Hey Connecticut, our backs hurt

Yup, a ton of wood pellets on it for my pellet burning insert.

Longer and actually loaded trailers are easier to back up with in my opinion. They tend to not wanna just jerk around as much. At least that's what if feels like to me.

 

I have a wood stove, sometimes I wish it was a pellet stove. For the 2nd time ever, I had wood delivered - supposedly seasoned a year.
I highly doubt it - when burning the wood hisses, which you probably know means a high moisture content, hence not seasoned well.

One of main reasons I have a truck is usually the wood is free - someone had a tree taken down, fallen trees/large branches that have been around for a while, etc. From what I've heard you're right about longer/loaded trailers. A trailer is ideal, but I was also considering a bed extender for the Tacoma. I just found out a particular model I was looking at online can be completely removed while leaving the hardware it connects to in place, that's a big selling point IMO.

This load is from one of my son's - the load was moderately heavy but only traveled maybe a couple miles.

 

Heard the windchill up there set a new record at -108. Sure was cold enough this morning at 7 am when I looked at the temperature on my tacomas dash...-16. Even my truck let out a loud groan as it fired up. I hadn't heard anything like that before. Not sure if normal or not.

 

That's 10º lower than at my place! I ran my Tacoma this morning until it got to operating temperature. I don't know how old the battery is, doesn't start the truck like it's new but did fine all things considered today.

 

I never owned a truck that took so long to get up to operating temp. I let it high idle for 15 minutes then drove for another 4 miles before the temp needle showed mid way. These gen3 3.5's are so cold blooded. Driving it in those temps felt like steering it through thick mud. I had to wrestle with the steering wheel.

 

My 2nd gen seems to heat up fairly fast. If I drive it right away, it's about 2 miles before the temp gauge needle starts to move and my ultra gauge reads about 125-130F at that point. Warm enough to start getting heat in the cab. If I let it idle to warm up with the heater on full, it's about 7-8 min before the cab is comfortable without a jacket on a day like today.

 

I've heard that with other new vehicles, due to engines being more efficient and generating less heat. The upside is I've seen MPG ratings of the 3.5 that equal or maybe even better the 2nd gen 2.7L I have. Part of that is the new automatic transmission.

I've seen reports of SUVs with small 2 cylinder turbos not creating sufficient heat for the cabin. Not just uncomfortable, but potentially dangerous when not defrosting the windshield.

 

@Cativelense
Guess where I just got back from....

 

Good morning CT. Happy Sunday.
It's going to be a warm one out there today.

 

Morning Connecticut

 

hold the bottom of the steering wheel - that helps a LOT. and practicing someplace quiet helps.

I've found a narrow trailer backed by a wide truck amplifies the difficulty somehow. It's like wide track & narrow track are two different languages when you're trying to back up.

@Skierrichy will laugh at us if he ever catches up.

 

Define "warm".
Eskimo warm, or Brooklyn Granny that's been in Boca for 20 years warm?

 

My buddy I used to rent a room from would order 3 tons of pellets every August from some lumber yard in ME. Much better pricing & better weather for working outdoors unloading the 3 pallets. Tractor trailer would show up with a pallet jack hanging off the back, lifted off 3 pallets, dropped them by the bulk head & was gone in 30 minutes.
Somehow I would always end up moving those 3 pallets into the basement by myself.

Anyway, Nuno @Cativelense , if you've got the space look into summer pricing delivered - might save yourself some monies.

 

Yes I believe that's right. The trailer I had was sort of like that with my Subaru Forester. What did help one day at the transfer station is a guy said only back it up by looking in the rear view mirror, that did help. When I first got the trailer I did practice in an empty parking lot, but not using that method.

If I ever get another one I'll try holding the bottom of the steering wheel.

 

Wait.....are you serious? I was there yesterday around 430pm to pick up my order. Btw Nuno @Cativelense , the menu is on point this weekend...they have Very Green, Hold onto Sunshine, both King and Emperor Julius, and both a Habinaro and Jalapeño infused IPA....

 

I picked up at 5:00...was there with a friend. Had a stout at the tap and picked up some Julius

 

Morning everyone.

Happy Sunday.

Gotta fix a frozen pipe in the bathroom. Tub hangs over a part of the house that's "exposed" to the cold. So it froze, water wasn't going down, which turned into actually fixing the stopper that was already busted to begin with.

The joys of home ownership...

 

It's going to be "warmer"?
I don't like anything below 65 so there's that.

 

Raised ranch and tub over the bump out?