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biggman100

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  1. biggman100
    NYS has proposed a trailer and towing license requirement a few times over the years, but it never seems to get made into a law, mainly because of the way vehicle laws get made and changed here. it usually, unfortunately, takes a family member of someone in the capital to be injured or killed before new laws are enacted. We don't even have school based driver's education in most of NYS anymore, which means new drivers are either taught mainly by parents or older siblings before they get their license.
  2. biggman100
    I still think the torque might be a bit high for a 1994 Dakota, but i am actually curious if this engine would work for a swap like that, with it only being 240HP, that part wouldn't be an issue, but the 420 lb-ft of torque might be too much for the Dakota's frame and driveline. As you said, the price for a "crate" engine is going to be a bit much, but who knows, maybe in a couple years i'll find a wrecked one in a local u-pull yard.
  3. biggman100
    Actually, i dont think the one we have does audio at all. I would have to look into it to be sure. If it does, i have never paid any attention to it.
  4. biggman100
    I know this is considered a popular off road place to visit, but after what you said in another post about short wheelbase vehicles being better there, i have a couple questions. Is the Rubicon something that a medium, or even long wheel base vehicle, such as my 1994 Dakota, or your 05 Ram, wouldn't be able to do? I hear people say that a jeep or dune buggies are the best vehicle for the Rubicon, so what would be the drawbacks to a vehicle like my 1994 Dakota? And what are the minimum reccomended upgrades to any vehicle that would run the Rubicon Trail?
  5. biggman100
    Moses, i agree, this topic got way off the subject, but sometimes our discussions seem to do that!
  6. biggman100
    My girls know our heritage pretty well, as my wife and i have tons of Native American sayings, and memorabilia, as well as books, all over our house. Most of what we have is from the tribes we descend from.
  7. biggman100
    Moses, you and some of the other guys may have already heard about this, but given our recent discussions on the merits of a diesel, i thought this was very relevant. I got an email a couple days ago, and it was about the new Dodge Ram EcoDiesel. According to the email i got, Dodge is coming out with a 3.0l diesel that is strictly for the 1500 series trucks and promises to give as good or better mileage as the current gas engines in the 1500 series. Unlike the inline 6 in the bigger Dodge Ram, though, this one will be a v-6, and after reading up on it a bit, it looks like it will be a Bank's sourced engine, instead of a Cummins. This is from a press release from Dodge, about the new 1500 series trucks: "Ram is aiming straight for the heart of pickup truck buyers everywhere by bringing a new diesel engine to the 1500, which is officially rated at 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel, as the brand calls it, is also expected to deliver upwards of 28 mpg on the highway, besting the most efficient Ram, the V6-equipped 1500 HFE by 3 mpg. And if that isn’t enough to excite you, the EcoDiesel engine will only cost a $2850 premium over the HEMI V8 models." One other thing that it mentioned, that i noticed, was a hefty proposed 9200 LB tow capacity, which is on par with the current 5.7l versions of the 1500, and quite a bit more than the 4.7l, and 3.6l versions. Although i wont be in the market for something like that for a few years, it is nice to know that they are starting to be available in the U.S. market, and that the manufacturers are starting to realize that there is a valid market for diesel engines, and not just in the bigger pickup trucks, tractor trailers, and farm equipment.
  8. biggman100
    I know this one at first would normally make no sense, but as my neighbor found out today, the worst possible time to find out your emergency brake isn't working is on a small incline while trying to change a flat tire. He has a 2005 dodge crew cab 4x4, and today, he got a flat on the rear, on a small uphill incline, so he pulled over, put his truck in park, set the e-brake, and proceeded to jack his truck up, but everytime the wheel would be just about off the ground, the truck would want to roll down the hill on him, so, he decided to drive very slowly on the side of the road, until he could get to a flat spot and change the tire. After moving the truck, he realized the e-brake was on the whole time, from when he set it the first time, and seemed to not be doing anything at all to stop the truck. After changing the tire, he went to a local shop that does free brake inspections, and they informed him that his e-brake shoes were shot. After talking to him about it, i had a thought. Why not carry a short pair of 4x4 wood blocks, that way you have a backup to block the wheels, and not have to be worried about your vehicle rolling away on you. i know the best solution is always make sure the e-brake works, but, at least in NY and PA, they are supposed to check that at inspection time, so most people i know don't bother checking it themselves, myself included sometimes. Another place i see where this would be useful, is an incident i witnessed about a year ago. I was on the highway, and there was a guy towing a rather large boat, and for some reason he was stopped about halfway up the side of an incline, that was maybe half a mile long, and was changing, or rather trying to change a flat on his truck, but, because either his e-brake didn't work properly, or the weight of the boat was too much for the e-brake, the truck wanted to slide itself down the hill. He ultimately had to drive almost a mile, to where he could safely change the tire, but even then, his wife was in the truck with her foot on the brake, just in case.
