About Josh_Arakes

Josh_Arakes

Thanks for reading and for the feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Josh_Arakes

If by "buff out" you mean keep the patina, bolt on some new-to-me old parts (windshield, doors, roof, etc.), and add engine/transmission/transfer case, then yes, it'll buff right out!

Josh_Arakes

I've never driven a Ferrari but I fly fighter jets and they're harshly and brilliantly sublime.

Josh_Arakes · ‎18-03-2022

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind words!

Josh_Arakes · ‎18-03-2022

A '93 Previa as a kid's car? Love it. I was passed by one on the freeway today and couldn't help but admire it. I hope you enjoy the ND2 as much as we have thus far!

Josh_Arakes · ‎28-01-2022

Yeah, I'm not feeling the Lexus timing belt even with all the online support. Too much risk relative to the $$ savings of doing it myself.

Josh_Arakes · ‎27-01-2022

Glad you enjoyed it and I always appreciate article ideas!

Josh_Arakes · ‎27-01-2022

I like your investigative mindset, but you're presuming I include pictures of things I've flown and not just Getty images that Hagerty can license... I suspect I won't be able to tell what I've flown until I'm out of the service in a few years. Until then, keep guessing!

Josh_Arakes · ‎27-01-2022

I so relate to your post. The first picture in the story that has my Odyssey in it with all the tools illustrates the battle I had removing the sway bar links. I used a torch, grinder, pry bar, hammer drill, PB Blaster, vice grips, and any other tool I could throw at it. It was a couple hour battle, while all the YouTube videos showed it coming right off. SMH.

Josh_Arakes · ‎27-01-2022

Considering I had to look up the definition, that probably isn't true (certainly the genius implication). The part about knowing lots about many different thing might be, though I'd be hesitant to say I know a 'lot' about lots of things.

Josh_Arakes · ‎27-01-2022

That's a great question and could make for an interesting article. Short answer: I'm vested in both cases to get a good diagnosis. That's true for my car as I don't want to pay the mechanic to throw parts at a problem or spend hours troubleshooting. With airplanes, having the pilot spend a few minutes describing the problem in detail and/or working through some things with a specialist once back on the ground can save maintainers hours of troubleshooting time and I'm always happy to help those guys and gals out.

Josh_Arakes · ‎27-01-2022

IH8MUD is the best! I was on that prior to buying the LX, making sure I knew what to look for. As to the aircraft, I have to keep folks guessing as to what I've flown and currently fly...

Josh_Arakes · ‎06-01-2022

We were planning to get a truck when the van died, but we ended up with the Lexus. One reason to keep the van is that it's a great vehicle for my teenagers to learn to drive on (child #4 of 5 is about to get their permit). If it gets scratched or beat up it's not a big deal as it has over 250,000 miles. And, frankly, if it's totaled it's not a big loss (though I would be sad). I'm not sure what vehicle my kids would learn to drive on if I didn't have the van.

Josh_Arakes · ‎02-01-2022

We've already done a couple off-road adventures in the Lexus (not sure I'd use the term overlanding for what we did) and it's been awesome. No way I'm driving the Jeepster 1,000 miles roundtrip with 4 people and lots of gear, it just isn't built for that while the Lexus handled it with comfort and aplomb. Not to mention the 200+ miles once we left pavement that the Lexus crushed. Part of me wishes I'd left the Jeepster a bit rougher in my restoration so I could beat it up off-road, but it's almost too nice...

Josh_Arakes · ‎02-01-2022

We have a military move coming up this summer, we'll see what that house brings garage-wise. Our current house is provided by Uncle Sam and has a 2-car garage, so our fleet spills over in the street. I'm guessing that will also be the case after our move. I agree though, more is always better!

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

Well, it is nice to have a vehicle that easily gets 30+mpg and comfortably carries 5 people. I love my three enthusiast cars, but sometimes it is mostly about just getting from Point A to Point B.

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

Thanks for reading and for the compliment! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

Definitely in NATOPS somewhere.

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

As well you should! Happy New Year to you!

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

Loved the GTO story, thanks for sharing it and I think it's great you're going to pass it on to your nephew.

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

My brother-in-law, who is single and owns more vehicles than my five, jokingly said this was the best For Sale ad he's seen in a while! I promise it wasn't written for that purpose, but you never know!

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

I've had those exact same thoughts!

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

That's solid advice and a tough frequent reminder on the Transalp. I've had some friends ask about buying it, but even if I were set on selling it I'd be reticent to sell to someone I know. Better to have it be long gone, I think, without a friend questioning every decision I made while restoring it.

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

It's fun to keep the reader guessing, if only for a little while. My kids love riding in the jeep and my daughter and I treasure the memories we have of working on it (I'd like her to get it eventually, but we'll see).

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

I hope you've gone and toured the boneyard, it's a very cool place!

