Rebirth Update #9...

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At this date, most of the original ideas which developed in the mind of Truckman concerning his newest transportation acquisition have been examined carefully and either brought to fruition, or abandoned entirely as unworkable...The progress was documented in the updates listed above for those who have either joined the discussion late, or just haven't been paying attention...This update will concern itself mostly with small details which have been ongoing since the inception of this project...

Lighting and visibility have been a major concern even before the initial purchase of this vehicle...My ability to easily see what is happening in my surroundings from the driver's seat has been a concern since the purchase of my (now gone) 2013 Challenger several years ago...The view from that seat was such a sudden change from the commanding position in my previous late, lamented ride that the adjustment was difficult when switching vehicles for certain tasks...The change may have even been a factor in the no-fault accident which triggered the decision to trade the Challenger for the current truck...It was never decided whether the other driver was unable to see my vehicle for its smaller, lower profile, or if I was limited in side view range by the Challenger's smaller mirrors, lower seating position and limited side window vision...In either case, and in the interest of future safety, the decision was made to trade for the current truck...

The primary focus of this update is new lighting to not only increase my ability to see my own surroundings, but to give other, less gifted drivers fewer excuses for not seeing the obvious large vehicle in their vicinity...For the latter purpose, I have added new redundant turn signals and brake lights to augment the factory installed equipment, and 18 new marker and clearance lights for increased visibility from front, sides and rear...I also added new high intensity Hella driving lights which are only usable with high beam headlights on, and fog lights synced for use when parking lights or low beams are lit...At the rear I added four tractor lights near the top of the headache rack, two of which are aimed at the deck of the flatbed to illuminate cargo at night as needed, and the other two directed just behind the tailboard for use as an auxiliary backup light...

Most of these items have been in my possession for a few months awaiting the completion of the center console from which to control all of them...Now the last of these has been installed, plus a few I added since the beginning...In addition, at the suggestion of one my loyal readers, Mr. Grist, I'm replacing the chrome plated screws and bolts which were used during the installation of some of the black finished accessories previously with fasteners finished in black oxide...I agree with him that they add some esoteric allure which might have been overlooked by the casual observer...

An extra light was added to the center console, a Hella map light...They are a little pricey, but this particular one was the only one which fit my needs...It's fastened to the doorgunner's side of the console, but easily reached from the driver's seat...It's a gooseneck design allowing the 18 inch neck to ride in its own notched saddle until needed...It was furnished with two lenses, white and red...I chose the red to reduce the chance of night blindness, but the white lens is in the storage compartment if needed...

The old Rawson/Koenig toolboxes which were installed already when I bought the truck were no longer watertight, and various attempts at replacing and adjusting the latches still left doors which have become warped from use over the years, and thus do not seal against weather as well as they did when new...I ordered and installed new weatherstripping on both doors...Next heavy rain squall we get will tell the tale on whether further work is needed...

While working on the headache rack, I noticed the parking lamp in one of the original 4" round lights in the upper corners had quit working...I assumed that I had disturbed the wiring while installing the additional lights, so I pulled that one out to check the circuit...The circuit was OK, so I bought two new LED units to replace both lights...With that done I finished all my wiring, checked light operation again and found the left lower parking light in the tailboard was not working...I ordered new LED's, and replaced both right and left...However, being so far removed from doing this for a living, I had forgotten the hyperflash condition that results when going to all LED...A couple of 6Ω resistors in parallel with the T/S circuits solved the problem...Since the side marker lights on the flatbed had been replaced with LED's when the bed was refinished, this means all lighting aft of the cab with the exception of the license plate lamps is now new...