  9. biggman100
    This is one that should be common sense, but i have seen vehicles where the owners overlook this. Whenever you upgrade the alternator output to a vehicle, or change to higher amperage batteries, or even set up dual batteries, always watch where the wires are run very closely. When i wire everything up, i used heavy gauge wire, with insulated clamps to mount the wires to the inner fenders, away from anything that would cause an issue with it, and run the wires for the dual batteries through the firewall to the switch in a short piece of conduit bonded to the firewall. If you wire through a hole drilled in the firewall, with no additional insulation of any kind, the wire's insulation can rub through and cause it to catch the vehicle on fire. This can be easily prevented by using a readily available rubber grommet to insulate that one wire where it goes inside the cab. I have worked on many vehicles in the past where people don't pay attention to things that could cause an issue later on down the road. Safety should always be first and foremost in any vehicle repair or upgrade of any kind. On my 1994 Dakota, i have switched dual batteries, with the switch inside the cab, for ease of access, a higher output alternator, 1200 watt two channel amp, electric over hydraulic Meyers plow, 4 combination driving/fog lights on the front, hard wired 1800 watt power inverter in the cab, and all of the wires under the hood are run through PVC conduit that is attached to the truck with insulated hard rubber/metal clamps. The wiring in the cab is run through double layer flexible plastic, like the manufacturers use, that way i never have to worry about a fire, or a wire shorting out at the wrong time. I know running conduit isn't always practical in some vehicles, but even flexible tubing, and rubber grommets, are better than exposed wiring everywhere. And, no matter what you are wiring, from aftermarket lights, to stereo systems, to winches, plows, whatever it may be, zip ties are a very inexpensive and valuable addition to any toolbox.
  10. biggman100
    Now that brings back an old memory. About 20 years ago, when most 20 somethings were concerned with work and getting what they could for themselves, my grandfather belonged to a committee that was started in the 1950s, to try and preserve what 5 nations lands and artifacts were left. They weren't very successful, but i did enjoy going with my grandfather and my uncle to seek out places to be put on the list for consideration for preservation. In one of our travels, we stopped at a museum in Syracuse, NY that was dedicated to Native American artifacts, and i remember they had the 5 nations constitution (the constitution of the Iroquois nation), and i spent several hours reading parts of it. After i moved to the area, i was a frequent visitor to the museum and learned a lot about the 5 nation tribes, and being that i am part Black Foot and part Lakota on my father's side, and part Seneca and Onondaga on my mother's side, anything Native American is of interest to me. Just don't ask me how i am part of so many different tribes, as even after listening to my grandparents explain about tribal inter-marriages and relationships, im still not sure i understand it myself, especially when you add in the part german,and part polish as well. As a side note, for those who don't know, when i refer to the 5 nations, i mean the 5 original Native American tribes that make up the Iroquois nation, which consists of the Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk, and Cayuga tribes.
  11. biggman100
    Actually, your comment about not being Rubicon trail material reminded me of something. I don't know much about what is needed to run the Rubicon, but, a few years ago, a guy i worked with had actually built a lifted AWD Chevy Astro van. He said he had built it, so he could take it, as he put it, extreme off roading. I thought i still had a pic of it, but i couldn't seem to find it, but i did a search in google, and found a lifted astro van, and a lifted ford aerostar, So, who knows, maybe you could run a mini van on the Rubicon. I enclosed the pics of a couple i found on google. Who knows, maybe someone will actually want to build one.
