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Come to think of it, I spent a couple of days driving a Look-at-me! car earlier this year. That was okay since there were no cops, and everybody knew it wasn't my car.

Meanwhile, Granite saves driving privileges.

Scary was me yesterday, coming back from the optometrist. I have no idea what they did while checking my eyes, but my vision was very blurry on the way home. Gray car on asphalt, basically invisible. That made it much more interesting to try passing someone when only being able to see a...

Yep, Granite and debadged makes it blend in. This one was bought off the lot and I would've never thought to order stripes on it, but have really taken a liking to them. Kind of like ghost flames, they're there while far from obvious. Probably should point out that this is not its natural...

I surprised myself when buying a dark gray car after having had mostly white and easily visible ones. Of course, having a light color wasn't nearly as important after leaving SoCal and having much lower temps. But the real reason was for it to be more stealth, flying under the radar at least...

I can kinda understand why some states don't accept licenses from some other states. Those with good and fair rules (not as in CA) probably don't like licenses from states that have little or no training. But I agree, it should be a nationwide thing. It felt pretty stupid to unload and lock up...

What would be the easy way to keep a camera from getting snow-mist covered? For me it doesn't seem to matter if I'm going backwards without a cab or forwards with a cab, wind or no wind, the snowblowers tend to cover everything with a layer. Still, stopping to clear enough of it off the...

They do look similar to the tires on my M936, but I couldn't tell you if those are noisy or not. The vehicle itself easily drowns out such minute sound waves.

Not having Facebook I can't tell what the Charger/El Camino would look like, but... ...don't overlook that Ram already make a car with a bed on the back. They call it the 1500.

Well, all the attachments (dozer blade, trencher, loader, backhoe, forklift, and crane) are American. That's a Vermeer trencher, the backhoes are Case 580s, and the forklifts are by Cascade, for example. The "FLU" in FLU 419 stands for Freightliner Unimog, but it seems like Freightliner only...

In my case, not working commercially, a quirky machine like the FLU 419s works quite well. True, they don't excel in anything, but then neither do I. If anything, them being harder to operate than dedicated machinery forces me to become a better operator. I like that.

It's definitely not a lack of weight that limits my comfort speed to about 35. All three FLU 419 versions are listed as weighing about 16,000 lbs. For on road use the forklift/crane version (HMMH) feels like a sports car compared to the loader/backhoe (SEE). The stout loader bucket hangs out...

I've used those external magnet setups for years. Why do I believe in using magnets? Because if filters really worked well I'd never find anything on the magnetic drain and level plugs. But I always do.

VDO has/had 2" gauges. I'd put the sensor up front and in a spot the sun can't hit. As in low.

Sounds like you're overestimating their road manners. To me, 35 mph is about as fast as you want to go in a Unimog FLU, even though they'll do 55 and change. Please keep in mind that they're tractors that can be driven on roads, not pickups that can be driven off the pavement.

I triple checked before leaving, it said 54. Just like the day before, when I placed the order.

It's your lucky day. The dozer/trencher is for sale now. Just don't forget to sign up for attending Burning Man.

I suspect that the plan was to have an SRT guy, but then there's real life. Just think of the dealerships that had never seen, let alone sold, an SRT vehicle. Why would they need a dedicated employee - especially when those vehicles aren't all that different from the basic models.

I would've preferred to know the order was ready, but had only so much of a window to go get the stuff. Worst case, I'd go find the flashing myself. And pay for it again...it's not that expensive. But I didn't anticipate that their inventory is so far off that they have none when it says 54...

And yet another advantage point for gooseneck trailers.

I've been doing it myself, for a number of reasons. Probably the most important one is that if something goes wrong I can blame myself and not be angry at somebody else. That is closely followed by that I know it get's done correctly (for the very most part) and with the correct fluids...

I think you underestimate quite a few vehicle owners, and you did lose a bet. Many, myself included, change the diff fluid at or before the recommended interval. That one can be important since it seems like many vehicles come with under filled diffs these days. And I didn't check my transfer...

I bought 25+ feet of flashings to seal off the gap between a wall and a roof. Ordered them on line from Lowe's, who had 54 12 footers in stock according their web site. Wanted to avoid carrying the stuff through the store so went for curbside pickup. Drove the 70+ miles to the store about 20...

I pretty much do the opposite and have whatever loader attachment several inches off the ground (and level or slightly curled in) before releasing the levers. I'm sure that having the loader in float position could get exiting, and also make it that much harder to release the levers.