Moving to the front, I installed my driving lights and fog lights using Nilight tube clamps on the front bumper guard...I'm happy to report that the clamps worked as advertised contrary to complaints I read from other users...I suspect their own lack of success was due to choosing the wrong size, or failure to understand the installation instructions...The new amber marker lights on the front bumper were a simple matter of "measure twice - drill once"...All new lights function as I expected, and I'm now gathering parts and pieces for the next report...I'm a bargain hunter, as many already know, and if any of the lights I bought fail early, I suppose I'll have to blame myself for being too cheap to spring for name-brand products...One item I'm already less than happy with is the fog lights, repurposed from Blazer tractor lights...The housings were advertised as being rubber which makes sense for durability in the agricultural world, but the mounts are also rubber and are quite shaky...I'll see what the light is like while driving, and they may be replaced early with sturdier units...

I'm still waiting for a few electrical pieces to be delivered to wrap up the wiring, but given the rapidly changing and uncertain weather conditions this week, I decided to install the remaining front amber marker lights on the bumper and take some photos while the sun is still shining...All the planned lighting has now been installed, and final electrical connections will be made as soon as Amazon delivers the few remaining wiring parts...I published a pictorial on the project without finishing the wiring...

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Rest In Peace, Blondie...

6/14/2005 - 6/27/2019

My little guy, my faithful friend, has now joined his Momma where all the grass is green (and short), and all the days are sunny...He was attentive to my every need and mood, always knowing whether I needed his cheerful attention, or just someone to lie quietly nearby...When there were still two of them they stood ready to guard our home against all threats...Being the bigger of the two, he accepted his role as Sergeant-At-Arms, while his Mom (although a lot smaller) was always in charge as Senior Guard Puppy...He always considered one of his primary responsibilities to be that of providing security for my breakfast...His effectiveness as a Breakfast Security Agent can be proven by the fact that I was never hijacked even once on my way from the kitchen to wherever I decided to eat...

Together they took on the additional duties of Federal Cheese Inspectors, announcing themselves in my kitchen one morning while I was preparing my breakfast...They flashed badges at me (which looked suspiciously like their rabies tags), saying they represented the Obama Cheese Administration (OCA) and were required to sample all cheese for purity before human consumption...Knowing that they were both Democrats, and therefore having mastered the art of welfare living, I accepted their story...Besides, I am naturally never one to question authority from two Peke-a-Poos, even when presented with an obviously concocted story like that, so I complied with their demands and submitted a cheese sample before each of my meals...

When she passed on, he took over the duties of both Senior Guard Puppy and Chief Cheddar Inspector...He was also the best bed buddy anyone could hope for, always being willing and able to help anyone take a nap at any time...He could probably sleep on top of a picket fence if necessary...He and his Mom helped me through some of the most trying times of my life...Although during one year, during the darkest of times, I was denied the comfort of their presence...

When I was betrayed and abandoned by my ex-wife she took both, obviously knowing how much they meant to me...She looked at them as mere property, something to own...When the divorce court demanded a division of property, she knew she couldn't keep both, and asked me which one I wanted...I told her then they were not property, they were family, that they had been together all Blondie's life and most of Bitesize's, and that I would be happy to care for both, but not just one if it meant further dividing a family...In her words she said I could have them both when Hell freezes over...But when the divorce dragged on for a year, and she was forced to move from her rented trailer house to a place which apparently did not consider all God's critters as respectable tenants, I got the call asking if I would take them both...I immediately accepted, and met at the designated place where they were unceremoniously dumped out of her patrol car, abandoning them as easily as she had abandoned me...

They were both scared, dirty, ungroomed and very happy to see me again...I first fed them, then took them to their doctor at Tender Paws Animal Hospital where I was informed they had not been seen in over a year...They both had complete check-ups, got their shots up to date and got stocked up on the recommended food...Their next stop was the groomer where they were bathed, hair and claws clipped and generally pampered...While at Pet Smart, they picked out new collars, bedding, stainless steel water and food dishes and of course new toys and treats...Naturally, being Democrats, when it came to time to settle the bill, they backed away from the cashier leaving me to produce my credit card...