  12. biggman100
    Moses, a question about the GoPro. How well does it work in low level, or very low level light? I looked on their site and couldn't seem to find that info. We use the Bushnell 8MP Trophy Cam HD Trail Camera with Night Vision, as it does not only still photos, but also video, but only in 720p, which, for what we use it for, is good enough for us. It is a trail camera, though, not an action camera, which means it is great for capturing images around your house, or out hunting or fishing. I have been looking into nighttime and low light action cameras, but most that i have seen run $750 and up.
  13. biggman100
    About biodiesel, i have heard different initiatives in the works so the government doesn't lose the taxes from it. Everything from road use tax increases for diesel trucks, to increased taxes on the base chemicals used to produce biodiesel, to even higher registration for diesel trucks, regardless of weight class. About the mass transit debate, if you will, that seems to depend on where you live. In New York City, for example, most people have no problem with mass transit, same with places like Rochester and Syracuse, NY, but then you go to smaller cities, such as Elmira, Corning, Central Square, for example, and mention mass transit, and i have actually seen people cringe at the thought, but at the same time, they are the ones always complaining that they spend too much to drive their vehicles. Certain places, like the small towns around where i live, have actually gotten rid of mass transit, due to no return on the money they spend to keep it operating, because everyone around here thinks they cant get anywhere without their own vehicle. I myself don't see an issue with mass transit, and i have seen where it can be a major money saver, but at the same time, can be inconvenient, in that if you have to be at work, or an appointment at a certain time, and say you take a public bus, and get there 55 minutes early, then what do you do? The question i hear quite a bit, "Is the inconvenience worth the money saved?"
  14. biggman100
    I would also like to add to what Moses said about trailering. Even the lightest and smallest trailers, ones you wouldn't think would be an issue, can have disastrous consequences when not towed properly. I know this first hand because, in my late teens, my dad owned several rental houses, and i would go to the hardware stores and lumber stores with a 2 wheel drive, 1978 datsun pickup, to pick up supplies for him. One trip, i knew i would either have to make 2 trips, or use my dads 4x6 homemade utility trailer, that weighed less than 300 LBS. empty. I decided to take the trailer, as it was raining and i didn't want to keep running back and forth. On the way to the lumber store, i guess i was going a bit too fast, or maybe the rain made the road slick, or both, but the trailer started to sway pretty violently, and not knowing better, i slammed on the brakes, causing the trailer to slide sideways, and as a result, slid the back of the truck sideways, and ended up with me parked sideways across both lanes. Luckily, no one was injured, and nothing was damaged, although it did freak me out pretty badly. After that incident, my dad took me to an unused parking lot, and not only taught me how to react to what the trailer did, but also how to properly back up as well. I'm not saying im an expert, because i still have issues at times, especially backing up, but, i did learn a valuable lesson. So, whenever you are towing anything, from a small utility trailer to a big 5th wheel car trailer, or anything in between, always pay attention to what you are doing, and above all drive safe at all times.
  15. biggman100
    If you look at Jay Co's line of "smaller" tent trailers, the dry weight ranges from 1200 to 1600 LBS, depending on how the unit is configured, which is in line with a lot of the manufacturers, but their dry weight is done before any accessories. It is interesting that you mention the kitchen sink, as even some of the small ones can be equipped with not only a sink, but refrigerator/freezer, small camp stove, power convertors and invertors, and even fresh water tanks, as well as associated plumbing and pump. When you figure out the weight of say a moderately equipped unit, with a sink, fridge/freezer, water tank, and pump and plumbing, and then add all the gear that most people carry for even a weekend, it doesn't seem too far fetched to see tent trailers that easily surpass the 2000 LB mark. This is a quote from Wikipedia, "Basic popups usually include the following features: fold-down dinette (table top and bench seating combination), on-board fresh water tank, sink, 12-volt DC power system (including an AC to DC converter and a deep cycle battery), interior DC lighting, two sleeping bunks and storage cabinets. Many pop-ups also include a gas/electric absorption refrigerator, stove, rooftop air conditioner, propane furnace, water heater, electric water pump, exterior shower, skylight/roof vent, one or two propane tanks, electric or surge brakes, large storage trunk at the front of the box, and an awning. Some premium models also include a shower, toilet, waste water tanks, slide-out section (to increase interior space), microwave, and an oven." One company that does try to make tent camping very economical, and as a result keep the trailer at a very light weight, is Sylvan Sport. They offer a couple different styles that the dry weight is an easily manageable 700 LBS, but they are a no frills, pretty much back to basics approach to camping. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, because i see how it would work very well for some people, most people prefer to at least have some of the conveniences of home, even camping. One thing i do want to clarify here, is that when you talk about tent style campers, there are actually 3 different styles. There is the basic tent camper, that is really a tent on wheels, then there is the flip out style, which is a tent style, but can also have additional "rooms", that attach off the sides of the camper, and then there is the "pop-up" type, that has a hard fiberglass roof, and the bedding area usually slides out and has cabinets, seating, and tables between the 2 bedding areas. because of all the different styles, that is why there is such a huge difference in the weights.