I drove my CJ 3A as a daily in and around Los Angeles for years, and on a Virginia to California trip. Of course, the latter was more like driving an EV. Only short distances covered each day, and slowly. On the other hand, I got it up about 90 mph once (no windshield helped a lot), all with a...

It said it does. But descriptions on Amazon has been wrong before. At least the low amperage is good for nursing wounded batteries back to life.

Alright, ordered one just for kicks. It'll be interesting to see if it can indeed revive dead batteries.

I'm fully aware of all the available cheap versions, but can't help but wonder where all the savings comes from. Is it less sophisticated software, less durable parts, or a combination of those and several other things? Also, my two "main processes" are really only one, MIG, but instead of...

As mentioned earlier, AGM batteries seem to do just fine with the BatteryMINDer's output. If really wanting AGM specific voltages instead, it's easy enough to adjust the output. And it's not about the money. Basically, I know they work, trust them, and have lots of them. What I don't have is a...

All I have in vehicles is lead acid (which includes AGM) and have used the above mentioned BatteryMINDers as well as the older versions for decades - both on wet and AGM batteries - and so far so good. Some are used on batteries 24/7 for years, others used as "floaters" on vehicles/batteries as...

Yeah, it's outside, and in the shade with moisture in it. On the positive side, it's only been in the single digits for a couple of nights, and I already got several scoops out of it with the little tractor the other day.

Sorry, too late. Ended up getting an ESAB EMP 205ic. Originally looked at a 235ic, but apparently AC is better for TIG welding. And I need all the help I can get in that department.

Hmm. I still have 5.5 tons of roadbase to spread, mainly in the carport. And it's colder here. Are you saying that I should dump the trailer and wait until spring? And speaking of buying, somebody please talk me out of spending nearly $3K on a small multi process welder. I'm really lusting for one.

My mobile devices have wheels and engines.

My oldest hoses from Surplus Center are about 14 years old now, and are doing just fine.

A lot of variables here. Including, but not limited to, the output of the alternator, the size of all the wiring involved, and the battery capacity of the RV. For example, a basic car of mine is on a maintainer with desulfation whenever it it isn't driven. The other day I drove about 100 miles...

Low power input is what burn electric motors under a load up, such as on winches. Yes, there are many variables, but that's the whole idea with those charts. Can't just go by amp draw for a given size, the length plays a big role, too.

Want to get even with somebody? Try anti seize in their clothes dryer.

No need to guess. There are readily available charts on the internet.

I can spot a fake photo when I see one. Everybody knows that it doesn't rain in California.

Never had to do it, but apparently with FCA/Stellantis vehicles it's as simple as buying a fob on eBay, for example, and then program it using AlfaOBD. As i recall, some sellers also offer to program their fobs.

I find it interesting that some claim that desulfation doesn't work. My first experience with that technology was solar powered PulseTechs used by the military. Not that something used by a government agency is proof of that it actually works, but it did pique my interest as I was doing...

I'm pretty sure my gate is 12' wide, and it's about 20-25' from the edge of a 2-lane road. The driveway widens to maybe 30' at the road. While I've never driven a semi through the gate opening, I've pulled several of them past it, including doubles. It's close but doable, the main problem being...

I've pulled our former FedEx driver out of the ditch a few times, about 200' from the house where the driveway makes a mild left...and he went straight. Always figured he was texting. Anyway, I recently widened that section just in case. And it helps me with longer trailers.

I would've got the Milwuakee since that's all I use these days. Sure would've been handy for cutting the 10 3x3 square tubing legs off of the new lean-to. Using a cut-off wheel on a circular saw (that didn't reach all the way through) and reciprocating saw took a while.

This thread has made me appreciate my trailer's disc brakes even more. And reminded me about how dirt cheap Class 8 brake stuff is.

You're lucky. But on my '21 1500 the tuning knob does work as intended, and only (?) the heated steering wheel requires fiddling with the screen. Which is easy enough while still on the driveway, but when it's time to turn it off...

I absolutely hate touch screens, of any size. Thankfully many functions are available with separate switches, but it's as if Dodge (and at least one Jeep) wanted the last word. I like to have the performance pages up on the screen, namely the gauges. Well, for reasons I can't comprehend, after...

I thought about getting a little band saw like that, but ended up buying yet another angle grinder and a drill motor. Now I'm thinking that a second stick light could be useful.

