New England B.S. Thread

Yeah, it doesn't look like a huge travel trailer, not like it was overloaded. Then again I consider this to be the MAX of what I would safely tow and there is NOTHING inside other than 2 sleds... not even walls.

 

Went to Bourne yesterday for Grandma's bday/announce our pregnancy to everyone on my side of the family, and the second we got on to the highway there was a travel trailer getting on before us, once he got to speed, poof! a blow out, put's a damper into their trip to the cape . On another note, Biscotti(dog) will be in a cast for 7-11 more weeks and is doing well so far, checkup at 11:40 today.

 

I'm the same way; when I see something like that I'll stop if I'm on my own, but if I've got passengers I usually keep rolling. Especially if it's on a blind corner or a busy road.

 

That sounds great! Hope that goes well

 

Any of you guys ever install a chain link fence on your own? I got a quote for my yard and about had a hard attack. I've seen them installed (by professionals mind you) and it's certainly not rocket science. Just wondering if any of you would talk me into or out of doing it myself. If I did it, I'd rent a machine mounted post-hole digger and motorized concrete mixer for the day to at least make that part go easier. I'm completely confident in my ability to dig holes and set the posts plumb and in line, I'm looking for input on all of the follow on work which I've never done before.

 

I helped install one years ago with my Dad. Hardest part is stretching the fence material. You need a fairly strong metal stake that doesn't bend to weave through the fence and then attach a come a long to it to pull it tight.

 

You need to be able to pull it tight. Do they rent those tools that are designed for it?

 

It's not difficult. I've done it before when I worked building construction, and I got stuck using an old manual post-hole digger, even . The biggest pain was keeping the posts square while the concrete cured, and even that's not a difficult job if you stake them correctly. And then once it's cured, all you have to do is roll out the chain link and fasten it on, but you'll need a second person or a rope/pulley setup to hold tension on it while you fasten it. Black iron pipe and a come-along works good for that.

 

I hear you about a quote, my old house I got a quote for 350' installed and holy shit. I think it was 9 grand. I ended up buying rolls of wire mesh fencing and just those green stakes you hammer into the ground. Maybe $400 total. Lasted 10 years and my escape artist Labrador retriever never got out.

 

The stretching is the part I'm most concerned with.

Yep. I have a couple come-alongs and they make a rack specifically for chain link fencing. It's actually not that expensive to buy just that part.

So... since you're experienced, want to come help out for the day? I pay in pizza, beer and Scotch (I think I remember you being a Scotch drinker). I could work some cigars in there also!

 

That's about the boat I'm in. I want it to look nice but damn... when I price out what the materials would cost me, as a home owner, and knowing how quickly they'd install it, they're absolutely making a killing.

 

I got all green vinyl covered wire mesh and the green stakes and took my sweet time doing it and it looked pisser. Actually in the end I was way happier than what I think I would have been with a real chain link fence, even stockade fence which I was also considering. The green mesh and stakes pretty much disappeared in the summer when everything became green. The disadvantage is when a god damn deer or moose walks through it- what a mess. But you can redo it all easily. I even took it up when I moved and have it at my new place, even though my pupper is gone now.

What are you trying to achieve? Keeping a dog in or dogs out or children in or what?

 

Fences are fucking expensive. I've got the frontage along the road as the wrought iron style 6' high, maybe 150' and another. 200' going down the side of the house to enclose the area of 6' chain link. When I got the fence like 6 years ago it was $7k. I looked at doing it myself but just didn't have time as I was working 80-100hrs a week.

Now I would probably do it myself since I've got the time on weekends. It took them 2 days to throw up: 1 to do all the post holes and set the concrete. Then came back and pulled the chain link/ assembled the iron style fence.

 

On another note I just accepted a new job, but it's in fucking Burlington so the commute from Hopkinton is going to suck big ass sweaty donkey balls. May need to get a commuter car or just some lighter p-rated tires for commuting. Seems like with reg, maintenance, insurance it would basically be a wash getting a commuter vs just keep using the FJ for commuting

 

Ugg, I've got a job meeting in Burlington tomorrow morning and I'm dreading just having to go there tomorrow for that!

 

It's going to suck. With no traffic not bad @40 minutes, but with traffic like 1-1.5hrs easy. I'm going to see if I can find an all back road way there.

 

Welcome to my world of pain--been working in Lexington since Oct '15 and the run from central MA to work is OK in the morning (0500 on the pike) but the return trip is always a crap shoot--one Thanksgiving eve I spent between 2 and 3 hours getting home taking side roads

 

Eww. My hours are 8-5 and I'll be one of 2 senior enginerds there so I can really work off hours.

 

I'm trying to do a little of both but mostly keep kids in. I want to fence in the entire back yard primarily because my mother in law watches the boys during the week and I don't like how fast the boys are and the busy road. There's a fence between my house and the garage so there's not a direct line to the road, but they could sprint around the house and get there if they saw the opportunity for escape. The dog is pretty good, he hangs around the house when we let him out, but keeping him out of the neighbor's yard is tough, he's too friendly for his own good. I was just going to do a 4' vinyl coated chain link fence.

I've come to the same conclusion. With excise tax, registration, insurance and maintenance, I don't drive enough miles to make a commuter car worth it.

 

just fiq id drop this here as well as the wheeling thread

i will be camping at the "RI spot" for labor day weekend, actually at the campground that is rite there. Does anybody wanna setup a wheeling trip one day that weekend? i will be there from Friday am to Monday