TrailRax Modular Roof Rack for the Jeep Gladiator JT

April 11th, 2024 update: Trailrax listened to their customer feedback and redesigned the brackets for this product! They proactively reached out to me offering to send the update parts to me at no cost. They are now using a carriage bolt from the backside, similar to my solution. I’m happy to hear they stand behind their product and strive to produce a solid and safe rack solution.

In anticipation of our new Oru Tenfold wedge camper that we’ll pick up in March at their San Marcos, CA factory, I decided I wanted to add some roof storage as well as an air deflector. The TrailRax looked like the best option, covering only the front part of the roof and leaving enough room for the camper cabover section. The biggest concern was losing access to the removable roof panels!

The rack arrived quickly after I placed the order, well packaged! Zoey was very interested.

After opening to verify all the parts were there, I began assembly on the living room floor.

The rack looks really great on the Jeep! I had to look at their website for assembly instructions as none were included in the package.

While assembling, one part made little sense. TrailRax uses clinch nuts for the gutter mounts, but they have them on the wrong side of the plate! These clinch nuts are pressed into the metal, but that attachment only has enough strength to keep the nut from rotating or falling out before assembly. Clinch nuts are designed to be mounted on the opposite side of the part from the bolt that pulls it. TrailRax uses these on the same side as the pulling force. While mounting the bracket, the first clinch nut pulled out of the bracket with minimal force as expected. The instructions actually call for blue Loctite, and say to barely tighten this. Do not use these brackets as shipped! It’s dangerous. There’s nothing to prevent these brackets from falling off while driving down the road.

I emailed TrailRax with this information and some photos. Their response was to send another replacement bracket. I asked them to redesign the bracket to be safe and functional, and they did not reply back to me. For $800 for a 20″ roof rack, I expected much more in quality and customer service.

My solution was to install a 1/4-20 SS bolt from the backside of the rack bracket, passing through the clinch nut from the back of the bracket, effectively pulling the clinch nut in the direction it was designed to be used. I added a star washer to help keep this bolt from rotating while installing the nylok nut at the end. There is enough clearance between the hard top and the bracket to slide a wrench in there if needed.

Rack and bracket mounted on the Gladiator gutters.

Clamping plate installed using a 1/4″ SS washer and 1/4-20 nylok nut. This is how TrailRax should be shipping these. It might not be as pretty as their truss-head bolts, but it’s functional and safe! I might pick up some UV stabilized black nut covers to dress this up, but really it does not look bad.

In the end, I’m very happy with the rack. I expect to pay a bit more for a niche product like this, but I also expect it to work. The rest of the workmanship from TrailRax is great. The metal bends are well done and precise. The rack looks awesome on the truck. I’m anxious to see it with the Oru camper installed! We’ll likely add a Roam or 23Zero roof box to store our iKamper disco, electric chainsaw, and other outdoor gear to keep the camper itself more organized and clear.

Posted in B's Blog, Product Reviews

Salida lights

Some group did a great job making this Christmas tree on the hillside in Salida! Captured with my Mavic Air 3 from our AirBnB in downtown Salida.

Salida

Posted in B's Blog

ARRL Field Day 2022

For Field Day this year, Tony KZ5ADV, Logan KF0ADY and myself N0BCB headed up to the Routt National Forest outside Gould, CO to operate in a quiet HF environment. What a great location! We had our share of mosquitos and rain, but the weather was really great during the contest, which runs from noon Saturday to noon Sunday MDT.

We ran one of the 100W stations (Yaesu FT450) with a 100A/h Battleborn LiFePO4 batteries connected to 250W of solar (roof of Gladiator). The other station (Yaesu FTDX10) from a 100A/h Renogy LiFePO4 battery and 400W of solar. The FT450 station utilized a G5RV Jr and a 40m double bazooka. The FTDX10 station used a Chameleon CHA MPAS system.