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

Agreed on all counts. Despite all my vacillations, at the moment I don't intend to sell it. That said, we do have a cross-country military move coming up this summer and moving 5 cars isn't easy...

Josh_Arakes · ‎31-12-2021

Glad you enjoyed this one and the other articles! Thanks for reading and commenting.

Josh_Arakes · ‎30-12-2021

Love it!

Josh_Arakes · ‎30-12-2021

Thank for the comment! Glad you enjoyed it. The break from Hagerty, such as it was, wasn't due to Hagerty or Jack at all. Rather, we quite unexpectedly lost a family member on my wife's side of the family and priorities were understandably elsewhere. I'm glad Hagerty welcomed me back when I was ready and there are more stories in the queue. Plus, I speak Spanish and German so languages and words are kind of a thing for me. My oldest was gifted a dictionary for their 6th birthday and they were over the moon excited, so I guess it runs in the family.

Josh_Arakes · ‎30-12-2021

Well, I do have 5 children so a minivan makes a lot of sense, even if 3 of them kids are out of the house. I am surprised at how much I vacillate between selling the Jeepster and keeping it forever. Unless and until I emotionally remain in one of those camps (sell or keep) for an extended period of time, I'm not going to sell it. Better to keep it and be out $50 each month for insurance than rashly sell it and regret it!

Josh_Arakes · ‎30-12-2021

My uncle has a 1996 4Runner that he bought brand new and runs as well as the day he purchased it. After he read this article he said that we should have a family car boneyard, but a boneyard that stores the vehicles so future family can enjoy them as much as we do.

Josh_Arakes · ‎30-12-2021

Glad to hear you enjoyed reading it and thanks for commenting! The one thing I don't want to do here is be hasty. Without there being financial pressure I don't want to rush the decision for sure.

Josh_Arakes · ‎30-12-2021

That's an interesting idea, take a break from it and see where the relationship picks up afterwards...

Josh_Arakes · ‎30-12-2021

Whatever the exact reason, it's still a tragedy!

Josh_Arakes · ‎14-09-2021

I tip my hat to you, good sir, for your service! And thanks for reading.

Josh_Arakes · ‎14-09-2021

That is a glorious joke. As a fellow father, I can't imagine your grief, but if your daughter loved a joke like that she must have been great. I hope the memories you have of her will assuage your grief and allow you to smile at the joke again. Thanks for sharing about her and you have my deepest sympathies.

Josh_Arakes · ‎14-09-2021

Ben would love that you're sharing them with your kids, and he would have loved to hear about how hard they laughed or groaned! I am glad that you were touched by the article. Thanks for reading.

Josh_Arakes · ‎14-09-2021

I am glad you liked it. I'm still new enough to this whole writing thing that I read each of my articles when they are posted, almost like I'm enjoying them for the first time. This one is the exception to that rule, I can't bring myself to read it again as the loss is still too close.

Josh_Arakes · ‎14-09-2021

I love that story, thank you for sharing it. Even though it's a decade late, my condolences to Charlie's sons.

Josh_Arakes · ‎09-07-2021

Brilliant. I'll read anything he writes.

Josh_Arakes · ‎03-07-2021

Thanks! I am glad you really enjoyed reading it.

Josh_Arakes · ‎01-07-2021

Glad you enjoyed it. I had the pleasure of hearing an SR-71 pilot speak many years ago and he told many stories that were crazy, one of which is similar to the one you mentioned here.

Josh_Arakes · ‎18-03-2021

Toronto to LA is no joke! I think it's great that your son will get the Tundra and is already planning to mod it. Thanks for reading!

Josh_Arakes · ‎16-03-2021

Sorry, I can't confirm which aircraft I've flown or which branch of the armed forces I'm in; that agreement was part of getting approval to do this. Jack picked an aircraft photo from Getty images to accompany the article without any input from me. Thanks for reading!

Josh_Arakes · ‎16-03-2021

That's an awesome story and it took some guts to paint your Odyssey like that. Thanks for reading!

Josh_Arakes · ‎14-03-2021

Those maxiwagons are awesome! We had something similar to that when I was really little, but I'll have to ask my dad if that's what it was. Our had a table and my dad built a giant shelf in the back that we'd put luggage under and sleep on top of.

Josh_Arakes · ‎14-03-2021

Sounds like our vans have some of the same issues! That said, we are still on our original transmission. We had a transmission cooler installed when we bought it since we knew we'd be doing some light towing, no idea if that's the reason why ours hasn't failed (knock on wood!). Thanks for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Josh_Arakes · ‎13-03-2021

Bravo, good sir, bravo

Josh_Arakes · ‎13-03-2021

A '93 Previa? That's some classic styling right there! And I agree, vans are awesome. Glad you enjoyed the article

Josh_Arakes · ‎11-02-2021

Neither a Bronco nor a Scout