Bitesize died at the age of 14 after succumbing to many of the infirmities which eventually claim us all...Blondie knew it, and although he was sad he knew I still needed him, and stood ready to accept whatever duties were presented to him...My only solace now is that the cancer that was consuming him can no longer cause him any pain, or discomfort...I can only hope that when I am gone somebody, somewhere might think my life had even a fraction of the value given by Bitesize and Blondie...I gave Bitesize her name just because I thought it fit her...Her only puppies were born in one litter...Due to their size, she had difficulty giving birth, and I transported her to the animal emergency clinic where they were born...I named them for the three main characters in one of my favorite westerns, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"...Blondie naturally got the name of the Clint Eastwood character because of his blond hair...His brother and sister, Tuco And Angel Eyes, found new homes shortly after weaning...

Both he and his Momma were fearless against any perceived threat, even when common sense should have brought caution, but they differed in one respect in that she was always scared of thunderstorms...Until she went deaf the slightest rumble of thunder at night sent her under the covers next to me to tremble and whine until it stopped...On the other hand, thunder and lightning didn't even faze Blondie...When she made a commotion about a storm at night, he always went to another corner of the bed to get away from her whining so he could get back to sleep...But that changed one night shortly after her death when a freak storm unleashed a bolt of lightning which struck a pine tree next door causing it to shatter the trunk with an explosive flash and roar...From that moment forward he was as fearful of thunder and lightning as his Momma had ever been...

It was obvious they loved each other, and I'm sure they loved me...Even so they were competitive...At times either one of them may not have been feeling well, but at feeding time they each kept their noses in their bowls simply out of concern that the other might get a nibble of unauthorized food...They had a large tub of chewy toys to play with, but naturally the one they wanted most was always the one the other already had...Many battles of good-natured tug-of-war took place, usually ending by the victor being chased all over the house by the second-place winner until each forgot who was the chaser and who was the chasee...They just liked to run...But at some point, as Blondie grew much bigger and stronger than Bitesize, she got tired of always losing the game, and began to just quietly chew her toy of choice, with a low warning growl to anyone who approached...After she passed away, Blondie did not show much interest in the toys, and toward the end of his own life, could no longer finish his own meals...

Blondie was born with a noticeable underbite which he always thought contributed to his appearance as a tough guy...It also gave him a smile that endeared him to every female he ever encountered, human or otherwise...They all loved him, and he knew it...He enjoyed his reputation as a ladies' man, although being permanently leashed to me always curtailed his chances at a more lasting relationship...However, he accepted attention when he got it, but always went home cheerfully with me...For that I am eternally grateful...

So long, little buddy...

He lived to celebrate his 14th birthday recently...Now his patrols are at an end...He was a good boy, and being told so always seem to be his proudest goal...

My eternal thanks go to his doctor, Dr. Joanie Ree, and all the caring professionals at Tender Paws Animal Hospital who all remain my friends...Also to Ellen Stanley who bathed, groomed and pampered both puppies the last few years of their lives, and all the neighbors and strangers who stopped to greet both of them when they were outdoors...

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Combat and defense in Middle-Eastern waters...

I am neither a naval, nor a maritime expert, but that never stopped me from drawing a few conclusions...Noting the recent attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf of Oman in the area bounded by Oman, the UAE and Iran, the blame for which has been attributed to the increasingly belligerent state of Iran, I am reminded of events which occurred during WWII...Commercial shipping only exists to supply the business interests of entities ranging in scope from the largest multi-national corporations to the smallest, singly-owned convenience store on a street near you...As I have pointed out in previous publications, a basic tenet of business is stated that nothing anywhere ever happens until somebody, somewhere sells something...Accordingly the step immediately following that sale becomes the transport of the product to the desired recipient...The interruption, or prevention of that step becomes detriment to the chain of interests dependent on that movement...The resulting impairment, to whatever degree it ascends, must be ultimately absorbed by the end user, and thus increases costs which are never fully recovered...