My camper, and our FD station under the Jeep awning
Tony’s 4 Wheel Camper setup and his station (under awning)
The team from (your) left to right: Bryan N0BCB, Tony KZ5ADV and Logan KF0ADY
Aerial view of our camp
Posted in B's Blog

Bonne fete

Happy birthday to Irene Laurianne Poisson, Bryan's great-grandmother. Irene was born 3 January 1917, the oldest of seven children of Wilfred Joseph and Laura Anne Marie (Ouellette) Poisson.  Irene grew up in Livermore Falls where she attended St. Rose Catholic school through the 8th grade.  Her parents and ancestors came from Province Quebec.  Irene carried on the family's French-Canadian traditions, many of which we celebrate today.  My personal favorite is tortiere (meat pie) at the holidays.  Irene and her sisters would speak French while preparing the Thanksgiving meal.  Grammie Irene died in 1982 but we still remember her on this special day.  Happy birthday, Grammie, or as they say in Quebec, Bonne fete!

Posted in Geneology, Wesley Merritt Randall

Pilgrim Pedigree, Mayflower Ancestors, and Thanksgiving

Four hundred years ago, four surviving adult Mayflower women (Eleanor Billington, Elizabeth Hopkins, Mary Brewster, and Susanna White) set themselves to the task of preparing a feast to celebrate a successful first harvest in their new homeland.

The previous year, 101-104 men, women, and children sailed for 66 days on the Mayflower from England – first anchoring off Cape Cod and then choosing Plymouth as the site of their first settlement. Of those Mayflower passengers, 41 men signed the Mayflower Compact. Nine of the 41 are our ancestors. Of our nine Mayflower ancestors, five were separatist Pilgrims, one was a non-separatist, two were servants, and one was a Mayflower crew member. About half the passengers, some who were Compact signatories, died during that first winter 1620-1621.

Those that survived built houses and common buildings, planted corn and probably other vegetables, foraged berries and nuts, fished for bass and cod, and hunted turkey and deer. It must have been a busy first spring-summer-fall. Celebrating Thanksgiving wasn’t a new holiday, nor was it specific to early Plymouth. Colonists in Virginia had celebrated thanks as early as 1607. However, the 1621 Plymouth Thanksgiving was the first time the feast was celebrated as a civil holiday rather than one sanctioned by the Church.

Here are our nine Mayflower ancestors as I understand them right now – research may add more!

George Soule (1593-1680) was a servant.

James Chilton (1556-1620) was a separatist Pilgrim.

John Alden (1599-1687) was a cooper who signed on as Mayflower crew.

William Mullins (1578-1621) was a non-separatist.

Thomas Rogers (1571-1621) was a separatist Pilgrim.

William Bradford (1590-1657) was a separatist Pilgrim and early governor of Plymouth.

John Howland (1591-1672) was a servant.

John Tilly (1571-1621) was a separatist Pilgrim.

John Goodman (1587-1621) was a separatist Pilgrim.

Posted in B's Blog

A Fine Kettle of Fish

Lineage analysis is a key goal in building the pedigree of a family tree. In researching our Fish ancestors, I find a missing link where I haven’t yet confirmed a parent-child relationship with documentary evidence. Nathaniel Fish, born in England about 1618 (Bryan’s 11th-great-grandfather), came to America and settled in the Sandwich, Massachusetts area where he and his second wife, Lydia Mehitable Miller, raised their family of eight which included two sons – Nathan/Nathaniel Fish born in 1648 and Ambrose Fish born in 1650.

Ambrose Fish, the son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Miller) Fish, married Hannah Swift. Their son Seth Fish married Mary Maude Turner. Seth and Mary’s daughter Hannah Fish married Samuel Tupper. Hannah and Samuel had nine children including two sons – Enoch Tupper and Jabez Tupper. Enoch’s daughter Olive married Jabez’s son William – they had one child, Diadema Tupper. Diadema never married, and she had one child – Charles William Pratt who married Mercy Turner Fish.

Nathan/Nathaniel Fish, the son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Miller) Fish, married Elizabeth Freeman. Their son Nathan Isaac Fish married Deborah Barnes/Barrows. Nathan and Deborah’s son Samuel Fish married Thankful Meigs. Samuel and Thankful had a son Thomas who married Hannah ____. Thomas and Hannah reportedly had a son Lemuel, but I haven’t confirmed this relationship with documentary evidence – THIS IS THE MISSING FISH-LINK. Lemuel married Lettice Eldred. Lemuel and Lettice’s son Benjamin married Lucy Jenkins Carsley. Benjamin and Lucy’s daughter Mercy Turner Fish married Charles William Pratt.

