[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #76946

John Jones wrote:

Damn.. Jason is going today!! Wow., Early bird😎😎😎

Yes, tomorrow is magazine shoot day for the Otter bus. I’m glad to get this done so ai can fully enjoy the bus. We will see you guys Friday night.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #76884

Ok, let me know if you need help with anything. I heading out tomorrow.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #76831

John Jones wrote:

We need a way to make like 5 gallons of coffee at a time👍🏻😉👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Want me to pre-order coffee from a shop and I can pick it up in the morning? Usually those bagel shops have those jugs of coffee. If not I have some gear we use on the river for groups I can bring.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #76168

I thought I would let everyone know on this forum that dispersed camping in Moab is under attack. I have been camping in the area for decades and the camping availability is shrinking. Now the BLM is reviewing 356 identified dispersed camping sites in the Moab area. If anything they have identified camping areas you can go enjoy.

I can see this area becoming what Behind the Rocks has become, less dispersed and designated only camping. I feel we will be fighting for more of this in the future. I know that the Forest Service is looking to close dispersed camping on Forest  land in Colorado also.

Please go to the link below and fill out the information at the bottom of the page and submit it.

The Fight for Dispersed Camping Near Moab Continues

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #75947

Yes correct, it was supposed to be a low key thing. That started because Moab City told the Ottingers that if we camped again at the Rock Shop they would get huge fines. Sonny moved it to the Warehouse that is in the county, I was trying to help not have the event get lost forever and piss off the county. Never want the Gov’t in your shit, I think you and both know that well John by working for the Gov’t.  That all changed with a Hot VWs feature, viral KCW reels and as you mentioned above, Know why that trip has gained soo much popularity?  KCW, Know why Rugged Radio’s even knows this trip exists?  Audrey’s reels. It has become popular because people come have a good time and share their experiences

I have never promoted the event as Westy Restorations event, only posted on your forum and on the Utah VW Camping page by creating an event. This is exactly why I created the Lin Ottinger Scenic Tours and Annual Caravan Page on FB, to keep it from the Ottinger’s not anything else. I only wanted to be the messenger, I was constantly asked by many what are the details on the Spring Ottinger event. This is why I created the FB page. I remember a time you hated FB and Instagram and only had the forum for information. Every time someone thanked me for the event I would tell them “Don’t thank me, Thank the Ottingers for continuing the event and KCW for starting this whole thing”.

Yes its long winded again, I am tired of the jabs. I have tried to be a supporter of KCW, bring business to you, hang out and be part of the crew. I feel like we are all friends but it always seems like there is always undertones of something different. Honestly I went through a lot of shit in my life about a year and a half ago and almost made a choice to no longer live. Because of this I have written off  best friends, my sister, parents and others because I am tired of drama and bull shit in life. Life is too short to deal with it. Maybe the VW scene is next to fall in that line, so much drama in it. Hopefully April will be a great event, maybe it’s best for me to come get pics of Otter and head back to my family for the weekend.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #75919

I talked to Audrey at the beginning on the year if you guys were going to start posting and wanted to start getting the work out early, did seem like she cared who posted and neither did I. Like I mentioned to her last year, not my event I have been a messenger about the event over the years posting on FB. I didn’t see anything so I created the event on Jan 18 on the Lin Ottinger FB page, then waited, then created the video on the Utah VW Camping page in March to get information out so people could plan. I am involved helping get the word out because years ago Sonny asked me to do that, at that point I have become a messenger to many. I understand that KCW started the campout but way I see it now is the Ottinger campouts are their events and I think the more that help get the word out the better. Sounds like we will have some new people this year, I think we have Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Colorado. I know more but that is cool to have so many states representing.

The only plans I have this year is the photo shoot of Otter, Eric was asked to shoot by a magazine after they saw it at SEMA. I told him the best place to shoot is in Moab in its natural habitat. He then pitched it to other magazines and the event will be in Hot VWs.

I reached out to Rugged because they were at the SL Off road expo and I wanted to get a radio for my Jeep, once I mention that I wanted to also put a GMRS radio in my bus that was at the show they told be to defiantly contact them so we could get on in the bus. After becoming a dealer, I mentioned that I wanted to get the local VW and Jeep group on better radios than CB for the trips we are doing up here. They were stoked to help anyway they can.  It is a tough push to get everyone to convert when they are comfortable. Hopefully we can all get upgraded to GMRS, I doubt it will happen. Haven’t sold one yet as an example, even with the Camping group deal.  Maybe I need to plan a field day and get everyone out and tune their CB radios and that will help with some of the issues.

Cant wait to see the stickers, getting Rugged Radio to sponsor would be awesome! I think that would help get some to convert hopefully.

