On 6/27/2017 3:21 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:04:45 -0400, John H
wrote:

I've seen farmers who could back up *two* of those damn wagons loaded with hay and get it done with
very little fuss. Just backing one was hard enough for me, 'course I was only a kid.

I was always impressed watching guys backing up double bottom semis.
They can get the back one up to the dock, then unhook and put the
front one in the next bay with minimal lost motion.



The summer after HS graduation and before starting college I worked for
Bekins Moving and Storage. They used to let me drive the semi back to
the warehouse when it was empty. They are *much* easier to control
backing up than a little lawn trailer behind a lawn tractor.



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On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:52:45 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 1:23:20 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:56:51 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 11:18:58 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:56:43 -0400, Poco Deplorevole
wrote:

At the bigger places, that's generally true. I once went inside to ask where the diesel pump was.
Answer, "Oh, it's around back."

Most definitely wouldn't try to take a 33' trailer 'around back'.

Not without looking anyway. ;-)
I have been in some tough spots towing my pontoon, behind a stretch
E-150.
Haven't had to unhook it and take another swing at it tho.

A few years ago we had a 25' Winnebago, and I towed my wife's car with it on a tow dolly a few times. There's no backing up with a tow dolly, at least not for more than a few feet. One time I made a wrong turn, got into a tight spot, and had to unstrap and unload the car, get the rig turned around, and load everything back up. What a pain.

Having to pull a toad is the main reason I won't consider a motorhome.

Well, it's either that or having a big tow vehicle that you end up driving even when you don't need it for towing. Pick your poison. Unlike the dolly, you can back the toad up.

The Chevy spends most of its non-towing time sitting in the driveway. Motorcycle picks up most of
the about-town stuff. Sometimes rain interferes a bit.

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 5:27:49 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:52:45 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 1:23:20 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:56:51 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 11:18:58 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:56:43 -0400, Poco Deplorevole
wrote:

At the bigger places, that's generally true. I once went inside to ask where the diesel pump was.
Answer, "Oh, it's around back."

Most definitely wouldn't try to take a 33' trailer 'around back'.

Not without looking anyway. ;-)
I have been in some tough spots towing my pontoon, behind a stretch
E-150.
Haven't had to unhook it and take another swing at it tho.

A few years ago we had a 25' Winnebago, and I towed my wife's car with it on a tow dolly a few times. There's no backing up with a tow dolly, at least not for more than a few feet. One time I made a wrong turn, got into a tight spot, and had to unstrap and unload the car, get the rig turned around, and load everything back up. What a pain.

Having to pull a toad is the main reason I won't consider a motorhome.

Well, it's either that or having a big tow vehicle that you end up driving even when you don't need it for towing. Pick your poison. Unlike the dolly, you can back the toad up.

The Chevy spends most of its non-towing time sitting in the driveway. Motorcycle picks up most of
the about-town stuff. Sometimes rain interferes a bit.

Yeah, that's probably the ideal situation. If you're not retired, that's not much of an option. Then you need the ca$h to have the tow vehicle and a car for everyday, or just drive the truck.

A friend at work does exactly that. He has a 5th wheel trailer and a Silverado 2500. Fortunately his commute is reasonable so it's not too bad.

We've toyed with the idea of selling the house when we retire and full-timing it for a year. Chase the nice weather and see the US. Then sell the RV and buy our retirement home. This place is too much for two people. We'll see.

Its Me wrote:
On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 5:27:49 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:52:45 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 1:23:20 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:56:51 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 11:18:58 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:56:43 -0400, Poco Deplorevole
wrote:

At the bigger places, that's generally true. I once went inside to
ask where the diesel pump was.
Answer, "Oh, it's around back."

Most definitely wouldn't try to take a 33' trailer 'around back'.

Not without looking anyway. ;-)
I have been in some tough spots towing my pontoon, behind a stretch
E-150.
Haven't had to unhook it and take another swing at it tho.

A few years ago we had a 25' Winnebago, and I towed my wife's car
with it on a tow dolly a few times. There's no backing up with a tow
dolly, at least not for more than a few feet. One time I made a wrong
turn, got into a tight spot, and had to unstrap and unload the car,
get the rig turned around, and load everything back up. What a pain.

Having to pull a toad is the main reason I won't consider a motorhome.

Well, it's either that or having a big tow vehicle that you end up
driving even when you don't need it for towing. Pick your poison.
Unlike the dolly, you can back the toad up.

