GAT & SCAR 2025

  • HTML tutorial

highboy4x4

Rank V
Member

Enthusiast III

1,872
Naples, FL, USA
First Name
Russ
Last Name
Derr
Member #

32418

Service Branch
Army (ret)
T-9 hours before I start my first adventure in my recently completed build! It’s been a long 10 months and I have been chomping at the bit for sometime now! John Denver is singing my ! But instead of a jet plane it’s a Super Duty!

In the last week, I had a few things happened that would have paused others. 4 Tires started to separate, new dual zone fridge is not working in dual mode, (they are sending another), then the weather concern. But I decided that I am going anyways! Prayer is a good thing! The forecast went from 4-5 days of 50% rain to 1 day @ 10%.

So for the next 2 weeks, my co-pilot Sam and I will be trekking thru the North Georgia mountains! (GA Traverse) Then a detour into the Smoky Mountains which includes Clingman’s Dome! Then finally thru the flat lands of South Carolina to dip our toes into the Atlantic near Hilton Head. From there down the east coast of Florida to home!

I will update this post when I can, try to complete trail reports, pictures and build routes and POIs to share!
 

Attachments

highboy4x4

Rank V
Member

Enthusiast III

1,872
Naples, FL, USA
First Name
Russ
Last Name
Derr
Member #

32418

Service Branch
Army (ret)
What a trip! Amazing peace and tranquillity! The rain held off most days in the beginning and only 1 rainy night! It was absolutely perfect weather! The truck performed admirably and only a few things wiggled loose!

After the GA Traverse, the SCAR was a letdown. But my adventure spirit pushed thru and created my own path! Winding thru rural America was a fabulous trek! We avoided the washboard sandy roads and found many neat areas instead. We sidetracked to mid SC to pick up some venison from a friend!

The final tally was 2364 miles in 13days! Highest elevation was 6543 ft in NC to the ocean in St Augustine, FL.

I might need to find a part time job just to feed my diesel habit! Used 291 gallons of fuel with an average price per gallon of $3.31. Basically 14mpg on the hard ball and 5mpg in 4wheel drive!

Let’s just say that I am already planning a summer trip!