Itinerant Air-Cooled Greetings From New Mexico

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Amskeptic
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Itinerant Air-Cooled Greetings From New Mexico

Post by Amskeptic » Sat Apr 17, 2010 12:54 pm

But first, I had to be punished for those beautiful sunny warm days prior to Nevada as I came up from Tucson, Casa Grande, and Phoenix.

I had left the Hoover Dam at 2:30PM or so...

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... and back-tracked up to the Colorado River below the dam...

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... then took US 93 down to Kingman AZ with a happily cruising BobD bus:

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... and drove naively into the sunset planning a starlit camp-out where I could commune with the Universe:

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It certainly was starlit. But I had picked exactly the coldest spot in the continental United States to set up. I thought I was still at a reasonable elevation when I wended my way down that dirt ranch road west of Flagstaff. Noooo. It was 6,000 feet. It was 22* at 5:00AM when I said to myself after a restless night of losing cover over my feet and waking to Frozen Bald Headedness, no, we're done here. There was ice all over the inside and outside of the windshield. So I drove into the dawn for relief(the heater works):

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Finally thawed out at 3,500 feet or so outside of Gallup NM:

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Can't describe how this view just tears at me:

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Later, I got embarrassed. Had pulled off at the railroad tracks way away from the highway. Stripped down to my Calvins to really let that sun banish last night's frozen frozen frosty fitful frozen sleep effort. Was detailing the sliding door track "hey! I can HEAR a train coming in plenty of time to whip on my shorts, right?" Riiiiiiight. I am touching up rust under the seal along the bottom of the sliding door opening when upon me before I could even react was this stupid NMDOT Chevy Silverado gliding silently down the rails.
I waved. What'reyagonnado?
Colin :colors:
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:55 pm

Bwahahahaha! It happened again?!

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chitwnvw
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Post by chitwnvw » Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:31 pm

Hippie wrote:Bwahahahaha! It happened again?!
Hippie, fill him in on the alcohol heater, he doesn't have to freeze his hind-side off when it is a mere 22 degrees outside.

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Oregon72
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Post by Oregon72 » Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:05 pm

Use a Catalytic heater (portable Buddy heater from mr. Heater). When hambone calls you a big sissy wimp for using a heater, just ignore him. :bom:
-'72 Westy-

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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Sun Apr 18, 2010 5:27 am

chitwnvw wrote:
Hippie wrote:Bwahahahaha! It happened again?!
Hippie, fill him in on the alcohol heater, he doesn't have to freeze his hind-side off when it is a mere 22 degrees outside.
Ya. See if you can scrounge a Heat Pal from a flea market.
Heats all night and you can cook breakfast on it in the morning!

chi, didja ever get the non-stock flame spreader issue sorted out on yours?

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chitwnvw
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Post by chitwnvw » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:23 am

Hippie wrote:
chi, didja ever get the non-stock flame spreader issue sorted out on yours?
I ended up making my own, it works ok.

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glasseye
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Post by glasseye » Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:44 am

I still don't see why you guys don't die of asphyxiation using those things in a closed environment like a bus. Tell me why. Pleeze. :bounce:
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whc03grady
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Post by whc03grady » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:00 am

Because they only require about 6 sq.in. of ventilation, which most of our leaky old buses are more than able to provide. Colin, in the immaculately sealed BobD, is probably in some danger though unless he cracks a window.
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com

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midatlanticys
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Post by midatlanticys » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:04 am

I think alcohol heaters create CO2 but not CO . . . and a lot of moisture, so cracking the vents for some cross ventilation and fresh air is sensible.
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chitwnvw
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Post by chitwnvw » Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:08 am

They are for ice fishing huts and whatnot, they say right on them, just crack a window and you'll be fine.

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Runamuck Bus
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Post by Runamuck Bus » Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:11 pm

Is it me or does this guy get caught in his CK's too often?
Endeavor to Persevere.
'72 Weekender

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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:23 pm

glasseye wrote:I still don't see why you guys don't die of asphyxiation using those things in a closed environment like a bus. Tell me why. Pleeze. :bounce:
It's never to be all closed up when one runs the heater. :colors:

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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:24 pm

chitwnvw wrote: I ended up making my own, it works ok.
Good!
We should start a Heat Pal club...

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whc03grady
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Post by whc03grady » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:43 pm

Runamuck Bus wrote:Is it me or does this guy get caught in his CK's too often?
CK's CKs. Funny.
Ludwig--1974 Westfalia, 2.0L (GD035193), Solex 34PDSIT-2/3 carburetors.
Gertie--1971 Squareback, 1600cc with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection from a '72 (E brain).
Read about their adventures:
http://www.ludwigandgertie.blogspot.com

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chitwnvw
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Post by chitwnvw » Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:42 pm

Hippie wrote:
chitwnvw wrote: I ended up making my own, it works ok.
Good!
We should start a Heat Pal club...
There is more to the story, perhaps in person this summer...

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