The addition of war to this composite formula, whether declared or implied, only adds new layers of complexity, of which some generate new business opportunities, but all add to the cost of the final product...This fact was known and felt in the immediate time following the opening shots in the conflagration that became WWII...How it was addressed determined the eventual outcome as well as the length of time needed to bring peace to the world's waters once more...In this study, I will only present the basic observations which have formed my own, admittedly skeletal, conclusions, leaving readers to flesh them out with their own thoughts...

All government and military leaders are aware of the fragile network of commerce which keeps an economy moving...Maintaining that network becomes increasingly difficult when leadership must consider the political pressures brought about by concerns other than those of commerce...The Axis powers, being led from dictatorial standpoints, were less encumbered by restraints on their movements than the democracies which they sought to dominate...Initially this gave the Axis leadership an advantage in which they were free to move aggressively against their chosen enemies without regard to the long term difficulties they created, in their belief that such offensives would be shortly followed by the capitulation of those attacked...The actions and reactions of both Axis and Allied powers can be studied now with the distance of time for their positive as well as negative effects...

The German command, under the leadership of a single-minded, self-possessed man unwilling to consider the expertise in some matters of far more qualified minds, took the initiative in attacks on commercial shipping against their most immediate perceived enemy, Great Britain...The idea was correct in its goal of strangling the flow of goods toward the island nation, but flawed in its execution by not concentrating on its immediate strong suit, it's U-Boat fleet...Der Fuehrer's desire to build an impressive surface fleet could only have been successful if he had allowed his undersea fleet unfettered permission to attack other shipping on the surface...They were instead cautioned against attacking the US naval presence expanding into the mid-Atlantic...Using the limited German resources in building his surface fleet, then keeping them bottled up in protected North Sea harbors, was unwise when his more learned Kriegsmarine advisers urged increased production of the undersea fleet to replace losses due to attrition...Such decisions gave his immediate enemy, Britain, the opportunity to acquire the allegiance of US manufacturing prowess in the procurement of both military and cargo vessels...

President Roosevelt, being the leader of a democracy was fettered with having to balance preparation for the impending war against opposition from the large pacifist movement which joined forces with the isolationists, both of which wanted no part of a new naval war...Roosevelt knew the war was inevitable, yet was hamstrung by these groups in initiating new shipbuilding while still emerging from a worldwide depression...He found new ways to aid those he knew we would eventually ally with, but until the Japanese attacks in the Pacific, he could not release the full powers of the dogs of war...The lack of long-range planning for war also caused a long learning curve in the convoy system which ultimately saved England from capitulation...US Navy leaders were quick to see that severing commercial shipping lines on the open sea was effective warfare, and used this knowledge aggressively against Japanese powers...Shortening supply lines to the enemy, while reinforcing our own commercial shipping was instrumental in bring the war to an earlier close...

The dictatorial powers leading the Japanese government from their military standpoint did not understand, nor did they employ the means they had at hand against Allied commercial shipping...The Japanese also had a powerful undersea fleet just like their Axis partners Germany and Italy, but hesitated to use them against the ever-increasing Allied Maritime fleet, choosing instead to target only combat vessels...They failed to understand that a military force can only exist as long as it is supplied with the means to wage war and feed its own personnel...Their final realization of the truth of this axiom came far too late, and only at the expense of their own fighting forces as they starved on outpost islands unable to receive vitally needed rations, ammunition, medical supplies and replacement troops...American naval forces destroyed Japanese commercial and cargo transportation at every opportunity, choking off the enemies lifelines...

From the distance of history, those in the present leadership of politically and culturally opposed nations all understand the importance of world trade, and the implications of the effect on populations when the transportation of goods is curtailed by aggressive forces...The recent attacks on an importantly vital commodity such as crude oil and petroleum products in the Gulf of Oman is an obvious act of aggression  either ordered or permitted by those in command in Iran...The power to protect these shipments is possessed in large strength by the US Navy, and in the opinion of this writer should be deployed aggressively and immediately toward that end...The costs of such protection is already being paid on worldwide markets...Allowing valuable commodities and their means of transportation to be attacked only adds to those costs...Why else do we maintain a naval force in that area?...