  16. biggman100
    As to the different tow-behind trailers, whether it be a tent trailer or a self contained travel trailer, i am still on the fence as to which is better. Both offer advantages and disadvantages. A tent trailer can be towed easily, but takes time to set up, whereas a travel trailer, or even a drop in camper, are ready to go when you get to your destination, but require a heavier class of tow vehicle, and heavier hitches for the tow behind. We have used both, many times over the years, and even spent 2 months in our 22 foot tow behind while we remodeled our floors in our house, and two major advantages i see there, are not only the security issue, but also the ability to stay out of the weather easier. im not saying a tent style is a bad choice in severe weather, as with a recent camping trip, we endured severe thunderstorms, and very heavy rain, and kept quite dry and comfortable in a tent trailer, but we had to take the time to zip the rain shields over the sides, whereas, in our tow behind, all i had to do was crank the windows shut. What i tell most people who ask me which is better, is for them to see about renting one of each, not at the same time though, and take it even for a weekend, and see which is more to their liking and which suits them better. Around here, in central NY, and northern PA, you can rent everything from tent trailers, to tow behind camper's, to diesel pusher motor coaches.
  17. biggman100
    Moses, one thing i have learned in any sales video, is to watch with a grain of salt. You said you watched a video of a model setting up a tent trailer in 10 minutes, but as i have learned from one of my wife's hobbies, is to always wonder how much time did they spend editing.
  18. biggman100
    Moses, i agree with most of the points in this, except for one. Towing behind an AWD car, you have to be very careful, and due to limits in hitch design, and weight restraints, only the smallest and lightest trailers should be towed behind one. I myself, wouldn't recommend it, and, at least around here, most places that sell those kinds of trailers usually wont allow you to purchase one if the tow vehicle is an AWD car, such as Subaru's Impreza and Legacy. Crossover vehicles, such as the newer Subaru Outback, it depends on the make, model, and tow rating of the vehicle, as well as the hitch design and rating. The reason for this is simple. Most AWD cars, the hitch is usually a lightweight, small drawbar, whereas most larger hitches, as most know, the drawbar is at least 2 inches, with some being as big as 3 inches on certain specialty hitches. Even the smallest tent campers can run upwards of 1500 LBS dry weight, and towing that behind an AWD car would be putting the hitch right at the limit of most smaller class 1 and class 2 hitches. I talked to several RV sales places around here, both new and used, because we are thinking of getting a tent trailer, and selling the tow behind, and most of them say that their most popular models, usually in the 5 to 8 person sleeping arrangements, start at around 2200 LBS dry. I mentioned earlier today to a place i happened to stop at, that i wanted something i could not only tow behind the Dakota, but the 08 Subaru we just purchased, and the salesman was very adamant that they would not sell us anything over a very small, cramped 4 person trailer if we are using the car to tow it with. When we first started looking, i had mentioned using the old Subaru, and every place i talked to said they wouldn't even allow us to purchase a trailer from them, if that was our intended tow vehicle. After thinking about it, and talking to U-Haul about the hitch i intended to have installed, i realized that that car just didn't have the tow capacity, and the hitch wasn't strong enough, for anything much larger than a small utility trailer. About your comment about set up time for a tent trailer, i would love to see someone set up my in laws in 10 minutes. It took them more than 30 minutes, and this wasn't the first time they have set it up. Another consideration is take down time, which, depending on how easily everything closes up, it can still take 30 to 60 minutes to get the trailer secured for towing. About the bears, or any animal for that matter, that is the reason why they provide heavy steel storage lockers at the campsites we usually go to, and in places like the Adirondacks, they tell you not to leave any food or drinks in your sleeping area, as bears can be aggressive about getting to that stuff. It isn't only bears that can be aggressive either, as camps have been ransacked by wolves, ducks, and even squirrels and mice.
