Classic Winnebagos & Vintage RVs

Topic Boards => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 23, 2020, 10:55 AM

Title: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 23, 2020, 10:55 AM
Stay tuned for the next chapter of our adventures!


The journey home!!!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 24, 2020, 10:57 AM
We are all packed up, and have left the Arizona Renaissance Festival site.


We are going to stay for a few days at the Lost Dutchman State Park, where we are right now, because we still need to close on selling the business.  Which SHOULD happen today.  Unfortunately the Faire was too damn stubborn to let us stay just a few more days on site, but that is all in the past now.


The view sure is beautiful...right at the base of the Superstition Mountains!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 25, 2020, 08:32 PM
The deal is officially done!  Siege The Day is sold! 


Today we signed the contract in front of a notary, we were paid in full, and tomorrow morning we being our long journey back home to Fitzgerald, Georgia from where we are now (Apache Junction, Arizona).  Around 1890 miles...yay!!!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: HandyDan on March 26, 2020, 03:48 AM
Are you still going to live in the Winnebago or is a stick and brick in your future?
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 26, 2020, 10:39 AM
Quote from: HandyDan on March 26, 2020, 03:48 AM
Are you still going to live in the Winnebago or is a stick and brick in your future?

Probably just live in the Itasca.  It'll be like living in our own mini RV park, with no other guests...lol!

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 27, 2020, 10:15 AM
We made it as far as the Flying J in Lordburg, NM last night...just in time, because a VERY bad storm rolled through with high winds.


We'll be fueling up soon and hitting the road again on I-10 East to I-20 East, getting as far as we can before dark.  It is supposed to be pretty windy in New Mexico today, so the first part of our trip is going to be pretty slow driving.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 27, 2020, 10:32 PM
We made it all the way to the Flying J, in Pecos, Texas, on I-20, and stopped for the night.  CRAZY high winds!  And it is still windy now!


We fueled up when we got here, so we can get an early start.  The goal is to get all the way to the Flying J just outside of Dallas by tomorrow night, a 440 mile pull.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 28, 2020, 09:22 PM
It was really windy at first, but then around Abilene, TX, the wind died, and it was smooth sailing all the way to the Flying J, just east of Dallas!


Of course, that was when we hit a slight speed bump.  Trucks were parked in the RV spots, so I parked in a line of parking spots that were empty in front of the Denny's (because the restaurant was closed to all but curb side service).  And that is when two Barney Fife rent-a-cops came out and said we couldn't park there...and that the truck parking was by reservation only in the back.  what in the world?  There was NO reason for them to make us move with the restaurant essentially closed, but they did!


So we drove across the street to the TA Travel Center, and while we did find a pull through parking spot in the back, they charged us 25.00 for the night.  They said it was because of the high crime in the area, the big homeless problem, and because they had to put a high fence around the entire truck parking area and have 24 hour security.  I paid them the 25 bucks gladly, since we had driven 440 miles.  But then we couldn't get any hot food, since the lobby was closed and it was drive thru only!  what in the world?


So I walked to the Flying J, got an apology from the manager AND the security supervisor, bought some hot food, and walked back to the TA and to the RV, where we will be for the night.


Tomorrow we have a 400 mile trip to a Flying J in Mississippi...and then a 472 mile trip which will bring us home.


Over half way home, with only 872 miles to go!!!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 29, 2020, 08:47 PM
We made it all the way to the Flying J in Pearl, Mississippi.  400 uneventful miles.


When we got here, I discovered that the relay that allows the engine to charge the coach batteries while driving had somehow opened again, and the batteries were only at 12.2 volts on arrival.  And it was getting dark, so solar wasn't an option.  We also discovered that the fridge decided to stop running on propane.  Nothing is melted, but it is getting warmer out, and we still have at least a long day of driving before we get home!  Our fridge and freezer are fully stocked, so it would be a tragedy if the food went bad.