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Damage Assessment...

A question was posed on a political forum where I participate on occasion by a member named AlpineRAM, and since I have allowed an unplanned dearth of my political opinion on this blog, I thought I might answer his query here instead...Paraphrasing his question concerning the current American economy and the source of its robust energy, he asked:

"Do the good stats only reflect that which is not influenced by Trump, or is it just inertia that keeps the numbers nice?"

In my opinion, his actions, and the results of those actions, are very hard to analyze by most because those analysts are accustomed to observing politicians who interact with other politicians in an attempt to arrive at a final destination favorable to those whom they represent...But the final product is never final...It is always and consistently a compromise because that is the nature of politics as practiced by politicians...It is bloated with side deals which are engineered to gain temporary support for a position which would normally receive none...

Trump was never a politician, and has admitted such on occasion prior to entering the political arena...He is instead a person who uses politicians to the benefit of himself and his own business interests...He was elected on that premise...He has said and continues to say things which are diametrically opposed to other things he has said...It's obfuscation, and it's intentional...It's also called lying...Stating that Trump is lying, or that all politicians lie is not a defense for any of them, or their lies...It is a reaffirmation that lying is part and parcel of gaining an advantage in politics, business, entertainment, even playing poker...The intentional absence of truth can also be defined as lying even if it's hidden as strategy, tactics, a script or a "poker face"...Those who practice the art of magic know it as illusion and misdirection...

Donald Trump knows that media pundits, and those who attempt political analysis will consistently concentrate their focus on the obvious, that is his barrage of statements many of which are contradictory by design...This only gives those who follow such attempts at assaying his statements for their real value reason to either agree or disagree with the scrutiny, and keep the interest alive with either outrage or accord...Meanwhile the economy responds just as Trump knew it would by those whose means of existence is tied to it: with buying and selling, losses and gains which are always accompanied by overstocks in one inventory and scrambling for product in another...Empty pockets in one area are balanced to some (but not necessarily equal) degree by cash looking for something to buy...I believe Trump understands that the nature of value in wealth is not merely in its acquisition, but by its constant movement...Money by itself means nothing unless it can flow in one direction or another...In that respect it is like water; unless it's in a current where it's constantly refreshed, it becomes stagnant as in a pond...

In another series of articles here, I pointed out the similarities between Mr. Trump and another independent entry into the world of politics who had tremendous, although detrimental, influence on world events in the 20th Century...That person led his country to disastrous results by the application of separate overlapping lies told to separate groups, each of which focused only on the illusions he presented, and not on the likely result...He even outlined his own plan without the lies in his book, easily seen in retrospect, but presented in such a random, scattershot manner as to be difficult to find his main target...Mr. Trump also authored a book which, if read carefully, outlines everything he has done and will do to find his target...It is believed by this writer that his aim is more toward a target based on the love of construction of a better nation, rather than the hatred and destruction of a particular, and essentially misidentified section of the world's population...

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Rebirth Update #8...

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For those wondering why there have been no updates lately, progress has not stopped, but on the contrary, has intensified...Several electrical-based projects have been underway, and a separate photoblog article has been published to chronicle the step-by-step process...An inquiry by Truckman concerning the popularity of the CB radios, and the availability of equipment on the Cracker Barrel Philosophers forum led to the re-awakening of the desire to listen in and participate on highway conversations between motorists, mostly truckers...As usual, not being satisfied with standard installation procedures, Truckman's original vision soon grew from the usual under-the-dash mounting procedure into something far more involved...

After deciding I also wanted a few more convenience items available for use in the cab, my thoughts migrated to the type of accessory consoles usually seen in police patrol vehicles...Ram trucks are occasionally seen in use by law enforcement supervisors and motorist assistance deputies, and purpose built consoles are available commercially...Unfortunately the prices on these are prohibitive to a retired gentleman living on a fixed budget, but the kernel of an idea began to grow in my imagination conceiving what my ideal console might look like if I built my own...As those who know me understand, the growth of such an idea can be dangerous if not contained...

