Summer Travels 2022
In a few days we will start our summer 2022 travels. We first planned to ride to Alaska in 2020, but of course we had to defer the trip. It looks like we will finally be able to enter Canada and head to Alaska this year.
For the past several months I have been planning the routes and preparing the bikes and the trailer. Beth has been planning meals and reassembling the kitchen equipment.
We took the trailer on a shakedown cruise at the beginning of April. One hub on the trailer was throwing grease. The wheel was clean before the trip; 275 miles later it was covered in grease and dirt. My friend, Ed, helped me install new grease seals and set the tension on the castle nut.
After the second shakedown trip both wheels were clean after 200 miles. We’ve made several changes to our equipment since last year. We now have a double-size sleeping bag and a larger propane heater. If you followed last year’s trip you may remember that our 12V tire pump failed. I’ve purchased a new one and have tested it.
Instead of an ice chest we have a refrigerator. I moved the water and gas jugs to the rear to help balance the added weight of refrigerator.
The solar panel charges the battery/power station which supplies 12VDC to the refrigerator. This setup seems to supply enough power to maintain 34 deg F.
We pulled the trailer out and set it up. It took us awhile to remember just how to do it.
The trailer is quite spacious. That’s a queen-size mattress.
Other than changing fluids and some brake pads, we haven’t needed to do much to the bikes. I did replace the Tire-Minder brand tire pressure monitoring sensors with the FOBO 2 brand sensors. These sensors work very well and the phone app is excellent. We also bought a set for Beth’s bike.
Our plan is to go to Alaska, then return to Rapid City, SD, for the Motor Maids convention, which is July 5, 6 & 7. From there we will wander around until Shark Week XII in Appleton, WI, August 2, 3 & 4. From there we’ll make our way home to Florida.
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Tim
You are my hero
I am in the process of setting up my Trike and my Timeout trailer for a trip this summer as well. I have a heating and cooling cooler that I was thinking of bringing along now after reading this I will be reworking my cooler. I also saw your added water and gas cans and reached out to purchase, unfortunately they are on back order.
Happy Trails
Yes, it took a long time to get Rotopax items when I purchased them last year. You might want to check out my videos on our Time Out trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9057sz2VDMI&list=PL7SnEAaQ4kJilZFs7ZI8z-9Q9xelLVs4w
Safe travels Tim and Beth!
Godspeed on your journey. Travel safely . Best, B and C
Looking good
How do the tire sensors work?
See you in Rapid City!
The sensors screw onto the valve stems and connect to a phone app via Bluetooth. If the tire pressure goes high or low the app posts a notification. See you then.
Safe travels and we will be following you. Enjoy the ride. Looks like the additional items will make a safer and enjoyable trip.
Travel safely. Looking forward to reading your blogs.
Have a Fun Trip. So Adventuresome! See ya when you get back! Darlene &Keith
Looking forward to this, I bet you are too!
Yes, indeed. I’ve been ready to pack up and go for a few days now, but there are so many loose ends to tie up and an orchestra concert Saturday night.
Looking forward to seeing you in Minnesota, the guest room is all ready and the garage has room for your bikes and trailer. Safe travels, Phil and Joey
Great! See you in a few days.
Terrific progress, Beth; keep up that positive spirit! Sending our love & best wishes!
Norm & Ronda Russick