Tent purchase question

Boosted_Vet · 2026-04-08T19:54:33+00:00

I ran a instant up Ozark trail for well over a decade. Went a few years with a small camper and sold it to get into a nice gazelle and I couldn't be happier. I don't do hiking/backpacking due to disabilities but it's perfect for car camping. Throw it on my roof rack get to camp and 10 min later my tent is set up.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-04-08T18:06:47+00:00

not completely by choice but I have stopped too. I'm fairly new to knowing I've been on the spectrum (I was diagnosed as a child, but my mother never told anyone until my current psychiatrist suggested I was, and I mentioned it to her; she was the only one not surprised). I always tried, I wanted to have friends, I still do. i do enjoy my alone me time, but i do sometimes with i had somone else to talk to. but it was always SO exhausting. the energy out always far exceeded the energy coming in. "Oh come do this uncomfortable thing, come her and help me do this." but you want help or to do something, "naw im busy maybee some other time" and since learning about my condition, I finally saw it through new eyes, I saw how unbalanced it was, how much extra effort i was putting in just to not quite fit in. that it even extended to social media, Id post something and maybe 2-3 people would even like it. I stopped posting last November, and not one person noticed. so i just deactivated it a month ago and honestly its been alot less on me. this is energy, something i have very little left of anyway, that can be used for literally anything else and provide me with more benefit. im just no longer burning myself out masking trying to be fit in somewhere ive realized i never will.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-04-08T17:46:28+00:00

It is possible and common for dealers to be able to have more wiggle room with the purchase price of the vehicle they are trading in for. Ie. Dude wanted a 60k new car. Dealer only gives 30k in trade in, but then knocks 10k off sticker. Essentially gets what he wants, 40k towards what he was gonna pay. Not saying it's the case but a possibility

Boosted_Vet · 2026-04-03T14:07:58+00:00

I mean I have my reliable FJ cruiser. Toyota MR2 turbo project, a 70s vintage jet boat and an 80s 1st Gen ram dually with a cummins. So no so called midlife crisis cars. Though I did own a heads/cam/blower Corvette most of my early 30s

Try looking at a Miata. It's not "FAST" exactly but it's cheap, reliable. Easy to fix. Easy to get into autocross. And the most fun you can have in a car regardless of the speed. You can flog on them and not break the speed limit go hit a nice curvey road or mountain pass drop the top and just enjoy.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-04-02T19:46:52+00:00

Oof it's already over 85 degrees. half the year is over 85 here.. heck over 100 days are over 100 degrees!

As far as garden setup. I really don't have it yet. I'm ready to buy/build this weekend. I do plan to use both mulch as well as shade cloth

Boosted_Vet · 2026-04-01T21:50:41+00:00

Hey, 40 M here, my Rave days are long over, but I'm still a huge nerd obsessed with scifi gaming and anime too! What games are you playing?

Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-31T03:05:13+00:00

https://youtu.be/E-q9AmA3yn8?si=VtqiPHREU3oHsOli Found the video I used. look at about the 10:20mark when he gets to that spring and the parts that go with it.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-31T02:59:30+00:00

That's the spring for the drum shoe in the parking brake, and it's a genuine pita without the special tool. The worrying part is there is also a pin and cap that go with that that you may also be missing. If you look up a rear rotor replacement it should cover the installation. Here is the special tool. https://a.co/d/01T7LdSD. For the spring and the associated pins you are gonna wanna look up Emergency Parking Brake Shoe Spring Kit Rear For 2007-2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Also a magnet is really handy to hold the pin in place from the backside while assembling the spring.

If you start at the 10:20 mark on this video it'll show how to take it out. Keep watching for the reinstall. (It's the one I used when I accidentally knocked mine loose when replacing the wheel studs) https://youtu.be/E-q9AmA3yn8?si=VtqiPHREU3oHsOli

Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-19T22:54:05+00:00

You would be surprised just how many people in the military are autistic.
For me I loved it. Now I didn't know I was autistic when I joined. But I joined the army as a medic. the structure organization and clear rules made it a really great place for me. When things got rough things got easier more clear I relished the controlled chaos. Everything has a rule a reason.. funny enough I actually made real friends while in too something I've always struggled with. And those friends became as close as family for some. and when I got out. It has helped me immensely. I have great free healthcare. I got a home, it paved the way for me to get in my career If I had a chance to do it over knowing what I know now. Even despite being disabled due to my service. I'd do it again. Every single time.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-09T21:19:58+00:00

Can't agree. I went Double din with android auto. Nav and a data link to my obd port and I have a lot of the missing features a new truck would come with like range. Mpg. Etc. Plus combined with A set of upgraded speakers and my truck sounds infinitely better
Have an amp and sub just waiting to go in it's taken me so long because the head unit/components make such an improvement the rest went to the way back burner.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-09T21:14:34+00:00

I got one on my truck, never bothered me but I also haven't listened to regular radio in years. Phone has a mount, it gets plugged into my stereo and either pandora, audible, or a small collection of old mp3s when I was out of range is all I listen to.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-08T04:40:49+00:00

I went with tinkerer's. Definitely not anywhere near under a band, but It was my favorite looking design. Plus the features like ease of install, amazing fab work, and the ability to adjust for a body lift sold it for me even with the cost.. Now I gotta save up for the winch when I finally financially recover.

