Hubby and I have been a couple of very busy campers lately. First let’s just say Moab’s slogan of “again and again – the adventure never ends” is very fitting and I know Al and I will be returning to Moab again and again.
We were back in Moab, Utah, boondocking with pals Linda and Mike for about a week before it was time for us to be moving on in separate directions. But before moving, we all managed to get in some hiking, exploring, and a little socializing…..ok maybe it was a lot of socializing, but who’s keeping track 😉 
Why is it all the problems of the world seem to fade away over cocktails and an open fire? Or perhaps we just felt somehow we solved all the problems. Now if only someone would listen!
The guy below sure didn’t listen to anyone and ended up getting himself stuck in a sandy wash. Several days earlier it rained; first flooding the wash then compacting the sand, but as the sand dried out the sand got softer and softer making it impassable for anything other than a serious 4×4. Yep, he’s calling AAA and they DID tow him out.
Al and Mike even came to the rescue of a couple of Aussie kids young adults in a mini van. This was their camp. What made them think they could drive a mini van back there?
Two old spry men, a F-250, and rope…. can I hear a little male grunting “arrr, arrr, arrr” followed later by the clanking of beer bottles, “cheers” to success. The Aussie’s were very grateful especially since the vehicle was borrowed from a friend and they had no other affordable options. A “thanks mate” was all that was necessary.
So with our fun in Moab over, we head back to Colorado and finish up some repairs.
I will say, having the new tires was a comfort during our travels. We had the tires replaced before our return to Moab. After experiencing a couple of blown tires on the 5th wheel, it feels a bit more reassuring to have a complete new set of tires all around when hitting the road.
Being in the home building business for many years, it was rather common for us to have tire issues. Issues that centered mostly around air loss due to nails in tires. Discount Tires has always treated us well and after a substantial amount of trailer tire research, we chose the Discount Tire in Grand Junction, Colorado, to do the work. We spend the majority of our travels meandering around Colorado or Arizona and both states offer plenty of Discount Tire store locations in the event we have any tire issue that needs to be addressed.
We opted to go with their 10 ply trailer tire and not a truck tire. We had 3 different tire shops in 3 different states recommend we use a 10 ply TRAILER tire. Trailer tires are designed to withstand the scooching motion that occurs when maneuvering the trailer.
A motorhome, truck, or car all have axles that turn as the vehicle turns and thus the tires always move in the direction of the vehicle. A trailer has stationary axles and as the trailer is maneuvered around, the tires aren’t always rolling but rather scooching or sliding. The trailer tire side walls are specifically designed for this motion where as a truck tire is not.
Another thing we were adamant about was checking the dates on the new tires before installation. Trailer tires should be replaced every 5 years regardless of mileage. The manufacture date is clearly stamped on the side of the tire.
Our new tires were manufactured the 15th week of the year 2014. Thus our new tires were only 6 weeks old when we had them installed. Happy campers!
Next up, we complete some body work……..
Northwest Enterprises Hard Plastic Two Piece 5-1/2-Ounce Wine Glasses, Clear, 40 Count
Clear Plastic Margarita Glasses (1 dz)
Live Laugh RV 
Moab is so pretty, and sounds like fun times! The Aussie story is funny, especially the part about the two spry men 🙂 Good job on the tire search, it makes a big difference when you do your research. Enjoy!
Brenda
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Great photos… Great new tires… Great fun with friends (cocktails, friends and campfires!)
Oh… and we have seen crazy people drive ordinary cars out into the desert. They end up being trashed afterwards. You are right… they do not listen!
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Thanks Nancy. Living in AZ you’ll see it all 🙂
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Good to see you are the road again, Ingrid. You sound like one happy camper!
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I can’t see myself settling down just yet…..need to find that spot that calls to me…..and a budget that’ll match LOL!
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Ah, the budget. Damn the budget!
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Moab looks like fun! Thanks so much for the advice on tires! This kind of information is so helpful for us newbies:)
Bettina (talesfromturtleandhawk.blogspot.com)
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Sometimes it’s no fun learning the hard way, but I guess someone has to LOL. Moab is unique and a must see!