It is a good thing we bought that 2200 watt Honda inverter/generator back in Carolina last year!  I locked it to a rear wheel with a cable lock, started it up, and it is now running the inverter to charge the coach batteries all the way back up, and the fridge (set to high so it will get as cold as it can get).  That should keep the food cold/frozen until we get home...and fully charge back up the coach batteries.  If I can't get the relay to work in the morning, I'll just turn on the solar panels for the trip home to charge the batteries as we drive.  As far as the fridge goes, it is on the same breaker as the converter.  Which means I can't run the fridge off the inverter without having the converter/charger on at the same time (which at best would cause a huge voltage drop as it tries to charge the batteries off the batteries...and at worst could backfeed to my alternator and kill it...so I'm not going to take any chances).  Before our next trip, I'll be adding another breaker to the breaker panel, so the fridge and the converter will have their own breakers.  I'll also troubleshoot and repair the fridge, to make sure it will run off of propane!


Only 471 miles to go, and we'll be home!!!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 30, 2020, 09:38 PM
WE ARE HOME!!!


471 miles, and it was dark when we pulled in, but we are home!


Home sweet home!!!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: LJ-TJ on March 31, 2020, 09:06 AM
 D:oH! Just intime for a hole new adveture to begin. What's instore for us next. The next chapeter in Paton Place. :)rotflmao  Thanks for taking us along for the ride. :)ThmbUp
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on March 31, 2020, 02:15 PM
Welcome Home , How is the rig behaving ? What kind of MPG are you getting ? Did you find the propane problem with the fridge ? Again Welcome Home ! Frank & Louie !   
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 31, 2020, 03:56 PM
Quote from: Froggy1936 on March 31, 2020, 02:15 PM
Welcome Home , How is the rig behaving ? What kind of MPG are you getting ? Did you find the propane problem with the fridge ? Again Welcome Home ! Frank & Louie !   

The RV is driving fine, and we are averaging around 12mpg pulling the truck.  I didn't figure out what was wrong with the fridge yet, but ran it on the inverter for the rest of the way home.

Thanks!  It sure is beautiful here!

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on March 31, 2020, 03:59 PM
I had a local lawn service guy and his son come over to the property this morning at 9am, and they did an amazing job at a very reasonable price!  Very nice people!


I'll be buying my own lawn tractor, string trimmer, and roto-tiller soon...just waiting on the check to clear my bank.  Because of the large dollar amount, they put a 9 day hold on it...but that is fine.  We're all set on food and whatnot, and sheltering in place, so we aren't in any hurry to spend any more money...lol!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 01, 2020, 05:23 PM
We have the same lawn folks coming over on Friday or Saturday to treat the property for fire ants...again, they quoted us a great price.


Although we are waiting for the check to clear from selling the business, we still have a nice little nest egg set aside...so I'm going to pick up a Troy-Bilt roto tiller from Tractor Supply on Friday.  Gotta get this garden started!


This is the exact tiller we decided to buy after a lot of research and looking at reviews.  Made in the USA!!!   https://www.troybilt.com/en_US/tillers/super-bronco-crt-garden-tiller/21D-65M8766.html (https://www.troybilt.com/en_US/tillers/super-bronco-crt-garden-tiller/21D-65M8766.html)