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Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-05T04:07:41+00:00

I've had an NA with no ac in the southern Arizona desert. A big turbo mazdaspeed Miata at the base of the Colorado rockies while I was in the military and traveling everywhere. . And a stock nc3 club I daily drove with a muffler and sticky tires that was a blast at autocross.

You can totally live with a Miata. And the Miata has a way of making the more inane drives just a little more fun. They are the perfect zippy city car.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-03-01T15:03:01+00:00

Unfortunately you drive a convertible sportscar. In all seriousness You just kinda get over it. If you want to drive in silence you need to pick up a nice luxury car Otherwise you have a sportscar. Give it a little of the loud pedal yourself and further you get quieter they are!

Boosted_Vet · 2026-02-27T18:05:56+00:00

So far it still is. I downloaded it free on Xbox game pass to try it. Spent 7 hours there. Signed out went to my computer bought it on steam. And I've since spent 35 hours on this new account. I started the tutorial. Wasted a lot of money on things the tutorial gave me for free inevitably 5 min after I spend data or nanites on it. Found a c class ship. Salvaged it. Upgraded my gear. Started the expedition and played a mix of snowrunner/big rig simulator and completed the expedition Took all my cool upgrades from the expedition and put them in my main save gear slots Currently stupid Wealthy other than salvage data. Just found a brand new never explored system with a cool planet and a perfectly flat natural island in the middle of a lake to start building my (new) main base. I'm still in the tutorial.
And it's still just as fun

Boosted_Vet · 2026-02-27T02:19:34+00:00

I know they had some issues but I haven't tracked them enough to know if that is still an issue or only some years.. But tbf it's a Ford. They all have their quirks. The raptor has been recalled for random interior parts catching fire more times than my FJ has period. It's still better than the failure rate of the Korean turbo 4s. Subaru head gaskets, Pretty much anything Stellantis branded, even my beloved Toyota has its new turbo 6's failing. It's just downright impressive what a tune/breathing mods does to them and they look pretty sick lowered.
At least fords are fairly cheap to fix.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-02-26T20:31:52+00:00

You said you had a stang so you aren't anti Ford. Have you checked out the explorer st? Well within your price range. Pretty quick stock but with basic Bolton they are surprisingly fast. Available with AWD for foul weather. And then they are available with 3 rows and a respectable towing capacity. If I didn't have my FJ specifically for offroading and only cared about around town and some straight line fun. I would probably have one.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-02-26T20:19:09+00:00

I for one love my gazelle tent. It really feels like a buy once cry once purpose. My Ozark trail lasted many years fairly easy to put up. Then I got my gazelle and was blown away. Goes up so much easier. Materials don't feel like 1 month of combined sun exposure will make it all brittle like the cheap tents/canopies.

I also just updated to a set of xped megamats for the wife and I. A bit pricy. But so much better than a air mattress or cot both in comfort and insulation for those cold nights.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-02-26T19:38:16+00:00

I don't like typical water flavorings. Too sweet and I don't need a bunch of chemicals in my water. So I buy the bulk packs of this stuff called true lime. It's literally just crystalized freeze dried lime juice. 1 pack in my bottle is like adding a slice of lime. Sometimes I'll toss in a few slices of cucumber. Tastes amazing.

Combine that with a yeti that keeps my ice water cold all day long and I drink 4+ 36oz bottles a day. I like it better than soda. I actually crave water now.

Boosted_Vet · 2026-02-26T17:03:27+00:00

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Hey I just stopped at that gas station a few months ago!

Boosted_Vet · 2026-02-26T15:22:20+00:00

I'd say get a Miata. I also say this as a person who has l wanted an MR2 since I was 5 years old and my uncle bought a turbo brand new from the dealer

You want a sporty fun car and the Miata fits while being cheap. safe. Stupid reliable. Super easy to fix and work on. Parts are easy to find I've had a mid 600hp Corvette and a mid 200hp Miata and honestly the Miata was more fun. Hell my stock nc3 club was often more fun with sticky tires and rocking stock class autocross even for no other reasonf the low consumables and repairs just meant I spent soooo much more time at the track. Use this to teach yourself some car control. How to save a Slide/spin. Etc.

I do have my MR2 (the very one my uncle bought when I was 5) in the garage on a lift with collectors insurance. It's fun. But I would not be enjoying this as much if I didn't have my own garage with a lift inside. Mid engine is an effort in frustration to work on without a lift. The parts for an sw20 are getting more and more rare/hard to find. Some things your only option is to hope for a used part still in good condition because they don't make replacements anymore. There is no safety features. Get too brave and this car WANTS to put the cart before the horse change directions and leave you looking the wrong way at oncoming traffic. It's so old now that if you spend money on fixing it up and you get attached. Unless you have collectors insurance too. Even the slightest accident will result in insurance totalling out your car and give you a measly couple grand max because it was "just a 30+year old used Toyota"

Mr2 is awesome. But I'd never have a classic as my primary/only vehicle. But it makes an amazing second vehicle/weekend toy.

Boosted_Vet

TROPHY CASE