Knowing this I compiled a list of essential features and desired accessories, and placing them in my mind's eye where they might provide the best use of available space...From there the catalog of items and materials needed began...Discarding the idea of repurposing even a used police console from Ebay, and since I do not own a commercial sheet metal shop, the first obstacle involved a search for donor products which could be reshaped to suit my needs...The online source, Amazon provided the answer as explained in the photo article...Amazon was also the source of most of the additional parts and pieces along with locally found items from Lowes and Harbor Freight...

The wanted features included the CB radio, a rechargeable flashlight and a secure place to deposit my concealed firearm when I am forced by law to enter a building such as a courthouse or hospital where it is not allowed...I also wanted a power inverter for A/C current, DC power receptacles and a USB outlet for charging purposes...The 50 caliber ammo can which I have been using as a more convenient depository than the glove box was relocated in the package tray behind the driver's seat and velcroed to the floor...It now serves for first aid and emergency supplies...Enough room was found in the console to add a small storage compartment for notebooks and ballpoint pens...For the flashlight, I wanted nothing but Streamlight as this was the product I recommended and sold in my gun store...For the exact model to suit my needs I sought the advice of one of my oldest friends, Deputy Bo Crabtree, and on his advice I bought the light from Steve Schneider at Texas Top Cop Shop, who explained in detail the features of each light...

The forward end of the console contains the switches, fuse blocks and relays to power the new accessories and equipment, as well as the additional exterior lights which will be covered in other updates as they become functional...To say the least, it has been challenging as well as instructional to design such a project, reawakening old skills at fabrication and electrical construction, as well as finding out why my sheet metal and painting skills have never been in demand...The less said about the latter, the better, although I can honestly say my best effort was given...In one of my former careers I excelled in creating automotive wiring that was noted for its soldered and shrinkwrapped joints... Unfortunately the ravages of aging eyes and arthritis necessitated a switch to crimped connectors as soldering soon proved impossible...Perhaps the use of the best available materials including all stranded, copper AWG wiring, and the extensive use of shrinkwrap tubing will forestall any problems that might arise from such shortcuts...

The new photo blog article will explain more in detail, and further update articles will be forthcoming as new exterior lighting becomes the priority...Photos to illustrate new articles will be added to the original photo essay...Elapsed time for this project: 41 days...Cost: I don't want to know...

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Rebirth Update #7...

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This is a short update to showcase a long awaited addition which went live yesterday...As long-time followers of this series know, I was reminded of many things I liked and missed about my old 1973 Chevy gunshow hauler when I began the current project on this truck...One of those missed items was the running boards on that older truck...They were the plain aluminum cab-length stepboards seldom seen on today's trucks...In current times fashion seems to dictate pretty nerf bars, or integrated sidesteps, with some even automatically raising and lowering for entry and egress...Without taking away from those designs, they just didn't suit my own tastes or needs...I wanted the plain running boards which I liked on the older gunshow vehicle...

My beloved previous truck, a quadcab dually, had wheel-to-wheel Tough Country tubular boards with expanded metal inserts which I really enjoyed...However these were unavailable even by special order for my current truck, and a diligent search through internet sources turned up nothing which suited my needs until I looked at the website maintained by accessory manufacturer Owens Products...This is an established older company with a diverse product line, but still listed the exact running board style I remembered from my long gone 1973 Chevy, and they still listed a part number for my particular truck...However it was out of stock, and a search of their many vendors turned up no matches...

It was listed on the website as available for order in either polished aluminum diamond plate, or black extruded aluminum with grit tape on the step surfaces...I did not want the polished finish on this truck, although I preferred the diamond plate design, so I opted to order the extruded option, and I was promised delivery in about six weeks...A young lady named Jenny handled my order from start to finish, and is to be commended for her patience and professionalism with this finicky and demanding customer...At the end of six weeks I inquired about my order, and was told they were waiting on the raw material from their supplier; she assured me of production in another four weeks...After that time passed another conversation with her brought her agreement that they really need a new supplier, and she said an option would be to change the order to polished aluminum which was already in stock...

