Grandpa, tell me bout the good ole days............

[k0ua]

Can't put the salt in the water softeners, though.

why not?

 

[Fuddy1952]

Read an awful lot of "gotta have 4 wheel drive here" posts and articles over last 20 years; run onto quite a few folks in der mountaingatomatic high priced vehicles of every description. Every one tellin me how can't get to der place widout de 4x.

Keep askin how dey figure where dey live got built back before Napco come along and how de people built de place got der to build.

Seem like all dat 4X equipment spends awful lot of time in median of zipstrip too. Tow truck comes up to pull em out generally 2 wheel drive.

Too much machinery wid loose nut behind steering wheel in my opinion.

Very true. Around here never saw 4 wheel drive until the 1980s-90s.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I guess he stays single during the summer?

No. Shade for summer.

 

[two_bit_score]

Very true. Around here never saw 4 wheel drive until the 1980s-90s.

I have never had 4x4 trucks and have managed just fine. Might be useful but certainly not essential for my use. Glad to live in a country where people have options!

 

[MossRoad]

why not?

Because it's sand.

 

[Jstpssng]

You either got de 4 wheel workin before you NEED it or you waitin on de winch or anuther rig on dry ground wid a long cable and old tire.

Best 4x4 was de flat fender Dodges wid swivel frame behind cab so 4 tires on de ground & workin 90% of de time.

Too true. As somebody else mentioned, know the limitations of your vehicle. (And driver) I used to travel with a hilift jack, 2 ton Mighty Mule comealong, 100 feet of chain and a chainsaw. As I got older and wiser I learned the versatility of reverse, and the time I save by getting out and walking. Still I usually get stuck about once every six months... last spring I spent 4 hours getting out of a hole using the truck jack and a ratchet tie down... neither rear tire was touching the ground.
There was no way I was going to call for help and let everybody know what a bone headed move I'd done.

I don't know many people who use the chain and tire method you mention, yet it's a good way to get a bit of a run with the tow vehicle while reducing the impact when the chain does snub up.


I wonder how many engineers really did lose sleep over an ounce of plastic?

 

[JethroB]

" Told me how ellated engineers were to save an once of weight here and there. Along comes Bob that throws a few hundred pounds of weight in his half ton just for traction.".

I once heard a story about American auto engineers scratching their heads over how did some European auto maker get that nice solid THUMP when closing doors. Further investigation (reverse engineering) found a strip of lead or heavy steel inside the doors along the latch edges.

 

[grsthegreat]

i get a kick out of city folk in southern calif that have 4x4 trucks, never would take them off road. here in Idaho, 4 months out of the year truck never leaves 4x4 mode. slick roads, ice, dirt roads with hills. i was on a service job just yesterday to repair a generator not producing power (brushes) and the road in was asphalt and good surface so i was in 2wd, turned corner to head up hill to house and began sliding sideways. blacktop was a sheet of ice. threw it in 4x4 and drove on up no issues. dont care what anyone says, i love my 4x4

 

[LouNY]

I've had a 4x4 most of the time since the late 60's.
Did go most of tens years while I was in West Texas without it, missed it a few times.
Of course it didn't matter 2wd or 4wd I've always had at least one set of chains.
4x4 is nice but a 2 by with chains can get through most of what a 4x4 can,
but when you start chaining a 4x4 it becomes even better.

 

[grsthegreat]

but who wants to chain up a car. it truly sucks. i went thru 10 winters chaining up my work van. when i finally retired from electrical and went into generator installs 100% i was able to work out of a 4x4 truck with bed slide. no more chains. never needed them with the 4x4.