4 Wheel drive indicator with inclinometer install on a Grand L Cab

[WaxMan]

Fred, forget the heated mirrors, out in the snow today, here's why

" the view is only as good as the window you're looking out of "
The camera eliminates (the window)
If you want a clean view, forget mirrors, Install a camera.

If WaxMan and 4shorts can have cameras, so can you

 

[The Fred]

I have the camera like you just can't get used to using it. I drove a semi for 10 years (in another life) and am pretty good at backing and like using the mirrors but they do get covered if I don't get the shoot for the snowblower moved quickly enough.

Just started snowing here local weatherman says 16" soft (the wife will love it ha ha) she snow shoes with the dogs.

I took a mirror off and it looks like the glass is plastic, anyway thinking about using a hole saw in the drill press and cutting in a Grote Trucklite rubber mount and trying it with the parking lights, it might be enough to shoot some heat behind the glass, looks like a very easy install.

Not sure yet, I knew the turbo would work ok not sure about the lights in the mirrors.

Regards stay safe, Fred

PS, a buddy just called from north of NYC they have 16 " snow now from this latest storm.

 

[WaxMan]

I have the camera like you just can't get used to using it. I drove a semi for 10 years (in another life) and am pretty good at backing and like using the mirrors but they do get covered if I don't get the shoot for the snowblower moved quickly enough.

Just started snowing here local weatherman says 16" soft (the wife will love it ha ha) she snow shoes with the dogs.

I took a mirror off and it looks like the glass is plastic, anyway thinking about using a hole saw in the drill press and cutting in a Grote Trucklite rubber mount and trying it with the parking lights, it might be enough to shoot some heat behind the glass, looks like a very easy install.

Not sure yet, I knew the turbo would work ok not sure about the lights in the mirrors.

Regards stay safe, Fred

PS, a buddy just called from north of NYC they have 16 " snow now from this latest storm.

Where is hooterville anyway? 16 inches is a lot of snow.
You know that just might be a good idea, installing a light in the mirror, not sure if it will get that hot alone, but might look good. Maybe if you use the Grote rubber mount in the hole, but put a string of 194 lights on the inside against the back of the mirror for heat or a dome light those get pretty hot.

 

[4shorts]

Tomorrow the storm hits us. It will start out with 100 km winds with 15-20 cm's of snow changing to freezing rain then to 10-15 mm's of rain. Should make for an interesting day :shocked:

 

[varmint]

Interesting day, indeed. We got about 15" of wet snow yesterday, and then some icy rain in the evening, then about 3" or 4" more of wet snow last night. I got to spend 4+ hours yesterday mid-day, clearing the first snowfall from about 1000' of gravel lane, enjoying cab-free conditions. Then, another couple of hours today, in warmer conditions, clearing up even better and taking care of the new snow, which drifted- we had high winds during the night. Power flickered off maybe 4 or 5 times, but always came right back on. Thankfully.

We are thinking about getting a newer small Kubota- one that will mount a front snow plow and maybe a bucket, as well. I am getting too old to spend 6 hours twisted around, watching a rear blade. Plus, our B-8200 is gear tranny, and my wife would do better with a hydro, if she had to do the plowing. I guess I would, too, since 15-18" of wet snow requires a lot of bucket work to move away in congested areas. Time to start checking out what's available, and figuring out what this will cost.

 

[The Fred]

The storm ended here with 12" then Saturday night another 2, no big deal. Spent Saturday shoveling the roof then clearing trails so I could get more firewood in. What a mess under all this snow is the same 2" of solid ice that plagued us in January, even my crawler won't go over it very well after welding little dingle-berries on the steel cleats with a wire feed for temporary better traction.

Anyway the mirrors and camera got all covered in snow making seeing useless. We are about 10 miles from Mt. Mansfield the tallest hill in Vermont.
I see heated mirrors in my future after I tighten up the snowblower impeller housing somehow.

Regards, Fred

 

[srs]

We are thinking about getting a newer small Kubota- one that will mount a front snow plow and maybe a bucket, as well. I am getting too old to spend 6 hours twisted around, watching a rear blade. Plus, our B-8200 is gear tranny, and my wife would do better with a hydro, if she had to do the plowing. I guess I would, too, since 15-18" of wet snow requires a lot of bucket work to move away in congested areas. Time to start checking out what's available, and figuring out what this will cost.

