This weeks preps check-in

[Mountain trapper]

Shift the transfer case on the wife's 4Runner into 4L and shift it down into 1st gear and you are there. Yes they still exist.

My F250 has a granny 1st gear. But it still isn't as low as I'd like it to be. The only option for a low first gear in my Wrangler is to shift it in to 4 low like you said. There's hardly a day goes by that I don't need low gear, but I don't necessarily need 4 wheel drive.

 

[DrHenley]

My Land Cruiser FJ had separate shift levers for 2WD/4WD and Hi/Lo, so I could put it in 2L.

In 2017 they renamed the Trail Premium to TRD Off-Road Premium. The 4Runner TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and TRD PRO all have the same 4WD features, but the TRD Pro has upgraded shocks and front suspension.
https://www.toyota.com/trdpro/4runner/

 

[KateMTx]

Well I finally found my bull late yesterday. He was about 15 miles away north west of here with some range cattle. He was in a small open area and walked right up to me. I don't know who owns the cows that he was with, it was getting to dark to see their brands. I'll go up there again today and check for brands on the other cattle.
Now comes the hard part; getting him home.

Glad you found him!

 

[Dani]

Well I finally found my bull late yesterday. He was about 15 miles away north west of here with some range cattle. He was in a small open area and walked right up to me. I don't know who owns the cows that he was with, it was getting to dark to see their brands. I'll go up there again today and check for brands on the other cattle.
Now comes the hard part; getting him home.

So glad you were able to find your bull. . . Ho rney little bastard probably drive him there. . . Just follow the scent.

Hunny has been letting my goats out lately and they run straight for the garden now to eat weeds. Most all of them will stay in the fenced in area, but I do have a few now that will jump the fence for greener pasture. . . Which has apparently been my strawberry patch. When I saw he let them out again this morning, I went out to dig up the last ten strawberry p lants I had and transplanted to a container on the back steps. I lost about 3/4 of my strawberries. . .

 

[Brent S]

Found a green FJ with 50k on it and in great shape. Made an offer on it yesterday but are still 2k apart. The dealer called me twice today about it but hasn’t met my price yet. Kind of doubt they will but absolutely love the vehicle. Decided on the vehicle/model but now have to find one in good shape and decent deal. Be really nice to find all that in the green too!

 

[DrHenley]

Is it full time or part time 4WD?

 

[Brent S]

Is it full time or part time 4WD?

You shift it into 4wd so I guess part time? It’s normally 2wd

 

[DrHenley]

From what I've found, it has a "Five-speed A750F automatic transmission with VF2A transfer case on part-time 4x4 models"

The full time 4WD models have a manual transmission

 

[Brent S]

From what I've found, it has a "Five-speed A750F automatic transmission with VF2A transfer case on part-time 4x4 models"

The full time 4WD models have a manual transmission

I would really prefer the 6speed manual but it’s not as common. Considering I’m only looking at 2014 and 2013’s, low mileage and green, I am allready narrowing the field a lot. Adding a manual too would be near impossible to find!

 

[Mountain trapper]

Our house is about 2 weeks from being completed, provided that the workers actually show up. Last week they finished the HVAC system and installed the heat pump. Turns out the top of the heat pump was damaged and the fan wouldn't turn. They should have it replaced this week.
Last week I finally found my bull Johnny. Then I tracked down the owner of the range cows that he was hanging with. Today my neighbor was out checking on his cattle and spotted Johnny. He cut out the bull and drove him a couple miles down to his FS allotment. This particular allotment is small, around 5×5 miles square and boarders on our west line. I'll just leave Johnny there and drive him home later this Fall.
Today was our hottest day of summer (87 degs). It's supposed to start cooling down by this weekend and possibly get some rain. We've had just 1/3 inch of rain since May.
The wife comes home on Friday too.
Our meat chickens will get butchered next week. I'll be glad to see them gone. Our steer should be getting butchered soon too. I pulled the steer out of the herd about a month ago and have been feeding him grain and hay. He's not happy about being separated but he's looking good right now.
Some of the trees are starting to turn colors, so Fall isn't far off. I still need to get a couple more cords of firewood cut and split and the new wood shed built. Should be working on that today, instead I was sipping on some cold ones and putting together my trapping supply order.

