Hi,
My Moke has cleared customs. I'll be picking it up tomorrow
The current plan is to drive it to Dallas. In Dallas I will assess - depending on how the car is doing and how I feel, I will either continue drive to Denver or I have arranged temporary storage in Dallas from where I will get it shipped.
If you are on / near the route and willing to be an emergency contact in case of break-down/emergency parts need etc I'd very much appreciate it if you PM me your contact information.
Thanks!
-Peter
PM sent.
Same.
What's your route to home?
You could take TX19.......where in Houston do you pick up a car? Obviously at the port, but where is that?
I'm thinking if you make the 6 hour drive to Garland OK, the rest of the trip will be cake. A very long drive, but no worries.
Epic trip, hope you take lots of pics along the way.....wish I could be more help but I'm north and east of you once you leave Dallas (I'm in KC)
However, given your time restraints I wonder if it might be better to just ship it home?
What's your estimated time frame for the drive from Galveston to Dallas?
Peter, with you schedule, it looks like you are going to hit some rain from Hurricane Gordon. I've driven a Moke in the rain and it's certain that if it's raining outside, it will be raining inside the Moke too. I suggest you take some new Mini windshield wipers with you - as you don't know the condition of the ones currently on the Moke and you won't be able to stop and get Mini ones at WalMart. Pull wipers off another Mini of yours if you have to. Also get some Rain-X and treat the Moke's windshield, inside and out. Speaking of WalMart, you can purchase some wet weather gear there - I was on a motorcycle trip once and hit unexpected rain -- found that they had competent wet gear that will do in a pinch. Of course anyplace that sells hunting gear will have it too. What can you do to make the Moke more visible to other traffic? You will be at somewhat a disadvantage due to the Moke's dark color (and size) and it's miniature taillights. Not much you can do about that, but perhaps consider temporarily fitting a flashing red LED such as bicyclists use, or have something day-glo colored at the rear?
At your first stop for gas outside the port get a big gulp plastic cup to make a rain shield for the dist.
Austria looks like fun!
Big plastic baggies to keep your paperwork dry (or a dry bag would be ideal)
How about some WD-40 to deal with water on the spark plug leads/distributor? Won't be able to fly with that, but can get it locally. Along with a can of Fix-a-flat too. And maybe pick up a cheap socket set and some screwdrivers once you land? And of course duct tape, just because.
There's a Harbor Freight that I think is on your way down to Galveston: 3235 Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77581
Maybe something like this would help too? This one is self-powered https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F692CRB/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07F692CRB&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=a54d13fc-b8a1-4ce8-b285-d77489a09cf6&pf_rd_r=C426E1SVHMC8HRWH0BXN&pd_rd_wg=3KsZS&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=PgsDN&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=1f52a2de-b141-11e8-8e51-357518f34f72
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91sbTXf86RL._SL1500_.jpg)
Pocket knife, Swiss army knife or small box cutter.
I would also recommend picking up a small gas can to have some along as "emergency" backup as you will not know how many mpg you will get, nor if the gauge is accurate.
Fill the can before reaching the port, so you have some for the Moke in order to get it to the first available gas station, then top up the Moke and the spare gas can.
A gallon of water is a good idea too, but you can easily get that there.
If it's under 200 you're OK, but unless you're really pushing it, it won't overheat - assuming the water pump is good, the v-belt is good, and the radiator isn't clogged.
Back when I was a Moke owner I drove my stock 850 Moke all over the Texas Hill Country in the summer and never once thought about overheating or had any cooling problems.
The great Moke Migration adventure should be underway now. Hope things are going smoothly for Peter.
Hope he can post some pics along the way! Will you see the car tonight when he gets to Garland? It's just down the street, right?
Yes, it is close for both me and for Mark. I an open to meet him and see his car if possible.
A meet up would be cool. Not sure on my schedule though. Also probably depends on when he is flying to Sacramento and when he arrives in town. So far I'm going with no news is good news.
I checked the weather between Houston and Dallas a couple of times today. Showers were on and off. Maybe he missed most of them?
Glad to hear you made it ok. Hope your flight goes well with this weather. Bruce, don't you have a stock pile of those gaskets? Lol. Hope it all goes well.
I'm sure you got some dumb looks on the highway.
Yes I do have a bunch of new cork valve cover gaskets just sitting in my garage - so you are welcome to one if you need it.
Glad you made to Dallas okay. Can't wait to hear more about your adventures.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/8ef68WfQPpwVa/giphy-facebook_s.jpg)
Hahahaha. Love it!
Whee, did you decide if you are coming back or shipping it. Getting some more nasty weather tonight and again tomorrow night.
It's supposed to clear up here tomorrow afternoon, then be sunny for several days after that.....
Sounds good. I'm sure it was a pretty good adventure from Housto to Dallas.
There's a thread on here for a gathering at the shop north of Tulsa in April I believe. Probably under events forum named 10th Anniversary.
Well, you just wanted the car to feel at home, right? ;D
Did you at least have a Bimini top or something? I didn't see any side curtains....