How's the storm in your neck of the woods?

[Administrator]

The storm already passed some areas and is about to pass over others, so I wanted to reach out to see how things are in your area and if you are safe. Most importantly, are the cars safe?

Just kidding guys, stay safe and report back.

 

[Geoff Coenen]

15.7 inches of White Guilt

Having seclusion, privacy, a long driveway and surrounded by trees and nature is wonderful until it snows deep. Prior to the current storm this winter, I’ve plowed on 3 occasions. When the snow get 4-5-6 inches deep I plow. Don’t let it get too deep or it gets harder to move as the piles get higher and wider.

Our driveway is 440 feet long as the crow flies - plus there is an S curve in it and it’s all uphill - rises 50 feet – steep at the top. This storm the doors were frozen shut from the ice. It was a white out for the first and second time I plowed. I plowed a third time and got stuck 4 times at the top driveway. Backed down about 100 feet and zoomed up 3 times before I lost traction. The street was plowed and across the entrance to my drive it was packed up to 3-4 foot deep and frozen. The 4th time I blasted thru to the street.

Can’t blame my 2002 Dakota 318 quad cab 4WD and Meyer plow. Pushing the snow into piles it comes right over the top of the plow. Then with this deep freeze I get to sit on the tail gate and spread sand as my wife slowly drives down the drive way. Next, we will take our (electric start) (Thank God) Snow Blower that eats deep snow and clear access to the barn and corn bins for our wild friend’s.

Don’t call me Wednesday. I’ll need a rest.

 

[phantomjock]

Sleep Tight- stay warm, and be well!

Cheers - Jim

 

[rtj]

We were supposed to get a foot, and maybe got 6 inches. The temp was lower than normal, -30F.

This is my second kubota 4x4 and makes life here easier.

 

[Geoff Coenen]

Plowed again today - got about 3 inches more overnight. Made the mistake of trying to plow over to my detached garage. Dumb ass. Got about 20 feet in and rode up on top of the snow. The wheels were just spinning. Dug it out and my right front tire went flat. Put it on charge and will not hold air. Too late to change today; dark already. Used my hydraulic jack to get it on a jack stand and will finish tomorrow. Winter sucks. This may be the last year I use my Dodge for plowing. The gauges work intermittently. I hate having it stored outside. Need 3 car ports. Time will tell.

 

[rtj]

Yeah, agreed, I’m done with it.

The Chinese have started exporting metal buildings and carports to the US. Keyword is cheap.

Usually at auction with their cheap equipment.

 

[rtj]

I sort of want one of these.

 

[Administrator]

15.7 inches of White Guilt

Having seclusion, privacy, a long driveway and surrounded by trees and nature is wonderful until it snows deep. Prior to the current storm this winter, I’ve plowed on 3 occasions. When the snow get 4-5-6 inches deep I plow. Don’t let it get too deep or it gets harder to move as the piles get higher and wider.

Our driveway is 440 feet long as the crow flies - plus there is an S curve in it and it’s all uphill - rises 50 feet – steep at the top. This storm the doors were frozen shut from the ice. It was a white out for the first and second time I plowed. I plowed a third time and got stuck 4 times at the top driveway. Backed down about 100 feet and zoomed up 3 times before I lost traction. The street was plowed and across the entrance to my drive it was packed up to 3-4 foot deep and frozen. The 4th time I blasted thru to the street.

Can’t blame my 2002 Dakota 318 quad cab 4WD and Meyer plow. Pushing the snow into piles it comes right over the top of the plow. Then with this deep freeze I get to sit on the tail gate and spread sand as my wife slowly drives down the drive way. Next, we will take our (electric start) (Thank God) Snow Blower that eats deep snow and clear access to the barn and corn bins for our wild friend’s.

Don’t call me Wednesday. I’ll need a rest.

Circle back tomorrow to tell us if you need another day's rest

We were supposed to get a foot, and maybe got 6 inches. The temp was lower than normal, -30F.

This is my second kubota 4x4 and makes life here easier.

View attachment 57809

-30?! Must be fun going outside ...

 

[rtj]

Circle back tomorrow to tell us if you need another day's rest


-30?! Must be fun going outside ...

Whoops. 0 F. Senior moment.

 

[Geoff Coenen]

White Nightmare Continues

We got the right front tire off and a new tire was mounted by Town Fair Tire in Hawley Lane Trumbull. They gave us great service as usual. We then reinstalled the right front tire.

This changing tires in 20 degree outdoor winter is my fault. Neglect. Disrespect. My Dakota was relegated to a snow plow yard dog in 2018 when I got a new pickup. No more registration to use on hiways. I didn’t pay attention to the tires – they were 12 years old, dried out and cracked, leaked.

The left side wheels were packed with ice & I used my heat gun to clear the ice and snow. Broke loose 6 lugs front & rear and jacked up. I spread sand all around the wheels, hydraulic jack wheels, 2 jack stands & a pile of short 6x6 pressure treated wood for extra support. The rear wheel came off easy. The front rim was frozen solid to the rotor, caliper, etc. I beat on the inboard side of the tire with a small sledge to free the ice grip.

At 4:58 PM Deb took the 2 left side tires to Town Fair and they did them right away. Tomorrow I’ll put them back on. Then sand the top of the driveway.

