Really too late at night for a real entry, especially since I have to head up to Lander for a day and a half of meetings. And haven't packed yet.

This will be the first real trip for the new truck. Have just about got it all rigged up now. Still need to get the GPS mounted on the dash and then find a place for the fire extinguisher and flashlight recharger.

Took a couple hours to get the really important modifications done, with instructions phoned in by a warden.

First was to disconnect the sensors in the driver's seat that make the damn light and beeper go off when the seatbelt isn't buckled.

Not that I have anything against seatbelts. Drive exactly 49 miles a year without seatbelts (the two 24.5-mile spring breeding bird surveys), and always wear them otherwise. Even for the two block drive home from the post office.

But you do not want that buzzer going off everytime you're trying to sneak in or out of your truck, nor while you are sitting there at check station, getting in and out all day.

Unfortunately, there are two sensor wires under the seat. You want to disconnect the skinny grey one. The fat yellow connector goes to your airbag, and you probably want that. (Although the passenger side airbag is turned off. Last thing I want to do is blast two heeler sisters out the rear window if I ever have a minor fender bender.)

The other main modification is to disconnect the door sensors, so that the dome lights do not come on when the doors are opened (sometimes you want to sneak out, and going through the windows is noisy and awkward (been there, done that)). This also kills the buzzer that tells you the key is still in the ignition (which is great, since the key is always in the ignition. Surefire way to guarantee you never lock yourself out, since the key on your keyring in your pocket never comes out in the vehicle. It always goes with you).

Now, I considered just popping the seals on the hose in the door hinge that carries the wires from the lock sensor and simply cutting the wires. Game warden said they should be the only wires to the door. But there were at least four wires there, and the sensor only needs two.

It occurred to me that I might want to leave some of those wires alone, as having functional speakers really improves the auditory effects of a radio.

So, I had to take the door panel off. Actually an easy thing to do, so long as you know exactly which two pieces of plastic to pop off, revealing two screws, and how to pop the cover off the door handle so you can get to the third screw.

After that, lift off the panel, peel back the insulation, cut the sensor wires, and replace everything.

The second door was much faster.

And I have one other major modification to do. With the new rigs, the door handle is within an inch or so of the window sill.

Right where the heelers rest their feet when hanging their heads out the window, or attacking passing livestock, rabbits, squirrels or trees. It would be quite simple for one of them to snag the handle and open the door. While the vehicle is moving.

That would be bad.

Even while locked, as the handle automatically unlocks the door when pulled

That could be fatal.

Think I figured out how to disconnect the handle from the lock mechanism, but then I would have to figure out how to replace the manual rod for the lock, since it is recessed in the body and cannot be lifted without using the handle.

Need to sleep on it.