The Fun Buggy was broken after last month's racing escapade, the Army Truck needed a power steering pump, the Red Sled is getting dismantled for parts allocation in an upcoming project, and Clampy busted both rear spring center pins the last time out. As a result, going wheeling would involve wrenching, and for some reason I just didn't feel like opening up the tool box or my wallet for required parts. I just needed a break from smog-encrusted Los Angeles for a few days. I needed a road trip.
Like most of you, my boss won't simply hand me the corporate gas card just because I want to go see the countryside. I needed a good excuse, and I found it in the company parking garage. The Ultimate Adventure 2007 Jeep JK, commonly referred to as the RubiWagon, was sitting on two flat tires, had a dead battery, and wasn't willing to start or run for some reason. This meant it had to be delivered back to Missoula, Montana, to the headquarters of American Expedition Vehicles for its two-year checkup. At least that's what I told the boss. Before he could question me I snaked the gas card, grabbed the keys to a '09 Dodge 1-ton test truck, and hitched up the 4-Wheel & Off-Road trailer. He was yelling about not spending too much money as I laid tracks out the office parking lot and pointed my bugout vehicle north.