November 12th - November 15th, 2024

 My Blog Reflection

 "Measure your wealth not by the things you can buy but by the things no money can buy."

Kevin Kelly

November 12, 2024 - Damage at Lot - Truck Bed Latch Installed - HHR Packed

Alexa and I drove out to the lake lot to search for an item that a friend may have left out there a few weeks ago. We didn't find it but, upon driving up, we found some damage to the steps due to a large, dead tree branch that fell down. Another spring project.

While the rail was totally broken away from the post, it won't be a difficult repair.

After eating some lunch at the house, while Kelly and Alexa went to get their nails done, I installed the new tailgate latch on the truck. The new latch came with absolutely no instructions so I was hoping its installation would be pretty straight forward.

I first had to remove an inside tailgate panel to access the handle mechanism. All screws came out easily. Here is a picture of the handle mechanism before I took it out. It obviously had been hit with a little bedliner spray at one time.

First the two rod locks were disengaged and the two bolts holding the latch to the tailgate were removed. It then came right out. I had to remove the key lock from the old latch and install it in the new latch mechanism. This operation went smoothly as well. I bolted the new latch in place, attached the two lock rods, and then clipped the red retainers over them. The latch works great, much easier than before. I am quite pleased, even if it is plastic.

November 15, 2024

The HHR was packed this morning for the trip to Florida starting tomorrow. The grass will be cut this afternoon when the dew dries off, and we will ready to roll in the morning. We stop for the night around Atlanta which is about half way.

No blog for a few days until after we get unpacked and the internet set up down there.