What did you do today for your bug out vehicle?

[majorhavoc]

Just bought a high-end dashcam system for the Jeep.

Power supply

Camera

Remote

Memory card

Wow.  I've been eyeing cameras that occassionally go on sale on Amazon for $80 or so.  I guess like most things, you get what you pay for.  Let us know when you capture something to contribute to the Idiots in Cars YT channel. 

[NT2C]

Just bought a high-end dashcam system for the Jeep.

Power supply

Camera

Remote

Memory card

Wow.  I've been eyeing cameras that occassionally go on sale on Amazon for $80 or so.  I guess like most things, you get what you pay for.  Let us know when you capture something to contribute to the Idiots in Cars YT channel.

I got spoiled years ago by an app that turned my then Motorola Photon Q cell phone into a very good dashcam with all the bells & whistles like GPS, automatic crash save of the last 15 seconds and automatic upload of that to an online server.  It recorded speed, location, etc. and would even auto-call 911.  I had to retire both of those phones years ago, but that's been my standard of an "acceptable" dashcam ever since.  This setup is very close to that.  (I can add a module to it later allowing it to upload to the cloud)

[MacWa77ace]

Just bought a high-end dashcam system for the Jeep.

Power supply

Camera

Remote

Memory card

I just watched a ChrisFix video on how to wire a dashcam [last week] and that was the brand camera he used. He added a rear camera also.

I hadn't had a chance to check the price on it yet but   

[NT2C]

Yeah, it's a pricey setup for sure but since I like off-road adventures it can be used to capture those (along with my GoPro clones) as well as the day-to-day madness that is driving in Northern Virginia.  At the very least, I consider it another prep item and a bit of "White Man's Magic" in that by having it I will substantially reduce my chances of being in an accident.  And if I still am it may save my bacon from false claims.

[Rednex]

Well i just ordered a set of these dash cams for our vehicles. Was going with a Red Tiger one for 160 ish but NT posted his, then i did some more goggle reviews and the same brand he got was popping up better so.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083V6K8RH/ref=pe_386300_440135490_TE_simp_item_image

[NT2C]

Well i just ordered a set of these dash cams for our vehicles. Was going with a Red Tiger one for 160 ish but NT posted his, then i did some more goggle reviews and the same brand he got was popping up better so.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083V6K8RH/ref=pe_386300_440135490_TE_simp_item_image

I briefly considered that one but I really wanted one with GPS so I took it up a notch.  I hope you used that $50 off coupon!

[Rednex]

I did use a $50 off coupon. Just hope i can install them without to much hassle.Looks plug and play, just need to pull trim and lay it down.

[NT2C]

I did use a $50 off coupon. Just hope i can install them without to much hassle.Looks plug and play, just need to pull trim and lay it down.

Two bits of advice:

Go under floor trim instead of headliner trim to avoid airbags (if equipped)

If you have power at the rearview mirror see if they make a plug-in tap for it like I bought

[NT2C]

Bought a new snow brush for it, and another for my wife's vehicle.  These are not your typical short brushes with an ice scraper you see in every hardware store and auto supply in snow areas.  This is extendable, has a broom that swivels, and is almost as tall as me!

$20 on Woot.  https://tools.woot.com/offers/super-extendable-snow-brush-and-scraper-6

[NT2C]

I've been having gradually worsening starting issues with my Jeep since last June, most notably when it has sat for a few days.  I took it in to the dealer for diagnosis about a month ago and they kept it for a week but couldn't replicate the problem.  Odd.  (Found out later the tech was starting it every day instead of waiting 4-5 days)

Just before bringing it in I'd heard that some FCA vehicles were having corrosion issues with the starters causing hard cranking, especially in vehicles that aren't used daily.  My service writer even said they'd replaced a starter like that just before I brought mine in.

With the "couldn't replicate" response I took it home and we've been watching it worsen to the point that Sunday night I finally managed to get it running (4 cranks and a fully depleted jump pack that also overheated).  I left it running until 3 AM then shut it down and left it until about 1 PM when the wife and I took it to the dealer again and dropped it off, telling them it was a no crank and that the remote start was inop.

The service writer texted me around 2 today to say that the main battery was not holding a charge and was replaced under warranty (both batteries were replaced last year).  I texted back and asked in the remote start now works (suspecting the starter killed the battery and that the remote start would still not work).  Answer came back an hour later that he had the tech check that and "now the starter is malfunctioning and will be replaced under warranty".  It will be ready tomorrow.

