Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4 / Solar Turkey

Saturday Sandy and I went and picked up our new 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4 with 144k. It has its share of scratches and little dents but I think it is in great shape for 13 years old. Time will tell. I spent Sunday cleaning the inside and just checkin it out. Gonna take my time and go through it and repair replace update as the budget allows.

This spring I will be  selling my 92 Cherokee XJ 4x4 that I have in Terlingua. There are a few things I want to do it first. Any Takers?

Yesterday I also did 2 turkey thighs in the solar oven. With 4 hour until supper I actually turned it away from the sun at 2:30 because it was 255 in the oven and the juices were boiling pretty darn good. Upon serving it fell off the bone, was juice, tender, and very flavorful, plus affordable.

Alternative Building / Terlingua Home Tour Jan. 29

The Terlingua Home Tour is Jan. 29 and features earthbag building, mixed construction of adobe to straw bale to cement block, 2X6 framed home built in stages, and off grid construction.

Thomas and Carmen Drinkard's Earthbag Building

See http://alpinedailyplanet.typepad.com/alpine-daily-planet/2012/01/terlingua-home-tour-is-jan-29.html
Not cheap at $25 but looks like some good learning and insight. Anybody going take pictures and or videos and send me please.

Jeep XJ Towing Capabilities?

Kinda having second thoughts after researching the XJ's towing capabilities. I have a 12’ single axle trailer and a side by side UTV that we tow from Austin to Terlingua; out in the fall and back in the spring. I am researching forums on how reliable the XJ is at towing. It has the torque of my current vehicle but not the horsepower and it is not the best tow vehicle anyway. Don't want to wear it out before retiring.

Any experienced XJ owners that tow with it let me know your thoughts.

Retirement Jeep!

Even though it is a few years before retirement I keep thinkin bout getting a 2000 or 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4, 2001 is the last year of the Cherokee XJ. I called and talked with a couple of Austin Jeep repair places comparing the Cherokee XJ and Grand Cherokee for remote wet Texas and both said absolutely the XJ. If I wait there will be less good Cherokees, and less clean body Cherokees, and probably tuff miles. I take care of my stuff especially vehicles. I owned a Datsun 260Z for over 17 years. If I purchase now I will know how it is taken care of in the future and be able to R&R as I go. I own a 92 Jeep Cherokee but storing it in Terlingua is taking its toll. A field rat moved in and chewed up all kinds of wires it runs but not well. Anybody in the S Brewster Co. area know of a good Jeep Mechanic? If retiring in the Davis Mountains or Terlingua I think a 4x4 XJ is the vehicle for me.  I prefer the XJ over the Wrangler CJ models because it is a little smoother on the highway and more room for the dog and stuff with the longer wheel base. Anybody got any XJ experience or comments let me hear from you!

A New Year, 2012!

Although I have been doin some off grid research nothing really to blog about so just figured I would wish the world a Happy 2012.

I still have Kelly Williams with Davis Mountain Realty looking for a tract of land suitable for my solar passive cabin design.

I tried getting some information on a vertical axis wind generator I saw on ebay but no reply. Not mentioning the company but they advertise 500 watts for $500 but with limited specs. From research it seems the vertical axis with impeller instead of blades are more durable against strong winds.

Looking forward to our March Terlingua trip and hopin we might have to go check out property in the Davis Mountains again soon.

I hope we get through another year with all the political BS, US and world problems.

For 2012 in the words of Spock, 'Live Long and Prosper'

Hopin Anyway!