Once the check clears, the lawn tractor we buy is also probably going to be a Troy-Bilt...and also from Tractor Supply, since they seem to have the best prices around here.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 01, 2020, 07:41 PM
Interesting, the Tractor Supply stores up here sell nothing but Chinese crap for any and all power equipment. I take that back, they do sell Husqvarna chain saws.
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 03, 2020, 08:03 PM
The Troy-Bilt roto tiller was also acquired today!  The first garden will be going in over the next couple of days!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=eqEMKJO-g1s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=eqEMKJO-g1s)
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 03, 2020, 08:04 PM
So today I set up our chicken brooder pen in the barn (with a brooder heater and heat lamp , waterer and feeder...and bought 13 chicks!  12 of them are ISA Browns, all of them hens...and the thirteenth, which Patti already named Blackie, is a Barred Plymouth Rock rooster (maybe...might be a hen, because they weren't sexed...lol!) https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centre/5-reasons-to-love-isa-brown-chickens (https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centre/5-reasons-to-love-isa-brown-chickens)
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 03, 2020, 08:05 PM
https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centre/plymouth-rock-a-comprehensive-guide?fbclid=IwAR218NjGd54wH7-rLRGa45DUpGKqkKyKR2WIJEQkGl4pAOxJHuPl9gQmlg0 (https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centre/plymouth-rock-a-comprehensive-guide?fbclid=IwAR218NjGd54wH7-rLRGa45DUpGKqkKyKR2WIJEQkGl4pAOxJHuPl9gQmlg0)
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 03, 2020, 08:06 PM
This is the style of coop I'll be building over the next couple of weeks!  This looks like the best design I've seen, and I'm sure I can build it a LOT cheaper than buying one already made and having it shipped all the way from Washington state. 
]https://www.urbannorthern.com/collections/coops/products/the-resort-chicken-coop-barn-red-dark-brown-and-clear-stain (https://www.urbannorthern.com/collections/coops/products/the-resort-chicken-coop-barn-red-dark-brown-and-clear-stain)
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: joanfenn on April 03, 2020, 08:49 PM
Hey Kevin, don't be surprised when more than one of them start crowing in five months time.  That is my experience anyway.
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 04, 2020, 12:42 AM
Looks like they give you a lot of ideas for building, Make sure you use the correct materials, I dont think womanized an good for animal habitat !  good luck and happy break fasts  Frank & Louie
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 04, 2020, 08:36 AM
Thanks Frank and Joan!


Today the lawn guy is coming over to spray for fire ants...and I''ll find out from him how long I have to wait to till a garden.  I can't wait to try out the new tiller!


The chicks are doing just fine through the night.  Cute little things!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 04, 2020, 04:44 PM
The fire ants are killed for the season, the baby chicks are doing great, and I marked out the perimeters of the 20X30 first garden we are putting in with Patti's help!


I also have the fertilizer, 5 bags of Black Cow manure, 3 bags of pelletized lime, and a bag of peat moss on hand to mix into the soil. 


Tomorrow morning I get to try out the Troy-Bilt roto tiller for the first time! 


We also acquired a cheap spreader to put everything down on the garden evenly.  And I got some rubber boots from Tractor Supply...lol!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Elandan2 on April 05, 2020, 07:15 AM
Hey Kev, you're changing one costume for another, Ren Faire for suburban farmer. You got the boots and next will be the overalls!! LOL
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: joanfenn on April 05, 2020, 08:08 AM
I can see him now.  Wearing his kilt and holding the pitchfork watching over his chickens.  Enjoy it Kevin. :)
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 05, 2020, 09:42 AM
Quote from: Elandan2 on April 05, 2020, 07:15 AM
Hey Kev, you're changing one costume for another, Ren Faire for suburban farmer. You got the boots and next will be the overalls!! LOL

LOL!  It is hard to conceal carry with overalls...lol!

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 05, 2020, 09:43 AM
Quote from: joanfenn on April 05, 2020, 08:08 AM
I can see him now.  Wearing his kilt and holding the pitchfork watching over his chickens.  Enjoy it Kevin. :)

LOL!

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 05, 2020, 03:59 PM
The 20X30 garden is tilled!  Actually, it is tilled twice.


First I tilled it...then I spread the fertilizer, lime, manure, and peat moss...and then tilled it again!


That was the easy part.  I also hoed the garden into 9 rows, 30 feet long. 


Whew that was a lot of work!  I'm not used to physical labor like that anymore, and took it slow and easy.  And now it is done!


Right now I'm watering it in with a sprinkler...and tomorrow, I'll be planting the seedlings!


The baby chicks are doing great!  I only put the brooder in the pen with them at night now, and use the heat lamp during the day.  Otherwise the silly little things spend most of their time huddled up under the brooder. 