  19. biggman100
    Both of those topics would probably end up being hot debates. There are people who have valid points on both sides of the coin, and there never seems to be a consensus on either topic. Some swear by new vehicles, and some swear by used vehicles. Preventive care is one of those issues where there are so many factors, it's sometimes hard to say who is right, depending on what part of preventive care you are bringing up.
  20. biggman100
    While these aren't new technology, and have been around awhile, prices have become pretty reasonable, and some of them have gotten very sophisticated. You can get everything from still photo cameras that are only good for daytime use to infrared nighttime still cameras that work even in extremely low light, to day and night time video cameras. Most of them have motion detection, and are good for hunters looking to see what animals are crossing their favorite hunting grounds, without having to sit and watch in the pre-season, to someone who just wants to know what is prowling around outside the house in the dark at night. Some sell for as low as $69, with some as high as a $1000, and with all the different options, there is sure to be something for everyone. They are also weatherproof, and most of them come with a long lasting rechargeable battery, so you can leave it outside for days or weeks on end, and then when you want to see what it has captured, most of them have an SD card, like digital cameras use, so getting the images or video is fairly easy. The first time i saw one in use, my in laws had a night time still image version set up outside their house, for capturing deer running through the back yard after dark. We used one that did video, on a recent camping trip, and captured a bear on video near our camp site.
  21. biggman100
    Diesel prices here are about in line with the difference you show in Nevada, they range between $0.40 and $0.60 higher than unleaded around here. Thank you for the link to the GDiesel article and video. A couple of the farmers around here operate large farms, and even though they aren't using it so much for on road vehicles, they are always looking for ways to cut fuel costs for equipment. We have been discussing biodiesel for awhile now, but with the chemicals involved to produce it, they aren't exactly keen on the idea, so any idea that not only will allow their equipment to be run cheaper, as well as possibly be better for the equipment overall, would be of huge benefit to them. One of my theories on why diesel, and even regular gas is so high, is simply because with so many people on the roads driving, they know that it will always be money in the bank. I know they have production costs, employee costs, delivery costs, but, when the companies post quarterly earnings in the billions, every quarter, they can afford to drop the price some. As for why regular gas is so much more prevalent in this country, the companies have found out many ways to make money from it, and not just the fuel companies either, but the auto manufacturers, and even the government, make big dollars from regular gas in this country. Now, before you say im crazy, ask yourself this one simple question: "Why is it that diesel engines will go many miles before even minor work, other than routine maintenance, is needed, and some newer gas engines wont last 100000 miles?" Look in the owners manual of any domestic car, and even most gasoline powered trucks, and you will see a life limit, usually 100000 miles, before vehicle replacement is recommended, but i have never seen that info in a diesel owners manual. My theory on why diesel has risen so much the last few years is simply because more people are buying it in this country. Before, it was only heavy equipment, tractor trailers, and farm equipment that used diesel, but now more and more people are buying trucks with diesel engines, from the guy who tows heavy trailers, to the soccer mom who wants better fuel economy and longevity in a vehicle. Its all about supply and demand. You demand it, so they supply it at their price. Here is a link i found from Exxon Mobil, about where gas dollars actually go to. It is a short article, but makes interesting reading. The link is http://www.exxonmobilperspectives.com/2011/04/30/where-do-your-gasoline-dollars-go-2/. They say more of your gas dollars go to taxes, than actually go back to the oil companies, which means if the oil companies post returns in the hundreds of billions every quarter, how much is the government taking in, and, if so many tax dollars go to the government, why is the national debt still so high? Not trying to start a political debate here, i just thought the link was somewhat relevant to our discussion.