 

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #74676

Black Dragon is postponed. Ron and I did a quick jeep run of it yesterday. Damn these rigs are so fun! This slush/snow spot is definitely 4wd. The Syncro split will most likely make it but the rest of us probably won’t. It was super snotty also. Our jeeps have 35″ tires with 2″ lift.

Spent a half hour at the car wash in green river just getting the mud off.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #74553

Roll Call! We are a week away from the Black Dragon Campout. Who is planning on coming and Thursday or Friday?

We plan to meet Thursday March 16 at the Chevron at the mouth of Spanish Fork canyon at 10:30am, leaving at 11am. Plan is to drive the Buckhorn wash road in the Swell to this location and camp l here or nearby Thursday night. Dropped pin
https://maps.app.goo.gl/W2NnzwX998NSrYZi9

Friday we leave camp at 11am and drive the Black Dragon wash (weather depending) and camp on the otherside of the Swell.

Then Saturday it’s up to the group, a tentative plan is maybe head to Swasey Cabin and camp in the area.

**Trail details** This trail is rated moderate, it will be similar to Chicken Corners with ledges. We will drive from the top down, so driving down the ledges. We will stack rocks and have ramps to help get through the obstacles. We will do everything we can to get through obstacles without damage. You might scrape here or drag a bumper. Worst case we turn around.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #74283

I don’t think is much of a plan except go explore the area in the Swell and hit Black Dragon. Probably find a place to meet for Thursday and Friday Morning for those not diving together. As we get closer and find out who is coming on what day we will find a meeting place.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Jason's Projects #74282

John Jones wrote:

Hope I can sell some racks in the spring.. fingers crossed… KCW needs a new strategy now… I’m thinking start selling all the extra stuff I have around here.. but also think I might just use a bunch of it in time.. I’m glad I could help with the ol Ottinger bus.. You have done a great job with it!

Thanks John, I really appreciate all the help everyone did art KCW on the bus, the bumper winch mount, getting me over the metal fab work hump, and the rack is so awesome! Its exactly what I wanted!

I don’t see why they wouldn’t sell, maybe an add on the samba? Shipping is what is probably the issue, they want both nuts now to ship anything. If you were in Cali I bet they would be gone.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Jason's Projects #74250

John Jones wrote:

Come on Jason… Lets see a pic from that weekend!!! I know someone took a pic!!! Otter the overlander!!!!!!! For real Jason… I’d love to sell a roof rack or two…

I keep telling people to call you and get one and have several interested, I am surprised nobody has reach out yet. Thanks Audrey for posting, it has been crazy around here. I am trying to get caught up on customer engines from last year when SEMA got in the way and have them done before spring kicks off.

John Jones wrote:

Awesome job Jason!!! I bet you are still on cloud nine!!! Ready to quit that forest service gig and open up Westy Restorations full time yet?

Thanks, when I was at the State Capitol with the Salt Lake Off-Road Expo group, representing the VW Camping group to legislators about what we do and supporting public lands, I showed them the bus and they said they may have a spot for me. Ended up it was just after you entered the expo in the main hall in the center. It was cool to represent the VWs in the off road world and apparently it was a huge hit.

Hell no, I would be an idiot to quit with the end game benefits of Gov’t. Westy is constantly changing business strategy and currently I am going to push the engine building more. It is easier to manage my time with family and getting out camping. I really want to make it as auto pilot as possible, there is plenty of work up here and I don’t need it all. Just a small percentage.

[JasonS]

in reply to: Utah Campouts – Ottinger Event 4/29/23! #74249

John Jones wrote:

Every VW guys aspiration is to have their build in a magazine.. I understand… Probably not his first I bet.. ??

Figured there was some discussion going on. Not my first, I have done the Car Show/ Magazine bus and could never enjoy it the way I wanted. Its cool this bus will be in some magazines but not the main purpose and honestly its keeping me from enjoying it fully. I also do want to go out and fuck it up right away! I have invested too much time and $$$ to do that, I want to get out and use it without coming home and constantly fixing it. I already have a Jeep for that and do not need two of them.

That camp link is probably unlikely, huge storm just went through that area and there are some nasty ruts that can swallow a bus to the frame. Talking to Kris and mentioned that we should try and meetup in the Buckhorn draw area since its easier to find each other. I am going to help Kris post on socials today and see what interest we have.

[JasonS]

in reply to: JJ’s Class 11 Oval #73565

Nice Job! 8th place and a finish!

[JasonS]

in reply to: JJ’s Class 11 Oval #73564

Race time? 

[JasonS]

in reply to: Jason's Projects #73527

That is a wrench that is made for the adjuster. Sometimes those adjuster can get sticky. It also has a bottle opener. Congratulations on retirement!

[Author]

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