Delicas in MN
- Thread starter karl2274
- Start date
speedyquest
Well-Known Member
Dang, yea my buddy up in Duluth was saying they have had very little snow and warm temps too. I tend to swing back towards WI / MN around mid April but I still have a lot of places I want to explore out here right now.
How have you and your delica been @moonpost? I met you at the All Mitsu Cookout this last fall.
Allen
How have you and your delica been @moonpost? I met you at the All Mitsu Cookout this last fall.
Allen
How bout noonish on March 24th for a meetup? Or push to April 13/14?
I'm in South Minneapolis so any park comes to mind, or Arbeiter Brewing, Lake Monster in STP, Dogwood Coffee in NE.
New Bohemia in Golden Valley? I believe @moonpost is in Golden Valley, and @I_Are_Brown_Bear are I are in Minneapolis.
Shout something out! Otherwise I'll just start showing up to random parking lots and sitting with my Delica for an hour, hahaha.
I'm in South Minneapolis so any park comes to mind, or Arbeiter Brewing, Lake Monster in STP, Dogwood Coffee in NE.
New Bohemia in Golden Valley? I believe @moonpost is in Golden Valley, and @I_Are_Brown_Bear are I are in Minneapolis.
Shout something out! Otherwise I'll just start showing up to random parking lots and sitting with my Delica for an hour, hahaha.
moonpost
Member
I can't do the 24th, but the April dates are good.
The parking lot at Lake Monster can be pretty full pretty quick (the non-profit I'm involved with lives in the next-door building) so I would avoid that. Always parking at New Bohemia in GV, for what its worth. I'm always up for a park.
Intrepidor
Active Member
@Lucian08 would you mind sharing more info on the hitch you bought? It's one of the upgrades I'm looking at this summer.
Also, hello from a former Minnesotan! We're in Michigan now, but I'm Minneapolis born and raised, and we still have fam and friends in MN (I also have one of Moonpost's Delica light kits). Just a lurker now but hoping to meet up with you all at some point.
I got the hitch from Xplormor Offroad; I simply messaged them through FB, but you can message them on this forum as well.
www.facebook.com
I know there's a few other options out there, and Steven Lee at Rising Sun has a hitch option too. The Xplormor one seems of good quality. It comes in 3 pieces, and is completely bolt in; no drilling or other fabrication required. I will say my fitment was real tight; had to use a mallet to get the side pieces to fit. Other than that it was relatively smooth sailing. Not sure if the extra rust coating I have on the van made the fitment that tight, but there ya go. Its mounted to the frame rails in multiple spots, so I have no worries it will hold up; I'll probably double check the bolts the first few months, and then every season after. I tow a 2k lb teardrop camper, although my clutch went out the day after the hitch was installed (cry), so I haven't tested it yet.
Lurk away! Hopefully see you around. I made it to the UP last year (Copper Harbor), and I want to do at least 1 MI trip this year as well. Send me some recommendations!!
Cheers
Xplormor Offroad | Southern Pines NC
Xplormor Offroad, Southern Pines, North Carolina. 777 likes · 4 talking about this. Xplormor is an offroad accessories manufacturer catering to any 4x4 in need of U.S.A made enhancemen
www.facebook.com
I know there's a few other options out there, and Steven Lee at Rising Sun has a hitch option too. The Xplormor one seems of good quality. It comes in 3 pieces, and is completely bolt in; no drilling or other fabrication required. I will say my fitment was real tight; had to use a mallet to get the side pieces to fit. Other than that it was relatively smooth sailing. Not sure if the extra rust coating I have on the van made the fitment that tight, but there ya go. Its mounted to the frame rails in multiple spots, so I have no worries it will hold up; I'll probably double check the bolts the first few months, and then every season after. I tow a 2k lb teardrop camper, although my clutch went out the day after the hitch was installed (cry), so I haven't tested it yet.
Lurk away! Hopefully see you around. I made it to the UP last year (Copper Harbor), and I want to do at least 1 MI trip this year as well. Send me some recommendations!!
Cheers
Intrepidor
Active Member
Thanks @Lucian08 will check them out as we're looking to pull a trailer as well.
I was going to respond about MI in a PM as I didn't want to bogart the Minnesota thread with Michigan content, but I figure we're all (relative) neighbors and probably looking for an excuse to road trip, so maybe this will help others:
Copper harbor, Marquette and pretty much anywhere you go in the UP is beautiful (it's also the only place you can touch three great lakes in one day!). There's also Drummond Island on the far eastern edge that is a haven for off-roading (tho we haven't been there yet).
The west side offers a ton of ridiculously cute coastal towns along the M22 Scenic Drive; think Grand Marais on steroids (Charlevoix, Leland, Glenn Arbor, Petoskey and Traverse City are among our favorites). This also includes the Tunnel of Trees and Sleeping Bear Dunes which shouldn't be missed. We lived in Seattle for many years and marvel at how much this area reminds us of the PNW.
The East side is not nearly as touristy or developed, but Lake Huron is unique in that is has endless sandy beaches and is actually warm enough to swim in. Presque Isle is a really beautiful area and there's a string of lighthouses to visit if that's your thing.
moonpost
Member
re: MI trips. thinking about doing the KOAR in the fall, perhaps. check it out. https://northologyadventures.com/event/test-event/
Intrepidor
Active Member
Hadn’t heard of the KOAR, but sounds really cool! If we can get our rig on the road by then it might be worth checking out.
moonpost
Member
I watched a couple youtube videos from prior years and it looks awesome. Anyway, here in Minnesota we also have the SEMAT, NEMAT, and the NCMAT routes to consider! https://minnesotaadventuretrails.com/
Time flies when you're having fun! I'll still plan on brining the van out this Sunday, 4/14, although I'm pulling a last minute audible and changing the location to Schaper Park. More shade, still plenty of parking, and the playground should give my kids something more to do, haha. Its very close to the original suggestion in Golden Valley, so hopefully doesn't ruffle too many feathers.
When: 4/14/2024, 12pm-2pm
Where: Schaper Park
631 Ottawa Ave N, Golden Valley, MN 55422
Spread the word! Should I start a separate post just to track meetups? Hope some of y'all can make it.
Cheers
Pic from the clutch change I just did. Getting intimate with my van already!!
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMNoC5EIhGUWtDQOqVIHZk7rAX1TlHe1XEXAaNa
Thanks everyone for coming out, and thanks @I_Are_Brown_Bear for the pics!
I'm booked up most of next month already, but maybe another meetup in June. June 2? Or June 16, Father's Day? I'm down to coordinate meeting up a larger event like cars n coffee or whatever as well. Cheers
I'm booked up most of next month already, but maybe another meetup in June. June 2? Or June 16, Father's Day? I'm down to coordinate meeting up a larger event like cars n coffee or whatever as well. Cheers
Intrepidor
Active Member
Love that little trailer!
Cdaaavis93
Member
How does that do towing? Looks heavy! What’s the towing capacity of an L300?
I've been posting up some info in a towing thread here; check it out!
Towing Capacity
But based on my very short trip, it tows great! Its still a tall van and I won't go over 55ish mph in 4th gear, but the actual handling characteristics and power appear to be more than adequate. I have a 1200 mile trip this weekend, so I'll let you know!
The teardrop is about 2000lbs loaded up; heavy for a teardrop, but still not much.
From the linked post above:
The towing capacity for a 4WD is 3300lb braked, 1300lb unbraked. 130lb maximum hitch weight. (Source: NZ Automobile Association list)