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 06, 2020, 04:15 PM
So now a few pictures!  Here is the "barn" and the Ford F-100, a picture of our chicken brooder hutch, the chicks, and the garden (before and after putting down the weed barrier cloth and the straw mulch).



Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 06, 2020, 04:18 PM
Okay...so only four pics allowed at a time, so here is the garden, before and after adding the weed barrier cloth and straw mulch...plus a pic of the roto tiller and the plants we will be planting tomorrow...lol!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 06, 2020, 04:22 PM
We have the sprinkler on now to saturate the garden, so the weed barrier cloth and straw mulch stays put and "beds in."


So just four more pictures, taken today of the property and whatnot.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Elandan2 on April 06, 2020, 05:17 PM
Looking good !!  :)clap
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 06, 2020, 05:59 PM
Quote from: Elandan2 on April 06, 2020, 05:17 PM
Looking good !!  :)clap

Thanks!

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 06, 2020, 06:01 PM
And...here is a picture of the garden, ready to plant!  After a few hours of light watering, the weed barrier cloth and straw mulch is nicely bedded in!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: HandyDan on April 06, 2020, 11:01 PM
It didn't take you long to "put down roots".  Home Sweet Home, May it ever be so humble.  I enjoyed the pictures.  At first I thought you had one of those riding tillers.  It looks just like you have a seat and steer bars on it.  LOL
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 07, 2020, 09:28 AM
Quote from: HandyDan on April 06, 2020, 11:01 PM
It didn't take you long to "put down roots".  Home Sweet Home, May it ever be so humble.  I enjoyed the pictures.  At first I thought you had one of those riding tillers.  It looks just like you have a seat and steer bars on it.  LOL

LOL!  That is my wife's little scooter chair behind the tiller.

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 07, 2020, 09:56 AM
I got a Tractor Supply ad in the mail today and what do they have? Troy built mowers and tillers. Guess it just took a while for them to move north. Looked into the Troy built name and found they are owned by MTD. Now I know all MTD stuff is one step above garbage but the Troy built info says it is still made in the USA. I am really curious to see how it holds up for you. Can you tell me what engine it has? I know you said before it was a troy built engine but they do not make engines, they used to use Briggs or Kohler. Kohler now is Chinese, I have one on my log splitter and it is fair but not good. I bought one of those Harbor Freight 99.00 specials years ago for my other log splitter and it would start first pull every time and I left it out in the worst weather all year round. This Kohler I have now, if it gets wet it will not run. The water runs right down in the carb and into the engine.
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: tmsnyder on April 07, 2020, 10:31 AM
Briggs is Chinese too, the reason the HF Predator motor is so good is b/c it's a direct copy of a Honda.   

Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 07, 2020, 02:10 PM
Yup
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 07, 2020, 02:43 PM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on April 07, 2020, 09:56 AM
I got a Tractor Supply ad in the mail today and what do they have? Troy built mowers and tillers. Guess it just took a while for them to move north. Looked into the Troy built name and found they are owned by MTD. Now I know all MTD stuff is one step above garbage but the Troy built info says it is still made in the USA. I am really curious to see how it holds up for you. Can you tell me what engine it has? I know you said before it was a troy built engine but they do not make engines, they used to use Briggs or Kohler. Kohler now is Chinese, I have one on my log splitter and it is fair but not good. I bought one of those Harbor Freight 99.00 specials years ago for my other log splitter and it would start first pull every time and I left it out in the worst weather all year round. This Kohler I have now, if it gets wet it will not run. The water runs right down in the carb and into the engine.

I'll look closer at the literature that came with the tiller, but as far as I can tell, this particular engine is proprietary and not marked with any other engine maker's name.  I'll let you know when I find out more.

As far as how long this thing lasts?  I'll be putting in through the paces.  I have to till another garden in the next few days (this time around 20x15 for root veggies and beans/peas) , as well as a couple of 8X10 gardens (one for herbs and spices, and the other for strawberries for Patti). 

