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Regime is irrelevant if you trade in your truck to a dealer. They won’t touch a deleted truck. And many shops won’t work on them so be prepared to do all mechanics yourself.

Do people still lease vehicles? That’s pretty uncommon in my region. The excess mileage charges make leasing more expensive than purchasing the vehicle.

I thought it refers to total income, but if you are correct then not many would pay taxes on SS.

People who claimed awhile back may not, but most SS benefits for people retiring today are quite a bit more than $25k/year.

“Congress on Thursday passed the legislative package that President Donald Trump dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill, including a temporary $6,000 deduction for seniors who earn as much $75,000 a year, or $12,000 for joint filers earning as much as $150,000.”

Buy a Ram with the Cummins diesel, but not one with 300K miles.

The SS tax break isn’t what it seems. If you have any other income such as a pension or PT work, you exceed the maximum needed to qualify for the tax break.

Because the local hotels, food, and beverage businesses have the ear of local politicians. Sports facilities bring in a lot business to those establishments and also a lot of tax revenue to the city.

I have to agree that HST would rob power from those lower hp machines and two ranges would be limiting. But typically they aren’t intended for pulling trailers and large cutters.

Do they still sell tractors with only dual range HST?

It all depends on the hp of the HST tractor. My 63hp HST pulls hills very well without any hesitation.

The MX tractors have the brakes on the left and the HST pedals on the right. And many of the other newer models do as well. I’m scratching my head wondering what you’re talking about with HST tractors pulling a load and up hills? Mine does all of those things very well.

It matters if your investments are needed for future income living expenses or another purpose. In my case, my income stream is covered by pensions and SS, and my investments are targeted for future “wants” and family inheritance. I don’t need them to live on. Someone who does need investments...

I don’t know why that would be an issue. My MX6000 has 63 gross hp and pto hp of 52 hp. Never had an issue with the HST running hot after running a 6’ cutter for hours.

My portfolio ETFs have a 10% downside buffer. And lots of dividend yielding stocks. A conservative approach for sure, but still growing above bonds and other lower risk options.

Just buy a tractor with enough hp and don’t worry about a few reduced pto hp with a HST.

A great feature of HST machines is that ground speed can be varied while maintaining pto/engine rpm. A gear tractor must be shifted to do the same.

Actually I’m not at all concerned and I don’t need any of my investments for retirement living expenses. But many people do.

It all depends on the time frame when you need the money. Long term no problem; retiring tomorrow: big problem when the market drops.

Total Wine and more. They have the good stuff, the bad stuff, and the in-between stuff.

LP used to be made in Kansas before Kubota bought them. I assume still there.

I actually do like Manhattans with Makers Mark. But god forbid mixing Jamison’s with anything except ice.

Wow, I think there are lots of possibilities. Just buy a drink recipe book.

And an engine overhaul at 100K miles was typical.

I love Manhattans, but I use Bulliet Rye. I’ll look for your vermouth recommendation.

Last year it was hard to keep the feeders full, but this year almost none.

I’m straight due west of Amarillo on I-40

I could actually do that (4 hour drive).

Yes, that is correct, but I’ve still never heard of a liquor by that name.

Amarillo is a city in Texas. I’ve never heard of a liquor named that.

I believe they winter in Mexico and Central America. So something must have happened over the winter. Maybe immigration detained them at the border? 😆

Most years the hummingbirds are fighting over the feeders. This year I’ve only seen a few and the feeders are still mostly full after being up for 6 weeks. I don’t know where they are this year.

Can you provide a link. Many of the magnetic mirrors aren’t good at staying attached.

Interesting. I’ve never seen cheatgrass establish anywhere but on bare ground. Eugene is wet enough that i would be surprised if perennial vegetation didn’t crowd it out over time.

IDK about foxtail, but cheatgrass is an annual that only establishes on bare ground and it doesn’t compete with perennial grasses. If you can mow the cheatgrass and establish good perennial vegetation, you won’t see cheatgrass.