Yes, those are for the very most part real restorations, and many could also be called builds I think, since they sometimes start with very little usable material.

You can try setting a couple of pylons where you don't want them to drive. Just don't expect them to last very long. You'll never guess how I know that. Thankfully I have lots of them.

My peeve is that they call it a restoration. Once anything is different from stock the vehicle isn't restored, but modified. Somewhat on subject, it's odd how many that modify their vehicles, usually just with readily available bolt-ons, calls it a "build". Of course, not only factories build...

Fair question. And if I put the crane on the trailer first it could be used to lift rather than pull the front of the car up on the trailer. But I'd still need a spreader bar to keep the straps from touching the fenders.

If you mean on vehicles with IFS and/or IRS, I think it can matter. It's much like when securing a vehicle on a trailer using straps through the wheels. Then I really don't dare to make the ratchets overly tight. Yes, flooring the car or stomping on the brakes certainly puts quite large...

On a live axle, the wheel is usually a good place to strap to. IFS or IRS is a whole different matter, but sometimes the only logical choice.

Quality ones don't hurt the batteries, like the BatteryMINDer mentioned earlier. Could they be a fire hazard? Sure. Like you I unplug everything that's not in use, but the maintainers stay on, constantly in some cases, and for years in some cases. But I only use ones that I trust. PulseTech is...

You should do your best to keep the voltage at 12.4 or better. That's supposedly the limit for when sulfation starts doing its thing.

Yes, but "Umm" is better than "I was raised in a middle class home".

I was wondering about that. But even if an add-on like Canadus can create higher voltage spikes, so far I've only seen high frequency pulses mentioned by the manufacturers.

Well, Google is a small part of the internet and I don't consider the two interchangeable. There are other ways to find information, including on the internet, but I happened to mention the well known Google. As mentioned earlier, to me You Tube is a time consuming way to get information...

I really should learn how to turn on a so called smart phone, how to answer a call, and how to dial 911 on one. It could come in handy some day. Under normal circumstances my simple phone works just fine, as does my little flashlight and cheap small camera.

I have not been on any video web site other than You Tube that I know of, and have no doubt that there's entertaining and helpful videos on You Tube, but it's just not for me. And there's been countless times when somebody says "but this guy on You Tube says..." and it's complete nonsense. Guess...

It could mean that the trailer weighs 510 lbs.

I miss the days when I could get a new or used Razr on eBay for $35 to $60. Of course, they usually only lasted me between two weeks and three months before I managed to physically break them. When they quit 3G here I had to find something else. Swallowed hard and paid some $200 for a Kyocera...

And once again, the answer was already posted. Not my fault that you interpret my wording as meaning "mostly". There's a lot of misinformation on You Tube, which is fine - people have the right to express their opinion and make money doing it. What I don't care for is that many viewers take...

When I bought that aluminum gooseneck I only had a Ram 2500 gasser to tow with, so low weight was important. Times have changed and now I have a more capable Ram 3500 diesel DRW. And speaking of changing...I paid $7,000 for that trailer in 2010. Was offered $21,000 the day after getting it...

The answer was right there out in the open for you to see.

I really miss my aluminum trailer. Sold it to a friend for way too cheap.

To me, desulfation is more about keeping a battery in good shape than to revive a bad one. I've successfully brought several back to life, but can't say if it was the carefully applied forms of charging, the desulfation that followed, or a combination of both. Why don't I watch You Tube...

Not into watching You Tube, and I don't have a NOCO maintainer so I can't comment on how those work. They might be similar to the CTEK I have. According to the specs it does have a desulfation function, but I have yet to see any evidence of that. Although, in all fairness, that one has never...

Be careful what you wish for. The time spent on maintenance is a bit much, and takes some of the fun out of "having the correct tool for the job".

Well, those must be different maintainers than what I've been using. Mine will turn on the desulfation once the battery is sufficiently charged, or I could turn that function on manually if so desired, and then it stays on indefinitely as indicated by lights on the maintainers. I always thought...

Sorry, but I don't understand that. I hook up my maintainers and then they remain hooked up for a few days or a year or two. If the battery is in decent shape the desulfation process generally starts within 24 hours and stays in that mode until the maintainer is disconnected. I also have...

Sounds like they're trickle chargers, not maintainers, then. I'll gladly pay four times more ($20) for an actual maintainer, especially when it has desulfation built in. Although, anything electric from Harbor Freight that isn't under constant supervision while plugged in bothers me. I can...

