{"id":18893,"date":"2023-04-09T10:50:42","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T17:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.4x4training.com\/w\/?p=18893"},"modified":"2023-04-09T10:50:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T17:50:42","slug":"pickle-thinks-he-is-a-big-dill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.4x4training.com\/w\/pickle-thinks-he-is-a-big-dill\/","title":{"rendered":"Pickle Thinks He is a Big Dill"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Pickle (98 TJ) in DVNP<\/p><\/div>\n

Whew. Drove an exhilarating event recently. Boss wanted to hit Death Valley for the annual Death Valley Experience March 22-25. Hosted by the California Four Wheel Drive Association, this trip lived up to its name. What an experience it was! But ol\u2019 Pickle came through with flying colors (well, green, anyway).<\/p>\n

Did the entire 1,200 miles without needing a drop of that black fluid. Quite proud of myself, if I may say so.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019m getting a bit ahead of myself. Please allow me to introduce myself\u2026.<\/p>\n

Pickle in name only<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, about that name. Pickle? For an off-road warrior? Sounds like a vegetable. I\u2019ve heard Boss say it\u2019s because I\u2019m good at getting other vehicles out of a pickle. Or maybe because I am green. True, but I\u2019m still not keen on the name.<\/p>\n

Born in \u201998, I\u2019m what they call a \u2018rescue dog\u2019. Yeah, had a couple masters before this one. One wasn\u2019t so nice to me. Caused me to roll one day. I picked up a few scars \u2013 scrapes and dents \u2013 but Boss doesn\u2019t mind.<\/p>\n

And get this. Soon after the rescue, Boss takes me to this place where they raise me up in the air. I heard him say to one of the fellas, \u201cI gotta know whether it\u2019s male or female.\u201d Huh? Geez, Boss, can\u2019t you tell?<\/p>\n

Officially a Jeep TJ, I have 148,000 miles on me but am going strong.<\/p>\n

One tough four-wheeling dog<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I like to say, what doesn\u2019t destroy me makes me stronger. Now I\u2019m Boss\u2019 choice for taking on the Rubicon. Have done it dozens of times. Those rocks? Pickle says, \u201cNo problema, senor!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just last month, I was plowing through 4-foot snow drifts, one after another. On some drifts, I started losing traction toward the end. Then I just dug in the mud terrains and gutted it through.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a bit long-legged: I wear 35-inch tires, but am very stealthy. I can crawl low and slow as needed.<\/p>\n

As for fuel, well, it has to be super-charged caffeine. None of that wimpy stuff they serve the SUVs, CRVs, and Mini Coopers. No sir. Only truck-driver grade for this king of the trails.<\/p>\n

A Pickle for the streets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unlike most four-wheeled folks, I prefer the street life. This dog doesn\u2019t need a roof over his head. I like to hang out and make sure everything\u2019s cool in the \u2018hood.<\/p>\n

Am definitely top dog in my household. I have two very dear friends nearby, Ashley and Kay. They\u2019re a bit pampered, though. Boss keeps them in the stable. Still, we hang out on occasion.<\/p>\n

None of those fancy electronic gadgets for me, either. Just good old hardcore iron. Hell, you won\u2019t find a button to unlock the anti-sway bars!<\/p>\n

Honking my own horn at the shopping mall<\/strong><\/p>\n

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No bath until after the Mall.<\/p><\/div>\n

What\u2019s really fun is when Boss takes me to the mall. Scrapes, scratches and all, I\u2019m still the envy of the Jeeps, SUVs, CRVs and sedans in the parking lot. I get to spend my weekends romping in the mud and snow, and all that real-man stuff. The ladies just can\u2019t get enough of my winch system, diff lockers and tail gate.<\/p>\n

Polished in all their glory, my city-slicker friends are stuck cruising from one boring urban location to another. What kind of life is that? I keep telling them they need to get their tailpipes off road. They don\u2019t listen.<\/p>\n

Not every day is sunny, though. I blew my tranny once while on the Rubicon. Just started slipping and sliding; I didn\u2019t have the oomph in me anymore. Doctor Ron said my guts gave out.<\/p>\n

Worst part \u2013 and this really humiliating \u2013 I had to get towed out behind a U-haul truck. Oh, the indignity! You should\u2019ve heard the catcalls from the other Jeeps and 4X4s in the group. Took me a while to get over that.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also a bit hard on my shoes. Always blowing them out. Boss bought one of those insurance plans. If the guys can\u2019t repair my shoes, I get new ones. New rubber for free. Cool! One of these days I\u2019ll figure out how to fake it just to score some new soles. But don\u2019t tell Boss. He might get a little hot under the hood knowing I\u2019m trying to dill the system.<\/p>\n

Boss bought me a new pair of spectacles recently, courtesy of Larry Bernstein over at Dirty Parts. Now I really shine at night. Even better, Boss can see where he\u2019s taking me. Sometimes I wonder. But we always make it back to our comfy abode near the beach. (By the way, when do I get to go to the beach?)<\/p>\n

Gotta run. I can hear the keys jingling again. It must be time for more romping and rolling. Hey, get out there and do the same. As Boss likes to say, We\u2019ll see you on the trails!<\/em><\/p>\n

#\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 #<\/p>\n

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Did you miss the previous articles?<\/p>\n

2023<\/p>\n