Manhattans and old fashions are my favorite cocktails. But a good G&T is a great summer drink. Another refreshing summer drink is half and half wheat beer and pink grapefruit juice. Blue Moon mixes well with the juice.

Juniper berries are the primary flavor element in gin.

Not good

I have great horned owls that will sit on my roof, barn roof and on fence posts. There are lots of them and they are why I can’t keep barn cats.

Cottontail and jackrabbits in the west have declined considerably due to a rampant hemorrhagic disease.

Next weekend I’m traveling to attend a brother in laws wedding. They are both mid 50s and never married. Both work in ranching. Kinda implausible but good for them.

Thanks for asking. I’m doing okay and just staying busy. Lots of things have been unattended to during the 5 weeks when I was busy settling affairs. And I have been doing work travel to the field, making for long days. I’m not making too many long term plans. One day at a time.

My power company installed a whole house surge protector on my house and they charge me $5/month extra on my bill. They installed it on my meter box beneath the meter. They replace it every 3-4 years.

Depreciation of vehicles is something I never care about, because I buy them new then drive them for 200-300K miles or until the wheels fall off. I assume they will only be worth clunker prices when I’m ready for a new one.

Concrete is unnecessary and counter productive. It heaves. A good base of compacted crusher fines is all that is needed.

My cutter throws debris out the rear when I cut brush. I don’t want that thing in front of me.

And those front mounted rotary cutters on skid steers are scary for operators.

Two different purposes. A skidder is specialized logging equipment and is the best choice for skidding logs, but it has few other uses. A tractor is multi purpose equipment and can be used to skid logs, but a skidder is much better for that purpose.

I have had flagstones set on crusher fines for decades. We get snow and ice every winter but they still are rock solid and haven’t moved. Sand will always move.

I think the sand is your issue. Everything I’ve set on a sand base moves because sand really doesn’t pack well. Use crusher fines instead of sand. It’s just as easy to work with, but it packs and locks together much better than sand. Polymeric sand is good for filling gaps between bricks, but...

Anything with peanut butter on it catches ground squirrels.

Maybe talk with USDA animal damage control specialists. The consultation is free.

I think all brands regenerate automatically.

I believe Willie Nelson is in his 90s, but he’s probably an exception to how most recreational drug users end up.

I pay $3000 per year for 20 acres, house, and barn. Very reasonable. Of course I’m sure that some of the higher taxing counties also get better road maintenance and other services.

I think the property taxes in my county are very reasonable and are actually used for things that I can see: fire district, roads, and yes local schools. When my kids were in school, older people paid for them and I’m ok with paying for the next generation, provided that the cost is reasonable...

Today I bought my house and land. Paid off the mortgage. 😊

I would spot treat any obnoxious perennial weeds, then spread fertilizer and grass seed. Then keep mowing.

Asparagus is the only thing I have at this time of year. The cool season greens were destroyed by hail a month ago and replanted. The warm season veggies are still too small and growing.

Related to bird gard. Before you order it, learn what bird species are showing up and most common in your area. The same for hawk predators. You order a sound card with the predatory and distress sounds of those species. I think you can pick 10 species. That is the key to success with the...

No fire line will stop a running crown fire. Firelines are used to burn out from and burn out fuels ahead of the wild fire.

An offset disc on a BX? Doubtful that would be useful.

Boy I sure wouldn’t drive over the tank with anything heavier than a riding lawnmower.

Whatever. It’s a great commercial. I doubt he needs any cash.

Then you saw the v8, v6, i4 and EV versions. You also saw the Jeep pass the Bronco. Those of us would have worked outdoors for the past 40+ years know the climate is different now than it was 40 years ago. Mountain snowpacks are more variable and the snow comes off earlier in the spring. And...

I use this in my orchard when I have a good fruit year. It randomly broadcasts bird predator sounds (hawks) and the distress sounds of the birds that are the problem. It works, but you have to be ok with the random sounds. https://birdgard.com/

That would get high centered on my road. 🤣

You obviously didn’t watch the video. It showcases Jeeps with all of the available power trains.

