The update: In short, the project has met its demise. As you all have probably experienced with your own builds and projects, enthusiasm was high at the beginning and slowly diminished as we went along. Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to months and so on. We were still pretty excited about the prospects of the project, but we were beginning to question whether it was going to be enough room and if we were just placing a temporary fix on an outstanding issue at the cost of mutilating our beloved Cruiser. Several family discussions over this very issue were had. Some were pretty low key and others were... Let’s say others were a little more tense. Eventually we came to a decision and as a family, made the choice to stop the project. We needed more space than what the Cruiser could offer and we were not going to destroy her on a chance.
So the search began for a new adventure vehicle. We looked at vans, suburbans, excursion and even an ambulance. We eventually came across an 80 series that had already been chopped into a Ute, that a friend of ours had. As luck would have it, we even came across a Flippac at the exact same time. After another family discussion and a lot of messages back and forth with our friend, we decided that we were going to go take a look at the Ute and spare our 80 the plastic surgery. It was all set, we were going to leave in the morning and drive to Tennessee to take a good look at the Ute. But life had another plan for us instead. As luck would have it, the planets aligned and presented something that I had been lusting for, for quite some time.
Let me just start by saying that Facebook Marketplace is an evil, yet wonderful thing. You all know what I mean. As I said earlier, I have lusted after a particular vehicle for sometime now. But finding one at a price I was willing to pay was a major hurdle. But wouldn’t you know it, the day before we’re about to take a 10hr trip to look at a vehicle, Marketplace provides the impossible. I’m not going to bore you all with the particulars, but when a two owner (by brothers) 2007 Dodge Power Wagon pops up in immaculate condition at the right price, you better be damn sure to at least look at it. We did and the rest is history.
So what about the Cruiser? Well, that was another topic of multiple family discussions. The short answer is, that she will get her rear interior reinstalled and will get a much needed deep cleaning. Then, we plan to put her up for sale. For sale! I know, shocking! None of us really want to get rid of her, there’s too many memories. But those memories were made in her, not by her and we would be remiss to let her just rot away in the driveway. Especially, when she could bring that same level of joy to some other family. So if you’re a family looking for an adventure vehicle that we’re sure will bring you as much joy as it has brought us, then be on the lookout for the sale posting.
Again, we want to thank all of you for taking the time to follow along with this project and our adventures. Sometimes life doesn’t work out how we plan, but that’s just part of the adventure. Stay tuned to see where we go from here. And remember, Family First, Adventure Always!
