I don’t know if this is going to make a lot of sense, but I am really enjoying approaching my post-apoc rigs from a scavengers’ mindset. That is to say, acting like the rigs I have are all there is–there’s not an option to get another one, we have to make do with what’s there, for as long as possible. So, where I might have in the past said, “yep that one’s cashed in, get another car,” with the post-apoc rigs I choose not to give myself that option.


 


This is on my mind for obvious reasons today, as we’ve discovered that the subframe that has to be dropped to change the fuel tank has severely rotted mounting points on one side. I can get them off, but they’re unlikely to exist any more once the subframe is free. (Personal fleet history note: this is pretty much the reason I got rid of my Rabbit GTI, my first Ranger and my Sidekick–rotted-out rockers and other structural areas.  Though, thankfully, Doubletap isn’t quite as bad as any of those cars yet.)  So…I’ll have to find a way to get some new structure in there. (Already have some ideas.) Oh, and to drop the leaking gas tank and get the whole underbelly of the car cleaned and aired out before I try to weld anything…So, Doubletap will be off the road for a few weeks, but he’ll come back stronger. And I get to be creative with metal! Simple, right?  Winning all around.
In other fleet news, it’s looking like we’ll be up to 10 vehicles by the fall, if plans to collect a tiny, unkillable Toyota pickup from New Mexico come to a satisfying conclusion (wait, no, eleven if you count the Fat Cat, but it’s not gonna be street legal).  Funny thing about that, it’s a ridiculous number of vehicles (especially considering six of them will be Empty Cradle-promoting post-apoc vehicles) but it feels very right, somehow, like having a properly outfitted toolbox.  As soon as we made the decision that yes, I can absorb that many rigs, it was like a puzzle piece clicked into place, a strong feeling of this is going to work out just fine.  Not just about the cars, but about life, work, the house, my other projects, everything.   Maybe it makes no sense, but apparently, in this moment, this pile of vehicles is what I need to properly face the world.  So…onward and upward.  Tomorrow it’ll be time to tackle Trundle’s transmission leak and continue rebuilding his roof rack, and then it’ll be time to clear the driveway for major surgery on Doubletap.