Varmint, you could get one of these. I have the same tractor but without the blower.

Kubota B3030 HSDC snowblowing Jan 2012 (HD) - YouTube

 

[Beltman60]

Waxman
another better than great project
always like looking up your projects as I know they will be well detailed
Thanks for sharing

 

[WaxMan]

Waxman
another better than great project
always like looking up your projects as I know they will be well detailed
Thanks for sharing

Thank you Beltman

 

[WaxMan]

Sorry guys this is so long.
Paul I have watched your 1st video above about inclinometers, and now have watched your second video now that it is installed. I'll comment on that video later. It amazes me the length you are going to let people know how bad my tilt meter install is. There is really something that rubs you the wrong way to go thru all this trouble about my tilt meter install. Maybe you think only you should do tractor Mods.

Though I like the one you bought, I'm not sure I would trust it as much as you think.
I have to disagree with your overall general thoughts about inclinometers as you stated in the above video. I know it was just your opinion but here is my opinion in response.

I really think you are misleading people on the safety value of an inclinometer, whether "you" ever needed one or not.

You said in your video above "Anything that you physically have to look at to see if you're tipping over, it's too late"
I'm sorry but you don't look at an inclinometer to see if you're tipping over.
You always look at an inclinometer in a stopped position to have an accurate gauge of the slope.

In the video segment, you do your very best to say your new meter is better than anything out there. Even though in the video you just opened the package, you never even used one before and it's a hard to find discontinued item as you admit.

Yet with all that information, you already know before even taking it out of the box. It was better than anything out there including the factory Toyota type meter that I use. I could see it in your face explaining how poorly (you think ) all the other inclinometers work including the one I already installed in my tractor. Making hand gestures etc. to show like it was very hard to decipher what angle you're at. I realize it was only your opinion and I respect that, but you're misleading people in your video, IMO.
The meter you have there was only on the market for about a year or so. And the company stopped making and selling them. No one ever made another one like it so you have one of the few that are left.
That tells me if it was good in would still be selling.

The drawing of my tractor, jeep, car or truck that you refer to turns on the meter, the needle points to the degree listed on the meter. It's really that simple. It works by gears and gravity, no other power needed. Sometimes simple is better.

You don't have to study angles or figure anything out like you portray in your video above.
Same with the ball and tube inclinometer. They will never ever be inaccurate because of the laws of physics .
All inclinometers are only accurate at stopped vehicle position. Even your NOS meter.
Here is a link for the ball and tube meters. I don't think this company thinks they are a gimmick.

Welcome http://www.tiltmeter.com

Just a little information for anyone who is interested.
The factory Toyota meter was used for about 15 straight years in many different Toyota models. Made in Japan by a Company that still makes them today - Jeco of Japan. The car manufacturers' versions are not cheaply made versions. Even the Late model Toyotas today have an inclinometer option. So does Nissan, Land Rover and Mitsubishi all use the mechanical type jeep version you call it.
Clearly Toyota and others must also disagree with your comments. Toyota and others must have thought it was more a safety feature than a liability or they wouldn't keep offering the tilt meters on their vehicles to this day.

Another quote of yours, Paul - you told me in a reply when I questioned you on youtube, in reference to my mechanical tilt meter
"If you have to take your eyes off the windshield and look at an instrument then it becomes a hazard and shouldn't be in the cab".
I also disagree with you on that.

You look at your instruments when you're stopped or when it's safe to do so, you don't ride around watching your meter. I'm completely capable of glancing at any of my instruments.
The tilt meter is a "gauge" to tell what angle you're at. It does not warn you before you tip over, only operator knowledge will prevent a rollover. A tilt meter helps the operator know for sure without guesswork what the degree slope he is on.

In my opinion, since you gave me yours, that new old stock meter that you have is very dangerous. The operator ends up relying on the electronic meter presets to beep and warn of a coming rollover. It gives you a false sense of comfort - the meter could fail that you rely on and not beep. According to the only review on your meter that's out there, it did not perform well and is unreliable. That is probably why it was discontinued. Here is the review.

http://www.4x4review.com/innovate-motorsports-rad-1-digital-inclinometer/

The mechanical meters including the ball and tube type have been around for many years, tested and proven time and time again by major car manufacturers, the military, firetrucks, farm tractors, heavy equipment, etc.