🤣 A Jeep is no stinking minivan.

“Sounds like a nice daily driver, for running the kids back and forth to daycare.”

My ZF8 is in my Jeep Wrangler, not a daycare minivan. I’ve driven vehicles all my life that noticeably shift. The smooth operation of the seamless ZF8 is very nice. Feeling and hearing audible shifts isn’t a thrill for me.

The 8 speed transmission in my Jeep is the sweetest I’ve ever owned. It’s always in the right gear, and the shift points are not noticeable. I don’t miss the being banged back in the seat feeling. It’s simply a great transmission that’s always in the right gear and the manual shift option is...

I no longer have the vehicle, (it was my wife’s), but our 2017 Subaru Forester with cvt transmission and full time AWD was the best on road snow vehicle ever as long as snow wasn’t too deep. Never a problem with the cvt transmission. I suspect there has been a lot of refinement of those...

^^^^this^^^

I go 40 miles to get ethanol free. But I get 25 gallons and that lasts me all summer for mowing and weed wacking. So it’s a once a year trip.

AC is a must for driving dusty dirt roads. The positive pressure keeps dust from entering the cab.

I’ve had problems with E10 corroding and forming deposits in the carburetor on my 4 stroke engines. I now go out of my way to buy ethanol free gas for anything I have with a carburetor.

Thanks for asking. It has been a busy time with all the family and friends who came for the funeral, and now her sister helping me to go through her things. Expect for the lead up to the funeral, I have been going to work. Keeping busy is a blessing; it’s during slack times in the evenings that...

In the rural west, trucks are often the family vehicle.

It makes sense that crew cabs are the most popular. Most single cab trucks only comfortably seat the driver plus one. The middle seat is either missing or sized for kids. Since most non-business trucks are bought by families, a single cab isn’t an option. And even though I’m alone now,?I still...

It depends on what you want to do with rear hydraulics, but one set is pretty limiting. Most people at least want to have hydraulic top link and hitch tilt.

I have 5’ tall cages made of concrete reinforcement mesh. The holes are large enough to reach through and the wire is sturdy enough. I hold them up with rebar. Been using these for years for all kinds of tomatoes.

I have the usual full garden planted, but growth is behind for this time of year. We’ve had too many cold fronts and cold nights this spring. Back in late April I planted the cold weather veggies (onions, potatoes, greens. Then we had hail on May 4. The following weekend I replanted everything...

Yes I remember when they were located there. But they relocated to Ohio a couple of decades ago. Probably a more favorable growing climate.

My Kawasaki mule has a dump bed and has never given me any problems. Parts are available at motorcycle dealers that carry the brand.

Wow. That’s bad. I guess I was fortunate to visit Maine during spring mud season when it’s probably too cold for ticks.

Now he’s advertising old folks medications

Years ago a chiropractor told me that his number one reason for guys with hip issues is hip pocket wallets. He told me to carry it in a front pocket, and I’ve been carrying it there ever since.

Best wallet I’ve ever owned. I’ve had mine for over 10 years and still perfect. Also a 100 year warranty. Not cheap, but the last wallet you’ll need unless you lose it. https://saddlebackleather.com/mens-leather-wallets-belts/?srsltid=AfmBOoqh8CHA0ZjLFtDRLsAWMRJXmVTj2SIOnQTP4cKkfmnosfKaSKVe

Wow. What an experience. Glad that you made it and can tell the story.

HST allows you to infinitely control ground speed without changing engine RPMs. Something that’s really nice for pto work such as cutting or tilling.

A large triangular gusset will be the best way to strengthen. Weld it.

Weld triangular gussets outside over and joining the vertical and horizontal bars.

Probably, but when they are both in the same price ballpark, many people opt for the F-150 over the Ranger.

Interesting. I do know that my guinea hen east a lot of grasshoppers and other bugs.