Have heard that Rotella smells, but thought that was a thing of the past. Never used any myself so no personal experience.

You are going to buy a pair, right? Especially if replacing the bad one with something different.

And another vote for the BatteryMINDers. Have used them for decades, and when Northern has them on sale for about $20 I often buy a couple more. Probably have at least a dozen by now. Harbor Freight? Okay, maybe in a concrete enclosure and hooked to a battery I don't care about.

Thanks. I like machinery, and building stuff. Plus I'm better at buying than selling, much better, so it adds up. There's four Unimogs by the way. Two with loaders and backhoes, one with forklift and crane, and one with dozer and trencher. Only one wrecker (tow truck) though, unless you count...

Fair enough. But if I wake up from hearing the UPS kick in, I prefer to just go back to sleep and let the generator do its thing. At least neither of us need to get dressed and go start a generator, mess with breakers, etc.

Glad I don't have those "most engines". But yes, even basically identical ones do act a little different from each other at start-up.

There must be variations between transfer switches and generators. In my case the start-up delay is set on the generator, as is the time the generator runs after the power is restored. I increased both from the factory settings. Also, instead of starting once a week and running a mere five...

When buying a 10' box blade recently, the removable tongue wouldn't budge. Cut it off and loaded the blade on a small gooseneck for the 400-mile trip home. Wanted to extend the tongue anyway, and 5x5-inch 1/4" wall square tubing fit perfectly over the original round tubing. Moral of the story...

If any of mine or somebody else's vehicle is actually stuck, not just temporarily immobilized, I won't use a tractor or the vehicles with 8,000 lb. or 18,000 lb. winches. Instead, the 10-ton crane, or the front 20K or rear 45K winches, should get the job done. Shouldn't even be necessary to tie...

Not paying attention to irrigation ditches led to a contractor's stuck here. All it took to free the Furd and its trailer was a gentle tug from a GM pickup. No reason to use the tractor.

An untimely drop in property values, just after I had bought my first house, made my small lots of land hard to sell. Had counted on them paying for a chunk of the house. Oh well, with a mortgage just about twice of my monthly income I knew it'd be a couple of tough years. Bought cars and fixed...

I put a Group 31 AGM in mine. It's heated, with a thermostat that seems to work.

I have several backhoes and such that see down to -20 (rarely) and 0 to-10 every winter. Some may sit for months, or even all winter, without getting charged. What I try to avoid is letting any battery get to 12.4 volts or less as that's when sulfation supposedly starts doing its thing.

I'd get another trailer, but chances are that you can space out the fenders at least 1/2" per side. Spacers would be a bad idea, I think. They need to be a minimum of 1" thick to accommodate the wheel studs, and even then you'd probably have to cut the original studs down. Most are 1-1/2...

And here I thought those (late model) Jeeps being towed were all about the image of being outdoorsy. After all, Jeeps modified to be usable on real trails generally don't lend themselves to being flat towed.

That seems to depend on the weight of the towed vehicle.

Dang it. You just cost me $199 plus tax. Ordered a fourth angle grinder.

Yep, I suspect that many battery failures are because of cheap(er) fakes. And I get the impression that most of you value portability and light weight. When working on the BX25D the M12s would probably be fine, but most of what I do calls for beefier tools, which is why I prefer the M18 stuff...

Well, there's usually no reason for a 3,500 lb. dually axle, or even a 7K for that matter. Tires to support those loads are readily available. Next normal step would be a tandem axle with singles, or a triple axle with singles. Yes, there are single axle trailers with 7K or 10K duals, but those...

Odd. I'm still using the battery my first M18 came with, an impact, and that one is at least six years old by now. Never had an M12 or M18 go bad so in the past four years or so I've only bought bare tools.

Of what I use frequently, the angle grinders probably run out of (M18) batteries the fastest. The trimmer runs surprisingly long, but it also has a larger battery. In M12 it's mostly the bandfile and 3/8" ratchet that gets used.

I like the M12 versions when not much power is needed, or space is concern. Other than that, it's M18 for me. I wouldn't even consider an M12 impact, and even my little 3/8-inch is an M18. Also, I have an M12 compressor, but since buying the larger M18 model I don't think I've used the other...

I'd think that everybody knows what you meant, but since there's plenty of confusion about trailers and towing as it is, I'll post it anyway. A "dual 3500# axle" would be a single axle with four wheels. Same with a "dual 5,000# axle". Those are tandem axles, two of them to make 7K and 10K...