You're depending on a discontinued item and listening and trusting a beeping noise that could fail instead of your eyes to tell you the grade you're on?
You have a lot of followers and Tilt meters are a safety item, you're telling people the exact opposite.
Anything that you have to rely on a beeping sound to warn you you're tipping over, instead of physically using your eyes and senses it could be too late. A mechanical meter could help with that knowledge.

In my next post I will share your install video of your new meter, the operation of your new meter and the email I sent you after I watched this video above back on March 1st To show your remarks about restraining orders and me being dangerous were unfounded. But I guess it makes for a good video.
I think that way people can watch the two videos, read what was said and come to their own conclusions about tilt meters.

 

[TripleR]

This is really a sad situation for many of us who hold you both in high regard. I doubt that I will ever own an inclinometer, so I have not been following all this.

 

[PapaPerk]

Watch the video in the last post first if you haven't already, The videos are short versions you can go to Youtube to watch the hr long versions I just wanted to get to the point.
I'm showing what was said in this video and giving my opinion and remarks to what was said, this is my only chance to reply properly .
I'm not going to youtube and start making videos to respond. This is my thread about my meter and what was said about my meter and my reply belongs here.
Thank you for reading.

In this video below he says the camera makes the display flicker that is true to a point. But one of the bad things about this meter as was stated in the review. Unless you're going less then 1 mile an hour you cannot read the display the numbers are bouncing all over the place . You can't see the numbers unless stopped. You have to rely on the beeping, but it also said in the review the unit had to be reset many times during the test because the unit gave erroneous information and could not be trusted.

The funny part was I showed him the link for that meter, I said they were hard to get. I could get one but I decided not to because of the review. He also saw the review after his first video.
I guess he thought he would show me up, but he couldn't so make a big deal how bad my meter is instead. I think he feels threaten by some of my mods and grasp for straws to try and make himself look better. Just my opinion.

Yes Paul is a good guy to most but if your making Mods your his competition and its a very different kind of friendship.
Innovate Motorsports' RAD-1 Digital Inclinometer - 4x4Review Off Road Magazine

But yet in this video my mechanical meter is called antiquated and not fit for a new machine. My meter that has been around for years and years.

In the end he says sorry if it offends anybody but so be it, if he could save someone form getting hurt. Right, he did the right thing.

So he pushes a discontinued meter that didn't work well (even in his video)not sold anymore and holds up toilet paper is the best inclinometer.
I wonder is all this about inclinometers or something else?

The email at the end I sent right after I watched the first video in the last post. Back 04/01/14 It is the only email I sent him about this.
It is copy and paste off of my mail site and is the actual email word for word that was send.

He says in this video below at 5:19 the email was so bad if I lived closer he would have to get a restraining order put on me. Then he passed the email around to all his dinner friends and they all said I was dangerous , Really this email right here below in blue. Just shows his Character or lack of it.

The email is not what you would think it would be when watching him carry on about it in the video is it. . Ask yourself why did he even bring it up if its not about me.
To me my email was more of a sad email then angry. I thought we were friends. I thought the email would have made a difference but his reply to the email and the second video proves me right.

Video Link: http://youtu.be/So1VppPDOtw

I'm not sure how emails work way up North but here in the USA an email sent is a record that can't be changed. I also sent the Youtube link at the bottom of the email to him so he would know what I was referring to.

Paul
Why??

Ok folks, here is a new meter, just came in today, wifey tracked it down for me, this is how it will work and go on about your new meter.

Oh no

You have to spend 5 minutes nocking down my meter, making fun of my style meter and how it works. With cocking of your head and your hand gestures inferring that it's hard to use and you have to figure it out etc.etc. Playing up to your fan base, that the meter I installed in my cab is a piece of **** that doesn't work and not necessary.

Of all the great posts and comments I have left on your threads, Never have I ever, cut down or belittled anything you have done. Even if I didn't always agree with it.

