My New Jokermobile
August 6th, 2009Plus Fun with Chinese Tools
While I am sitting here waiting, I thought I’d write some tool-related stuff.
First, I read my mill’s manual the other day. It’s not fantastic, but it’s much better than the manual for the DRO, which might as well be a Jackson Pollack painting. The manual says the mill is built so the front of the table (toward the operator) is supposed to be higher than the back. How much higher? Uh…guess. They say it should be around 0.005″ higher, but that’s as close as they’re willing to get. So I have no idea what to do. I trammed it with all four sides at the same height. I guess I can do it again and assume 0.005″ is the right figure.
Second, I got a quote on a pickup. I suppose I shouldn’t be looking while the socialist, wealth-destroying, deficit-increasing clunkers disaster is ongoing, but I doubt full-size pickups are moving well right now. I don’t know if big pickups with V8 motors are ever eligible for handout money; if they are, it wouldn’t happen very often. You would have to drive a tank in order for a full-size pickup to be an upgrade under the Obama plan.
This morning it occurred to me that this is sort of like the Fannie Mae mess, except it applies to cars. My dad pointed out yesterday that Obama is encouraging new buyers to go further into debt, and that will take money out of circulation. My guess is that many people who own cars worth turning in under this program are poor loan risks. If your trade-in is worth substantially less than the handout figure, you are probably not well off. And car dealers are notorious for writing bad loans and dumping them on GMAC and other institutions. It’s an accepted practice. It can only get worse with this plan in place. Maybe next year we’re going to see a wave of repos.
I got a quote because I wanted to see how desperate the dealers are, and my effort was rewarded handsomely. They took something like six grand off MSRP, right away. I suppose I should be able to chisel another two thousand off.
The truck I looked at was a fairly basic F150 with an eight-foot bed and no back seats. It has the towing stuff, and the payload capacity is about 3,000 pounds, which means it can move heavy objects such as milling machines. I ought to go take a look at it. The Thunderbird has been fun, but I’m starting to feel like it’s no longer in character for me to drive it. It’s a party car. The resale value is surprisingly low; I would be lucky to break even on the truck buy. I am tempted to hold it for six months and see what the economy does, but I think Obama is steering us into the toilet, and we are probably experiencing a deceptive lull before the storm. I can’t believe God would reward socialism and hostility toward Israel.
It would be nice to have a vehicle that can carry things. Many times, I’ve had to borrow my dad’s old Explorer, and it’s getting creaky, and it’s no substitute for a truck with a bed.
I don’t want a backseat, but my lifestyle may not always be as solitary as it is now, so maybe I should rethink that.
I’d like to get a truck made by a company that did not accept the tainted Obama nipple, so Ford is a good choice.
I don’t know why I should hesitate to buy a new vehicle. We’re all buying new vehicles for other people now; might as well buy for ourselves. I need to get a shirt that says, “Kiss me. I paid for your house and your car.”
August 6th, 2009 at 9:52 AM
A “friend” on Facebook put a link to a NYT blog up this morning. Something to the effect of:
“Why are Republicans against ‘Cash for Clunkers’? Because it’s working.”
Why can’t these people understand that money doesn’t grow on trees? And how did so many formerly sensible people became absolute morons?
August 6th, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Someone* came up with a bumper sticker idea that should say, “Honk if I bought your car.” Heh.
*Wasn’t you, was it?
August 6th, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I wouldn’t consider an extended cab, since it will be awhile before you have kids, and if you need to socialize with three other people, let them drive or borrow your dad’s explorer.
I say this because you’ll probably want the 8′ bed and with a rear seat, parking’s a lot of fun that way. Consider getting the dealer to throw in a tonneau instead of a cap (Extang?). Backing up, looking around a cap is fun too, and limits your max load height w/o total removal.
BTW, it appears Cash for Clunkers= tax dollars for imports, after all.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:18 AM
When you have a pick-up, you help people move.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:49 AM
I’m gonna go with recommending an extended cab. I’ve got one, and the extra space is invaluable, particularly when traveling. I’ve yet to have a problem with the shorter bed, and it’s shorter yet due to a toolbox. I just don’t haul many sheets of plywood.
But, considering how you probably would use it, the regular cab might have enough room. It just limits certain options, just as a 6 1/2″ bed does as well.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:36 PM
As the owner of an o5 F150, I would recommend the short bed with the extended cab unless you will be frequently hauling long items. For the rare times that I am hauling 8 foot or longer items, I lower the tailgate and tie them down, as it is usually just for short trips around town. The extended cab also gives you more interior storage room for those items that may be damaged by rainfall.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:36 PM
I’ve got a Ranger with extended cab(NOT with four full-size doors and a rear seat, just extended) and that extra inside space is damn handy.
But an eight-foot bed? Unless you actually need one that long, I’d suggest a shorter; as pointed out above the parking problem for one that long can be, ah, interesting.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:38 PM
I’m not sure I can get a 3000-pound payload with a shorter bed.
August 6th, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Just a couple of things. First of all the major advantage of a regular cab pick up is that it limits the number of people you can haul around. At least I always saw that as an advantage.
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The second thing is that no matter what size truck you get unless you are a total moron you will learn very quickly the easiest ways to manage it. The only exception I can think of is one time I knew a certain low ranking army officer who insisted on driving a humvee and simply could not compensate for its wider wheelbase. Oh wait. He was a moron so forget that.
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You’ll not have any problem. Besides, once you put an extruded wire screen over the back window, add a tool box and hook up a trailer with a Bobcat on it your huevos will grow proportionately and you’ll be able to park anywhere you want to.
August 6th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
What qualifies for the clunkers program is, in my opinion, a joke (albiet sad). Our daughter and husband inquired about trading in their 90’s model Sable with almost 180,000 miles and it wouldn’t qualify because the gas mileage was too good.
But the 2000+ van and his 2007 V8 Mustang would.
Sadly those who knew better have to suffer with the ignorant and uninformed.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Hi Steve,
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Just a few points…
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Buy the extended cab…think of the times you buy stuff (like expensive electronics) and you want it locked out of sight while making another stop (most extended cabs have smoked rear windows). I do this with my mine all the time.
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Do NOT get the full bed on an extended cab unless you like torturing yourself with parking exercises. You may also want to check the depth of your garage…my extended cab short bed won’t fit in my garage (it lives outside).
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Take a look at the 3/4-tons (F-250 in this case) because if you ever do get that RV Trailer and do some traveling with your dad, you’ll appreciate the extra towing capacity (I have a 1/2 ton and while adequate, next time I’ll go with a 3/4-ton).
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Take a look at the Diesel Engine option. Ford uses International Diesel Engines (same company that makes the tractor trailer cabs) and they’ll easily go 300,000 miles. They also tend to get better mileage on Diesel Fuel.
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I agree with Ed on the tonneau. I have a roll-up tonneau on mine, and I love it…no problems with tall stuff (like a cap has) and when covered I keep the bed clean (no leaves, dirt or other crap accumlating).
August 10th, 2009 at 8:21 PM
the f-150 not only qualifies, it’s in the top 10 of vehicles bought with CARS cash- look it up-
August 11th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
I did look it up. That’s how I know it doesn’t qualify. I wouldn’t pass up $4500 because I was too lazy to click a mouse three times.