Why not spend 10 minutes fixing the brakes before using it? You can always do a correct repair of the wiring later.

That's with inflation calculated in, right?

Please, don't let logic and pesky facts stand in the way of such a great invention.

Must be a halfway large fridge for you to be in there and find out.

Yep, three hours seems to be well documented to be about as long as it takes to make a Ram with a Cummins as warm as it'll get. Of course, engines and block heaters are different between different vehicles. As far as doing damage goes, it's probably not a big deal with modern motor oils. So far...

Okay, if a manual was a must I guess that ruled out the RS6 Avant. That thing was right up there with a 911 Turbo S, I think. No, not mine, but my girlfriend sure liked hers. Until she traded it in.

I'd also take that one over a Durango, but after seeing how teeny the drivetrain parts are on the AWDs, I'm surprised that they hold up to a V6. Of course, I'm also thinking that a Dana 44 is about right for a 60 hp Jeep.

Fair enough, but I don't lust for more power when driving the V6s. Alright, I definitely have to budget for spending a much longer time in the opposing lane when passing someone, but other than that I think they're just fine power wise. As I recall, they're as quick or quicker than the coveted...

I think that's how it is, yes. And it was the police version of the Durango that made me look into getting a used Durango (instead of the new one I never drove). After considering how many idle hours one of those would have I went for an equally high mileage (91K) fully loaded V6 for about...

Okay, this is one piece of 5x5 square tubing, not 2x4s, but the same principle still applies. Either loop the strap around it or put something under the "load". Done. In this case I opted for raising the load, partially to save the bedliner, and also because it was easy enough to keep the...

If not prepared to deal with the aftermath, it's highly recommended not to put vehicles or machinery on their side, or roll them over. My biggest fear is putting the M6040 on its side. Not because I don't have the equipment to get it back upright, but because unlike the 16,000 lb. backhoes...

Okay, I'm not opposed to the V6 Challengers or we wouldn't have two of them. Heck, I had a 6.2 Durango for a few months, but like my current V6 version much more. They are great all weather alternatives to the 6.2 Challengers, which out of (self) respect for their well being don't get to go...

I'm usually able to back up trailers without any issues, but not if looking behind me (if that's even a possibility with the tow vehicle or trailer in question). Yep, with mirrors it works fine, without them, not so much. Using a rear camera would be a complete failure.

That's why they make AWD Chargers and Challengers.

Hey, the trailer is nose down. It's all good.

Whenever we had a Jeep on its side or upside down for more than a minute or two, standard procedure was to pull the plugs before trying to start it. About half the time there was some oil squirting out when cranking it, and that was almost always with the driver shutting the engine off near...

Not that I've researched it, but as far as I know all we have here is taxidermists. And still a crapload of deer and elk.

True, but that only works once the packages are up here. We get plenty of crumbs in Trisquits etc. since most everything is packaged at lower altitudes and gets crunched (in shipping?) before it gets here.

No. They were victims of the EPA and the government EV mandates. Even with $10K to $20K added to the price within about two years they were selling well...until (knowing that this was the last hurrah and Dodge producing accordingly) dealers had so many on their lots that they had to start...

People here must be thinking they're getting their money's worth when buying bags of chips. Anything in the store that's sealed, and especially chips since there's so much air in the bags, looks like it's overinflated, ready to burst. Not as in inflation, but because of the altitude. Even...

True. But that's still nowhere near as bad as touch screens in vehicles.

Would you believe that I did the opposite today, again? Had to move the water buffalo, and knew that the receiver on the "yard goat" was too high for the task since I've lowered the water buffalo quite a bit. No problem, I just dug out a gizmo I made a long time ago, useful for effectively...

Agree. But always working alone can make even simple tasks both time consuming and sketchy. Just having somebody hold a finger on that beam to keep one end in place, as opposed to clamps coming loose (since the loader wouldn't lift quite high enough to keep the 3x6 lined up vertically) made a...

I spent a long night in the shop where I worked putting new gears and a Detroit in the Dana 44 in my Jeep. Seemed like the contact pattern just kept getting worse. Finally went back to the original shims (thankfully I had taken notes as I went), then following my instinct did the opposite of...

We're discussing threads, aren't we? A thread couldn't be much more on topic.

It didn't change. Which makes sense since it's really only the front clip that's different on the '19-up models. You could go in from the top instead, but I don't like to disturb the air intake stuff so I do it through the wheel well, using one of those caps. Plastic bags supposedly works, too...