  22. biggman100
    The rebuilt transmission out of the 1995 already has a new torque converter, so im going to just use that one. As for the flex plate, i didn't think of that, but in light of the fact that today i got under the truck and checked a few things, and found the torque converter to flex plate bolts were extremely loose, and re-tightening them, with lock tite, and only 2 of the 4 actually seemed to get tight, and realizing that the torque converter has been banging against the flex plate for who knows how long, that would make sense. My plan, once a couple other issues are dealt with on other vehicles, is to pull the transmission out of the ford, replace the trans mount, and more than likely the flex plate, as well as all the shift linkage bushings, and transmission itself, as well as the motor mounts, because i have suspected an issue with at least one of them for awhile now, and then see if anything else needs to be done. The problem with this truck is that it is an older one, and my step dad does not want to spend money on it, but at the same time, he expects it to be reliable and safe.
  23. biggman100
    The lake in this post, is Lime Kiln Lake, at Inlet NY, between 4th and 5th lakes, in the upper Adirondacks. It is a gorgeous place to visit, and to camp, as it is a part of the Lime Kiln campgrounds. The water is pretty shallow, but extremely clear, so even 100 feet from shore, at least when the sun is out, you can still see bottom. The lake is full of various fish, which honestly, since im not a big fisherman, i couldn't tell you what types they are, and ducks and loons are also very prevalent as well. The area does have black bears, that have been known to get close to people's campsites, so they have lockers at each site for you to store food and drinks in, to keep them safe. At night, when it gets extremely quiet, you can hear the loons singing, wolves howling on clear nights, and sometimes even hear a bear or two roaming around. The last time we went, at the end of July, our campsite was directly across from my in-laws, and one night, my father in law's outdoor camera caught pics of a bear very close to their truck. Not only is there Lime Kiln lake, but 1st through 8th lakes, as well as sis and bub lakes. Most of the lakes are easily accessible, except sis and bub lakes, both of which require a hike over fairly level but soft terrain, with sis lake being 1/2 mile from the start of the trail, and bub lake a mile from the start.
  24. biggman100
    This guy lived either in Arizona or Nevada, i don't remember which, but that was his thinking as well. He said after seeing how other places had been destroyed by, in his words, supposed experts and archeologists, early in the 1900s, his father and grandfather decided never to share what was on their land. The caves and historical artifacts on his property were only found because some people decided to trespass on his land, found the caves, and then told other people, and eventually the news, and even Readers Digest got involved. That was where i had read about him, was in a back issue of Readers Digest. The subject of people overrunning and defacing a property, historical or otherwise, is a touchy one with me. I don't see why so many people feel the need to go somewhere and destroy the area, so that later generations can only read about it in books, magazines or online. We don't seem to have as much Native American, or as you say, First American, presence on this side of the country, as the west seems to have, but there is quite a bit of of Native American heritage here as well, but for us, most of it is in the names of towns, lakes and rivers that were named after displaced, or decimated, tribes that originally lived in the northeast. Most of the Native American lands and artifacts and treasures were built over, to make way for all the immigrating Europeans that came here. And then, later generations decided it would be fun, i guess, to destroy some of the historical landmarks that the Europeans built around here, so even those are few and far between anymore. For perfect example, in the early 1800s, a man from somewhere in Europe built a Scottish castle, that he had brought here disassembled from Scotland. It was rebuilt deep in the NY woods, not that far from Canada. He abandoned the castle, for reasons unknown, in the mid 1800s, and surprisingly, no one in the later generations of local people, from what i can piece together, from the early 1900s until the late 1970s, even knew it was there. In the late 1970s, a small group of hunters found the castle. Now it is pretty much destroyed, from all the people who went and took souvenirs and whatever else they wanted from the place. I have also read about the same thing happening elsewhere in the country.
  25. biggman100
    One other tip i would like to add, for the folks with children, that we have found saves us quite a bit, especially on long trips, and is also healthier than fast food, is to pack pre-made bag lunches, or pack picnic supplies, that way when the everyone is ready for lunch, or dinner, or just wants a snack, you aren't stopping at someplace fast and convenient, and at least with me, being hungry a couple hours later. You would be surprised how much you can save by making quick meals on the road.
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