What did YOU do today?

[Rick W]

Braved the 5* hurricane to blade out the driveway. Tractor battery wasn't having it so I hit it with the jump pack and it fired right up. Moved vehicles over by the chicken house and pushed the driveway. Threw a tire chain twice which made it like a wounded duck with only one chain and no front weights (were frozen down before the storm hit)



Drove the F-150 down to the end of the driveway to throw the chain in the back after I got done, decided to be stupid and go check out the highway. Busted a couple drifts that were substantial but not that horrible. Get up there and snow is blowing across the highway and it looked pretty horrible.



So I went to turn around. Heater cuts out, feels like I lose power steering. And I get a low voltage warning on the dash. Cool. So with bleak prospects up there I turn it around and beat it back home. The drifts I had busted were pretty much filled back in again. About halfway back the heat came back and when I went to turn back in my driveway the power steering was back.

Going to guess it is because some genius decided to mount the alternator at the bottom of the engine and to mount everything really low so it makes for a nice scoop.



Also noted the airdam is hanging on by one screw and dragging now. Just genius all around. My '02 went thru a lot worse without blinking...

So I go to pull the Bronco back around and park it back in its spot. Bury it. Get the tractor and drag it back out. Get back in the car and it goes a a little ways and then starts to slide off to the left and buries itself again. Go it get back on the tractor and try again as it runs out of gas and dies. After the hard start I just never shut it off...

So now I am back in the house trying to figure out how to get the car out. Not sure my F-150/Ranger would do any better than the Bronco as pulling it out will require the tow rig to be in the drift that stuck the car the first time and of course the tractor is now dead in the water.

You couldn’t just light a fire, and sit in the den and drink some whiskey?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You couldn’t just light a fire, and sit in the den and drink some whiskey?

I basically have been.

Supposed to be colder tomorrow and she needs her car for Monday... so I sit and scheme.

 

[sgtsandman]

I basically have been.

Supposed to be colder tomorrow and she needs her car for Monday... so I sit and scheme.

 

[Rick W]

Did I ever mention that I like Craigslist and marketplace?

I got two compressors today, 30 miles away, they “didn’t work,” and they were both a total of $20.

I bought an identical twin to the one on the left new from sears like 40 years ago. The motor went out about about a year ago, and the motor is like 200 and some odd dollars, if you can find one. So before I went down after these, I just checked that the motor was OK on that one, and it was worth the trip just for the motor.

When I test ran it, the belt was squealing. That took 10 seconds to fix, tighten the wingnut without a tool. Then it would only build to about 60 psi. When I looked, someone had put wires around the regulator to hold together. I checked online, no parts available, but again I have the identical compressor. So now I have a good motor, two good compressor heads, and a spare tank. I’m pretty sure that’ll take me on the way home. I’ll swap the motor tomorrow.

I popped the top on the direct drive craftsman, the bigger one, and there was some tiny dirt in it, like Pine needles, but much smaller. I cleaned the flapper valves, did one turn with 2500 emery paper on the pot metal valve seats, put it back together, and it works perfectly. There’s no filter on it, obviously the source of the problem, so I’ll get one, but that compressor will probably get some Rustoleum and go back on the market.

I’m still looking for my 15 inch steelie, so I’m still looking for Ranger wheels on craigslist and marketplace. So, in the same neighborhood 30 miles away, a guy had 4 14 inch steelies, like brand new, perfect center caps, and trim rings. Two of them had near perfect tires on them. He just traded up for 15 inch wheels from the scrapyard. We’re way out in the country, he was asking 100, I offered him 50 and he took it. The trim rings I needed for my project would’ve cost me 55. So now I have four spare wheels and two more spare tires.

And yes, I’m going back to the Craigslist anonymous meeting tonight….

 

[19Walt93]

wait until you have prostate issues, or worse get a stint inserted right next to there.
Hint: same color and SIZE as eggplants.

you're right on the no dignity part.

No thanks, my hip is enough to keep me complaining.
Some free advice to you young guys who haven't experienced a prostate exam: female doctors have smaller fingers. If the doctor is a 6'4" guy,make a different appointment.

 

[19Walt93]

Today I watched out the window as my son moved the snow banks with my Kioti backhoe. He seemed to be enjoying it OK until the downpour started. I hate having to depend on others to do things for me, I'm usually the one they call for help. He never hesitates when asked and I sure appreciate it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A little customization on the F-150...



Our lil boat anchor doing a post turtle impression...



The view ahead and the now refilled drift I got stuck in the first time.





She comes out to do chores and I knew another person in the Bronco to help rather than doing a dead neutral pull would make a huge difference.

So I waltz the '150 out there, it almost gets hung up a couple times and is half stuck just sitting there. I was not very confident in it. Couldn't see well behind it to do a backwards pull and it was wallering around enough to it was hard to know what it was going to do so I back it back out and...



Ranger pawed around a bit but we got that horse broke to lead.