 

[Brent S]

I got an electrical problem figured out on my campers towing lights. Took it to a shop a few months ago and they couldn’t figure it out. Like the old saying, ‘if you want something done right, do it yourself’. Today I will pressure test the water system for leaks, repack the bearings and hope to take it out the weekend after next.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I got an electrical problem figured out on my campers towing lights. Took it to a shop a few months ago and they couldn’t figure it out. Like the old saying, ‘if you want something done right, do it yourself’. Today I will pressure test the water system for leaks, repack the bearings and hope to take it out the weekend after next.

About 2 weeks ago I took my truck down to the Ford dealer to replace the throw out bearing, rear main seal, oil pan gasket and new clutch. Last Thursday I got a call from the shop saying the truck was ready to pick up. Got a ride down and waited 6 hours and it still wasn't ready. The next day I made the 80 mile trip again and picked up the truck. On the way home I stopped and picked up some cold ones for the long drive. That's when I discovered that I couldn't get it in reverse. Now I have to take it back in this morning and waste another day. For $2100 in repairs I expected more. It's hard to find any competent help any more.

 

[Brent S]

About 2 weeks ago I took my truck down to the Ford dealer to replace the throw out bearing, rear main seal, oil pan gasket and new clutch. Last Thursday I got a call from the shop saying the truck was ready to pick up. Got a ride down and waited 6 hours and it still wasn't ready. The next day I made the 80 mile trip again and picked up the truck. On the way home I stopped and picked up some cold ones for the long drive. That's when I discovered that I couldn't get it in reverse. Now I have to take it back in this morning and waste another day. For $2100 in repairs I expected more. It's hard to find any competent help any more.

At least I feel better about my Jeep clutch. Was two grand and I felt it was over priced, but at least it worked!

 

[Mountain trapper]

At least I feel better about my Jeep clutch. Was two grand and I felt it was over priced, but at least it worked!

I just spent 3 hours at the Ford shop. They wanted to "rebuild" my transmission for an additional $2500. F$#@ing crooks. He offered to take my truck in as trade on a new truck. I told them that's there's nothing wrong with the transmission and left. I'm able to get it in reverse now. I think the clutch just needs to be broke in a little more.

 

[Proud Prepper]

I always refer to dealerships as dealershits

 

[KateMTx]

I've been trying to get my family into prepping and they have been listening. My parents have a small supply of water and survival food and they are adding to it. I find that during hurricane season they are more likely to take me seriously, even for longer-term steps. Some of my siblings are pretty good about it, others not so much. At least my brother who lives in Jacksonville knows what he's doing. He's a Marine so he can take care of himself. He and his wife had to evacuate due to the storm so they are safe but hopefully their house will be okay.

 

[Maverick]

Upgraded a couple of my older phase-1 scanners to the Uniden BCD536HP (digital phase-2) and BCT15X (analog) Everything gone phase-2 here making it difficult especially regarding the fires around here. I don't like to be blindsided

 

[Mountain trapper]

Upgraded a couple of my older phase-1 scanners to the Uniden BCD536HP (digital phase-2) and BCT15X (analog) Everything gone phase-2 here making it difficult especially regarding the fires around here. I don't like to be blindsided

There's a couple fires to the north of us and I've smelled smoke a couple times in the morning. Fortunately the fires are quite a way from here. The other day I was out looking for some cows and came across an elk "hunters" camp. They had huge fire burning. What the hell did these flat lander idiots need a fire for at 80 degrees? We've had almost no rain since May and everything is tender dry.

 

[Maverick]

There's a couple fires to the north of us and I've smelled smoke a couple times in the morning. Fortunately the fires are quite a way from here. The other day I was out looking for some cows and came across an elk "hunters" camp. They had huge fire burning. What the hell did these flat lander idiots need a fire for at 80 degrees? We've had almost no rain since May and everything is tender dry.

I've seen a lot of that here too Arctic, Red Flags are posted everywhere and yet campers, hikers and hunters build camp fires. People have no common sense thus have no business in the back country!

 

[KateMTx]

There's a couple fires to the north of us and I've smelled smoke a couple times in the morning. Fortunately the fires are quite a way from here. The other day I was out looking for some cows and came across an elk "hunters" camp. They had huge fire burning. What the hell did these flat lander idiots need a fire for at 80 degrees? We've had almost no rain since May and everything is tender dry.

Fire is no joke and I take burn bans seriously. I hope those idiots get punished for endangering the public but unfortunately that's unlikely unless something terrible happens.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Fire is no joke and I take burn bans seriously. I hope those idiots get punished for endangering the public but unfortunately that's unlikely unless something terrible happens.