The Chevy spends most of its non-towing time sitting in the driveway.
Motorcycle picks up most of
the about-town stuff. Sometimes rain interferes a bit.

Yeah, that's probably the ideal situation. If you're not retired, that's
not much of an option. Then you need the ca$h to have the tow vehicle
and a car for everyday, or just drive the truck.

A friend at work does exactly that. He has a 5th wheel trailer and a
Silverado 2500. Fortunately his commute is reasonable so it's not too bad.

We've toyed with the idea of selling the house when we retire and
full-timing it for a year. Chase the nice weather and see the US. Then
sell the RV and buy our retirement home. This place is too much for two
people. We'll see.


I bought a 2014 Volt in March for a non truck driving day car. Much nicer
when it came to parking. Couple trips to Los Angeles. 35-38 mpg instead
of 18.5 in the diesel truck, or 23-24 in wife's Venza. Does cost me. Time
value of the $15k and $800 insurance. I am impressed with the car.
Quiet. Very quiet even with the gas motor running. Also I get the EV home
electric rate, which in high priced California electric, is nice. 11pm to
6 am 11 cents a kWh instead of 42 cents. Offpeak rate is somewhere in the
middle. So overall electric bill has gone down.

On 6/27/2017 6:57 PM, Bill wrote:
Its Me wrote:
On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 5:27:49 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:52:45 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 1:23:20 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:56:51 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 11:18:58 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:56:43 -0400, Poco Deplorevole
wrote:

At the bigger places, that's generally true. I once went inside to
ask where the diesel pump was.
Answer, "Oh, it's around back."

Most definitely wouldn't try to take a 33' trailer 'around back'.

Not without looking anyway. ;-)
I have been in some tough spots towing my pontoon, behind a stretch
E-150.
Haven't had to unhook it and take another swing at it tho.

A few years ago we had a 25' Winnebago, and I towed my wife's car
with it on a tow dolly a few times. There's no backing up with a tow
dolly, at least not for more than a few feet. One time I made a wrong
turn, got into a tight spot, and had to unstrap and unload the car,
get the rig turned around, and load everything back up. What a pain.

Having to pull a toad is the main reason I won't consider a motorhome.

Well, it's either that or having a big tow vehicle that you end up
driving even when you don't need it for towing. Pick your poison.
Unlike the dolly, you can back the toad up.

The Chevy spends most of its non-towing time sitting in the driveway.
Motorcycle picks up most of
the about-town stuff. Sometimes rain interferes a bit.

Yeah, that's probably the ideal situation. If you're not retired, that's
not much of an option. Then you need the ca$h to have the tow vehicle
and a car for everyday, or just drive the truck.

A friend at work does exactly that. He has a 5th wheel trailer and a
Silverado 2500. Fortunately his commute is reasonable so it's not too bad.

We've toyed with the idea of selling the house when we retire and
full-timing it for a year. Chase the nice weather and see the US. Then
sell the RV and buy our retirement home. This place is too much for two
people. We'll see.


I bought a 2014 Volt in March for a non truck driving day car. Much nicer
when it came to parking. Couple trips to Los Angeles. 35-38 mpg instead
of 18.5 in the diesel truck, or 23-24 in wife's Venza. Does cost me. Time
value of the $15k and $800 insurance. I am impressed with the car.
Quiet. Very quiet even with the gas motor running. Also I get the EV home
electric rate, which in high priced California electric, is nice. 11pm to
6 am 11 cents a kWh instead of 42 cents. Offpeak rate is somewhere in the
middle. So overall electric bill has gone down.


I can see something like a Volt where you are. Can't even imagine
driving on around here, especially in mid-February.



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On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 17:12:42 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 6/27/2017 3:21 PM, wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:04:45 -0400, John H
wrote:

I've seen farmers who could back up *two* of those damn wagons loaded with hay and get it done with
very little fuss. Just backing one was hard enough for me, 'course I was only a kid.

I was always impressed watching guys backing up double bottom semis.
They can get the back one up to the dock, then unhook and put the
front one in the next bay with minimal lost motion.



The summer after HS graduation and before starting college I worked for
Bekins Moving and Storage. They used to let me drive the semi back to
the warehouse when it was empty. They are *much* easier to control
backing up than a little lawn trailer behind a lawn tractor.


That gets a little trickier when you hook the second trailer on.
You may not even have double bottom trucks up there.

