New Year’s Resolutions

[Rick W]

This, my 71st year (after the better part of 10 years in limbo with my health and injuries), I’m going to….

Road Ranger & Step Trailer:
Upgrade the fuel system
Total tuneup, maybe a couple tweaks for a little more power
New pads & shoes all around
Repair and/or install electric brakes on the third axle and the trailer
Upgrade trailer storage boxes
New headlights
Upgrade cab over lights
Reverse/work lights on the trailer step up panel
New valance with running lights
Get strobe lights working on trailer
Repair/upgrade Cobra 129LTD
Step rails
Graphics all around

Missing Linc & Towncart:
Repair/Upgrade Cobra 148
Repair/upgrade sound system
Air horns
Enhanced reverse lights
Tune up
Rewire side strobes
High mount brake lights
Paint/coat inside bed
Modify spare tire hanger for 235/75/15 matching spare
Graphics all around

Road ‘Raith
Complete the frame fabrication
Divide the casket/cooler with drains
Redo the front legs/jacks
Install propane tanks and repair gas grill
Install flame stacks
Design and install a gooseneck hitch that will bolt on over the existing trailer tongue, so I can use it with the Road Ranger
Install stereo and PA system
Install running, strobe, marker, and stop/tail/turn and brake lights
Install purple funeral lights
Mount spare tire like the Road Ranger
Mud flaps and rear bumper
Graphics all around

Aluminum Car Trailer:
Fabricate with two remaining aluminum 4” x 6” double channel beams
Large enough to carry Towncar
Duck tail rear with fold over leveling ramps (fold over on trailer to extend flat deck)
Three “all the time” brake axles with bullet hole wheels
Fourth auxiliary/drop axle with travel trailer wheels
In addition to regular trailer tongue, fabricate bolt on goose neck to use with the Road Ranger
Define/select materials, design and install decking
Side marker, stop/tail/turn, reverse, strobe and work lights.
Battery and power system
Electric winch mount on front
Graphics all around

F250:
Install cab over lights
Rebuild my second cobra 148 and install
Fabricate and install new code 3, lights and strobe rack on roof and install all lights and air horns.
Enhanced reverse lights
Touchup puff and wax all around
New and upgraded graphics all around

Clean up the Mark V and piss away 1,000,000 gallons of gas for a while and then sell it

Clean up the 87 Towncar and sell either the 87 or 88.

Clean up and sell folding trailer (anyone want?)

Clean out the shed of miracles and throw away all of the projects that will never happen materials and get three vehicles inside.

Sell or give anway all the toolboxes and materials for projects that will never happen and clean up the yard.

Clean and paint the trim on the house and clean up the landscaping

Drive and show the trucks and cars as often as I can, including TRS events within striking distance

Thank the Man upstairs every day for all His blessings, my recovering health, my family and good friends, and the cute little brunette.

 

[sgtsandman]

With me starting a new career, I still need to get a feel for how things will go and see what time served, benefits, and so on will transfer over.

With that being said:

2019 Ranger
- Replace the electric steering rack.
- Install and house battery with a power panel, solar charging, and alternator charging system.
- Finish painting the drawer system
- Install a 102" whip antenna for the CB and get a better CB.
- Install and on board air system.

2011 Ranger
- Repair the holes in the bed and address the rust issues.
- Build a drawer system to replace the current platform.
- Build a storage rack/box in the extended cab.
- Install an on board air system so I can install the ARB rear locker and regear. the front and rear lockers.
- Wire the truck for a 7-pin trailer connector.
- Replace the rear bumper for one that has backup/work lights.
- Get new tires. The current all terrains are at the end of their service life and I would like to have a complete set of steel rims and mud tires so the truck can better "come out and play".

2007 Utility Trailer
- Install the Timbren Axless suspension system.
- Install a 7-wire harness so I can have backup lights and recharge the planned house battery.
- Install a small house battery system with a solar panel so the trailer can have work lights and maybe some power ports to recharge gear.

How much of that actually gets done with available time and money remains to be seen, but that is what I would like to get done.

I also have to finish the fire pit area and the garden. So, a lot of things I want to do.

 

[Curious Hound]

No promises here.

 

[Blmpkn]

Finish the ranger, which naturally.. is quickly becoming a much more involved project than initially planned. I should have a killer update with pictures of shiny new fun parts soon though


Other than that.. be happier, live healthier, save more money and buy myself a plot of land.

Onwards and upwards.

Happy New Year everyone!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Win a lottery!
I guess I may have to buy a ticket, and I've never done that in my life...
What are the odds?

 

[Blmpkn]

Win a lottery!
I guess I may have to buy a ticket, and I've never done that in my life...
What are the odds?

Damn... Smartest answer in the thread right here lol.

Gotta be in it to win it!

 

[Rick W]

When the New York lottery started 50 or 60 years ago, the motto was “a dollar and a dream!” And that’s what it is. No one who needs the dollar should ever play.

My second wife, Satan, actually worked for scientific games and then auto tote, which are the companies that actually do the software and printing of the lottery tickets. When she worked there, we could play, but we just weren’t allowed to win! But the thing we learned when she was there, is that somebody wins every single time, they never just take the money back. And can you imagine if you were one of those people? Might not be a bad thing to do with an extra dollar or two…

 

[sgtsandman]

The lottery is just a tax on people willing to lose money in the possibility of winning more than they spent. Some know the chances, others don't. And the bigger the pot, the more people play, and the lower the chance of winning. With some of them, you have a better chance of getting hit by lighting.

 

[Curious Hound]

And the bigger the pot, the more people play, and the lower the chance of winning.

That part isn't actually true. The odds of winning are not dependent on how many tickets are purchased. The odds are dependent on the number of combinations of numbers that can be dtawn. So, if the numbers go up to 50 and they draw 6 numbers, then there are a finite number of combinations. It would be less than 50^6 because they don't draw the same number twice in one drawing. Of course, more than one person could choose the same set of 6 numbers. Then those people would split the prize.

What changes when more people play, is the odds of at least one petson selecting the correct set of numbers. With more players, more different sets of numbers are chosen. So there is a greater chance that one of those people chose the right numbers to play.

I'm not defending the lottery in any way. If you can't afford to lose a couple bucks, don't play. But I occasionally play.