple times plus vinegar soak & rinses!), air out, wrap around table leg pole for cat scratch post
Check/caulk hole under rear cameras mount
Replace door lock with number pad lock
Replace no skid on bumper step
Remove levels on rear, side
Get Van Essential vent covers, modify for knob hole
Buy top missing from Rocky Mount bike rack
Paint screws license plate holder
Buy drain hose for grey tank
Clean up/paint shovel and axe
Clean back of refrigerator
Refinish plastic refrigerator vents
Investigate water fitting under outside shower
Flush water heater
Disinfect water tanks
Upgrade solar on roof
Clean air conditioner vents/filters
Refinish or replace Rotopax (have red, diesel is yellow)
Get screws & handle for roof storage system
Buy small ladder to open & close roof latches
RAM projects
Get Florida registration and license plate
Clay bar and Ceramacoat all exterior
Tint windows
Windshield protection
Paint protection plastic
Ceramacoat door handles
Tires – rotate, balance
Get lifetime rotate/balance from Discount Tire
Buy/Install Centramatic discs for self balancing of tires
Clean and polish running boards
Ceramacoat mirrors
Install LED headlight bulbs
Replacement screws for drivers fender well
Donut for space between rear window and Ute window
Buy and install power rear sliding window
Blackstone analysis engine, differential and transmission
Replace K&M with regular filter
But & Install more fuel filters
Investigate wiper washer pressure
Check wipers
Replace fuel filters and buy spares
Spare belt for engine (for Alaska)
Check condition of batteries
Review maintenance schedule history
Make maintenance schedule spreadsheet
Check Banks upgrade installation –
Intake elbow, cold air intake, differential cover
Get seat covers for front and rear seats
Mount GPS
Dash Cam – relocate from RV or Jeep, wiring to power
New roof console with switch for power sliding window
Clean interior
Adjust attachments for rear seat to tilt/extra storage
Cat bed for console/how to secure (sew on straps)
Get RV and Jeep ready for storage
Decide area of US to store – Arizona or Oregon
Tour Arizona options – Tucson & Surprise
Jeep-
Noise
Change oil & blackstone analysis
Wash and wax
Ceramacoat top, other surfaces
Deep clean
Review contents and relocate
Kayak paddles
Water shoes
Air inflator electric
Kakak bailer
Kayak inflator
Hiking poles and boots
Trax? Or take our RV blocks for leveling
Full gas tank with Stabil
RV-
Change oils
Differential, engine, transmission
Blackstone analysis
Deep clean
Polish wood
Clean and conditions couch & dinette
Clean Windows, screens, blinds
Clean walls
Bed area move all & clean
Dust
Defrost, clean out refrigerator and freezer
Go through pantry – leave canned nonperishables only
Full gas tank with Stabil
How much propane to leave in?
Flush tanks and put in treatment
Black
Grey
Water tank – flush, how much water to leave
Any treatment to water?
Wash and wax exterior (2 days)
Decide where to store RAM tailgate
Buy new moving blanket to wrap
Store RadRover bikes in RV
Need covers for front wheels
Need bracket to hold front tire arms
Need tarp underneath
Store Deb sewing table in RV
Store SailRite in RV do maintenance first
Go through all cabinets and decide what to take to Alaska
Clothes
Tools
Kitchen
Pet
Toiletries/medicines
Technology
Office
Outdoor gear
Foods including dehydrated meals
This was our first list and it got loooonger after that. A few projects were quick fixes but almost all required research, sourcing, ordering and installing (and finding who to install if Larry couldn’t).
Trevor, our Jeep, must have been annoyed at not being prominent on the list so started a squeaking noise that ended up being a U Joint. The location of the offending joint made it difficult to get grease in without replacement, but Larry finally got enough in to do the job until we return in the fall. A tiny rock chip in Trevor’s windshield expanded and contracted with the changing desert temperatures to span the height of the glass, without us even driving it—another project for fall.
After some phone calls and research on Larry’s part, we decided on the National Indoor RV Storage for the Jeep and Coachman while we are in Alaska. On day trips to Tucson and Surprise we toured both facilities, which were similarly priced, but decided on the Surprise location for 2023. I think the tipping point for me was that they had several camp spots out front where we could stay for a night or two while switching out from one rig to another and a last chance to be sure we had what we needed from the Coachman before leaving for Alaska.
Larry was happy that Marvin had the Banks intake elbow, cold air intake, and differential cover upgrades. With research and calls to Banks, one of their best installers was located near Phoenix. The review of the install was done in a day and we enjoyed talking to Tim about his homestead in Fairbanks. He’s a “desert rat” now and was very thorough in his review. Thanks, Tim—we’ll try to swing by your old place in Alaska this summer! Below is what the Banks Monster-Ram intake elbow looks like when purchased from Banks.
The Centramatic discs to self balance the RAM tires came in and Larry found a Discount Tire nearby to install them, rotate and balance the tires, and get the lifetime rotate and balance warrantee from them. It took several trips to get this accomplished, as the first install ended up in damaged rims that had to be replaced on the second install that de-rotated some tires which we corrected on a third trip (this time to a different store). They eventually made it right, and although it was a time drain, that’s just part of the challenge of being on the road.
In our original truck plans, we had wanted a power sliding rear window so that our cat, Pumpernickel, could pass between the RAM rear window into the Ute window and access the Ute with his litterbox while we were driving. Marvin didn’t have a power window, but Benson Autobody handily installed one that Larry had ordered (they had done a great job in January replacing the RV windshield that Mt Ranier roads had damaged last fall). Surprisingly, the wiring was even present from the rear window to the overhead console which was only missing the switch to have it work. Larry found a console on EBay that had the switch, swapped consoles —voila!—Marvin has a power sliding rear window. Very cool!
Larry also figured out that the reason the wiper pressure was low is that a rodent had chewed the tubing under the hood at some point. There were very clear teeth marks, but Larry made a swift repair and the washer pressure was restored.
Pumpernickel, settling in to his new sunbathing spot in the Ute, would like to note that the rodent damage occurred before his watch.
Because we love our new truck so much we decided to protect our investment on the Alaska trip. Larry found Car Kulture in Tucson where the RAM got window tint, paint protection film and ceramic coating. Bob Moses Ceramic Coating, also in Tucson, prepped and ceramic coated the Ute fiberglass and windows.
Looks beautiful and stays clean longer!
The end of February left us feeling like we had made a running start at the list, but with only March to get much accomplished before our April departure. In 2019 when we left Florida in the RV, we had had 2 years to prepare and then four years living in it to make more upgrades. We have to keep reminding ourselves that we only have 2 months this time but it doesn’t all have to get done before we hit the road again! Even Larry uncharacteristically recognized this as reality, to which I responded “who are you and what have you done with my husband?“ He loves it when I say that. ❤️
“Progress, not perfection”
Denzel Washington in The Equalizer