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Sending Mr. Jer out to check our tires….good to know. Loved that spot you were sitting in…nice stone fire pit! Hit the road today….a story to match that later! On the hunt for a monthly rental to sit back and veg in SILENCE and get our mojo back! Right in WINE country!!!
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Ah….perhaps you’ll need to send me an email and let me know how things transitioned. Sounds like ‘wine’ country is the perfect spot to regain that mojo!
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Happy hour with friends around a lovely campfire in the gorgeous Moab red rock country — it doesn’t get any better! We’ve never been to Moab in wildflower season — it looks so pretty. Happy travels on your new tires!
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We returned to Moab on a last minute whim and the wildflowers were such a wonderful surprise. It took the already beautiful scenery to another level…..loved it 🙂
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Yep, we had 3 blow-outs on our Cougar…and an axle problem. Hope the new tires does the trick, but have Al check how the tires “wear” after traveling a while. We also solve world problems over a campfire and some cocktails…My Dad use to say “drunks and babies tell the truth”…HMMM. maybe that’s it.
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We have friends with a Cougar who have been going around in circles with Keystone regarding the axle problem. Our axles seem to be ok.
Hmm, drunks and babies??? Interesting theory. Will you be heading to TX this winter?
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Considering Florida this next Winter..We tried a couple years ago and got called back home after 5 weeks..We shall see.
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You guys are staying plenty busy and if we were full timers I think regular stops at Moab would be on our list. Always feels better when I have new rubber on a vehicle.
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Ah, if you were in Moab, I think I’d have to hunt you down to sample some of your delicious cooking. I think Moab will just have to be a regular stop for us. We still have so much we want to explore in the area and yes, the new tires feel great 🙂
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Truck and Trailer maintenance is so important – have to get the truck and the trailer in to get ready for camping season – a little behind right now! Beautiful Captures – Nothing Better than Kicking Back too 🙂 Happy Week!
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Sounds like you’re gearing up for the summer season…yahoo. Look forward to hearing about a little R & R around a campfire 🙂
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Good times! Sitting around the campfire just isn’t the same without Al’s entertaining stories. Miss you guys! Hope the body work on your rig worked out well.
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We are all put back together. Truck goes in today for a little servicing and we’re hopefully set for awhile. Wish you guys could’ve joined us at the Maroon Bells. Al talked to me about heading your way, but I didn’t think it was a good idea to put our two guys together in your absence…..we gotta keep those boys in line LOL. “Bad boys!”
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Great adventures, Ingrid. You made me laugh with the story about the Aussies in their bogged down mini van. Happy traveling on your new set of tires. Good to feel safe. That wildlife looks really scary. 🙂
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The Aussie’s literally dug themselves in up to their axles. Young kids! I’m sure they learned a lesson or two….let’s hope. Yep, that Lucy attacked me at every opportunity and I of course I loved it 🙂
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Margarita glasses are such a necessity 😉
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Margarita glasses that are kept FULL 🙂
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Here, here! 😉
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The wildlife looks absolutely frightening. 🙂 As someone who has very little experience in the desert I’m not sure I would know where and where not to drive. However give me snow banks and I’m much more knowledgable 🙂
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Ah, with a little practice you’d adjust to the desert just fine. Sand and powdered snow have more in common than you think. Oh and as for that wildlife, I encouraged Lucy’s attacks!
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So if there are snow tires are there sand tires?
Lucy looks like she could give anyone a good licking 🙂
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But of course there are tires for sand. You should see some of the Jeeps around here…..talk about some serious backcountry exploring!
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Well of course this makes sense. I’ve spent too much time in the snow obviously. 🙂
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We sure know what peace of mind having new tires can bring! We lost 3 on a single trip in our Fiver a couple of years ago. It makes one (or both) a little antsy going down the road! Also thanks for defining that technical term of “Scooching”. Always wondered about that. Great posts and photos of a beautiful part of America we don’t see traveling up and down the East Coast. Safe travels.