On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 22:57:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:


I bought a 2014 Volt in March for a non truck driving day car. Much nicer
when it came to parking. Couple trips to Los Angeles. 35-38 mpg instead
of 18.5 in the diesel truck, or 23-24 in wife's Venza. Does cost me. Time
value of the $15k and $800 insurance. I am impressed with the car.
Quiet. Very quiet even with the gas motor running. Also I get the EV home
electric rate, which in high priced California electric, is nice. 11pm to
6 am 11 cents a kWh instead of 42 cents. Offpeak rate is somewhere in the
middle. So overall electric bill has gone down.


Yikes 42 cents? My bill averages about 11.5 cents top to bottom
number.

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 6/27/2017 6:57 PM, Bill wrote:
Its Me wrote:
On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 5:27:49 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 13:52:45 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 1:23:20 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 08:56:51 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:

On Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at 11:18:58 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:56:43 -0400, Poco Deplorevole
wrote:

At the bigger places, that's generally true. I once went inside to
ask where the diesel pump was.
Answer, "Oh, it's around back."

Most definitely wouldn't try to take a 33' trailer 'around back'.

Not without looking anyway. ;-)
I have been in some tough spots towing my pontoon, behind a stretch
E-150.
Haven't had to unhook it and take another swing at it tho.

A few years ago we had a 25' Winnebago, and I towed my wife's car
with it on a tow dolly a few times. There's no backing up with a tow
dolly, at least not for more than a few feet. One time I made a wrong
turn, got into a tight spot, and had to unstrap and unload the car,
get the rig turned around, and load everything back up. What a pain.

Having to pull a toad is the main reason I won't consider a motorhome.

Well, it's either that or having a big tow vehicle that you end up
driving even when you don't need it for towing. Pick your poison.
Unlike the dolly, you can back the toad up.

The Chevy spends most of its non-towing time sitting in the driveway.
Motorcycle picks up most of
the about-town stuff. Sometimes rain interferes a bit.

Yeah, that's probably the ideal situation. If you're not retired, that's
not much of an option. Then you need the ca$h to have the tow vehicle
and a car for everyday, or just drive the truck.

A friend at work does exactly that. He has a 5th wheel trailer and a
Silverado 2500. Fortunately his commute is reasonable so it's not too bad.

We've toyed with the idea of selling the house when we retire and
full-timing it for a year. Chase the nice weather and see the US. Then
sell the RV and buy our retirement home. This place is too much for two
people. We'll see.


I bought a 2014 Volt in March for a non truck driving day car. Much nicer
when it came to parking. Couple trips to Los Angeles. 35-38 mpg instead
of 18.5 in the diesel truck, or 23-24 in wife's Venza. Does cost me. Time
value of the $15k and $800 insurance. I am impressed with the car.
Quiet. Very quiet even with the gas motor running. Also I get the EV home
electric rate, which in high priced California electric, is nice. 11pm to
6 am 11 cents a kWh instead of 42 cents. Offpeak rate is somewhere in the
middle. So overall electric bill has gone down.


I can see something like a Volt where you are. Can't even imagine
driving on around here, especially in mid-February.



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It has a heater. Nice thing is a hybrid, so if dead battery, gas motor
generates the energies required. Not like a Leaf or Tesla where you need a
long stop on a long trip.

wrote:
On Tue, 27 Jun 2017 22:57:11 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:


I bought a 2014 Volt in March for a non truck driving day car. Much nicer
when it came to parking. Couple trips to Los Angeles. 35-38 mpg instead
of 18.5 in the diesel truck, or 23-24 in wife's Venza. Does cost me. Time
value of the $15k and $800 insurance. I am impressed with the car.
Quiet. Very quiet even with the gas motor running. Also I get the EV home
electric rate, which in high priced California electric, is nice. 11pm to
6 am 11 cents a kWh instead of 42 cents. Offpeak rate is somewhere in the
middle. So overall electric bill has gone down.


Yikes 42 cents? My bill averages about 11.5 cents top to bottom
number.


Well, we have to pay for all the deadbeats. Among most expensive
electricity in the nation. Lots of taxes most likely. And the
environmental nuts just got them to close
San Onofre nuke plant. 20% of the electric generation in the state.

On Wed, 28 Jun 2017 01:24:23 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

It has a heater. Nice thing is a hybrid, so if dead battery, gas motor
generates the energies required. Not like a Leaf or Tesla where you need a
long stop on a long trip.

I guess the gas motor would be running most of the time in the winter.
Even then it better be a hot water heater, not toaster wire.
I remember the old VWs had that "carbon monoxide" heater. Once it got
going it was OK but it did not have a separate blower so if you were
stuck in traffic you did not get much heat out of it.