Vets Fighting MS West Coast VA Road Trip

[mkcoen]

Okay folks, starting the planning for an ambitious road trip to visit VA hospitals in 8 states to promote the Veterans Fighting Multiple Sclerosis web site. The main goal is to get attention out there and set up a network of veterans helping other vets. I'm guessing I'll need help along the way as I try to put 5250 miles on a 25 year old M1010.

Kick-off will be early June and my goal is to make it to the MVPA National Convention on July 10.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and you can see some of the planning at:
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I hope to meet some of you along the way and anyone interested in doing a little convoy when I come through your area would be more than welcome.

Mark

 

[NDT]

Great Mark! Put me down for emergency parts support if needed. I can pull any CUCV part and next day/counter to counter it to you anywhere if you have issues. I'll visit your page to see where all you are headed.

 

[mkcoen]

Thanks for the offer. I can tell you that my wife is already being a PITA about the trip. She supports without reservation but keeps putting demands on me, take the dog, stop every hour, don't talk to strangers...You get the idea.

I am thinking of using Lavarocks DUVAC replacement idea to massage the electrical. I really don't want to be in the middle of the Mojave and have the A/C go out.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Brother, in your planning and on through the execution of this worthy mission.

Side note:
NDT: Your offer of parts support is awesome!

Do you know your route and waypoints yet? (Not a FaceBook member so couldn't look at your page there.)


As for the Mrs. Mkcoen seeming to be a PITA.... Have you ever read "MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS"? It is a wonderful "HANDBOOK" aka "TM" for inter-gender relations. What to us Martian Hunter-Gatherers seems overprotective is to the Venutians an expression of her concern and desire to not lose the security that you provide her.

Godspeed to you

 

[mkcoen]

Didn't know about the Facebook issue until after I posted it. One more way for them to nab your info to send junk mail out.

At this point the route is:

San Antonio - Las Cruces on day 1

Las Cruces - Tuscon day 2 - this is where the schedule gets bogged down. I'm not sure how long I will be at the VA there.

Tuscon - Pheonix
Pheonix - Vegas
Vegas - San Francisco
San Fran is where my wife will join me and we take a little detour up the coast to Tillamook, OR (absolutely fantastic air museum there in a WWII blimp hanger) then over to Portland for one of the VA Centers for Excellence which is a MS specialty location
Portland to Seattle - another Center for Excellence
Seattle to Grangeville, ID - my hometown where I hope to do the Independence Day Parade with the 1010
Grangeville, ID - Boise
Boise to Salt Lake
Salt Lake to Denver
Denver - Topeka, KS
Topeka - San Antonio

Several guys from the Lonestar MVPA are thinking about going to the MVPA Convention also so we may have a nice convoy coming home.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Thanks for posting the itinerary.
Happy trails!

 

[mkcoen]

Okay some further planning for the trip:

I have a medium towbar with the correct CUCV feet. I think it probably best that I bring it along but don't really want to be tripping over it. What's the opinion of me just mounting it on the front like an RVer's tow vehicle and driving like that? I know it's going to weigh the front down considerably and take a notch out of my fuel mileage, but will it cause braking or steering issues? Too much weight on front suspension?

 

[Michael]

Okay some further planning for the trip:

I have a medium towbar with the correct CUCV feet. I think it probably best that I bring it along but don't really want to be tripping over it. What's the opinion of me just mounting it on the front like an RVer's tow vehicle and driving like that? I know it's going to weigh the front down considerably and take a notch out of my fuel mileage, but will it cause braking or steering issues? Too much weight on front suspension?

I wouldn't think so, but I haven't tried it. If you do carry the towbar be sure to carry a pintle adapter for a class IV hitch so anyone with a full size truck can tow you. I have towed a M1010 with a one ton pickup and they tow well.

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/p-1074-10-ton-pintle-hook.aspx

plus

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/p-1082-va69910.aspx

 

[mkcoen]

I wouldn't think so, but I haven't tried it. If you do carry the towbar be sure to carry a pintle adapter for a class IV hitch so anyone with a full size truck can tow you. I have towed a M1010 with a one ton pickup and they tow well.