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 07, 2020, 02:49 PM
The first garden is planted and being watered in as I type this!  Two types of watermelon, three different types of squash including zucchini, 2 different types of cucumbers, eggplant, habenero peppers, hot red peppers, green and yellow and red bell peppers, two different heirloom varieties of tomatoes (beef steak and cherokee purple), tiny little sweet tomatoes, roma tomatoes, and grape tomatoes.  And the garden is full!


I'll be putting in another 15X20 garden in the next few days for legumes and root veggies...and another smaller one for herbs, spices, lettuce, spinach, etc...and another small one for Patti's strawberries.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 07, 2020, 05:44 PM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on April 07, 2020, 09:56 AM
I got a Tractor Supply ad in the mail today and what do they have? Troy built mowers and tillers. Guess it just took a while for them to move north. Looked into the Troy built name and found they are owned by MTD. Now I know all MTD stuff is one step above garbage but the Troy built info says it is still made in the USA. I am really curious to see how it holds up for you. Can you tell me what engine it has? I know you said before it was a troy built engine but they do not make engines, they used to use Briggs or Kohler. Kohler now is Chinese, I have one on my log splitter and it is fair but not good. I bought one of those Harbor Freight 99.00 specials years ago for my other log splitter and it would start first pull every time and I left it out in the worst weather all year round. This Kohler I have now, if it gets wet it will not run. The water runs right down in the carb and into the engine.

So here is the latest scoop about the engine.  I talked to one of their general managers (who happens to be on my Facebook friend's list for a totally unrelated reason), and this is what he said:

"A question because I'm curious...does Troy Bilt make the engine on this thing?  I can't find any manufacturer marks or branding on the engine....is it proprietary?  Seems like a damn fine engine, and starts up with one pull, even with the choke off, every time"

"We make a lot of our own engines in OUR factory...made over 4 million with a 1% failure rate. They are made overseas in our factory to our specs. Tariffs almost brought them home. All other TB are built in Tupelo, MS. Cub is built in Martin, TN.
I'm glad you are enjoying  your Super Bronco Tiller.
If it doesn't say Honda, Kohler, Briggs or  Kawasaki its our engine. Some of our push mowers have Briggs or Honda engines to offer an option."

So there you have it!

Kev



Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 07, 2020, 06:19 PM
The "overseas in our factory" part is the giveaway. But hey, the Chinese small engines of late seem to be doing quite well compared to the Briggs and Kohlers. I realize they are reverse engineered Hondas but they did a good job of it. With that said that just goes to show how good they are at stealing technology.
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 07, 2020, 07:01 PM
On a side note when i was service manager @ a Foreign car dealer Jaguar, Roots Group, (Hillman, Alpine incl the Tiger) Alfa Romeo,Datsun . (Now nisson)  The first Datsun truck we got in , I opened the hood and there sat a Chevrolet Blue Fame 6 cly with a rochester 2 barrl carb . No names or markings anywhere The Engine was even painted blue !  1964 Frank
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 07, 2020, 08:47 PM
Sunbeam Tiger! Used a 260 V8 Ford engine. Neat little car as long as you weren't 6'3" tall!
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 08, 2020, 01:39 PM
They were AMAZING V8 4 BBL  4 speed Jaguar Differential IRS ,1st gear would make 60 MPH , Because they were so light (built on the 4 cly Alpine body with a beefed up frt suspension ) i never wound one out all the way !But they were lots of fun to drive, Not quit as much as a Jag E Type . Frank 
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 08, 2020, 05:05 PM
Or a Jenson Healy with the 440!!
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 08, 2020, 05:14 PM
We got a whole bunch of seeds planted in starter pots, since the varieties we want to put in the next garden just aren't available around here.  Lettuce, spinach, onions, beets, radishes, carrots, corn, broccoli, and green beans.  I also scored some pretty big strawberry plants for Patti pretty cheap...which have to go into the ground soon.  Also acquired were some herb and spice seeds...so we'll get those started soon too...probably after this batch of seedlings we just planted are ready to go into the ground. 


