Month: August 2021

Securing the Back Window of our Hard Top with a Farrimond Friction Hitch

We have a Beltop Hard Top for our Toyota Hilux. Though we are quite happy with it, there was something we did not want to live with it.

So we fixed a minor nuisance of the back window of our hard top: having rain pouring into the pick up over our power jacks … We adjusted the back window with a Farrimond Friction Hitch. Check our video on how we did this.

I first saw this knot on a video from “Far North Bushcraft and Survival”. The knot presented there seems just as useful in the backwoods as for our car. Here it is:

Roof Top Extension

Last December we got ourselves an AutoTerm Diesel Heater for our tent or side awnings. However, we could not really use it for our roof top tent, as the pipe was so long, that practically all the heat was lost before getting into the tent. Therefore we created an extension at the rear of our tent to place the heater on it (amongst other stuff). Have a look at it at the video below.

We can even fit the extension with a tarp to have some rain protection on a quick stop.

Roof Top Extension with Tarp as Rain Shelter

A very basic installation and far from perfect setup – but it works …

Hiking Gear: MC-101 or SP-404A?

So first of all, what does a music gear have to do with hiking or trekking? As we are currently preparing for a longer hike, I created an spreadsheet with all the items we would need to pack along – including their individual weight. This list is divided into different sections with the most crucial sections at the top: Housing, Cooking, Transport, Clothes. The “luxury” items are more at the bottom. However, when reviewing this list, I realised after only being half-way through, that the total weight is about more than we actually wanted to carry. This left me in the situation that I would probably not be able to carry my Roland MC-707 along with my TR-8S along. So I thought, I would have to look for something lighter in my pack.

Here is what I really wanted to take along: a kind of sequencer with drums and samples. Ideally with only small power consumption. Powered by a USB-C power bank.

As I happen to already have the MC-707, I thought this to be a good excuse to finally get an SP-404. However, looking at its weight with 1200g I am not so sure, if that is a good idea. The MC-101 weights only 60% of the SP-404A. The downside, I would then have a device that is nearly identical to something I already have. On the other hand, I could use all my music (and samples) from the MC-707 (as long as I am using not more than 4 tracks).

Maybe, there are other cool devices out there. I must check. Until then, I have not decided yet. Time will tell.

Hiking Kilt

Today I did it – I actually ordered a kilt. Though not from scottish or gaelic descendance, I gave this a try as my trekking or walking trousers. In German language an ancient word for trousers is “Beinkleid“, which somehow could be translated to “a skirt for legs”. So I thought a kilt would just fit into that category.

And having read about the “Dress Act 1746” I certainly wanted to take the advantage of no longer to be “bound down to the unmanly dress of the Lowlander” (as quoted on Wikipedia) …

As soon as the kilt arrives (and if it fits) I will post an update.

Note: the picture in this post is taken as a screenshot from the web site at SportKilt and courtesy of SportKilt. It is the actual model I ordered. I hope they do not mind, me re-using their image here.