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/p-1074-10-ton-pintle-hook.aspx

plus

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/p-1082-va69910.aspx

Thanks for the advice and the links. I had only been thinking of other MV folks helping out and hadn't stopped to consider that there'll be a lot more regular vehicles passing me if I'm broke down than deuces.

 

[Scarecrow1]

What hospitals....? are any on the east coast . If so I will be glad to help out if your coming through SC..... I live where I-20and I-95 meet in Florence and could assist in an emergency .....

 

[mkcoen]

What hospitals....? are any on the east coast . If so I will be glad to help out if your coming through SC..... I live where I-20and I-95 meet in Florence and could assist in an emergency .....

Thanks for the offer! This year, however, will be just the west coast then on to the MVPA Convention in Topeka. I would like to visit the Center for Excellence in Boston though so if this one goes off without too much drama I'll be looking at going on an east coast tour next year.

Since this is a charity not about raising money but about networking veterans to help other veterans I have to be a little conscious of the expenses. This trip I get to combine 1) vaction with my wife on the coast 2) visit to my family in Idaho over Independence Day and 3) a trip to the MVPA Convention (which also happens to be my anniversary - talk about an understanding wife) so I actually come out about even if I looked at 3 seperate trips.

 

[OPCOM]

I support your effort! It is unlikely I can join this summer one but it is a super goal.

 

[mkcoen]

OPCOM,

I've been following your build. That is going to be one awesome truck when you get it finished.

I think I've devised a set up to shuttle the a/c from the box directly into the cab to keep things cool (I'll post the idea if it turns out it works) because that will be the only way I can make it in the 1010 especially going across the southern states in June.

All the "support in spirit" will be gladly taken. I would be hesitant to do this without the knowledge and expertise that so many on this site have. I've been able to cure many ills on my deuce and 1009 thanks to that and feel secure in doing the same with the 1010.

 

[mkcoen]

It's been a while since I updated and a lot has been going on behind the scenes. The M1010 arrived less the fuel cap so a bunch of work for that. You can get all the details on
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/cucv/43310-just-won-m1010.html

Keith_J has accepted my offer to ride shotgun for the trip so now I not only have a co-driver but also an awesome mechanic (not just wrenching but diagnostics as well). We still need to firm up the dates, carve them in stone and get in touch with each of the facilities so I'm not speaking to an empty room while we're there.

The 1010 is amazing. After driving a 1009 for the last year I was expecting a loud, slow beast. I'm not sure why the big difference but you can have a normal conversation in the 1010 where you'd be yelling in the 1009 and still not be heard. It drives smoother and for all the extra weight (7500 vs 5200lbs) the 1010 seems to have a lot more power and acceleration. Top speed is down a notch but it will still run comfortably between 55 and 60mph.

The A/C is the last hurdle but Keith has a line on fixing that too. All's good and the anticipation is already building. June seems too far away right now.

 

[XM 2742]

If ya go thru Tx I am near the Temple and Waco VA.......need a place to stay you are welcome...........need road help just call...........

 

[Cucvnut]

Hey will you be stopping at the VA hospital in paloalto its just south of SF and close to me i would love to convoy with you guys for a bit in my M1008

 

[mkcoen]

If ya go thru Tx I am near the Temple and Waco VA.......need a place to stay you are welcome...........need road help just call...........

We're going to start at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio and the plans are for just 1 hospital per state (due to time limitations). Since I live just north of San Antonio a side trip either before or after the road trip is always a possibility.

CUCVfreek - Palo Alto actually sounds better than hitting the one in San Fran just for traffic considerations. I'll look in to that and follow up with you. We're going to head straight up the coast afterwards for a little R&R time so we might be able to stop for a refreshment or two while we're in your neighborhood.

 

[Keith_J]

Schedule a LOT of time for US 93 crossing of the Hoover Dam. TSA screens vehicles crossing the dam.

 

[Cucvnut]

the one in Pa has a huge parking lot nice new buildings and its along the way from vegas to SF its about 25 min up the 280 highway from me. keep me posted

 

[Cucvnut]

any news on this ?