You really needed to post a 5 min video trashing my style tilt meter that I have already installed on my tractor. Put mine down , because you know people liked what I did. Just so you can fluff up your new meter.
Telling people they're going to tip over if they look at the meter, wow that is pretty low.

I like what I did with mine, I like my style meter, I'm sorry you publicly disagree with your video, My son helped me with the tractor emblems, I think it came out nice. It means something to me. As your work means something to you, especially if your wife helped you on it.
It's a proven meter and it works very well. And it's accurate.

The point is I would not have done that to you.
Thank you both very much

Tilt meter - YouTube

His reply
I never said anything about your meter. I was talking in general about meters and the differences in them
Why do you act like this?
I'm done. That's all I'm saying
Good by.
Paul

I think he made it pretty clear in his last video it was about my meter. Why he had to tie me in with his video is beyond me.
Why couldn't it be a video about his inclinometer and leave mine out of it? I know why do you know why?
Now if anybody wonders what happen with Paul and I , now you know.

Drama much?!

 

[PapaPerk]

I understand how it looks Papa, I was just going to let it go, But when I got to the email part of the second video and realized he is just making things up to further his Youtube career at my expense. Granted he didn't use my name but he is using what I did to compare and mock me in both videos. Thats what he does to anyone who dares to question him. He believes he is the only one who should be doing anything everyone else is inferior. And if you think I was like that go back and check the posts I left for him.

Not one person here on TBN would want him to do that with there work. There was no reason for it other then it wasn't something he did. He could have very well made a video of that meter without bringing what I did into it. Its one thing to have an opinion but he is saying things that just aren't true.

We are all tractor operators here how many think a tilt meter is used to tell if you're rolling over, he is just playing up his fan base. He can't mock me on TBN but he can on Youtube secretly. Some here will see him for what he is, and his friends like you will protect him. Oh well

Can you operate your tractor with my tilt meter installed without rolling over? Yes you can, he is just playing it up and we all know, we, who operate tractors, its not true what he is saying.
It's not his opinion he knows its not true and so do you, well i'm calling him on it.
Plus to top it off the meter he is using is discontinued because its junk, that is a fact. Not opinion.

Here is the real show

Video Link: http://youtu.be/k1y-LAP26O0

I looked at the video and read this entire thread. I agree the vid seems like a low blow. You did very nice work with your device and it looks very professional.

Gravity base analog tilt meters are used in many modern vehicles including the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Proven technology that works. Toyota would not use it if it did not.

Both of you guys do nice work. And if I'm not mistaken are very proud of it. And rightfully so. Sometime pride can cause issues.

Both of you and all of us should always remember that there's always someone out there that can do better work than we can. And thats okay. We should not live out lives in constant competition for we will surely loose eventually. Do the best you can and stir what you have.

It's unfortunate that things must turn into competitions. TBN is a great place to collaborate, debate and share ideas. It's a shame to see two talented individuals attack each other.

Ahhhh Boys and their Toys! Lol!

 

[dsmiley]

This is the only thing I can find that Paul said about your mod -
Super cool sir.
Love it.
Clean install.
Nice OEM type design and install.
Enjoyed seeing it.

I have seen the videos, both of his and the copy of his you posted more than 2 weeks ago and then removed hours later. At the time I thought you might have removed it because I believe it violates Youtube's Terms of Service section 5B (and possibly some copyright laws). Well, here it is again today. Paul does not agree with your philosophy on the use of inclinometers. That's it. He did not diss your install. He did not diss your install. You have obviously been stewing about this and can't let it go. Please let it go. You guys add so much to this forum. Please don't let this little thing (in my opinion) take you over the edge.
My wife says the only way to cook a steak is rare. I say that no steak should be anything but medium. We have cohabitated (happily) for 43 years. It can be done.

Dean

 

[The Fred]

You're a "dangerous" man Waxman.......

:alert:


Just kidding, Have a nice day.

Fred

 

[WaxMan]

Thanks Fred this thread needs a little humor.

Yeah I'm Now
DangerousWaxMan
to crash and burn- with respect

 

[Panik]

Listen, for what it's worth you both are very talented individuals who contribute significantly to this forum. However your relationship with each other, for whatever reasons, is apparently toxic. My advice to both of you would be to leave each other alone, regardless of what the other person might say or do. It would be sad if the problems you guys have with each other were to reflect negatively on your accomplishments and your presence on this forum.