The interesting clue is that Ambrose’s daughter-in-law was Mary Maude TURNER, and Nathan/Nathaniel’s descendant was Mercy TURNER Fish. Names were often passed down from one generation to another, and a female ancestor’s maiden name often shows up as a female descendants’ given or middle name suggesting a relationship, and hopefully documentary evidence, exists. This is indeed a page-Turner – and a fine kettle of Fish!

Posted in B's Blog

Revolutionary

MaineLife celebrates the service of our ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. Each left a legacy of patriotism to our U.S. Constitution and our Country’s ideals. These men were sons, fathers, and husbands who risked their lives (one died from his wounds) to defend the notion that all men are created equal. On this July 4th, we recognize that freedom and independence were not easily won, and that our Constitutional ideals are worth defending today.

Thomas Chase (1755-1844) was Bryan’s 7th-great-grandfather, born in Tisbury, Massachusetts (on Martha’s Vineyard) and died in Livermore, Maine. Thomas is buried in the Hillman Cemetery in Livermore. He married Desire Luce, and they had eight children. He served as a privateer in the Sea Forces during the Revolutionary War. While in service with Commodore John Paul Jones, Thomas was captured and held in England.

“A Revolutioner!” From Find a Grave, Memorial 61474282
From Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, p. 3:368; also see History of Martha’s Vineyard, p. 3:79..

Eli Webb (1737-1826) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather, born in Tiverton, Rhode Island and died in Gorham, Maine. He is buried in the Sapling Hill Cemetery in Gorham. In 1760, Eli married Sarah Cloutman, and they had at least two children though likely more. Eli served in the Revolutionary War for three years; he was a Private in Major Robert Roger’s Rangers and also forught during the assault against Fort Ticonderoga.

From Find a Grave, Memorial 55435942.

Thomas True (1731-1801) was Bryan’s 7th-great-grandfather, born in Salisbury, Massachusetts and died in Fayette, Maine. Thomas is buried in the Old North Fayette Cemetery. In 1753, he married Sarah Clough and they raised seven children. Thomas served as a Private in the Revolutionary War in Captain Henry Morrill’s Company, Colonel Caleb Cushing’s Regiment.

From Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, p. 16:78.

Ichabod Burgess (1752-1834) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather, born in Sandwich, Massachusetts and died in Wayne, Maine. He is buried in the Beech Hill Cemetery in Wayne. Ichabod married Keziah Handy in 1780, and they had nine children. Before settling down to raise his family, Ichabod served in the Revolutionary War in the Army under Captain Charles Church, and in Colonel Ebenezer Sprout’s and Colonel Voses’ Regiments.

From U.S. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Files at ancestry.com.

William Coburn (1731-1783/4) was Bryan’s 7th-great-grandfather, born in Dracut, Massachusetts and died in Greene, Maine. He is buried in the Pearce Cemetery in Greene. He married Mary Barron (widow of Jonathan Fox) in 1755 and had two children from that marriage. Mary died in 1759, and William married second to Hannah Jones with whom he had eight more children. In 1775, William served in the Revolutionary War in Captain Stephen Russell’s Company, Colonel Green’s Regiment.

From Find a Grave, Memorial 113689927

Joshua Conant (1749/50-1777) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather, born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, death place uncertain. Joshua married Mary Henderson in Shirley, Massachusetts in 1771, and they had three children. The family lived in Amherst, Massachusetts before settling in Londonderry, New Hampshire. In 1776, Joshua signed the Continental Congress’ “Association Test” that required colonists align with resolutions of the First Continental Congress. In 1777, Joshua served as a Private in the Revolutionary War under Captain Runnel in the Battle of Bennington where he sustained a mortal wound.

From Frederick Odell Conant, History and Genealogy of the Conant Family, p. 232

Lemuel Fish (1759-1855) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather, born and died in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Lemuel married Lettice Eldred in 1780, and they raised nine children in Sandwich. Before marrying, from 1776 to 1779, Lemuel served as a Private during the Revolutionary War under Captain John Russell’s Company. Lemuel was only 17 years old when he marched in 1776. He was stationed in Massachusetts on Martha’s Vineyard, and in Dartmouth, and Falmouth.

From Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, p. 5:681

John Graffam (1740-1800/1) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather. His birth location is not known. He died in Lewiston and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Lewiston. John married Elizabeth Millett Davis about 1767, and the couple had twelve children. In 1775, John served in the Revolutionary War as a Private in Captain George Roger’s Company.

From Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors, p. 6:704

John Kincaid (1762-1840) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather, born in Pownalborugh, Maine now known as Dresden. He died in Hallowell in 1840, and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Augusta. He married Susanna Dracutt in 1784, and they raised ten children. In 1779, John enlisted in the military and served as a Private in the Revolutionary War in Captain Hinkley and Captain Lemont’s Companies, and in Colonel McCobb’s Regiment.

From Find a Grave Memorial 117804987

Thomas Taylor (1748/9-1825) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather, born in Reading, Massachusetts and died in Lewiston, Maine. He is buried in the Herrick Cemetery in Lewiston. Thomas married Mrs. Sarah Richardson in 1776 and had one child before Sarah died in 1779. Thomas married Jemime Coburn in 1780, and they had seven children before Jemime died in 1801. Thomas married third to Miriam Pettingill shortly after Jemime’s death, and they had four children. Thomas was a soldier in the Revolutionary War before moving to Lewiston.

From Find a Grave, Memorial 40187612

Deacon Samuel Fogg (1700-1786) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather, discovered through DNA matches. Samuel was born in Hampton, New Hampshire and died in Exeter, New Hampshire. He is likely buried in the Winter Street Burial Ground in Exeter though no stone exists to mark his grave site. Samuel married and had nine children including a son Josiah who also served in the Revolution. His service details are not yet known in detail.

Josiah Fogg (1728-1790) was Bryan’s 5th-great-grandfather (DNA), born in Hampton, New Hampshire and died in Raymond, New Hampshire. Josiah is buried in the Ham Cemetery in Raymond. Josiah first married Mary Leavitt, and they had three children between 1756 and 1762. After Mary died in 1765, Josiah married Abigail French, and they had two daughters between 1767 and 1770. After Abigail died, Josiah married third to Sarah Abigail (Smith) Eastman, widow of Joseph Eastman. Josiah and Sarah had six children. In 1778, Josiah joined General Sullivan’s Army in Rhode Island to serve during the Revolutionary War.

From U.S. Compiled Revolutionary War Military Service Records at ancestry.com

Reuben Evans (1741-1785) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather (DNA), born and died in Salisbury, Massachusetts. Reuben is buried in the Salisbury Plains Burying Ground. In 1765, Reuben married Sarah Osgood, and they had five children. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a lieutenant in the Massachusetts troops under Captains Evans and Peabody as well; as Colonels Frye and Francis.

From DAR Lineage Book, p. 146:124

Matthias Smith (1728-1806) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather (DNA), born in Pomfret, Connecticut and died in Readfield, Maine. He is buried in the Readfield Corner Cemetery. Matthias married Comfort Carpenter, and they had seven children. Matthias was a Private during the Revolutionary War – see DAR #A106445 – for his service in Massachusetts.

From Find a Grave, Memorial 174132637

Matthias Smith, Jr. (1728-1806) was Bryan’s 5th-great-grandfather (DNA), born in Pomfret, Connecticut and died in Readfield, Maine. Matthias is buried in the Readfield Corner Cemetery. About 1786, Matthias married Temperance Blossom, and they had ten children. In 1778 and prior to his marriage, Matthias served in Colonel North’s 2nd Regiment, and in 1779 he served in the Penobscot Expedition, Captain John Blunt’s Company, and Colonel Samuel McCobb’s Regiment. He served as a Private and a Captain.

From Find a Grave, Memorial 100313322

Solomon Jordan (1755-1819) was Bryan’s 6th-great-grandfather (DNA), born in Falmouth, Maine and likely died near Cape Elizabeth where he is buried in the Crescent Beach Cemetery. Solomon married Sarah _____ before 1779, and they had four children. In the Revolutionary War, Solomon served in Sargent Ellis’ Company, Bigelow’s 15th Mass. Brigade.