God is watering the garden while I type this...lol...and the plants are looking great!  No wilting and they look like they are growing already!  Like...they seriously look bigger than when I planted them just yesterday!


The chicks are growing as well...and tonight they get their first "treat" of scrambled eggs.  They also got their first little dish of "grit" today as well.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 09, 2020, 02:08 PM
WOW,  There has to be something sacrilegious To Giving Chickens SCRAMBLED EGGS  ;)   Frank
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 09, 2020, 06:02 PM
Quote from: Froggy1936 on April 09, 2020, 02:08 PM
WOW,  There has to be something sacrilegious To Giving Chickens SCRAMBLED EGGS  ;)   Frank

LOL!  The chicks liked them...and they lived off the yokes until just recently, once they broke out of their shells.  It does sound weird, but not as weird as feeding them bits of chicken...lmao!  Our pet duck we used to have used to love to eat bits of chicken, but that silly duck would eat anything.

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 09, 2020, 06:07 PM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on April 07, 2020, 06:19 PM
The "overseas in our factory" part is the giveaway. But hey, the Chinese small engines of late seem to be doing quite well compared to the Briggs and Kohlers. I realize they are reverse engineered Hondas but they did a good job of it. With that said that just goes to show how good they are at stealing technology.

Hey Rick...here are some pics of the engine on the tiller.  They say it is proprietary and works and runs great.  I'm not sure if you are a small engine expert (I'm certainly not, although I'm pretty good at fixing them and keeping them running), but let me know if it looks like any other brand of engine you are familiar with.


Kev




Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 09, 2020, 06:23 PM
We bought a mower today!  They had a great sale going on at Tractor Supply, and this is the one I chose.  It is a Cub Cadet XT-1 Enduro Series, LT50", with the welded/fabricated 50 inch deck.  It has the Kohler 7000 series engine, and seems to be very well made.  We'll see!  We also bought a Cub Cadet 4 cycle string trimmer, model BC490, which seems to be pretty much commercial grade.  And a dump trailer to pull behind the tractor.  Here are some pics!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 09, 2020, 06:25 PM
And here are some pics of the trailer and weed whacker.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 09, 2020, 06:26 PM
And a couple more pictures of the mower and trailer, and the engine.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 09, 2020, 06:29 PM
We also bought a "pool" for the doggos...which they love!  I'm going to add a 12 volt pump and filter to it, and run it off our solar panel system during the day. 



Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 09, 2020, 07:42 PM

You got that right Frank!
:)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao W% W% W%


Kevin, think twice or three times before using that weedwacker!! I bought the same one a few years ago and it SUCKS! The four strokes have no power and they are heavy with a capital H and Y. The pros use all 2 strokes. That was all we had at my place. And anywhere you go all you hear are 2 strokers buzzing.
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 09, 2020, 09:41 PM
Quote from: Rickf1985 on April 09, 2020, 07:42 PM
You got that right Frank!
:)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao :)rotflmao W% W% W%


Kevin, think twice or three times before using that weedwacker!! I bought the same one a few years ago and it SUCKS! The four strokes have no power and they are heavy with a capital H and Y. The pros use all 2 strokes. That was all we had at my place. And anywhere you go all you hear are 2 strokers buzzing.

We'll see!  It has a pretty good warranty, bought locally....so I'll let you know how it holds up.

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 10, 2020, 02:36 PM
Well it looks like your check has cleared the bank !  :)clap  Frank
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 10, 2020, 06:48 PM
Quote from: Froggy1936 on April 10, 2020, 02:36 PM
Well it looks like your check has cleared the bank !  :)clap  Frank

LOL!  Yes it did, but we are still being pretty careful how much we spend.  Who knows how long it is going to be before gun shows and local festivals open back up!

