New England B.S. Thread

You must not tow very much! When backup cameras first came out I told myself I don't need that useless shit, cost extra, just gonna break, mirrors are fine... well then while researching my 2nd Taco I came across a video of using the camera to hook a trailer, and then I don't care what it cost, I had to have it. It makes hooking a trailer so much easier.

 

That's for sure. Especially the newer ones, that have the predictive lines that move around based on how you turn the wheel. Not lined up? Turn the wheel until the lines match up with your target, and you're golden.

 

Why can't immigrants follow some basic understanding of Covid........ talking about my parents here. Just had to cancel Xmas eve because they may have been exposed by choosing to ride in the same car vs riding separately to the cemetery for my uncle's anniversary on sunday......

 

Sounds like you canceled not them.
Covid is tricky because imo it’s personal how far people take some of this stuff, obviously you guys aren’t on the same page. I have some extended family like that.

my mom sees all grand kids from all 4 families every week and would “rather die free”

so we report to holidays as ordered

none of us travel or really leave town/local area though and none have people with any conditions to worry over. Again people’s own situations can wildly differ and that makes stuff tough.

 

agreed, the new Fords even have a zoom in function so, when you get close, you can zoom in and make sure you're really on target. I was getting pretty good at lining things up before but the camera is a game changer for sure. No more arguing with my wife or trying to explain to her where the hall has to be relative to the receiver in order to be 'good'.

All my Super Dutys had/have the camera only though. The F150 and the Taco had the beeps, no camera. I do think if I had to choose, I'd pick the beeps. I don't like looking at a screen backing up, I give the screen a quick initial look, then use the mirrors. The beeps let you know if you're going to hit something without having to take your eyes off the mirrors. The camera is great but doesn't work great in the dark (still planning on adding supplemental lights) and gets crudded up in the rain and snow so it's not usable all the time. The beeps pretty much work in every condition. I got pretty good at lining up the trailer and using the beeps to gauge distance and could get pretty close if not dead on with the beeps. Camera is better for hitching, but the beeps worked alright.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head there. Everyone has different comfort levels. My parents follow the guidelines, in general, but they're over it. The live in a very rural area and are pretty much retired. They see the same small circle of friends every day and, collectively, that's all any of them see. What they don't seem to realize is, I live in a much more populated area and work in Boston where we have well over 100 workers on our jobsite daily. I'm a much higher risk to them than they are to me. I don't think they grasp that concept at all.

 

Much easier than getting in and out of the truck 15 times to get it lined up

 

At a certain age they don’t care, or some at least. My wife’s grandmother broke down crying at her moms yesterday scared of dying alone and not being able to see her friends and family if she gets sick. It’s absolutely Disgusting how they isolate the old people ans it’s taking a toll. One of her friends has been locked up by her children since March and not allowed outside,grandkids can’t see her but in the driveway with masks.

it’s sad and people are ignoring a lot of troubling things.

 

I agree. My grandmother was just moved to assisted living before COVID hit. She was very independent her whole life, has a ton of family in the area that she saw almost daily and then straight into lockdown. We could see her through her window but they were locked shut so you had to talk to her on a phone. Her health turned and it was almost a blessing because we could see her in person for the last 2 months of her life. It was hard losing her but it would have been devastating to not have been able to see her for those last months. It really does have to take it's toll on the elderly who live alone.

 

That would terrify me. I did 117 in my Accord when I was young and exceedingly stupid and seeing as it had about 12 HP I needed a LOT of road to get up there. I felt like I was commanding a boat trying to keep it reasonably between the lines. I'd never do it again. In a truck with that much more frontal area...

I've been trying to avoid any COVID discussion on here because I don't want to veer it to somewhere it shouldn't go (or get myself banned). That being said, I'm having a rougher and rougher go with it. I've basically not seen any of my friends since the summer. We have our very small group of immediate family we see, but we had to postpone our Christmas because of a potential exposure for one family member (long story). I'm my Mom's main point of "close contact" and it would kill her if she got it, so I'm trying like hell to minimize the risk. But I'm struggling, and I have some degree of social interaction (I work in-person, etc). I cannot imagine those who are even more restricted than me. I'm just hoping that once we get through this final surge and vaccines come out the numbers will start to trend down and we can all go back to some degree of normal.

 

A lot of people are struggling with it and I think if we can avoid the politics of it, there’s no need people can’t talk about their struggles imo.

people need a place of outreach and community and this is one of those places for me. It’s a place to rant/chat/ bs with friends.

I’m doing alright but I don’t have a big social group and my family gets together regularly. I’m more stressed because my business has been destroyed and I spent my life savings and every penny a bank would give to build it this vaccine better get things opened back up or I’m dead in the water by early summer.

Fucking 2020, hoping for a big rebound in 2021 but not looking good

 

I'm managing okay, mostly sucks not seeing my parents. I miss concerts as well but that's not something I won't get over

 

Never have, don't even have a hitch..but I'm sure it makes the job a snap versus difficult at best.

Sounds easy even for someone just doing it for the first time.

@Pugga can attest to how small my driveway is as can @MikeyMcFly the camera helps a lot when I have to use the same side of the driveway. One side has a tree I'm waiting to get cut down but has dropped limbs and I don't trust to park on that side, so if it's windy I back mine in first on the other half and back Linda's Rav4 right up to mine. That case, the camera really helps a lot..especially since that puts the front of hers close to the street and I need to leave room when it snows for my blower.

 

Not a problem. Told the wife to keep the weekend open 'cuz I have to spend both days not shoveling.

 

That looks terrible! I really like winter. Honestly, I interact with my neighbors more in the winter when we're all out shoveling and snow blowing than I do the rest of the year. We're united over power tools!

 

Oh that's horrendous, you should trade homes with me man..

Haha..I see mine on each side periodically. A few years ago when we got the bad winter and I had to really shovel the entire roof, I could see up the street all my neighbors doing the same thing..we had about 18 inches of snow up there and were getting rain that night, ugh

 

I used to do that, too. We'd all be out shoveling and bitching, and it could actually be very pleasant if the sun came out after the storm. That's when the neighbors interacted most.

But now we go outside just for the pleasure of taking a morning or afternoon walk. Then another spin around the neighborhood after dinner to look at the Christmas lights. A lot of people sit out in their front courtyard with an after-dinner drink or coffee and a lot of people are out walking their dogs and everyone chats. We've spent more time talking with the neighbors in a year here than we did in 25 years in Mass.

And my back isn't sore for 5 months a year.

 

I95 north of Bangor, plenty of road, if I had money I’d been in a race car/truck. That being said, it was only once just to see.

 

Not my house - that's around the corner from me. This is mine. A little hard to see since it's gettin dark.

 

I lived in Scottsdale from 80-85

We both grew up above the 40th parallel.

We got tired of the heat and the brown.

I hear the temp is rising, most luck to you.