I've had very good luck with Dodge and Ram vehicles. Of course, those being built in Brampton (Canada) and in Mexico might have made a difference. Exceptions have been a Ram 1500 and a Durango, both built in the USA. Both with either missing or misaligned body parts. It also helps that I don't...

Which is what I'm about to do on the M6040, with its horizontal filter being in a tight spot.

Yep, and as RjCorazza pointed out above, it's better to pick the correct ballmount (or adjust the trailer's coupler) to be level when loaded. If nothing else it'll help avoid that overloaded look when the trailer is sloping forward.

But we're a bit past the early 1900s now.

Umm...I'm not complaining about the SAE fasteners. It's all that metric crap on them that I don't care for.

And I've stopped using my (bad) judgement, grabbing a 13 mm after glancing at a fastener...only to find out it's a 12. Or a 17 that turns out to be an 18. Oh yes, simple fasteners, too. Don't overlook the Case 580 backhoe and Schmidt loader that were added over here, plus all the external...

Hey Renze, do those evil 12 mm heads and nuts exist in Europe? My metric tool sets from there have 12 mm wrenches and sockets, but here a metric set didn't use to include that size. And I don't recall ever needing them over there. Seems that head size started appearing on American vehicles at...

I still need both kinds for the stuff I'm working on. Heck, even the Unimogs are part SAE fasteners.

Okay, at first I wrote 376 cubes, but later added that it's apparently 376.3. Seems to me that you're the one having trouble here.

How could it get any more metric than 6.1 and 6.2 liters?

That can certainly be an issue around here, but it was interesting when Colorado legalized pot. Then the Subarus were suddenly going unusually fast in the AM - only to slow to a crawl after having visited a dispensary.

While it seems like we're finally all more or less on the same page now, I don't fully agree with the above. Most tandem axle trailers have a balance beam in the center, so the weight is automatically evenly distributed between the two. As long as the trailer is reasonably level it should all...

Yeah, that's a bit like when I was leaving the greasy spoon in town, with my 300+ hp 2,000 lb. fun car and met three of the state police in the parking lot on their way in. We BSd for a bit, but before I took off I went back in and asked them "How many of you guys are working today?" One...

Thanks, WinterDeere, that answers my question. My Durango is a V6, but I had a V8 version for a while. Guess I should look at the photos I took of that one when it was on the lift and compare. Looks like there are holes where a cover could be fastened, but I haven't found one as a separate...

Glad you brought that up. My recently acquired '19 has a large void that I thought was supposed to have a cover on it. You're saying that it's meant to be an open area? Also, the TRX has a (useless?) cover over the engine while the 'Cats don't.

I don't think anyone would argue that too little tongue weight is a bad thing, and what I'm questioning is what the level (or lack thereof) of the trailer has to do with it. Having towed with probably a hundred or so different vehicles, from flat towing to commercial 5th wheels, and at least...

Alright, so you expect You Tube to explain what you can't? Again, You Tube isn't my thing, but logic, physics, and experience does count in my case.

Sorry, but I'm not into You Tube. I'd like to see a torsion axle trailer have higher tongue weight with the front being lower. It would defy physics. Either way, my trailers (with two exceptions) are either leaf sprung with balance beams or have air suspension. With the latter two it makes no...

Whether the trailer is nose down or up has little or nothing to do with how much tongue weight it has. And it shouldn't matter one bit unless the trailer has torsion axles, in which case you really don't want its nose to be lower. And yes, given the option I'd much rather have too much than not...

Huh? That's a new one to me. Please explain.

I didn't know the above things, so I've shifted all kinds of transmissions and transfer cases on the fly without using the clutch. That includes tractors, cars, pickups, and Peterbilts. Actually, when getting my first Pete (which didn't have the decal on the dash) I had to call a friend and ask...

Oddly enough, by converting 5.7 liters to cubic inches I get 345 c.i. You must be using that modern math. No, the 6.1 should be 370 c.i. Or 369.7 to be precise. See what happens when applying liters to perfectly good engines?

Okay, 376.3 c.i to be more exact.

It was National Metric Day a few days ago. I celebrated that by driving the 376 c.i. Challenger.

We have many areas where their radios don't work. Also, their SUVs and pickups have quite low (limited) top speeds. On the other hand, they have no reason to chase me. It's much easier for them to just stop by at my place after the fact. Unless it's the officer's first day on the job and nobody...