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: DVan on April 11, 2020, 12:16 PM
Kev,


We seem to be headed exactly opposite of you - been farming and planning to head out on the road FT.
Make sure your chicken coop is raccoon proof. After several years with no issues, one got it and declared, Winner, winner, chicken dinner! I had the coop lined with half inch hardware cloth. Like mice, coons only need a crack a fifth of their body width to get in. They pulled a seam open to 2 inches and squeezed in. Took me days to find the open seam and by then theyèd cleaned me out.
Since I was planning on getting out of the farming biz anyway, I wasn't REAL upset but still POd.
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 11, 2020, 05:27 PM
Quote from: DVan on April 11, 2020, 12:16 PM
Kev,


We seem to be headed exactly opposite of you - been farming and planning to head out on the road FT.
Make sure your chicken coop is raccoon proof. After several years with no issues, one got it and declared, Winner, winner, chicken dinner! I had the coop lined with half inch hardware cloth. Like mice, coons only need a crack a fifth of their body width to get in. They pulled a seam open to 2 inches and squeezed in. Took me days to find the open seam and by then theyèd cleaned me out.
Since I was planning on getting out of the farming biz anyway, I wasn't REAL upset but still POd.

Thanks!  The coop will be quite secure.  I'll have it built by the end of the month.

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 11, 2020, 05:33 PM
I bought Patti a car today!  One owner fleet vehicle, purchased new by the Georgia Department of Health and Human Services.  We got it cheap, but it is in VERY nice condition, and well serviced!  We are the second owners!  It is a 2003 Ford Taurus LX.  Ford of course!  And made right here in Atlanta, Georgia.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 13, 2020, 02:48 PM
I see you are experiencing some very bad weather ,  How did the gardens and chicks fare ? !Frank
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 13, 2020, 08:20 PM
Quote from: Froggy1936 on April 13, 2020, 02:48 PM
I see you are experiencing some very bad weather ,  How did the gardens and chicks fare ? !Frank

The chick are fine and growing big!  They are sheltered in the garage building, so the rain didn't bother them at all.  The garden came through it just fine as well, although some of the straw mulch washed down in between the mounds, so I'll have to touch it up.  And the seeds I planted loved the rain apparently, because they mostly all seemed to germinate at once and poke out of the soil.

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 15, 2020, 05:46 PM
The two new gardens are tilled, hoed, weed barrier cloth laid down, and straw mulched...and is being watered in as I type this so the cloth and mulch bed themselves in.


The small garden is going to be a little strawberry patch for Patti.


The large one is more veggies, like corn, radishes, green beans, etc. 


The plants in the starter pots are growing like weeds!


We also removed the cap from the truck and stowed it neatly in the "barn."


And I tied in a pool/pond filter to our solar panels, so they water will continuously run in the pool, and I angled the hose so it hits the water to keep it moving and rotating in the pool, and also high enough so it aerates the pool. 


I took a bunch of pics, but the ones of the pool and starter plants didn't come out (thanks to a drop of water on the camera lens)...but I'll take a few tomorrow and post them up.


Here are a few pics of the gardens and the topless truck!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 15, 2020, 05:48 PM
Here are a couple more pictures of the gardens, and the chicks!  The little cluckers are growing like weeds!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 16, 2020, 06:30 PM
I got the strawberries planted, and Patti and I installed the fences around the big garden and the strawberry patch.  We are going to wait to put the last fence up, because the seedlings aren't big enough to transplant yet...but they are growing fast!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 16, 2020, 06:33 PM
And the pool pump and filter, running off of the RV's solar panel system, works great!!!  The pump and hose are held in place with magnets, with the top of the hose held with a clamp to get just the angle and height I wanted so it would move the water in a circle in the pool, and aerate it as well.  I put a piece of angle iron on top of the filter box to help hold it down, since it wants to float.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 16, 2020, 06:38 PM
And finally, I bought a rechargeable pool vacuum!  Fully self contained, kind of like one of those handheld vacuums, but waterproof and on a pole.  It really helped get all the dirt off the bottom of the pool that the doggos track in!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 16, 2020, 06:53 PM
What is the Deer situation there My garden in Pittsburgh , I had more trouble with snails And Deer Than anything else ! I had to put beer cans with stones in them On top of a 4 ft heavy wire fence , T stop the deer from eating my tomatoes Frank  Yea Deer in the middle of the city !

Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 18, 2020, 06:13 PM
I got one of the planter boxes filled with dirt today and the seeds for herbs and spices planted on the porch.  I also sprayed the plants in the gardens with Sevin to kill the bugs eating some of my leaves.  The seedlings in the starter pots are growing like crazy as well.  And then I cooled off in the "pool" with the doggos...lol!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 20, 2020, 07:05 PM
I got the deal of the year on an a 12 foot aluminum jon boat today, and it came with a perfectly running Evinrude 6hp two stroke outboard (with a new water pump/impeller, carburetor, piston, and rings).  The boat needs a paint job, but I met the seller out at Banks Lake this morning and we took it out in the water...no leaks!  And that little Evinrude started right up with one pull, and moves the boat well.  The boat also has a new transom board.  We are looking forward to getting out in our own boat and fishing again!  The boat fits perfectly in the back of our longbed '81 Ford F100...the bed is 9 feet long, and with the tail gate down it is out to about 10.5 feet.  So the 12 foot boat only sticks out about a foot and a half.  The boat is also very light, and Patti and I can easily lift it in and out of the truck.  SWEET!!!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 21, 2020, 05:24 PM
The seedlings in my stater pots are getting almost big enough to transplant already!  And the plants in the garden seems to be getting bigger every single day!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 22, 2020, 06:03 PM
We had an early start today and changed our driver's licenses over to Georgia!  And of course registered to vote in this state.  Then we went to our insurance agency, and they quoted us a cheaper price than Geico for when it was just the Ford F-100 and the Itasca...so with Patti's Ford Taurus added, it was even cheaper with three vehicles than Geico could do for us with only two!  So we got the insurance, and then registered all three vehicles in Georgia, with new licence plates (which are sequential numbers, which was amusing to me). 


When we got home, I put the new plates on all the vehicles, and diddled around with little projects.  I got the hose hangers installed, storage hooks installed, put tools up on the wall (and at the pool), made a mount for the Evinrude outboard to hold it upright, and organized a little in the "barn."  Also hanged a couple of thermometers and a rain gauge on the porch.


And the starter plants look like they are twice the size they were yesterday!


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Elandan2 on April 23, 2020, 09:14 AM
How did you keep the water in the pool for that second picture?  :)rotflmao
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 23, 2020, 09:19 AM
Quote from: Elandan2 on April 23, 2020, 09:14 AM
How did you keep the water in the pool for that second picture?  :)rotflmao

LOL!  I don't know why that one posted sideways....it appears rightside up on my computer, and on the Facebook post I made yesterday.

Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 23, 2020, 11:08 AM
I added 4 more bales of hay to the gardens, and they are being watered in now.  I also installed this EZ-Flow fertilizer system.


Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 23, 2020, 05:10 PM
Time to close this post and open a new one  HOME ?  W%
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Rickf1985 on April 23, 2020, 08:01 PM
Should probably fall under "full time RV living" now wouldn't you think?
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Froggy1936 on April 23, 2020, 10:46 PM
They have been full timers for a long time, Difference this time is its in one place !  Frank but whatever !

Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on April 25, 2020, 06:07 PM
At the very good suggestions from Frank and Rick, I am going to conclude this thread now, and start a new thread under Full Time RV Living.  Thus endeth this chapter!  Look for my new, and permanent thread titled, "Our Georgia Homestead" under Full Time RV Living.  Great suggestion Frank and Rick!




Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: Elandan2 on April 26, 2020, 08:36 AM
A new "threat" eh? At least you warned us Kev
Title: Re: The Journey Home, 2020.
Post by: ClydesdaleKevin on May 10, 2020, 09:14 PM
Quote from: Elandan2 on April 26, 2020, 08:36 AM
A new "threat" eh? At least you warned us Kev

LOL!  I just saw this.  YES!  It is a threat!  You have been warned that you will be bored to death with my fulltimer RV homesteader posts.  :D