Well it did not go as planned. Got the left rear on and then my hydraulic jack crapped out. Was moving the jack closer to the front left wheel when it would not go up. ?? Hydraulic fluid froze up or it blew a seal.?? Brought it into the garage and used my heat gun to no avail. Called a buddy & went to Milford to get his hydraulic jack. Too cold and dark to finish tonight but I sanded the driveway steep top down about 100 feet. “Burned” close to two 60 pounds bags of tube sand. Then Deb went to Home Dumpo for 2 more 60 pounds bags of tube sand.

December got a brand new boiler. Getting a delivery of diesel tomorrow and I don’t want the driver to look at my driveway and say – “no way jose”.

PS one garage door opener also crapped put this month. As luck would have it – it’s the most used one. That old wood door was heavy. Fixed again. One thing I dislike about getting older is not having the strength or endurance of youth to do what was easy - but it could be worse.

 

[Administrator]

White Nightmare Continues

We got the right front tire off and a new tire was mounted by Town Fair Tire in Hawley Lane Trumbull. They gave us great service as usual. We then reinstalled the right front tire.

This changing tires in 20 degree outdoor winter is my fault. Neglect. Disrespect. My Dakota was relegated to a snow plow yard dog in 2018 when I got a new pickup. No more registration to use on hiways. I didn’t pay attention to the tires – they were 12 years old, dried out and cracked, leaked.

The left side wheels were packed with ice & I used my heat gun to clear the ice and snow. Broke loose 6 lugs front & rear and jacked up. I spread sand all around the wheels, hydraulic jack wheels, 2 jack stands & a pile of short 6x6 pressure treated wood for extra support. The rear wheel came off easy. The front rim was frozen solid to the rotor, caliper, etc. I beat on the inboard side of the tire with a small sledge to free the ice grip.

At 4:58 PM Deb took the 2 left side tires to Town Fair and they did them right away. Tomorrow I’ll put them back on. Then sand the top of the driveway.

Well it did not go as planned. Got the left rear on and then my hydraulic jack crapped out. Was moving the jack closer to the front left wheel when it would not go up. ?? Hydraulic fluid froze up or it blew a seal.?? Brought it into the garage and used my heat gun to no avail. Called a buddy & went to Milford to get his hydraulic jack. Too cold and dark to finish tonight but I sanded the driveway steep top down about 100 feet. “Burned” close to two 60 pounds bags of tube sand. Then Deb went to Home Dumpo for 2 more 60 pounds bags of tube sand.

December got a brand new boiler. Getting a delivery of diesel tomorrow and I don’t want the driver to look at my driveway and say – “no way jose”.

PS one garage door opener also crapped put this month. As luck would have it – it’s the most used one. That old wood door was heavy. Fixed again. One thing I dislike about getting older is not having the strength or endurance of youth to do what was easy - but it could be worse.

Look on the bright side, cursing isn't illegal

 

[Geoff Coenen]

Look on the bright side, cursing isn't illegal

The left front new tire is mounted. The hardest part is lining up the big tire & Aluminum rim with the studs - SOB is heavy (cursing isn't illegal). Changing 4 tires while kneeling on a scrap piece of 2" thick Black sponge in 25 degree weather is now beyond my ability - from now on.

 

[Geoff Coenen]

I subscribe to a weekly 11x17 full color paper publication called Antiques & Art. $92 bux for 52 issues. This painting came up for sale at a Western Auction of Art Work, Sculptures like Frederick Remington’s and saddles, chaps, spurs, bridles, Colts, Winchesters, Indian items.

Titled: “Into the Storm” – I really wish I could have afforded it. It really shows the resilience of animals and their strength – compared to the rest of us.

 

[Administrator]

I subscribe to a weekly 11x17 full color paper publication called Antiques & Art. $92 bux for 52 issues. This painting came up for sale at a Western Auction of Art Work, Sculptures like Frederick Remington’s and saddles, chaps, spurs, bridles, Colts, Winchesters, Indian items.

Titled: “Into the Storm” – I really wish I could have afforded it. It really shows the resilience of animals and their strength – compared to the rest of us.
View attachment 57810

Nice!

As for the resiliance, I think it's because we're not used to this. There are places with sub 0 temps, and people are functioning normally. Well, normally for them, for us it's unimaginable

 

[phantomjock]

Florida is Cold! Not like my younger years in NoDak.
(Minus 35F was some of the lowest I went running in!)
But walking with a 91 year old neighbor in 19F is not much fun.

Being Grateful for the coming Spring.
Keeping a few Avacado plants in a mini-green house I built.
Hope to keep these alive and plant in the spring.

Once the garage is cleared, I will be back to work on "Elvira."
I think I've sorted out how to do the Porsche electric steering mod.
I will post. Then figure out the E-Throttle with no ECU. Maybe same?

Also, I have been working the aero-mods White-Paper for C-3s.
Will see how that goes. If it makes sense I'll share here first.

Meanwhile, everybody stay warm, safe, and healthy!

Cheers - Jim

 

[Administrator]

Hold up, -35?! At those temps the booze freezes ...

 

[Geoff Coenen]

Still behind - but I've the got the driveway under control.
Never did the snow blower to get out to corn bins, barn.