This would entail my getting the product refinished to black myself, but given the only option of waiting even longer, I gave the go ahead to change the order...She even issued a partial refund to reflect the lower price of the material...She added a note to my order asking the production crew to rush my order since I had been waiting so long, and to my surprise it arrived at my door safely and ahead of the new promised shipping date...My thanks go again to Jenny for handling a difficult situation, and at the same time retaining a customer...This left the task of refinishing the boards to black, and since I really like the bedliner that was applied earlier to my flatbed by VIP Tinters, I took the unopened box of parts to Jason and Allan, asked to have them refinished and installed...As promised the entire job was done on time while I waited, and as a bonus it was noticed that tiny bubbles, unnoticed by me, had developed in my previously tinted windows...Both windows were retinted on the spot under warranty...VIP Tinters is entrenched on the Truckman Highly Recommended List...

As always, new photos of the additions will be found at the bottom of the accompanying photo essay here...

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Rebirth Update #6...

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While waiting for more parts and accessories to arrive, all special ordered, and some which had to be manufactured, I whiled away my time with smaller projects, such as replacing the paddle latches on the Rawson-Koenig toolboxes under the flatbed...the truck was purchased without keys to the existing locks, and ordering new ones from Rawson-Koenig only turned up some that were unusable because of wrong operating levers and their being permanently welded to the assembly...Grainger often has hard to find parts, and a trip to the local outlet with the old part in hand proved hopeful as the salesclerk ordered new cylinders for me based on her catalog descriptions...Alas these arrived and were also unusable because they would not engage the latch plunger...

At this point, I thought I should look for new latch assemblies instead of trying to replace the lock cylinders...Amazon lists many different styles and sizes, not all of which show their dimensions...Choosing from the ones which offered their dimensions, I ordered two new complete assemblies keyed alike...On arrival these were found to be not quite dimensionally identical to the old latches, but the lock cylinders were the right ones...But to make them work on the old latches I would have to cut away some of the supporting framework on the doors...Never being one to shy away from a challenge, I got out the tools and started cutting...

The old latches were fastened from the inside to the framework I had cut away, necessitating drilling new holes to mount the latches to the outside of the doors...Once this was done the latches were reinstalled with machine screws, new lock cylinders installed and tested for correct contact with the plungers...I had to adjust the latch faces on the boxes to get a tighter fit for the doors, but all turned out well...At least until I filled the boxes with what equipment I wished to carry for roadside use, and went to lock everything away for the night...This is when I found the "keyed alike" locks were not keyed alike...I had four keys to one of the locks, and none for the other...However a quick message to the Amazon seller got an apology and a new correct cylinder shipped immediately...It's good to be able to lock the meager contents of the boxes away from uninvited fingers...

In anticipation of another upcoming addition, I bought two steel gate pulls, and installed them on the headache rack as grab handles...The biggest item for this update is the Tough Country front bumper which arrived and was installed at Texan Hitch in Conroe today...Owners George and Robert specialize in customer satisfaction above all else...Like most business owners they stock what is popular, but when a finicky customer (like me) comes in, and can't be satisfied with what is on the shelf, they go the extra mile to please the customer...I noticed this low-key business approach on my first visit, and consequently came back to Texan when I was ready to buy...

The new bumper was ordered, and after a short wait (which always seems longer) it arrived at Texan Hitch, and I made the appointment for installation...I was in and out in an hour...I couldn't be more pleased with the product and the service...Those readers wishing to refresh their memories from the beginning of this saga can begin reading here, then follow the list of updates at the top right of each page...New photos were added at the bottom of the photo essay here...In the new photos the front bumper is the only clean part of the truck following yesterday's mudstorm...

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