Trip Preparations

I spent some time today resurrecting the packing list from my 2012 trip and modified it slightly to reflect the Ural instead of the Beemer. More tools, oil filters, some spare parts but no rain gear or mesh gear. So it may actually be a less than on the 2012 road trip. Here is just about all of the stuff that I'm taking. Pretty much the same as last time. No DSLR this time, just the iPhone and GoPro for pictures. The yellow dry sack has an 11" Macbook just in case I need a terminal window. That turned out to be very hard to do with the iPad.

The observant may have noticed the compressed gas canister at the bottom right of the photo. I am bringing both the liquid and gas fuel stoves. I'm wondering which will be preferred.

I finally installed the panel mount dual USB charger in the sidecar. It has one 2.1 amp outlet that is needed to charge the iPad. There is a switch above this outlet which was originally for the spotlight on the Gear-Up model but I'm using it to switch power in the sidecar. For the last year, I have been powering the GPS off of the sidecar power but I finally broke down and installed an additional switched circuit on the bike. I'm bringing a small AC inverter so if needed, I can even charge the Macbook from the bike while underway. Now where could I put a cup holder...

As you can see, all of this easily fits in the sidecar between the nose, the trunk, the small ammo can on the side of the sidecar and my old tank bag. I was kind of undecided whether to use the larger tail bag or my old tank bag. After messing with the rain cover on the tail bag, I opted for the tank bag. Much simpler to deploy. Since Bridget will be joining me later, I'm bringing the sidecar windshield along but folded under the tonneau cover. On the seat, also under the cover, will be a small ice chest. The nose of the sidecar has most of the lightweight items such as sleeping bag, mat and clothes. The tent, spare parts, tire tubes, fuel water, etc. is in the middle. The small ammo can between the tug and the sidecar has fuel and first aid stuff. The trunk is reserved for things that either need to stay dry or things that I want to be able to lock up.

I received the Heidenau K28 tire, which is designed for use on sidecar rigs, from Heindl Engineering, a Ural dealer in Ohio. I will be installing that tire on the spare rim to switch when I reach Whitehorse. The K37 tire that I've been using on the pusher since last fall will probably be pretty worn by then. I will also be bringing the Duro that is currently mounted on the spare and install it on the front wheel. This should give a much smoother ride due to the much less aggressive tread. The only things on the rear rack will be an unmounted tire and probably the oil change pan.

The 30,000 km service is only a few hundred miles away so I did a few of the tasks already.

• Adjusted the valves. Left side was right on, the right side was a couple of thousands loose. 
• Checked sidecar alignment since it felt off and it was. It was toe out ¼". I changed to toe in ¼". The front mount had slipped. Lean out is still 2°. Much nicer handling. 

The Spotwalla link is already active since I was testing the old Spot 2. I still need to find a better location than in my riding gear as I've been forgetting to turn it off.

This is the part of the trip with Bridget. 780 miles in 5 days seems reasonable.