Agree. While yesterday's festivities were far from the dumbest I done with tractors, getting a 25' section of 3x6 rectangular tubing welded in place presented plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. Partially because the tractor wouldn't quite lift high enough (once again I forgot to...

I don't get it guys. Are your vehicles really so slow that they can't only keep up, but even tailgate you??

Same here. If I had a 1025R and used it mostly in the house or garage I wouldn't worry about having a cab.

What's the fuel level?

Normally that would work, but the dummy that installed my bed didn't run the filler necks up to the side of the bed. Instead they're under the bedside and at a much shallower angle. This way they're out of sight and well protected, but the downside is that even the flow of a regular pump can be...

I have a 120 gallon capacity, but no time for eating when filling up. The optional tiny 22 gallon one obviously fills up quickly, then the regular 52 gallon rear tank takes a while, as does the auxiliary 46 gallon tank. But between moving the nozzle from tank to tank, and often having the...

Alright, here's the '91 I had, complete with a Dana 60 front axle. And yes, leaf springs.

Which in turn reminded me. Not that my little van-turned-toyhauler needed any extra permits, and the pictured MG wasn't the smallest one I've had, but still.

I did find out about The Motor Oil Geek somehow, and have watched a few of his videos. There's more great information about oil and vehicle fluids than I can comprehend If anything, there's too much data about what makes (some) oils tick. No pun intended.

They did. The R and V series, formerly C and K, used the '73 up body, leaf srpings, etc. through '91 on V series Blazers, Suburbans, and crew cab pickups.

That's where being a frequent offender but very rarely caught pays off.

I can relate. One time driving on a reasonably familiar dirt road I had my Pete and trailer going sideways through the curves, wanting to know how it'd handle. Remember thinking "This is stupid" and "This is fun" in about equal amounts.

On the other hand, a GM 4WD ('73 through '91) with leaf springs turned sharper than a 2WD.

Hmm. I used to get my (well deserved) share of speeding tickets, but would've definitely went to court if the reported speed was lower than the speed limit. EDIT: Went back and read the prior posts. Yeah, no kidding, if you exceed the warning posted for high loads etc. so what? Those warnings...

It doesn't really matter what I drive or ride, from 18-1/2 hp to over 700, I want to see how fast i can go through a curve with that vehicle. In other words, it's not necessarily achieving the peak G-force number, but about how fast a given vehicle can go in a particular curve, whether it's a...

Okay, it could've been $17, I don't remember. To me, anything less than $100 in California felt like a bargain.

There's a reason I don't watch any You Tube. Okay, several.

In my case, a 192.5" wheelbase wouldn't make that much difference when in comes to parking. It's really the (up to) 38' trailer that does. At many car dealerships they suggest that I park in the median, like the real car haulers do in cities, but so far I've managed getting in and out from...

I don't drive one, but my girlfriend does. It's primarily for towing and the trips to Costco, which isn't exactly nearby. And if something happens to my 3500 crew cab with a 9' bed, it'd likely get replaced with a 4500, have the 192.5" wheelbase, and be a 2-door. Again, not to be a daily...

Agree 100%. I don't like Fords, but do like the '69 Sportroof's design, and how closely the 2005 resembled it. Camaro completely missed the mark, I think, which is why I bought a Challenger.

Hmm. My '21 1500 is "newer" I suppose, but while it's fairly quick it is definitely not fast. Thank the 118 mph speed limiter for that. And while I really like my Cummins, I wouldn't want one in my 1500 or the fun car.

To me those mean that I should be able to take the turn at about twice the speed posted on the yellow warning sign. But there's one 35 mph curve in particular where I know I can't exceed 35, even with good tires and AWD. When there's snow covered ice on the road, that is.

It really surprised when after 10 years I got my California commercial license renewed by mail. Of course, paying $7 or whatever it was sure beat spending the better part of a day taking a test again.

Well, they can be picky here, too, if they want to. Guess the short DMV person instantly put me at a disadvantage when having to climb, literally, into my Jeep for the driving test, but where it got interesting was when asked to turn around on a relatively narrow residential street. Not that...

They can do it in two ways, usually in combination. First the liner can wear the paint off, and moisture stays trapped between the bed and liner. But I suppose that if the rest of the vehicle rusts just as quickly, the hidden corrosion under the liner is no big deal.

Those drop-in liners are evil, I think. Aside from stuff sliding all over the place, which is just an inconvenience, the paint damage and rust issues they tend to cause is bad.

