Vets Fighting MS West Coast VA Road Trip - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

mkcoen · 01-03-2010, 12:54

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:
Login | Facebook

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 · 01-03-2010, 15:48

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 · 01-03-2010, 16:34

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 · 01-03-2010, 16:48

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 · 01-03-2010, 17:01

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 · 01-03-2010, 17:07

Thanks for posting the itinerary.
Happy trails!

mkcoen · 01-04-2010, 15:44

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 · 01-04-2010, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

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/...ntle-hook.aspx

plus

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

mkcoen · 01-04-2010, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael

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/...ntle-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 · 01-04-2010, 16:38

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 .....