The ol' girl did very well, got around way better than either of the two newer ones lol. Even with the smallest tires it has a huge ground clearance advantage. It was also awesome we both have GMRS radios so we could kind of coordinate our efforts. As I sit here right now it is -12 with a feel like of -38*

 

[pjtoledo]

that looks like something I would have enjoyed doing 30 years ago.

get back inside and warm up.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, After my D21 sat for most of the summer due to No A/C, I pulled the truck out and had a carrier bearing issue. Nonserviceable u-joints were toast and my slip yoke was cracked. I needed a shop to do the work. They quoted me almost $300 to rebuild mine. After weeks of searching on the webs, a new driveshaft finally arrived. ($200 shipped) I put it in and it ran smoother than it ever has. Next day, storm comes in and the big oak I park under left me a present.
View attachment 104416
So if anybody has a lead on a good parts truck, 86.5 - 97 Nissan Hadrbody ( D21 ) or 1st and/or 2nd gen Pathfinder, let me know. I have a Ranger and Parts to trade

Ouch. I had something like that happen to my Choptop, storm dropped a big oak branch on it, smashed the windshield, hood, passenger front fender and passenger headlight assembly. I chose to pull the windshield and start a cage for it at that point. Still haven’t fixed the rest of the damage

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

that looks like something I would have enjoyed doing 30 years ago.

get back inside and warm up.

"mystery casserole" I pulled out of the freezer at noon turned out to be potato soup, great tater soup night.

 

[JoshT]

Yesterday my wife drove me 13 miles to the hospital so a young woman could ultrasound from my crotch to my ankle looking for blod clots. No blood clots and no dignity, either. She didn't say it but I'll bet she never saw a beached whale with bird legs covered with curly gray hair.

That sounds both good and bad at the same time. No blood clots is a good things, bad thing is they didn't find the problem. Saw you mention the prostate exam in another post. I'm not there yet, but dad's about to finish up chemo for Prostate cancer in the next week or two, so it won't be long before they start.

To hell with dignity, it isn't worth not getting better. Being in her line of work, even if she hasn't seen a beached whale with bird legs, I'm sure she's seen worse. Probably often.

Hopefully they'll find the problem soon and get it taken care of.

My son and I went on a short canoe trip. Used the brown bomber to haul the canoe and it worked great. Easy height for loading/unloading and the topper makes a big platform for it.

View attachment 104441

We went up a small creek a few miles and turned around. Not much wildlife today, it was overcast, drizzly, and cool.

View attachment 104440

Awesome! I need to find make the time to do more of that again. My family used to love canoeing and kayaking when I was younger. Got a kayak in storage at my parent's house, but it probably hasn't touched water in almost 20 years. Unfortunately not any good water bodies around here to go solo. Most of the lakes are crowded by people ripping in power boats. Rivers are difficult to arrange by yourself, largely due to leaving vehicle unattended. I did find out about a river kayaking group in my area, but seems like boating is secondary to partying and drinking for them. I'm not into either.

Also love the truck and topper with the canoe strapped on top. That's about the one reason I'm still considering buying a topper for my '99. I've had a high rise topper for it, but didn't like it. Normal usage I want a tonneau. For camping I'd kind of like to have one of the streamline ARE toppers for these trucks with an Explorer roof rack on it. Load the back for camping, strap the kayak on top and hit the road. Drive up to the mountains for a long weekend and enjoy some of those lakes and streams. Of course I'd hate the work of unloading and removing the topper when I got home. Hence why I'll probably end up with a small camper instead.

 

[bobbywalter]

A little customization on the F-150...



Our lil boat anchor doing a post turtle impression...



The view ahead and the now refilled drift I got stuck in the first time.





She comes out to do chores and I knew another person in the Bronco to help rather than doing a dead neutral pull would make a huge difference.

So I waltz the '150 out there, it almost gets hung up a couple times and is half stuck just sitting there. I was not very confident in it. Couldn't see well behind it to do a backwards pull and it was wallering around enough to it was hard to know what it was going to do so I back it back out and...



Ranger pawed around a bit but we got that horse broke to lead.



The ol' girl did very well, got around way better than either of the two newer ones lol. Even with the smallest tires it has a huge ground clearance advantage. It was also awesome we both have GMRS radios so we could kind of coordinate our efforts. As I sit here right now it is -12 with a feel like of -38*

That bronco was stuck? Or out of fuel?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That bronco was stuck? Or out of fuel?

Bronco was stuck and the tractor I was trying to recover it ran out of fuel.

*Bronco was 30 miles to E because that is how we get ready for winter storms for some reason.

 

[Uncle Gump]

No wonder...

I see no M/T's... no third pedal... no driving skills.

 

[bobbywalter]

Bronco was stuck and the tractor I was trying to recover it ran out of fuel.

*Bronco was 30 miles to E because that is how we get ready for winter storms for some reason.

Yeah.....I would never thought of you being so ill prepared..... Me otoh