Got it and replied, will give a short trip report tomorrow when I get access to some of the pics I took. Didnt get to any fishing:frustration: like I wanted, the family over rode me. But we had a good time... more to come.
I am afraid that this was not so much of an exciting "expedition" trip, it was a pretty tame family trip. After going through the 200+ pictures of my trip, I found that my wife did not take ANY pics of the mini truck in action!!!! I was running the video camera and didnt really pay attention to still shots. The weather was awesome, it rained only a couple of times, the temp was in the 70's during the day. The drive to West Yellowstone is only about 5 hours for me, so that went well. We stayed in the Grizzly Rv park in West Yellowstone. West Yellowstone is a neat little tourist town. They have lots of tourist shops that sucked money from my wallet. We would drive the mini in town and never got a second look from anyone but a couple of tourists. There were wheelers that were cruising around as well. We did take off from the campground and drove the local forest service roads and went to Hebgen lake. Never did buy any fishing licenses so we didnt get around to fishing, I was overridden on that activity. The forest service roads were wide dirt roads through the forest. So not alot of trail action. It was a good family vacation, and I think probably the last, as my 17 year old does not want to hang with us anymore. Yellowstone park was great, we did the usual tourist stops and saw the usual suspects, but did not get to see a bear this year on the park. Falls on the fire hole river, swimming was closed in the normal fire hole swimming area, the water flow was still to high. Over 360 cubic feet per second. The token old faithful shot. Buffalo getting a citation for causing a 'buffalo jam' on the road. Lower falls from artist point. Bull elk in Mammoth, they just sit wherever they want. The RV park borders the forest, this was right out our "back door" Mini truck in "camp", I parked it in front of the trailer and parked the truck in the over flow, a few people asked if I actually pulled the trailer with the mini..... I told them it took me 6 days to get to Yellowstone from SLC. Rv park, trailer and mini hiding behind the tree's, I guess the camo works. A street in West Yellowstone A couple of Elk on the park.
Nice trip report. x4 on the 17 year old. He might be absent from many family adventures for a while, but you will still be paying his bills. I find myself wishing I lived in your part of our country. Seems that most of what we want to experience is within a day or two of you, but 4 to 5 days from me. But then again here is a picture of my back yard.
great pics...I remember going through Yellowstone when I was too young to appreciate it....+2 on the 17 year old...mine only comes around when his motorcycle needs something...they come back eventually though.. Aeroshots with that backyard you get no sympathy from me beautiful ...unless there's a hurricane coming ...
Looks like your back yard is conducive to another hobby of mine that DOES require a few days travel from my home.... scuba diving! Very nice! Looks like a great place to lay in a hammock!
Yellowstone is always a fun trip. Its cool you got to take the mini along. I know the feeling about your son, I have three, and the youngest is 18. He doesn't even want to go wheeling with me any more. O well some day they will come around. Your truck look's ready for any thing, I love it !! It's hard to pack all things you want to keep in the truck at all times.I am going to have to copy your ideas. I am having a hard time finding a place to mount my spare tire, thought about mounting it on the rear bumper, [ like a Jeep ], It's kinda big setting in the bed. Then there's the Handyman jack. Have you got any ideas ? We really need to get together sometime. The hunt's are starting and the hill's are getting to be like I-15, almost got hit by Ricky Racer in a pickup today. Trip up Sheep Creek, over the top into Strawberry Res. Need to find a spot to keep the fishing rod TOO. LOL
I know what you mean about the hills getting busier, the archery hunts have started already I think. I have thought about mounting a handyman jack on my "headache" rack behind the cab... but I throw the rifle case up there on the hunts. But still, I think a couple of brackets like these: http://www.4wheelparts.com/Exterior...dium=froogle&utm_campaign=product&emlprox=out would be the ticket and the cats meow. I only carry the 12" original tire spare for my truck now and throw it by the rear seat, before I had the seat installed I was going to modify a "L" bracket bolted to the bed. Something like this, but beefier/taller for a tire and rim, but keep a release/tie down that did not require tools : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/tech-data/B000IZU9SK The fishing pole? I carry a collapsible rod like this: http://www.amazon.com/Trailworthy-Telescopic-Rod-Reel-Set/dp/B002MA6IHU mine is a different name brand but it works fine with my shimano reel. You could zip tie a PVC pipe to your cab rack at an angle so the rod wouldnt slide out on the trail and depending on the angle, probably get a full size rod to fit ok. I am taking the wheeler out to the Eureka area next week to see if the pine nuts are ready and have not been eatin by the squirrels already. The next "mini" trip I have planned is not until the hunt in October:frustration:. Need to get another one in going in September!! Your second picture looks like a bay at Strawberry that when I was in the National Guard we were at for a few days... used to run the ROWPU units, and we would go up there to train. ( and for inquiring minds that might not know ROWPU= Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit, a big damn water filter that can produce 3000 gallons of potable water in an hour) And your truck looks like it could eat mine up and spit it out!!
