Bought some sand bags to improve the traction over the rear wheels. To keep them from sliding around I built this little keep-your-sand-bags-from-sliding-around thing.

Once I decided against keeping the pickup in a storage unit across town, it was time to think about where to park her. I still need to cut some grooves and seat the logs. After that, spread some gravel and throw a tarp over her.

For some reason, the photos I take of this spot do not convey how steep the grade is. I’m guessing it’s 20 degrees which you can certainly feel carrying logs.

We pulled the bench seat out of the pickup today and hosed out forty years of nastiness. There are some rust spots but no more than you’d expect from a truck of this vintage. I’m having new upholstery put on the seat (as well as some new foam) and it should be ready in a few weeks. I might put down a couple of floor mats but I like the idea of being able to turn a hose on the cab when it gets dirty.

As if the fuel tank (right side of the photo) wasn’t large enough, there’s a second one. Still trying figure out how that works.

I briefly considered keeping the pickup truck in a storage unit but it was too tight a fit so I decided to keep it at home. We have about three acres so plenty of room and lots of trucks live outside. Today, while experimenting with just where to park it, I managed to get down in the woods and couldn’t get back up.

The grade isn’t that steep but the ground was soft and slick from last night’s snow. And I didn’t know how to engage 4WD. Not at all like the Land Rover. Lock-out hubs on the front wheels, unfamiliar shifter, my utter cluelessness.

But this will give me an opportunity to use the fancy “snatch rope” (I love that term) I purchased for the Rover. Once rescued, I’ll wait for dryer weather and firmer footing (and a lesson in 4WD’ing) before driving down in the woods again.

UPDATE (11/16/18): Mechanic George had the truck out of the woods in about 90 seconds after engaging the lock-out hubs on the front wheels and putting the transfer gear in four-wheel low. I’ll have to practice this a bit before the next snow.

I spent a couple of hours ripping out some truly nasty carpet and padding from the floor of the pickup. I really wanted to pull the bench seat so I could get it all but wouldn’t have been able to get it out and back in by myself. I leave that for the guys at the upholstery place.

The interior of the cab will need a good power wash to kill all the cooties and then some basic rubber floor mats to cover the rust.

We started the day with Barb taking me to pick up the newest addition to our automotive fleet. She has been fully supportive of getting an old pickup truck but had only seen photos of the new ride which she immediately proclaimed the Official Truck of the Bittersweet Garden Club.

I used the truck for some errands this morning before meeting George for lunch and a quick ride in Minty Fresh (we were unable to come up with a gayer name). George observed I was dressed the part for a beat up old pickup and there would be no need to add some Carhartt gear to my wardrobe.

Next it was a half hour at the Department of Motor Vehicles where I got a set of historic plates for the truck, followed by a safety inspection. A few (relatively) minor things need fixing before we do much driving (not that we’ll be doing much) but she has 40 years of wear and tear, some of which will get fixed, most will simply add character. I did use up a roll of Gorilla Tape on the seat which will have to be replaced or repaired eventually.

It was fun banging around in the truck but it will — for me — always have back-up status. Used for chores that would otherwise fall to Barb’s Lexus or my Land Rover. I was missing the Rover by the end of the day.