Learn how to chainsaw fall and use wedges to control the path.

All of those products contain citronella oil. Works great for gnats and not bad for mosquitoes.

Avon skin so soft lotion has long been a secret that people who work in the woods know about. It’s a great mosquito and gnat repellent. It’s made with citronella oil. IDK if it works on ticks.

My neighbor is a general manager of an auto dealership. He said that awhile back when I mentioned to him how nice the new Rangers are.

Either of those are nice machines. Price and condition are the driving factors.

That doesn’t surprise me about the Ranger. It’s priced very close to the F-150, and many people end up opting for the F-150.

We don’t have many in New Mexico either, except in sage brush areas.

Guinea hens are better than chickens for eating bugs. But they’re damn noisy birds.

I don’t have one, but the L3560 is probably the nicest tractor in the 35hp range. The turf tires wouldn’t be my choice, otherwise that’s a sweet machine.

Since neither Honda or Suzuki produce a truck like the frontier, it’s doubtful that it would be discontinued.

I’m not in the market for a small truck, but I still like that better than the other small truck options.

Seems small to me.

If I was looking for a small truck I would also check out the new Nissan Frontier. It has a longer bed, but still a small truck. It also looks like a truck.

The new Kubota R4 tires are grooved. Maybe check those out.

Agree. For what the OP is doing the R4 tires have the stiffest, toughest sidewalls.

I don’t think they make 2 door Rangers anymore.

I use a digging bar

You have to order the lower priced versions.

And FYI, the new Stihl zero turns are just a repainted and rebadged Ferris mower, The benefit is that Stihl dealers are everywhere, but Ferris dealers seem to be limited in distribution.

They are simply the best. Even their residential machines say commercial grade on them. And they offer a choice of a simple mechanical dial machine or digital. If you look at the motor drive for the drum, the gears and part are all metal, no nylon parts like many other brands.

Yes, but that’s pto hp, not engine hp.

When I had a small 25hp tractor, I bought a 4’ Landpride cutter and it had a stump jumper. That size is what you want for a 25hp machine.

Sounds pretty standard for most of the U.S. also.

That’s very true. About the only significant variability is what dealers will do to close the sale, like tire filling, free delivery, ect…

Even using legal drugs or alcohol on the job is verboten.

Obviously it depends on what is being cut. I’m only cutting grass, small shrubs, and small saplings.

I thought about doing that, but the factory kit levers fit so nice in the designed slots and feel ergonomically correct. The aftermarket kits just look and feel like clunky add ons to me. This likely doesn’t matter to most people.

I bought a chain guard for my Landpride rotary cutter last year. The Messicks quote was $342 including shipping. The Coleman’s quote was $286 including shipping. No I would never order oil or other fluids to be shipped.

Parts aren’t shipped rush next day.

The top and tilt kit (2 remotes) ordered with the tractor is $1098. When I had 3 remotes installed post purchase from the dealer, I paid $3500. And this was the cheapest quote of 4 different dealers.

I disagree. I run a 7’ single spindle rotary cutter with my MX6000. It easily handles this cutter.

The price builder shows what it costs to order new. Comparing the new tractor price builder to what 4 different dealers quoted (and I paid one of them) was about 40% more than ordering at the time of purchase. Non- warranty and new sales service work must be where the profit margins are for...

IDK but it sure cost more when I had mine installed last year. Probably because it’s easier to add remotes to a crated tractor before installing rear wheels than doing it afterwards when the machine is fully assembled, and I suspect some of the difference is simply what corporate prices...

Sales volume also has a lot to do with brand presence. Some of the older brands have dealership presence in almost every sizable community, while many brands have no dealerships in vast regions or even some states. People are hesitant to buy a brand that has no nearby parts or service.

Yep, get three remotes when you purchase the machine. It costs a lot more to add them later. And the more, the better.

I have the same one on my Kubota.

Kubota now owns Landpride and I agree that they produce quality implements. They do make light, medium, and heavy duty versions of most of their products, so a buyer needs to choose according to intended use.