And that is how our $3,400 Max Care Lifetime bumper-to-bumper warranty just paid for itself, because from the dealer that start (installed) is $2,400+ on top of the $650 battery.  I figure we're well past the break-even point now (there have been other minor things handled under the warranty) and the warranty will remain in effect as long as we own the vehicle.

[NT2C]

Bought a polarizing filter for the front camera on the Jeep and I'll be bringing it in later to install the rear camera.  I also ordered the cameras for the wife's Pilot.

Dug out and prepared the tire chain sets we have for the Jeep and made sure the set for the Pilot was ready.  Added better snow brushes and ice scrapers to both vehicles. Found the set we had for BlueHawk and will ship them to Texas if @12_Gauge_Chimp wants them.

Adjusted tire pressures in all ten tires.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Bought a polarizing filter for the front camera on the Jeep and I'll be bringing it in later to install the rear camera.  I also ordered the cameras for the wife's Pilot.

Dug out and prepared the tire chain sets we have for the Jeep and made sure the set for the Pilot was ready.  Added better snow brushes and ice scrapers to both vehicles. Found the set we had for BlueHawk and will ship them to Texas if @12_Gauge_Chimp wants them.

Adjusted tire pressures in all ten tires.

Go ahead and send them, NT2C.

[NT2C]

Installed a dashcam on the wife's Honda Pilot.  This one to be precise: https://a.co/d/8nU05eZ

Installation proved to be a royal fucking pain in the arse.  Getting the plastic trim off the car to start took far more tools than the one plastic prybar they include (I used several from my professional installers kit) and I still managed to break two tabs on the piece coming off.  Fortunately, it's staying off because the dashcam replaces it but Honda engineers did not want that fucker coming off.

The two screws in the sunglasses holder that they make look so easy to take out and put in, took me the better part of an hour to put back in and had a nasty tendency to get wedged in the corners of the glasses holder door, requiring, at one point, a lump of duct seal and a dental pick to fish back out.  Running the cables for the camera was a chore and I gave up on the rear camera when I realized they expected you to glue black cable clips to the light beige trim and string the cable like I was doing Christmas lights.

It's in though, seems to be functioning, and I'll order a new replacement piece of trim to have just in case we ever take it out.  I may hire a shop to run the cable for the rear camera.

[tirls]

I got a new toy necessary transport vehicle.

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[EBuff75]

I got a new toy necessary transport vehicle.

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We actually have a very active local unicycle club where I live.  Back when we used to have a parade each year, they were usually there to participate, riding a large variety of different types.

[superduder]

Speaking of...


Seriously though, I could never balance well enough to ride one.

[eugenenine]

I can do two wheels without crashing too often.

[NT2C]

I can do two wheels without crashing too often.

I can do just two wheels touching when I'm rock climbing in my Jeep

[tirls]

The nice thing about unicycles is that there is no handlebar you can fly over head first. Crashing is more like an accelerated stepping off.
Try it if you get the chance. It's so much fun once you get over the falling stage.

[tirls]

I´m currently trying to put a bike together for our planned italy trip. I´m not taking the Brompton, mainly because of all the descending (rim brakes on a 16" wheels get hot!) and replacement not being readily available in shops.

The choice is between upgrading my old Gitane Mixte or an Origami Swift folder. I could potentially try to get a used road or gravel bike for around the same it would take me to get these bikes ready, but I really don´t want another one standing around and I like my bikes.

The Gitane is in good condition. I´d need to update the gear shifter, it still has it´s original lever shifter on the top tube and I´m terrible at reaching it while driving. Definitely also new wheels, they´re quite thin racing wheels without a lot of profile and from the 80s. I think I´d like something a bit sturdier and less slippy, you still get ice and snow in the alps in summer.
I´m not sure how much current standard parts it takes, but at the least brake pads, chain and wheels shouldn´t be a problem.
It´s decently light for a steel framed bike and has great racks, both front and back.

 (not mine, but identical)

The other available bike is an Origami Swift folding bike. It´s a 20" with hydraulic disc brakes. It´s a new bike, so I don´t need to update anything on it. I might need to change the gearing, but I´m still testing it out. The real disadvantage is that it is slightly slower and my travel partner will be on a street racing bike. On the other hand I can take it on trains and busses and it might even fit into my tent, depending on which I end up taking.
It´s slightly heavier and definitely needs a different bike rack.

(also not mine, but identical apart from the colour)

Decisions!

I need new lights for both of them and figure something out for my power supply. And get my tool kit in order.
Does anyone have any experience with a good bike computer for navigation?