RE: Dashboards cracking and collasping
A short addendum to my earlier post regarding my dash. My truck has 103,700 troublefree miles on it. One problem, early on with an AC freon leak, and a water pump for the Cummins is the only repair in the 6 years I have owned the truck. I also replaced the shocks this past year and other than routine maintenance, that is it.
Everything else is original, even the brakes pads are still good. To have had the dash problem with it's associated fix is minor in my book. I still love my truck.
SQT
RE: Dashboards cracking and collasping
Yep, been there and done that and have a "T" shirt to prove it. The research I did when it happened to my truck would seem to indicate it is a huge problem with the RAM dash. From the replies here so far, it would not seem to be such a problem. I don't know except for my experience and the experience of another guy here at work with an 03 RAM very nearly like mine. Both trucks at very nearly the same age (6 years) had their dashes just fall apart. Starts with one small crack and in a very short time (about a month on mine) it involves the entire dash. Interesting thing, my truck sits out in the Texas sun, my co-worker's truck is garaged. Go figure! My research indicated it had something to do with the quality of the plastic used by Dodge.
Fixed mine with a replacement overlay - looks pretty good.
RE: Camping in Balmorhea TX
39 miles down the road at Davis Mountains SP you can get full hookups, including cable TV, with much better scenery. Just a thought, but it may be too far from Balmorhea for you.
RE: Texas Hill Country
Just to set the record straight - Garner State Park is on the Frio River, not the Guadalupe or the Medina. The park across the Frio from Garner is called Parkview - Parkview. Parkview is about 10 miles south of Leakey on a county road. Wonderful park to stay in but there is no fenced area for dogs and it is over 100 miles from San Marcos. If you are really wanting to stay in San Marcos try here Pecan Park.
The nearest State Parks to San Marcos with full hookups are Bastrop State Park and Blanco State Park. We prefer Bastrop. Neither has a fenced area for dogs. Guadalupe River SP is fairly close but only offers water and electric hookups. Here is the Texas Parks web site - State Parks.
RE: Route 83 north out of Texas....
Sure, good roads and plenty of towns along the way. Actually you won't pick up 83 until you get to Junction(take I10 from Kerrville to Junction). Stay with 83 to Winters and then take 153 to Sweetwater (unless you just want to see Abilene in which case you need to stay on 83). At Sweetwater it is a short jog to Roscoe on I20 and you can again turn north on 84. 84 will take you all the way to Lubbock where you can jump on I37 for the run to Amarillo. That is where you can hit I40 and head west. It has been a long time but we used this route back in the nineties to travel form Victoria to Lubbock (500 miles/8 hours) every weekend during footcall season. Our oldest son played for Texas Tech back then - GO RED RAIDERS!!!
RE: Texas Hwy 77 south to Rockport.
The only suggestion I would have would be to take 77S at Waco, don't wait until Austin. Stay with 77 all the way around Victoria to the Victoria county line where you can take 239 over to State 35 and go south on to Rockport. Skip, above says "minimal traffic" through Austin. It is my experience that I35 from Waco to SA is terrible. I avoid it at all costs. I also see going through SA to get to Rockport as being way way out of the way! One is going a good 100 miles farther west than one has to that way. Just MHO as a resident of the great state of TEXAS!
RE: Diesel Availability in Texas on Hwy 90 (west of San Antonio)
We were just out that way in the spring. Longest stretch, no diesel, I saw was Del Rio to Sanderson, about 120 miles. Just fillup @ Wal Mart in Del Rio and you should have no problem.
RE: 35 S to 410 Loop (east side) to 37 S towards Rockport
If you are in Austin now and have no need to go through or around San Antonio then I would take US 183 south to Lockhart, Luling, Gonzales, Cuero, Goliad, and Refugio. Good highway all the way.
At Refugio turn left on State 774. About 20 miles east of Refugio 774 will intersect with State Highway 35, take a right. It will be about 20 miles to Rockport. Much more interesting route.