One neat thing with the Northridge quake in California (which didn't really affect us much, living on a ridge to the south) was seeing transformers blow up by Los Angeles. It was quite the light show, and oddly enough we had no fires nearby as a result. Oddly, because fires were all too common.

Oh no, you weren't. Loud boom on Wednesday, then the generators came on. Never did ask why we had no power and the neighbors did.

I bought one of those 15 years ago, used it twice. It's been sitting in the garage since, and I think you know why.

Same here. They're all relatively nondescript to start with, then debadged. And perfect for me, we have "support our troops" plates that are basically illegible at any kind of distance. Have those on all of them, well worth the extra $17 and also for the original good cause.

After seeing photos of the new one, I like my touchscreen-free '17 even more. And so far the proven Aisin has been flawless for me. If I had to order a new Ram it hopefully won't be within the first year or two of a new transmission. Of course, that 8-speed may not come in 4500 and 5500...

I have used a receiver for that purpose.

Adding lightness does wonders for performance. Doesn't work quite the same for towing, though.

Seeing AWD Durangos with the 5.7 made me think about buying one. New ones are somewhat expensive, and the used ones all had very high idle hours, so I ended up with a regular used V6. It's fully loaded, except for the sunroof (which I didn't want) and even has a receiver that'll never be used.

I drove one of those once. And one of those. Had to look in the mirror to notice that something was going on with the rear wheels.

Also true.

Oh, there are people who must have the latest tech, and ideally the '25 looks different enough that the neighbors will notice it.

I feel so disadvantaged. Nothing I tow with has a backup camera, and I might hook up four different trailers in a day. Usually with different vehicles. Yes, it can be tricky when not able to back up in a straight line with the trailer and just use the mirrors. And especially when I'm tired...

I came here on a business trip, and very reluctantly since I hate flying. After about a week I asked myself "What the heck am I doing in Europe?!?" A few months later I arrived in the USA with everything that would fit in my Jeep.

Okay, here are few. The first of the common SEE, which they made some 2,800 of. A Case 580 on the back and a Schmidt loader. I had three at one point, but only one came with the hydraulic hammer drill, pavement breaker, and chainsaw. Some 280 of the HMMH were made, and I had two for a while...

Not quite true. The TrueTrac is a limited slip (helical type). Also, there's not necessarily a need to go only straight. With a selectable locker in the front, which is basically a spool when engaged, it's just harder to steer, and your rear TrueTrac is especially good for turning with, much...

That is true, but in this case both are supercharged.

I'll post some later today. Hmm. I built my Jeep CJ3A as light as possible, but it was still far from able to go anywhere. That Postal Jeep on the other hand was made heavy on purpose, to make it able to do things I needed it to do. The FLU419s have the OM362 engines. They're 110 hp as I...

It's a Unimog. I also have the forklift/crane version and the very rare dozer/trencher. They're fun. I've learned a lot tinkering with them.

There's indeed a difference between use and abuse.

If I had let it run long enough, or been able to keep it running, the gray smoke from the cold start would probably have changed color.

Don't knock it 'til you try it. After converting a DJ-5 to 4WD, adding lockers and such, it's quite a capable little vehicle. Used to use it for about 10 miles per week, in Low range and mostly in 2WD, for many years until getting a Can Am, which can do some things quicker. But yes, it got...

Ram gives you a whopping $400 credit for a bed delete. Okay, so you could sell that new bed for much more, but are still faced with the pickup frame which is trickier to build a well supported flatbed on. The flat frame rails in the standard 34" width on a C&C makes adding things to it much...

I know the K1500 6.5 exists. but a K2500 Blazer?? And the Ford 7-lug wheels were kind of a classic screw up - how did they expect that concept to catch on? And even I remember the Lincoln pickups.

That's what I do with my M1008. Put it in 4 Low to be nice to the transmission. Its 4.56s are low, but it's still a strain on the transmission to get moving with a load behind it. And I'm lazy, so the right front hub is usually locked. That way I only need to lock in the left one when 4WD is...

It's not just kids. When doing 60-120s with our Challengers my girlfriend has 90 hp over me, yet it's not until around 100 that hers start pulling away. And you'd be hard pressed to find even a 50 year old Redeye owner that won't claim his is much quicker than a pedestrian 707 hp version...

I'm glad you did, but that doesn't make me feel better about being called a liar, if only indirectly. I've never served either, but do know enough about vehicles in general to know about details like that. Easy for me maybe, since I've been interested (very much so) pretty much all of my life...