Getting the flock out of here - a diary of a crazy chicken man

[piglett]

Oz,
I've noticed an interesting phenomenon is the countryside around here lately. I've observed pigs temporarily out in the open, usually in an oak grove (pigs just love acorns) - but they're contained only by one or two wires held up by somewhat flimsy looking fenceposts. That intrigued me - I learned young that containing pigs required a structure somewhat analogous to a fortress.

Turns out that when pigs are exposed to an electric fence (particularly when young) they learn well, and never forget. I'm not sure that the farmers even bother to "charge" the wire when they turn loose their pigs in those oakgroves.

Might be something to ponder......

Re; your "little red trailer".....
I've never understood our obsession with pickup trucks! Back in another lifetime, I had two trailers - probably the handiest tools I ever owned. No oil changes, no licenses. Just use 'em then park 'em. And they're always ready for use. Just sayin"..........

on slick roads trailers can not be all that much fun at times

also backing up a trailer at night on uneven ground can turn into a real task

we now have 2 used 94' toyota cars in the family

the only thing we use the truck for is if it's really snowy out

hauling firewood & plowing the driveway

our used truck that we bought should last us 10 years (also toyota)

because it sits 95% of the time

but when you need a truck you really need one

 

[Leftcoastnative]

"You dont need a large vehicle to haul stuff. Our Asian Utility Vehicle - as the class is known - is a 2.5L diesel 5 speed that seats 7 Asians comfortably."

Oz.
That's very close to my "trailer rationale". Those trailers I owned outlasted three vehicles, all of 'em six or more passengers, and that's just while I owned 'em. The vehicles are long gone, but the trailers are still goin' strong for the folks I sold em to. I could carry the whole family, plus a couple of friends plus a trailer full of gear - for camping, fishing, firewood gathering -just about anything.

I gotta wonder how Chinese Ringneck Pheasants would do in the Philippines. We grew those, too - when I was a kid. Beautiful birds. I miss the rather weird crow of those roosters.

 

[Leftcoastnative]

"also backing up a trailer at night on uneven ground can turn into a real task"

Piglett
I can't dispute that.....

Sometimes I'm reminded of the very FIRST instruction that comes with a brand new, disassembled, Japanese bicycle: "Assembly of Japanese bicycle require great peace of mind". That comes from a wonderful little book titled "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" . Not to sound patronizing, but I would recommend that book to anybody.

Backing up a trailer (like assembling a Japanese bicycle) can be a maddening, frustrating, crazy making experience. Took me a long time to get the knack. And it certainly does require "great peace of mind".

I learned the skill as a chip truck driver. Sometimes you gotta back those suckers into places you can't even see.

That, and Zen Buddhism, taught me a lot about "peace of mind".

 

[perchie.girl]

As a person who pulls a horse trailer occasionally..... when backing follow your trailer Use your mirrors.... Know whats behind you first. And surprisingly the longer the trailer the more forgiving...

My trailer can hold 3500 lbs of horses and enough hay to take for a road trip.... 15000 worth of axles.

I WANT a sixteen foot flatbed though... More useful for my purposes.... Hauling garbage, Bringing home pipe corral and building supplies.... The occasional telephone pole or garage door... You know ""stuff""....

Goto be Johnny on the spot for freebies.

deb

 

[Tomtommom]

We've got a '93 toyota pickup, bought new back in the day. It's tiny

half ton. But boy. my husband has hauled some stuff in it.. probably more than he should have.

 

[ozexpat]

first rule of loading a trailer is balance yoiur load

if things get ugly you can always unhitch it.

Untill i can afford a Mitsubishi Canter Japanese refurb, my trailer is my only choice.

I dont have $10K spare this week......year

 

[scottcaddy]

first rule of loading a trailer is balance yoiur load

if things get ugly you can always unhitch it.

Untill i can afford a Mitsubishi Canter Japanese refurb, my trailer is my only choice.

I dont have $10K spare this week......year

You can always build a bigger trailer and add electric brakes if needed. Just thinking ya-know

Scott

 

[scottcaddy]

As a person who pulls a horse trailer occasionally..... when backing follow your trailer Use your mirrors.... Know whats behind you first. And surprisingly the longer the trailer the more forgiving...

My trailer can hold 3500 lbs of horses and enough hay to take for a road trip.... 15000 worth of axles.

I WANT a sixteen foot flatbed though... More useful for my purposes.... Hauling garbage, Bringing home pipe corral and building supplies.... The occasional telephone pole or garage door... You know ""stuff""....

Goto be Johnny on the spot for freebies.

deb

LOL

I have more trouble backing a little 2 horse then, our 28 foot 6 horse.
Scott

 

[ozexpat]

LOL

I have more trouble backing a little 2 horse then, our 28 foot 6 horse.
Scott

thats why semi drivers make it look so easy - along with position of wheels

 

[piglett]

"also backing up a trailer at night on uneven ground can turn into a real task"

Piglett
I can't dispute that.....

Sometimes I'm reminded of the very FIRST instruction that comes with a brand new, disassembled, Japanese bicycle: "Assembly of Japanese bicycle require great peace of mind". That comes from a wonderful little book titled "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" . Not to sound patronizing, but I would recommend that book to anybody.

Backing up a trailer (like assembling a Japanese bicycle) can be a maddening, frustrating, crazy making experience. Took me a long time to get the knack. And it certainly does require "great peace of mind".

I learned the skill as a chip truck driver. Sometimes you gotta back those suckers into places you can't even see.

That, and Zen Buddhism, taught me a lot about "peace of mind".

when i need to hook on to a log that's 30' long i want a truck or a 4x4 farm tractor

when i want to haul firewood from out in the back 40

i want a truck

now when i say truck

I'm not talking about a big heavy f350 or something that size

i would never use it for what it is intended for

i like a small 4x4 truck with the best tires i can find on it

not street tires

those will never do

I'm talking tires with at least an all terrain type of tread

backing up little short trailer can be a pain in the butt

but i used to back up my 48' stepdeack trailer into my driveway at night using only the taillights

my trick was i knew where everything was

so once i had it lined up i was all set

all i had to do was to kick it into the hole


piglett