The nights are still too cold here for those fair weather birds. We usually start seeing them in June, and it seems like they’re gone when the nights cool down in the fall.

Size 11.5

I have found that losing a a few pto hp to a HST transmission is negligible in the 60 hp tractor range. It’s more significant when you’re in the sub 35 hp range.

I suspect that’s what the situation is.

Don’t know if this would work for you, but I use the pedal on my MX differently than designed. I keep my foot planted on the floorboard, not the pedal. I use the toe of my foot on the pedal to go forward and lift the pedal with my toe from underneath for reverse. There’s plenty of room even...

How can you use 2-4-D on alfalfa?

I‘ve have a 20 gallon upright central pneumatic HF air compressor for a long time and it always works. But then I don’t run it everyday like a shop would do.

To lose your best friend of 48 years must be unbelievably painful. And during the dead of winter with dark days and being stuck inside must have been hard to bear. My thanks for your prayers and suggestions.

I’m glad it’s not the dead of winter. Being able to do outdoor chores and just bring outside in general is uplifting.

Yes it is rough and especially when your wife passes first. At least I can cook, but starting over at retirement age is going to be tough.

ALS is possibly the worst disease possible. It has been a rough 5 years for all of us. Thank you.

I’ve been very busy with arrangements and took this week off work. Funeral is next Saturday. Between arranging the funeral mass and all of the other things it has kept me busy. But the evenings are rough. I’ll be ok, then 10 minutes later it hits me again. I’m actually looking forward to all the...

Thanks for your kind words

You’re correct. I only have experience with beef cattle.

You get committed for a particular tool line because of batteries. I ended up buying the Hercules tools because of a really good deal I got on a grease gun. Bought a battery and charger ($99) and got the grease gun free ($139 regular price). So I got the whole shebang for $99. But since I had...

Cows will eat it without harm. Mold will kill horses.

Yep

Cow hay

And after sun exposure will produce splinters that will lodge in your hands and create unspeakable misery.

Every dealer may not stock every Stihl product, but they can order every product or part.

Sounds like a Ford 8N would be a perfect tractor for you. And you can buy them cheap.

There are no DEF units on any tractor under 75 hp.

Especially in 2021 when new units were in limited supply. Used units were nearly the same price as new. I reached the same conclusion as you when I bought in December 2021.

There’s no need to inspect a new crated tractor. The dealer has to assemble it, and deliver it in new condition with a full warranty if it’s being sold as new.

The Hercules line of cordless tools are as good as anything I have made by Dewalt.

I will also advise to get the type of faux stone that fits together without a mortar joint between them. Because you have to apply that mortar joint after the stones are applied and set to make a good looking grout joint. Squirting thin set mortar with a grout bag isn’t fun at all and your hands...

I can still buy things at HF lots cheaper than HD and Lowes because HF has sales with big discounts continuously.

Juarez is a border town and nowhere near as nice as Chihuahua City and many other cities I’ve visited in interior Mexico. But Juarez has also improved over the years.

Cereal rye, like all of the improved agricultural grains doesn’t really last many generations, sometimes only one, sometimes a few more.

We didn’t get snow at my house, just the mountains. But we got some damn hail that wrecked the spring flowers and early garden starts. We accumulated over 3” of rain between Saturday and Monday. All the ditches and low spots are flooded. Probably not a spring fire season this year.

The Stihl also offers that top of the line repainted Ferris. Mine is a higher end residential model. The model you are showing is one of the commercial models. Still, the suspension is adjustable even on the homeowner’s models.

I’m surprised to hear about vehicles rusting in Mississippi. I thought that only occurred where road deicing salt is used?

This is the accumulation of this past storm. And it’s still snowing in the mountains where these amounts were measured. This was on tonight’s local news.

Yes, screw the cement board to the block (also use liquid nails exterior grade). Then attach faux stone to the cement board.