Fire is my biggest fear. We're having a big thunderstorm right now, but not a drop of rain is falling yet. Lightning is hitting all around our place. It wouldn't take much to burn this whole area down.

 

[Brent S]

I love the idea of the privacy and shade from trees right up close to your house but the best thing to do for fire is to have a good burn free zone near your home and fire resistant materials on the homes exterior. That or just make sure you keep up with the insurance policy. Oh, on insurance policies, make sure to read the fine print on them. Companies have a tendency to not cover things that are high risk in your area. Never just assume you are covered, read it and get a supplemental coverage if warranted.

 

[Mountain trapper]

The house is almost done. Got the granite countertops installed, heat pump connected, and started painting the closet shelves. Finished the deck this morning, almost 1,000 square feet of redwood.
Started on the wood shed, 10×20, built a lean-to on the back of the pump house for the generator and propane tanks, started construction on a 12×20 addition on the fur shed and of course the never ending fence repairs. The other day I counted my cattle and found an extra cow and calf. I tracked down the owner and he'll send someone up to drive them back to their herd.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Took the wife to Maui last week to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. Had a good time hanging out on the beach and by the pool. Got home this morning about 2am, and the wife had to fly off to work.
It's good to be home, but time to get back to work. Got a call this morning from a neighbor and my bull was up at his place. He's getting closer to home now, only about 4 miles away.

 

[KateMTx]

Took the wife to Maui last week to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. Had a good time hanging out on the beach and by the pool. Got home this morning about 2am, and the wife had to fly off to work.
It's good to be home, but time to get back to work. Got a call this morning from a neighbor and my bull was up at his place. He's getting closer to home now, only about 4 miles away.

Maybe he'll come back all on his own

 

[Mountain trapper]

It looks like I have broken water line somewhere in the system. I have about a half mile of water lines buried over 5 feet deep. It's possible that the line froze and broke last winter and just recently separated enough enough that it won't hold water now. I think I know roughly about where the break is. I'll have to start digging it up before the ground freezes again.

 

[Silent Earth]

Just done the annual none food consumables stocked up, spent over £350 OUCH! but got everything I could think of. Soap bars , toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, assorted toiletries, laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, washing up liquid, glass cleaner, screenwash, de-icer, engine oil, anti freeze, multi surface cleaners, disinfectant, paper towels, toilet paper, unscented bleach, fire lighters, disposable bic lighters, trash bags. microfibre cloths, disposable gloves etc

Stocked up on Diesel (80 litres) Propane 2 x 15KG

Stocked up on tinned, dried food stuffs as well .

Need two new front tyres on wifes car (small SUV)

Put refreshed winter kits into our vehicles.

REMOVED CB radios as no one uses them around here any more

Checked oils, lubes, fluids, tyre pressures, changed wiper blades, oiled locks, cleared leaves from vehicle scuttle panels.

Resealed three house windows where the silicone has failed, dug it all out and replaced it with bloody expensive polymer based sealants.

Lubricated hinges and multi point locking mechanisms on the two High Sec Composite doors on the house.

Had chimney and fire cleaned out professionally.

Gotta feeling about this coming winter !

 

[Mountain trapper]

Picked up my 4 wheeler at the shop yesterday. I took it in almost 2 months ago because it wouldn't start. Turns out that mice had chewed up the wiring and they had to replace the wiring harness. That f$#@& mouse cost me almost $900 in repairs. I hate mice!

 

[DrHenley]

Turns out that mice had chewed up the wiring and they had to replace the wiring harness. That f$#@& mouse cost me almost $900 in repairs. I hate mice!

I made the mistake of leaving an old Toyota Land Cruiser at the BOL for a few months. The rats completely removed the wiring harness in order to enlarge the hole in the firewall as an entrance into the vehicle Not only that, but I had a box in the back of tools that they decided to use as a toilet and filled the damned box up with rat poop.

 

[Silent Earth]

My van which is only 4 years old recently started running quite warm, not overheating but running hotter than it should, Coolant OK, Water pump OK, Thermostat OK, Hoses OK. I was baffled until I looked at the radiator, it was totally encased in a mix of mud and bits of straw, it was almost adobe. must have been when I was driving the back roads that were wet n muddy, I was stuck behind a Combine that was spraying road muck up liberally for over a mile.

The Van was filthy so I hosed it off on the day but I did not check the Radiator. Took me an hour to get the grill off and to dig out the adobe without damaging the radiator.**

** I once blew a hole straight through the radiator of my old van with a high pressure jet washer.