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Expedition Overland Youtube series

I had fun staring at the Rockies for what seemed like 2 whole days before I got close to them lol

Truth! Kansas blows to drive through though.
 
We did most of the lame states in the middle of the night. My best memory of Kansas is breaking the doors down to mcdonalds at 6am to eat breakfast after driving 8 hours straight

We did Kansas mostly at night too. Even got pulled over on the way back(Jason...). Best stop I've ever had. Both of us were carrying and he wasn't bugged in the slightest by two bearded hillbillies with guns! The best part of Kansas is Kansas city BBQ!
 
Ok, so how much fuel do you guys carry for this Pony Express excursion. No doubt you pull into Ely, Eureka, Tonopah, wherever, and gas up at every opportunity. Just wondering if I bring a couple 2 gallon RotoPax if it will get me through a complete leg (if I can make a complete leg time-wise). My rear bumper has provision for 2 Rotos. (I hear after I buy the setup that those gas cans swell up right nice like in the heat - oh well, vent them every stop I guess). I might try to rig a RotoPax setup on window racks similar to Dirtbound's $170 (EACH!) unit for 2 - 2gal water Pax. I'm thinking that would be pretty trick mounted inside. If not, the factory rack can hold water jugs I suppose.

One spare enough? I have a good tire repair kit. I'm also looking for a POS 2nd spare on the local classified site.

If I make any of the trip I don't want to end up being "that guy".

I'll be ARB locked on both ends, 9000lb winch, good Cooper STT (31 x 10.50), gas & xfer skids, sliders, hood vents, Warn hubs, disco..
Have to change out a leaky trans pan gasket & filter.

Tools of course. Might put the Honda 2000 generator/inverter in as well.. love that thing. And a couple firearms are Ok I'm assuming.
And my rule for late comers to my camp is a given: Bring ICE!

If anticipation is half the fun, I'm having a BLAST!
 
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Ok, so how much fuel do you guys carry for this Pony Express excursion. No doubt you pull into Ely, Eureka, Tonopah, wherever, and gas up at every opportunity. Just wondering if I bring a couple 2 gallon RotoPax if it will get me through a complete leg (if I can make a complete leg time-wise). My rear bumper has provision for 2 Rotos. (I hear after I buy the setup that those gas cans swell up right nice like in the heat - oh well, vent them every stop I guess). I might try to rig a RotoPax setup on window racks similar to Dirtbound's $170 (EACH!) unit for 2 - 2gal water Pax. I'm thinking that would be pretty trick mounted inside. If not, the factory rack can hold water jugs I suppose.
Depends on what "your leg of the trip" is. On my rig I carry a 5 gal can on the jeep and another 5 gal can on my trailer. Although this trip I'm probably going to carry at least one more 5 gal can. Pulling my trailer I burn through a lot more fuel than most guys do. I think the longest stretch we will have between fuel stops is from Tooele Ut to Ely Nv. As near as I can figure about 240 miles. Where do you plan on meeting us?
One spare enough? I have a good tire repair kit. I'm also looking for a POS 2nd spare on the local classified site.

If I make any of the trip I don't want to end up being "that guy".
One spare and a good plug kit is all I carry. Hell, I don't even have a spare for my trailer although I plan to for this trip.
I'll be ARB locked on both ends, 9000lb winch, good Cooper STT (31 x 10.50), gas & xfer skids, sliders, hood vents, Warn hubs, disco..
Have to change out a leaky trans pan gasket & filter.
My dad is going with us in his bone stock XJ. You should have no issues.
Tools of course. Might put the Honda 2000 generator/inverter in as well.. love that thing. And a couple firearms are Ok I'm assuming.
And my rule for late comers to my camp is a given: Bring ICE!
I won't need ice. :D
4660561052_19f04b9c1e_z.jpg

If anticipation is half the fun, I'm having a BLAST!

Oh and guns are a necessary requirement if you want to camp with me (ok not really but shooting is 40% of the reason I go out on the desert)
 
I'll have to take some time to plot the route and get your estimated schedule for each area. Wouldn't mind meeting you in/near Eureka for the trip up the Rubies if it's not just a gravel road on that leg - I would want to do some real 'overland' stuff for sure. Don't know how many days you'll take for each leg. Would the ride north from Eureka take more than one day, for instance, would you plan to camp at Ruby Marshes, etc.
I don't want to pester you on this so if you'll be putting out a more detailed itinerary or map & trail details as the time gets near I can certainly wait on that. How many rigs are you expecting?

I just got a book today "4 x 4 Trails of Western Montana" by Willie Worthy (many of which I traveled in my younger days with my CJ5) who also wrote "Hoofbeats of History" about his trip over the entire length of the Pony Express Route for Four Wheeler Magazine. I'm going to Google that to see what I can dig up. I'd like to find at least a map with the Pony Express clearly marked. I have the time to do the research so will try to get it done for my own info if nothing else.

One thing for sure, there will be plenty of 'bug-dust' on this trip. I've actually had to chain up in that stuff in the middle of summer in a 4WD pickup. Extra air filters. I'm sure you know that.

Might have to bring the coyote call!

Man, wish I could just meet you in Ely and do the remainder of the trip with my video camera running. What a hoot!
 
Tentative days and stops.

Day 1
From home to the Deep Creek mtns on the PET.

Day 2
Deep Creeks to Ely

Day 3
Ride train in Ely, then drive to Lunar Crater area between Ely and Tonopah.

Day 4
Leave Lunar Crater and visit the towns of Hot Creek and Tybo. Probably get a room in Tonopah to shower the dirt off and poop in a real toilet.

Day 5
Leave Tonopah, head to Belmont, Diana's punchbowl and work our way towards Eureka. Camp spot unknown.

Day 6
Unknown camp spot to Ruby Lake or somewhere around there.

Day 7
Drive home stopping at the salt flats for Aaron and home.

I know all about that silty nasty sand. It's the main reason I run a snorkel.
 
Um, I'm a tiny bit excited about this! :D I know its possible to bring guns but I know Ryan has plenty so I will just pitch in for ammo.
 
We did most of the lame states in the middle of the night. My best memory of Kansas is breaking the doors down to mcdonalds at 6am to eat breakfast after driving 8 hours straight

Ha I did exactly that to one of those damn center-of-the-road McD's. Kansas can burn though that state is horrible. :firedevil

You guys are killing me, I would absolutely drive the jeep out to Wyoming to join you if I wasn't deploying again. Sign me up for an expo-wheeling trip somewhere down the line, Lockhart Basin got me hooked.
 
Tentative dates are May 10-18 but that could change.

Anything new on this excursion? Are the dates firming up? I'm not going to the Reno shindig so might look a little closer at this dusty ride.
 
Yup. We are leaving Utah on the 11th and need to be back in Utah to camp our last night on the 16th. I will PM you some detailed plans when I get home.
 
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