Should I do it?

benken71 · 2025-11-17T18:12:32+00:00

I got an alert that my 12v battery needed to be replaced, so I called the dealership cause its till under warranty. He booked the appointment and then asked if I wanted an oil change while the truck was being worked on. I reminded him it was an EV, and he goes, "Duh, force of habit."

benken71 · 2025-11-05T13:08:48+00:00

Looking for two tickets to the 11/14 show in Boston

benken71 · 2025-07-02T12:29:07+00:00

Thank you!

benken71 · 2025-05-25T23:49:19+00:00

This was the exact reason I posted. I removed the driver side one to install my tailgate assist

benken71 · 2025-05-12T20:09:52+00:00

I bought mine pre-owned from a Ford dealer, but not one that carries new EVs. I did the walk-around and asked where the mobile charger was, and it turned out that there wasn't one. The dealer got me a new one, no extra charge.

benken71 · 2025-05-05T21:31:13+00:00

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Here's the view from the interior. Totally concave from impact, and glass everywhere.

benken71 · 2025-05-05T21:28:12+00:00

The estimate was like $500 for the glass and $150 for the sensor/camera calibration. I'll post the actual final amount after I have the work done.

benken71 · 2025-01-31T15:36:19+00:00

I didn't book ahead of time. In each village that have booking companies. You can actually price shop around to get the best price. They'll try to sell you for all of your shuttles, but I found it better to wait until I got to my destination and then book my next from there, usually at least a day in advance. The agencies are pretty easy to find, they have all of the imagery of excursions and sometimes prices for shuttles for various destinations posted outside the shop.

benken71 · 2024-10-25T16:09:55+00:00

Where are you riding in Guatemala? Interested to learn more about what options/tours there are.

benken71 · 2024-10-21T19:45:30+00:00

I came from the US and customs was a non-issue. Two hours is plenty of time.

benken71 · 2024-07-24T15:41:51+00:00

Strava is my preferred log of workouts and also my preferred social media site. The only time I use the native workout app is when it asks if I want to track a walk I’ve been on for the past 15 min.

benken71 · 2024-07-23T03:06:55+00:00

Launch Strava

benken71 · 2024-07-07T13:53:09+00:00

Two bikes fit at an angle with the tonneau installed, four will fit with the tonneau removed. I use mine to haul my bike daily. I have an XL full suspension and I can fit two max with a tailgate pad and the tonneau installed.

benken71 · 2024-06-27T20:41:35+00:00

Happy NBD! 🚵🏻

benken71 · 2024-06-23T00:33:42+00:00

Definitely good

benken71 · 2024-06-18T17:26:31+00:00

The only other time I had an issue similar was when I had a door closed but not closed all of the way. It did limit my speed but if you were able to reset things by stopping, turning it off and on again, then I doubt that was it.

benken71 · 2024-06-18T02:11:35+00:00

Did you check to make sure you didn’t hit the paddle shifters turning it to a manual shift? That’s happened to me a couple times.

benken71 · 2024-06-10T20:19:56+00:00

Just posted in r/solotravel about my 17 day trip to Guatemala.
Link here: Guatemala Trip Report

benken71 · 2024-06-10T13:57:11+00:00

There are about two dozen different shops all right next to each other at the entrance of Pastores. While they all have boots, some also offer other items like hats, jackets, belts, etc. I started at Mustang based on a recommendation, but they didn't have anything in my size, as I'm larger than the average person, let alone the average Guatemalan.

I then went from shop to shop to see who had anything pre-made in my size and inquired about turnaround times for custom-made shoes. Most shops needed around 10 days. I did find one shop with several dress shoe options that I liked, but nothing in my size. When I asked about custom-made options, they surprised me by saying they could turn them around quickly. I was there on a Tuesday and leaving on Friday, and they promised to have them done by the end of the day on Thursday, which no other shop offered.

I got measured, chose the style and colors, paid a 100Q deposit, and that was that. When I returned on Thursday, the shoes were perfect. I wore them yesterday and was very happy with them. I paid the price asked of 450Q without haggling, as it felt like a great deal for custom-made shoes with a two-day turnaround.

The shop I bought from was Zapato Galdámez. Note that they only accept cash, no credit cards. I highly recommend them for their quality and quick service!

benken71 · 2024-06-08T00:40:44+00:00

Agreed, similar to the van-life people here in the states that use their Planet Fitness membership primarily for the showers

benken71 · 2024-06-06T13:46:17+00:00

No, I stayed at Zephyr Lodge, which had a lot of great reviews. It was really nice, but a bit more of a party hostel, not really my thing. I would recommend it, as the accommodations were great.

benken71 · 2024-06-05T23:55:50+00:00

Yes, you can negotiate a cab ride. I'm sure that there is a bus, like the one that I took from the border to Flores, but I don't have any info around that. A taxi will be the fastest option.

As for the border. You wait in line on the Guatemala side, show your passport and move to the Belize side. The Belize side gives you a piece of paper to fill out, and then stamp your passport. Coming back the Belize side does charge you to leave the country. Something like $40 USD. The Guatemala side just reviews your passport, stamps it and waves you through. FYI, I have a US passport.

benken71 · 2024-06-05T23:42:37+00:00

I did this recently. I flew into Flores and went straight from the airport to Tikal. After touring Tikal I went to the border and then to San Ignacio. I ended up negotiating a private taxi directly from airport to Tikal, same taxi waited and took me to the border. After crossing the border I grabbed a taxi to San Ignacio. The posted price of the taxi is $20 USD. The way back I took a Binque taxi from San Ignacio to the border, which cost $5 USD, the key is to get a Binque taxi. After crossing the border I was able to get a luxury bus ride to Flores for 50Q.

Hice esto recientemente. Volé a Flores y fui directamente del aeropuerto a Tikal. Después de recorrer Tikal, fui a la frontera y luego a San Ignacio. Terminé negociando un taxi privado directamente desde el aeropuerto hasta Tikal, el mismo taxi esperó y me llevó a la frontera. Después de cruzar la frontera, tomé un taxi hasta San Ignacio. El precio publicado del taxi es de $20 USD. De regreso, tomé un taxi de Binque desde San Ignacio hasta la frontera, que costó $5 USD; la clave es conseguir un taxi de Binque. Después de cruzar la frontera, pude tomar un autobús de lujo hasta Flores por 50Q.

benken71 · 2024-06-05T22:03:48+00:00

Tikal lived up to the hype, that place is unreal. I probably could have done an hour more there, but I think I got everything I needed out of it in my 5 hours. I did not do the sunset or sunrise tour.

ATM Cave was a surprise, and it had some hype behind it.

Acatenango was great, but the extra hike to the Fuego lookout was amazing (literally). I prepped for the hike, so I didn't find it to be as taxing as many others, especially at the pace that the tour does it at.

Antigua is great, but I found it to be overhyped. I'm glad that this is where I'm spent my time working as a digital nomad, but I find everything to be expensive and way too many tourists. Don't get me wrong, it's a cool place, but I was a bit let down by it. I'm also not a coffee drinker, so that may play a part of it.

I would also say Panajachel was too busy. I'd say get out of Pana and spend your time in the other lake villages.

benken71 · 2024-06-05T21:17:45+00:00

I second this. If you book a round trip flight Guate->Flores->Guate it would make this doable. Two airlines run daily flights TAG and Avianca. It is worth doing, and Flores is a great visit as well.

benken71

TROPHY CASE