What a surprise to find this forum!

[Binford]

Not even quite sure yet how I actually came to find you. I stumbled onto a Yahoo! Group called Backroad Drivers and think I recognize some of your names from there. Only been looking at either for a few hours here. I'm sure I'll feel my way through. But from Backroad Drivers I think I found a link to this board. In the few hours I've poked around, I'm very much impressed!

My name is Tim Taylor (for real), so naturally I'm known as "Binford" on the Internet. Married, 43 and counting, with two boys ages 7 and 10. We live out on a few acres in Port Orchard, Washington, in Kitsap County a little south of Bremerton.

I've got a '77 CJ-5 I've had for 12 years. It's in need of a lot of attention as it hasn't been driven more than a hundred miles in the past 8 years, I'm afraid. Got good plans for it, but before I get to them I need to build a shop. Wrenching on the gravel isn't fun. Especially when your area gets 50 inches of rain a year.



That's our dead '90 GMC Suburban in the background (transmission likes to stay in 1st gear now) and an '80 Toyota I'm going to sell as soon as I shoot some paint on it.

About three years ago I guess it is now, I picked up a 1967 Kaiser Jeep M715 in Montana. It had been used by the Forest Service out there as a firetruck (radio truck, near as I can tell). Pretty much stock, other than a few items. With wheel wells as ample as those, I just had to put a set of 11.00x16 Michelin XLs on it. They're tires the military uses on their Light Attack Vehicles. They just look so right.





Top speed is 60, though I suppose it might see 65 if really pushed. But run it at more than 55 for any length of time and the transfer case heats up enough to blow the seals. So if I were ever to join you on a trail run in this thing, I'll make sure there isn't much highway mileage!

Not sure what else I could say at this point. I'm looking forward to feeling my way through the forums here.

Thanks!

[Jerry]

Hi, Tim, welcome to the forum! Thanks for posting pics of your collection. I really like your M715. It's the best looking one I have seen. Very cool. I have it's little cousin...



...a 77 Cherokee that I have owned for over 10 years. Nothing like FSJ's to keep dust out of the pocketbook

I know Steve will be happy to know you are enjoying the forum (the rest of us enjoy it as much as you) and I invite you to browse through the files, links and photos sections at Backroad Drivers; the two groups do have a close relationship. Post up whenever the urge strikes and we look forward to you joining us on upcoming road trips.
Jerry

[Binford]

Thanks, Jerry! I did indeed notice your '77 SJ. Just be careful around me since there are quite a few parts that are interchangeable with the M715! And thanks for the compliment. It's been a lot of fun fixing it up.

In a couple weeks I'm trailering it out to Colorado with my family for a gathering of a whole bunch of us M715 nuts from the "M715 Zone" (The M715 Zone - Powered by vBulletin). In military-vehicle fashion, we call these gatherings "FEs" for "Field Exercises." Where we get off our butts and actually drive them instead of write about driving them. I'll post up about it in the Beyond the PNW forum.

So I've discovered from my browsing around tonight that Steve is the writer of an article I'd read a year or two ago about a trip on the Olympic Peninsula over Bon Jon Pass in his old Wrangler! I'd read that with great interest and would like to do that drive. I'm also in the planning stages for building some sort of storage container/box not unlike you built, Steve. My only problem is taking both my boys on a trip. Seems it's either gear and one boy, or two boys and no gear. Probably why you're in an FJ80, eh?!

Anyway, it's nice to be here....

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Binford

I'm also in the planning stages for building some sort of storage container/box not unlike you built, Steve. My only problem is taking both my boys on a trip. Seems it's either gear and one boy, or two boys and no gear. Probably why you're in an FJ80, eh?!

I guess it all depends on how long you plan on being out. For me, the SWB Jeeps are a two person vehicle if you plan on carrying gear for a night or two. You just have to pack like you're backpacking for the same time frame. For extended trips (4-5 days), it may only be a one person vehicle, depending on how much fuel, water and food you need to bring.

Having the storage box makes it so much easier to access equipment without having to remove everything piled on top of what you need.

And yes, thats why I bought the Land Cruiser but many other vehicles will also work as well.

And before I forget, welcome to the forum.

Steve

[T.Low]

Welcome to the forum, Tim. I'm pretty new here and don't get on too often, but they sure have been a warm and receptive crew, and I drive a mini van for crying out loud!

You've got some rigs there alright. Nice pics.

I'd like to do more on the penninsula as well.

Cheers

[Binford]

Thanks, T! (We've got a minivan too...)

Yes, it seems like a pretty nice group here. Quiet too!

One of these days I'm going to take the Bon Jon Pass trail out on the Olympic Peninsula. Not sure what I'd take though. Might have to be the minivan! Eeek!