* Please understand what I said above is meant in a non-judgmental manner. I'm trying to avoid speaking about what has caused this issue rather make a suggestion about how to move past it before things get worse.

 

[Fordman1981]

Did TBN pull post or did people remove their own post? I see a few from tripleR gone and some from waxman gone. Wax honestly I have to say I quit reading 4shorts threads after your first altercation with him. I don't remember word for word what he said but it was along the lines of you are not on his level of fabricator. People that full of themselves I have no use for. Just giving my opinion it'll probably be pulled by TBN too.

 

[PapaPerk]

Did TBN pull post or did people remove their own post? I see a few from tripleR gone and some from waxman gone. Wax honestly I have to say I quit reading 4shorts threads after your first altercation with him. I don't remember word for word what he said but it was along the lines of you are not on his level of fabricator. People that full of themselves I have no use for. Just giving my opinion it'll probably be pulled by TBN too.

Yes we all must remain humble. For there is always someone out there that is better than we are. I'm always amazed that people don't believe it.

 

[WaxMan]

I removed some of the posts that people replied to because long doubled up posts make it hard to follow. No need for two of the same thing.

This is to clarify to the people who say he didn't say anything about your meter.
Well yes he did. This is why

The reason he bought his meter in the first place, was all about my meter. He thought he would one up me. He believed that I wanted that meter but couldn't find the meter. He showed that he found it in the first video made a big deal about how rare it is. I did not know he was looking for it, I comment that if I had known he wanted one, and sent him the review. The review and realizing its discontinued is why I didn't buy it. I wanted to have one that I could trust.

As shown in the videos he tried his hardest every step of the way to make his meter seem better, At first he included the ball and tube type meter but never referred to it again. The rest of the two videos were only about my style meter and putting it down.

In watching his video he wants you to believe the only thing an inclinometer is used for is letting you know when your tractor is about to tip over.
He is talking about my meter, my install, where I installed it, comparing my style meter to his device that he plugged into his cigarette lighter and put a suction cup on
the windshield.

Why did he have to bring my meter in? Why couldn't it just be about his new meter? Why?
Because there was no (Wow factor), he had to make a big deal how bad my type meter was that if you look at it you will tip over etc. Knock my style meter down first, to build his new meter up for the coming install video.

That was the first video, one of the posts on here said that I had that video posted here two weeks ago.
That is true, I did,
It was after I sent the email and after reading his reply I posted it. Two weeks ago. Then I took it down, saying forget that. I'm not going to publicly get into this and mess up my inclinometer thread So I removed it.

I wasn't steaming for two weeks, I thought Paul would take my email into consideration and not say anymore about my meter install since he replied it wasn't about mine.


Then the second video came out with even more referring to my inclinometer install. Looking up overhead where I have it mounted making hand gestures again, saying this one guy etc. but then toward the end he brings my email to the video, he plays the email up, restraining orders and calling me dangerous etc.

Misleading the viewers about the context of the email. Very clearly not telling the truth about the email.
Again trying to have more of a Wow factor to his meter install video. So he can make money with his videos.

He even goes so far at the end, to say I know this might offend this one guy but Too bad if it offends you If I can save just one person from getting injured so be it or to that affect.
Referring instead to his discontinued meter that was proven not to be reliable. And is not sold anymore for that reason. Probably the most unsafe thing you could put in a tractor.

Ask yourself this if you received an email from another member, your friend, saying why are you putting my meter down. And your reply was I'm not.
Would you make very sure in the second video that you distant yourself from your friends type meter? Knowing how he feels from the email?
Is the what happen in the second video.

When I post something I have done, I do not put down something that others have done, to try and make mine look better or best.
I just show you what I did and thats it.

Making a Mod everyday and posting videos every day replying to comments posts etc is not my life.
I don't have the time to spend 50 hrs a week doing that.

I really don't like someone saying what I have done can hurt you and the thing about the email.
If I could go back, maybe It would to of been better to just send a Nasty email privately and be done with it.
Instead of messing up my inclinometer thread.
To the poster that didn't think it was a big deal, well you didn't do all the work on the meter install, and the email thing was not about you, so Yes you would think it's not a big deal.