Maine

It is St Patrick's day..

 

Happy Birthday! @Noelie84

Figured the Maine crew should get in on the birthday wishes as well!

 

I think he is on vacation, but just in case he checks in, Happy Bday @Noelie84

 

He was on the tractor thread earlier so I figured he might be around.....

 

I am going to do some camping this weekend. Will be out at least Saturday night, but have Monday off from work so might stay out 2 nights. Initially, heading to Rt. 16 between Bingham and Kingsbury Plantation. I am curious to see what roads are open. If I can't get off Rt. 16, I'll probably head up US 201 and see where I can travel near The Forks. It will be the 2nd time sleeping in my RRT. First time was in the driveway! If you see a WICKED AWESOME white taco with a Roam RRT, stop and I'll pour you a drink!

 

Thanks guys!
Yeah, I stopped in earlier when I was checking the weather forecast for Saddleback. Just got home. Great day on the slopes! Sunny and only breezy instead of gale-force.

 

welp I guess I'm wussing out.. I ordered myself an ICECO VL60DZ, and a Diesel heater... now to get the taco an AUX battery system. thinking redarc BCDC1225, and the Offgrid engineering tray, and make my own BCDC mount. https://www.**************/collections/battery-trays/products/toyota-tacoma-auxilary-battery-tray

 

Check the website we do offer a universal BCDC mount if you're in need!

 

Scott I hear you. I have a Kifaru 0 degree bag for myself, but for less than the cost of another one, I can get a diesel heater and my wife, daughter, and dog can all be warm. Not wussing out at all, you're increasing your range and making your explorations more enjoyable. This is the camping equivalent of hike your own hike in the hiking community.

 

As long as everyone still has a backup way to stay warm during an 'oh shit' when the heater dies or doesnt start up.

 

To me using the heater was less about being warm as it was keeping the tent dry with no condensation. When I got home I didn't have to worry about opening the tent back up and drying everything out.

 

Has anyone rented a cable trencher for installing an invisible fence? Home Depot rents them, but not in Maine apparently. Sunbelt has them but they aren't open on the weekend. Does anyone know of a local rental place that has one?

 

What's 'local' to you?

Maine Equipment Rentals (My go-to rental agency) rents a trencher for $265 a day and they've got locations in Manchester and Bangor.

https://maineequipmentrentals.com/trencher/

EZ Rent All rents them as well, but they don't have pricing listed online.

 

If open on the weekend, I will drive anywhere in Southern or Western Maine. Those are more trencher than I need. I was looking for the glorified edger with the cable layer. It's a specific tool, mostly used for electric dog fences.

 

They're open 1/2 day on Saturdays but they're really flexible about returning the rentals because there's almost always somebody there after hours doing maintenance work.
Maybe something like this? Says it can trench 7" deep

https://maineequipmentrentals.com/1-2-32/

 

I can rent one of those in town. The Topsham HD has one. That may be my best bet.

 

I got the heater for keeping the condensation out of the tent on cold nights (below 35) or for comfort.. now I'm trying to get together the parts to power these... trying to stay within a budget, but not convinced on a portable unit (jackery, or otherwise) looking at a dual battery/AUX battery... would prefer a DC to DC charger, but not sure of the co$t/value. I almost want to just get a larger main battery, and install the cascadia VSS on my tacoma with their mppt charger and call it good. solar (85 w panel) will more than run the fridge (45w), even at 60% it would run the fridge. and I would likely switch off the heater when I get up & air out the tent. so solar would charge up while packing, and making breakfast so I would have charge to start the truck. (I carry a charged jump pack as well). just not sure its a risk i want to take.. dual would be cheaper, but not a fan of the lower capacity for camping multiple days in the same location (no driving). so kinda stuck on a redarc 1225 DC to DC charger on an AUX 100-120Ah AGM. and keep my stock battery until it dies.. then upgrade it then...

 

I just received my diesel heater. I paired it with this:

$200 GOLABS R300 Portable Power Station, 299Wh LiFePO4 Battery Backup with 300W Pure Sine Wave AC Peak 500W, Car Outlets, PD 60W Quick in/out Solar Generator for Outdoor Camping Emergency CPAP Orange

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P5SFV4D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8

There is a $100 off coupon right now. I have not used them together yet. Initial impressions are that the power source is solidly made, specs look good to have it do what I want it to do, and the price was right. I guess only experience will tell if it was a good purchase.

 

Risky for sure. Waking up on a rainy day with no good solar would mean an extended stay, lol.