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Yikes, 3 tires? Two was bad enough and yes it can take the fun and excitement out of the journey. The East Coast and the West Coast are vastly different….each offers it’s own beauty and diversity. Hubby always gets a kick out of my ‘technical’ terminology LOL.
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It seems to me that everyone must get stuck in the sand, at least once, or life is not complete! We have had our once and that is enough.
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Once is usually enough. Hubby and I wanted to explore down that road and even I wouldn’t take my 4 wheel drive Tacoma through that wash once it dried out. I was sure we’d get stuck. Hopefully, we’ve learned from past experiences ourselves.
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Ingrid, Did you and Al camp on BLM land? Jim
>
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Technically it was state land. The BLM in the Moab area requires you stay in one of their designated campgrounds….. of which, most of the sites would NOT comfortably fit our 31′ 5th wheel providing a site was even open. Feel free to email me if you’d like more detailed info. livelaughrv@hotmail.com
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Moab is one of our all time favorite places to be. Beauty all around. Love you boondocking spot.
The world seems to disappear when we are in the mountains with a cold one in our hand. Glad you found a little paradice here on Earth.
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Thank you Marsha and Moab is one of my favorite places as well. I’m hoping it becomes a regular stop for us as we travel between Colorado and Arizona. We did find a pretty sweet spot to call home 🙂
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Only Aussie would try that in a mini van… but then Aussies are adventurers… much like us, they will try anything on the grounds it might work… fortunately we get smarter with age…
If all the world leaders would kick off their shoes, gather around a camp fire, beer in hand, meat on the grill, there would be no problems at all…
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That’s exactly what was discussed….drinks, meat, campfire – what problems!!! Let’s hope we get smarter with age. I sure wouldn’t want to repeat some of the mistakes I made when I was younger 😉
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Congrats on the new set of tires. We had to put new tires on ours when we bought it 2 1/2 years ago, and it is nice to know they’re new while on the road. Moab looks interesting, and your photos are beautiful. We have a friend that is a serious mountain biker, and he goes there every spring with some other guys on a big, intense ride over a long weekend. Had to chuckle at the Aussies’ escapades but glad that you all helped them out. 😉
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Moab is an outdoor Mecca. The biking and hiking opportunities are endless and then there’s the 4×4 fun as well as the rivers. Talk about an adult playground. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend a visit at least once.
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Another visit back to one of my very favorite places:) Good you got the world problems solved. We’ve done that plenty ourselves:)
Guess this was the first (and last) trip in a sandy wash for that guy. He is finding out first hand what deep sand means. Good the guys were able to help the other campers out of the sand.
We did the tire thing while in GA. Definitely want good, new tires while hauling around all that weight.
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It feels good to get all the repairs and maintenance complete so we can hopefully travel with excitement instead of dread. Do I foresee Moab in your plans this fall or next spring? I doubt you can stay away too much longer 🙂
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We will most likely return to Moab next April. We were there a year ago in April and it was perfect! The temps were in the 60’s and 70’s and the crowds were just starting to build. This September we are heading to the northern Rockies for the month. From there…who knows:)
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Perhaps we’ll see you in Moab next April. Northern Rockies? Would that be Glacier NP?
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Glad to hear you got your tires replaced. I’m sure you have peace of mind traveling down the road these days. Utah seems to be the place to be this spring for wildflowers. Love that last image Ingrid. 🙂
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It had rained heavily a few days before our arrival and according to the locals it was a great showing of wildflowers this year. Lucky me! You know, it’s always prettier in person than it is in photos….loved it. Have you ever been to the Maroon Bells?
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No, where is it?
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I’m surprised. It’s near Aspen and it’s the most photographed mountains in North America….next post. You’d love it. Google ‘Maroon Bells’.
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They are gorgeous! I can’t believe this is the first I am hearing of them. Can’t wait to read your post and see your photos. 🙂
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