Dangerous words: "I have an idea..."

[T. Highway]

Andy,

Great pictures, love seeing the M37 out in the snow. Tent camping in the snow would freak my wife out.

Bert

[ashyers]

Bert,
Tent camping in the snow freaks me out! Fortunately Hilde is from Norway so she's used to such things ! Actually the snow was a treat, it was reasonably dry and just beautiful.

I realize I should have taken photos of the "driveway" to my buddies cabin. By the end of the weekend it was pretty darn challenging. It became a muddy rutted toboggan ride. It was like driving in grease.

It's fortunate there are still some places left where we can go play with the truck. I fear that it will become harder and harder to do things like this as the population grows and there are ever increasing rules.

Andy

[just me]

Dang Andy,
I left California in the mid 70's for that reason. Couldn't do anything anymore. Too may people and too many rules.
Getting that way here now, also.
Bur I'm old and scary now. I don't do as much as I used to. But I do what I please.
Worse can happen is I get told to leave. And I still get to drive back out.

I used to love winter camping maybe 30 years ago. Now my idea of roughing it is no room service.
Once my camping gear wore out I didn't replace it. I don't even own a sleeping bag anymore. I have some shelter halves but they are just for show with the truck.

How did you keep the windshield defogged and deiced? Or for that matter, stay warm?

[ashyers]

just me,
The key to the keeping the windshield clear was "window management". We would adjust the gap open on the side windows until the fogging just stopped! It was pretty effective once we got used to it, of course holding our breath worked too ! As far as keeping warm, we were in relative luxury, some of the guys in the flat fender Jeeps were driving around with the windshield down!!!!!!! I guess that solved the fogging issue for them . We were in and out of the truck frequently and dressed like we were on an arctic expedition so staying warm was not an issue. I was keenly aware that if things became cold and miserable certain participants would ensure this would NEVER happen again. Fortunately one of Hilde's comments as we were driving home was "We need to get chains for next year..." I'd call that a win .

Andy

[rickf]

Dang Andy,
I left California in the mid 70's for that reason. Couldn't do anything anymore. Too may people and too many rules.
Getting that way here now, also.
Bur I'm old and scary now. I don't do as much as I used to. But I do what I please.
Worse can happen is I get told to leave. And I still get to drive back out.

I used to love winter camping maybe 30 years ago. Now my idea of roughing it is no room service.
Once my camping gear wore out I didn't replace it. I don't even own a sleeping bag anymore. I have some shelter halves but they are just for show with the truck.

How did you keep the windshield defogged and deiced? Or for that matter, stay warm?

I used to absolutely love winter camping, Long before all of these "bushcraft" videos came out. No bugs, you sat around the fire to get warm not to just sit around a fire and drink. But like most of us, obviously not ALL of us, , I have gotten soft and my idea of roughing it is the slide in camper on my pickup. Or luxury is the 30 year old RV. Living in NJ we are not even allowed to go out in the woods in our trucks anymore without risking a ticket.

[Elwood]

John,
You called it! I went for a night ride up and down the "driveway" to my friend's cabin in the Forward Control. It's a kick in the pants! It reminds me of my VW bus, but with ground clearance and FWD. It's a tiny vehicle. I was also able to sample a Unimog with a specialized forward control cab. That thing is unstoppable.

We had a wide variety of vehicles, but the M37 was the only "old" Dodge. I guess the Power Wagons and WC's have just become too pricey to play with.

It was really fun learning to drive the truck in four wheel drive in super slippery conditions. I never thought that the M37 could dance, but it does under the right circumstances.

Andy

Tiny is right. It's basically a contemporary Jeep CJ but with a truck cab in front of the front axle and long, narrow box. So very short wheelbase (long overhangs, and front weight imbalance when unloaded), so short that the FC120 version can do a face plant on hard braking. Since there's nothing between you and the pavement (or any immovable object in front of the truck) but a thin bit of cab sheetmetal, they're not for the feint of heart.

I looked into buying one before I got my M37, but they can be hard to find parts for (low production), especially the windshields, they rust badly in the cab corners and doors, and they're getting expensive like the Power Wagons.

Glad to hear that you were representing the M37 crowd.

[Elwood]

just me,
The key to the keeping the windshield clear was "window management". We would adjust the gap open on the side windows until the fogging just stopped! It was pretty effective once we got used to it, of course holding our breath worked too ! As far as keeping warm, we were in relative luxury, some of the guys in the flat fender Jeeps were driving around with the windshield down!!!!!!! I guess that solved the fogging issue for them . We were in and out of the truck frequently and dressed like we were on an arctic expedition so staying warm was not an issue. I was keenly aware that if things became cold and miserable certain participants would ensure this would NEVER happen again. Fortunately one of Hilde's comments as we were driving home was "We need to get chains for next year..." I'd call that a win .

Andy

Don't stop with the chains. You've got a limited window here to convince her that the M37 needs ARB lockers front and rear!

[ashyers]

John,
We need to introduce these things slowly. After we get stuck with chains I can bring up the lockers. It's a process .

Plus there's only so much my wallet can handle!!!!

Andy

[Elwood]

A wise man. You've been down this road before (pun intended).