How a Texan operates his tractor in the cold....

[triplemoutdoors]

May I ask what the round feed-bag looking gizmo is on the front of the tractor in the first picture?

I noticed that too. It looks like a brake drum from a tractor truck. Must be used for extra weight. If so, its a good idea you should be able to pick them (old ones) up for free at big truck shops.

 

[Redneck in training]

There is something about the cold that is different too. I grew up in south Texas and when the weather would drop below 40, we were wrapped up in layers cause we were chilled to the bone. My first trip north was to Toronto in early December and although the outdoor thermometers were reading 0, I was running around with my coat open, sweater unbuttoned and flapping my collar to cool off. I know it was not because I was acclimated to it since I had only been in Toronto for under 12 hours.

When I got home to my warm 33 degree winter, I was cold again.

Absolutely true. I lived most of my life in place where we has so called "creeping cold". It would get on your skin no matter what you put on. The sky would get low and grey, humidity increased with fog most of the day while the temperatures were around freezing point. It could last for weeks. Absolutely nasty and depressing.
Now I live in Iowa. We can get the "creeping cold" too but it never lasts long. Few days at most. We have often very low temperatures but the sun is shining and the temperature feels much warmer.

 

[DieselnHooters]

the first few cold winter days are always tough on the system, but after a while the body regulates itself. Its like your blood turns from 15W40 thickness to 5W20....but not in a heartbeat :laughing:

we are having a really gentle winter so far up here, -15C nights and -10 days, my igloo is barely holding up, and very little snow, less than most of the "south" it seems.

maybe theres a bright side to this harsh winter you are having down there, it might kill off some of those lovely venomous critters

 

[chuckd1277]

I am about to finish my midnight shift here in CT where the low was -5 degrees f. Its dry so it doesn't feel too bad, don't get me wrong, I stayed in my car as much as possible. I have to say though, I will take this all day long instead of 80+ and high humidity. I don't know how you all deal with the summers down south. Different strokes for different folks...

 

[PoorMansCat]

I bought a fair weather tractor... The horses have a bale to graze on, tractor is in the shop being kept dry and warm, and I go outside only to walk to the truck, or up to the shop. (Still working on my Bar that I built inside my new shop!!)
I agree with my fellow Texans, Give me the other season (we only have summer and winter here)

 

[ruralNearDallas]

Someone said it is important to get used to the weather, but last Saturday we had temps i the 70s, but after Monday's cold front we have not been above freezing. I think this cold spell is the toughest one in years. Roads were just getting passable yesterday after the ice storm (no not snow, it starts raining when the air and ground are warm, then keeps raining while the temps fall way below freezing), then this morning we awakened to 5 inches of snow, and has snowed most of the day.

It happens so infrequently that we don't have anything automated to keep animal water liquid, so that is a lot of work.

 

[SPYDERLK]

There is something about the cold that is different too. I grew up in south Texas and when the weather would drop below 40, we were wrapped up in layers cause we were chilled to the bone. My first trip north was to Toronto in early December and although the outdoor thermometers were reading 0, I was running around with my coat open, sweater unbuttoned and flapping my collar to cool off. I know it was not because I was acclimated to it since I had only been in Toronto for under 12 hours.

When I got home to my warm 33 degree winter, I was cold again.

50% of that is all mental

 

[sldva00]

The snowbirds are laughing at the locals here recently. The nights are in the low 20's and the days are upper 20's and school districts have closed. Roads are closed. Its the talk of the valley. No snow, just a little sleet and some icy roads.

We just don't know how to drive on icy roads, just oily ones from the sun cooking the asphalt during the summer.

 

[firedog]

May I ask what the round feed-bag looking gizmo is on the front of the tractor in the first picture?

I noticed that too. It looks like a brake drum from a tractor truck. Must be used for extra weight. If so, its a good idea you should be able to pick them (old ones) up for free at big truck shops.

I thought his tractor was at the feed trough.