erixsun ; The bracket's to hold the jack are the way to go I think, and the shovel would be a good thing to have. I always have one in the winter! I am trying to keep as much weight in the rear as I can, and that screws having empty space for something big, [deer / elk ]. O I was going to tell ya on my rear bumper I mounted it so I could remove one bolt and the bumper would swing out, I was able to keep the stock spare tire. If ya are interested I will snap a pix. It worked great.it keeps weight low and to the rear. Ya that's the meadow's at Strawberry, I like to fish there. fupabox ; I dano about that. these tires are big, it just mite stand on its nose, LOL. I have been thinking about the coverd wagon like thing. See if you can work your magic and put one on a mini so we can have a look.
I too want the back covered with canvas. I still have not got off my but and done it yet. There are a few out there though! Even with all the $#!& (crap?) that I have in the back of my truck, I think you could still fit an elk, we fit a WHOLE one in the back of a rhino! He was folded in half though... look at the pics in my profile album "other pics". I know a mule deer fits, and the kids just used it as a foot rest on the way back to camp... Check out this thread: http://www.minitrucktalk.com/showthread.php?t=8443 And a couple of pics from other threads/members on this forum and the net: And there is a canvas shop in Clearfield that supposedly can work some magic, I have yet to go talk to the guy, when I do I am also taking my GP Small tent to him and have him install a couple of windows as well. Time and money...... And yes, take a couple of pics of your bumper, I am going to build a new one, and was going to do a "drop" down section so I could move my stock spare back under the bed/ above the gas tank. But would like to see yours as well!
YA that's what I am thinking, I like the military look! I have some 11/4" pipe I was going to make a roll bar out of. Might have to try it. I can't use my spare tire any more, kinda small now, but the bumper worked good. I used bolt's so I could keep thing's tight, [no rattle's] It only takes a minute to take it out and swing the bumper out. The bracket's are vary strong and will take a side load from the winch. This will work great on your truck. I know u have room in your truck for some critters, I have a spare and a box in the back of the bed, and need to change thing's. I made a bracket to hold the tire on the side of the bed, but it looked out of place, toooo big. So i have been thinking of mounting it on the rear bumper, but need to have easy access to the tail gate. I really want to keep as much weight to the rear and as low I can. I Like how you have done thing's in your bed. I need to go to the army surplus store.
Erixen, What type of tires do you have on the truck? I noticed the tires look like ATV tires, but the wheels look like car/stock wheels. I have ATV tires, but they are too wide to fit the car rims. Tire make and size please? Thanks, Greg
They are Kenda Bearclaw tires. They are on the stock rims, 24x8x12... they run just a little bit smaller so they are more like 23's... They fit without a lift on my truck and didnt rub, but know I have a short lift on my truck. Hope this helps. Oh and I purchased them from rocky mountain atv they were the cheapest I found with low shipping. Sorry it took me so long to reply.. been busy with work and going back to school to get my degree... and making my full size truck into an expedition vehicle...
Sorry that I never answered the question--- but it has a plate because in Utah it is registered as a street legal ATV.
Erixun Nice work!!! I really like your Storm under bed boxes. Can you please share the storm box model number you used. I also don't understand how they mount on the truck. Do the cases have the bracket tubes that slide and clip onto your truck mounting tubes?? I would assume you added the mounting tubes onto the case some how. Can you please email me some additional pics of your cases including the case part number and how you mounted them. jonalexander303@gmail.com Thanks Jon