From Find a Grave, Memorial 69605802
Posted in B's Blog

Memorial Day

Every year at the end of May, cemeteries get mowed and American flags get set on the graves of those who have served in our country’s military. Some towns have parades, many have ceremonies to commemorate soldiers with prayers and gun salutes, and families gather for cookouts. While all these activities are important ways to mark this day on the calendar, it’s also important to consider the individuals and the impact of service on their lives. Today I share three generations of men in the Kincaid family who proudly served our country.

John’s headstone

John Kincaid (1762/4-1840) was my 5th-great-grandfather. John enlisted in the Revolutionary War in 1779, serving as a private in Col. McCobb’s Regiment under Captains Hinkley and Lemont. A few years later, John married Susan Dracutt and started his family (9 children born between 1791 and 1815). John and his family lived in Pownalborough in 1790, Norridgewock in 1800, and Malta which is now known as Windsor in 1820 and 1830. In 1813, John enlisted in the U.S. Infantry, leaving his wife to run the home and care for the children. While on duty as a guard to a baggage wagon near Chatauqua Woods in New York, John sustained a serious injury to his left leg, a wound that never quite healed properly. John was discharged, received a pension, and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Augusta.

Guy Kincaid (1799-1860), the 5th child of John and Susan (Dracutt) Kincaid, was my 4th-great-grandfather. Guy enlisted in the Army Infantry in 1818, a few years before he married Sarah Creasey. Guy and Sarah had ten children between 1822 and 1845. They lived in Whitefield in 1830, Vassalboro in 1840, Augusta in 1850, and Wayne in 1860. Though Guy did not serve in conflict, nor do we know where he and his wife are buried, his service does not go unnoticed.

Hiram’s service medallion

Hiram Kincaid (1824-1877), the 2nd child of Guy and Sarah (Creasey) Kincaid, was my 3rd-great-grandfather. Hiram married Lovicia Cook in 1845 and supported his family (ten children born between 1848 and 1868) by working in local mills including a saw mill. The family lived in Mount Vernon in 1850, Wayne in 1860, and Livermore in 1870. In 1861, Hiram mustered for Civil War service in Company K, 3rd Infantry, 2nd Calvary. He was discharged from service in 1862 with a disability for which he received a pension. He was an invalid by 1865. Hiram is buried in the Richardson Cemetery in Livermore Falls with his wife Lovicia.

These three individuals were husbands, sons, and fathers – generations of service to others. While it’s important to remember the battles and to see fields of flags waving in the breeze, it also helps honor our soldiers to remember the stories about sacrifices made for their families and our country.

Posted in B's Blog

Stories Ahead

A new feature of MaineLife highlights some genealogy stories. Today seems as good as any to share the first family story.

On this day in history, John Coggeshall (_____-1647) was on a committee to lay out land in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Who was this guy, you may ask? John was MaineLife’s 10th-great-grandfather who came from England to Massachusetts in 1632 on the “Lyon” with his wife Mary and three children. Can you even imagine crossing the ocean with a young family in those days? Definitely not a Carnival Cruise!

This picture came from Robert Darrell on ancestry.com. Though not very clear, the portrait and frame suggest that John was a man of some importance, not surprising given his positions in local government wherever he lived.

John was a textile merchant, and the family first settled in Roxbury before moving into Boston where John served as a selectman, an auditor, an assessor, court deputy, and on a surveying committee – a pretty active member of the community. Oh, John also supported public education.

In 1637 or 1638, the Boston General Court banished John and others for their support of Anne Hutchinson who believed in preaching good deeds rather than being saved by grace alone. Hutchinson and her supporters established the settlement of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

In 1638, John moved his family to Portsmouth, Rhode Island where he continued his civic involvement and good deeds. It was on May 20, 1638.that he is known to have served on the land surveying committee. John also served as treasurer, auditor, moderator, a church elder, and the governor’s assistant.

Descendants of John and his wife read like this: their daughter Anne Coggeshall > Waite Easton > Patience Carr > Edward Estes > Silas Estes > Prudence Estes > Jackson Davis > Ernest Davis > Lillian Davis. Lillian was MaineLife’s great-grandmother.

Posted in Geneology Tagged |