I tried a couple new things this trip.
Sleeping in the Excursion was a huge success. With a twin-size air mattress, I still had plenty of room in the back for storage and room to maneuver around. The Ex has 12v outlets build in every where, so it was easy to charge up the phone and accessories. I made mosquito nets for the windows so I could have some airflow at night while barring entry for the bugs. These were held on with magnets. They worked great.
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I was in need of a CB. Being short on time, I decided to try a handheld before committing to a permanent radio. The Midland handheld was slightly cheaper than a full permanent setup, but the performance was lackluster. It received quite well, but output was very limited. I wasn’t even able to talk to the first couple vehicles in our convoy. Estimated range: 150ft. I guess I’ll keep it for the Ex or as a loaner, but I’ll need a perm CB with a real antenna at some point.
The RAM mount for my iPhone worked very well. It wasn’t quite stable enough for in-cab video, but it was perfect for holding the phone while using the GPS. I think I’ll get a couple more for my other vehicles.
I decided to upgrade my cooler (finally). A new cooler has been on my wish list for a while now, but I’ve been resisting because I think pricing on these new high-insulation coolers is out of control. This Ozark Trail cooler preformed better than my 20 yr old playmate, but $80 just seems like a bit much for a small cooler.
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Overall, I liked the new cooler, but don’t see myself paying $200+ for a larger version.
I definitely need to get more organized with my tool storage and actually bring more tools. I’d love to have a dedicated set to live in the truck.