The current situation in most Mexican cities is far different with most manufacturing workers living in nice homes and affluent for the local area. A few years ago in Chihuahua City. I saw beautiful company hosing subdivisions built for workers with nice vehicles parked in front. The locals were...

Tractors aren’t sold by model year like vehicles. The are sold by model number. As long as they are the same model number and new, different tractors on the lot may be manufactured in different years, but they aren’t labeled as such.

Photos showing the suspension.

If you do get a zero turn, I recommend that you look at the Stihl/Ferris mowers. They are the only brand I’m aware of that have 4 wheel suspension. The ride is much better on rough ground than any others I’ve used. The new Stihl zero turns are just re-badged, orange and white painted Ferris...

Wow. Sounds like this pre-dated OSHA.

Something that’s popular in the southwest: if you have a reasonably flat concrete floor, just dry set clay bricks with no joints. Then coat with a clear exterior stone sealer. Like this, except with smooth clay bricks instead of paver bricks.

If as you say it occasionally gets wet, I would want tile, not wood.

I’ll bet that when they assemble the crated tractor and park it on the lot, it will look like it just rolled out of the factory.

I don’t understand why the concern? Most tractors arrive crated, and many aren’t assembled until there is space on the lot.

Thank you

This is SOP and many new tractors have spent months sitting in a crate before assembly, including the Kioti. The freshly arrived Kioti was freshly assembled out of a crate.

Because a lot of buyers are of the same mindset as you, even though it’s usually unwarranted. I mean come on, anything mechanical can break, but there’s no widespread pattern of this occurring with DPF except on a few problematic models.

Nobody sits around during a regeneration. Just up the RPMs and keep working. In fifteen minutes it’s over. Never experienced limp modes and the other MX owners here are saying the same things.

I get a half dozen a day from the chickens. I have no idea what eggs cost.

Sounds like an orthopedic doctor would have lots of work to do with you.

I wore them last week when I was planting garden plants and doing weeding. But I still ended up with blisters on my knee.

It’s very difficult and your resale opportunities are limited if you do this. If it bothers you that much, buy an older pre-emissions machine. I never give that stuff a second thought on my machine and appreciate not sucking as much diesel particulates. But to each their own.

Thanks neighbor. I appreciate the offer. At this time my sons are helping me with everything. I really do appreciate the thought. Jim

I can’t think of a worse disease. It’s indeed horrible and there’s no medical treatment to address the disease, just therapeutic treatments and devices to help them cope and handle daily living.

Thank you and everyone for your kind thoughts and words.

Thanks so much

Thank you. It has been a long grieving journey since her diagnosis 5 years ago.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and words.

Thank you. My sons and daughter in law don’t live nearby, but are here. And we have lots of neighbors and local friends. She was well known and liked in our small community.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and words.

My best friend and 35 year companion died today. My wife fought ALS for five years and was lively up until yesterday. She said she was tired, went to sleep yesterday evening, and passed today. I was able to have a priest give her last rites late last night and she was happy to see him. Going...

The MX5400 is a sweet machine and will no doubt handle your needs. My comment was that if you could buy a 6000 for the same price, it’s a no brainer.

Y Yep, that’s still one of the few bright spots in the paper industry, also cardboard boxes.

My comment is still true. Paper mills are dwindling around the country.

The paper industry is retracting nationwide. There is no demand for newsprint and other paper products are also in less demand due to the digital age. Paper mills are shutting down everywhere except for those designed for TP and other specialty paper and cardboard boxes.

And paper mills are dwindling around the country. There are far fewer now than 20 years ago.

It depends on the overall size/weight/hp of the hydro tractor. My 60hp hydro tractor has no power problems doing whatever I need to do.

Subaru had that oiling problem up to and including the 2014 model year. The engines were re-engineered in 2015 and that problem no longer persists. Sucks for those who own the problematic years.

I agree totally with you for the same reasons. And I proficiently operated a geared tractor for all those uses for 22 years. I love my current hydro much more.