Happy Birthday John!  Hope your enjoying your day in the Dunes.

2 hours ago, Orange_R said:

I have 12 years to go unless that bitch Nikki Hailey gets her way then it will be 17. We were also bought out by a fortune 200 large cap company 20 years ago and it's been a downhill; slide since. I just can't do another 12-15 here... It would most likely kill me from stress or depression.

As many have said, $50K is a lot but stress / depression will cost you way more in the long run!  Seems like from your background, you will prove your value quickly and might start making back that $50k quickly.

Ceremony was great - thanks to all for their hard work and effort to put this on.  What a great opportunity to honor and respect those that give so much.  And what a great place to do it.

We walked down and got to meet and thank many of the Veterans that were being recognized.  We celebrated with those in our group that were recognized.  It can make a long, hot day but felt great to thank them and honor them for their service.  We stopped at empty hill to watch sunset and swung by the drags on way back to camp.  Ran into several Vets at the drags that we got to thank during ceremony - kind of cool to see them again and talk for a bit.  Always one of my favorite weekends.

On 10/10/2023 at 8:55 AM, funco4lizzle said:

I'm in fort Mohave az. over 5k a year. a lot depends on your fire district if its ran by the city or not. 

That much in Fort Mohave!  .......what's the %?  I've got a place in Mohave Valley way less but guessing maybe value of house is way less too!

43 minutes ago, Rockwood said:

Not that much higher than here. We generally pay 1.25% (you’re just under 1.75%), but our tax rate is based on purchase price and can’t escalate more than 2% per year under Prop 13. 

There’s a bill that will be on the ballot next year to strike that and instead base it on actual value. This will likely price a lot of us out of this state since my taxes would jump from $5800/year to over $13k/year. 

I don’t have a lot of faith that the election authority won’t make it read like a good thing, and that the idiots in this state won’t pass it because Gavvy told them to. 

This is the truth!  In CA I'm paying $8,600 per year now on one house and $5,120 on my rental - not bad at all.  If prop 13 gets removed it could jump to $45k for both houses - that's insane.  Charging a tax on market value would create havoc for me.  I've been on Next Door app and listened to all the folks pushing charge based on market value - I didn't do an official poll but it seems pretty close to 50/50 for and against.  Some arguing its a tax on earnings but those "earning" have never been received.  I don't trust anything that goes to a vote - I feel we are outnumbered with the amount of takers and freeloaders in the system. 

Hobie is the way to go!  Mirage drive with extended fins - think they are called turbo fins - they can fly.  They aren't cheap.  I would think you might find them used for faction of the price and it's a pretty simple unit.  

Also depends on what you are using them for.  I've got a tandem - two of us on it and you can cruise for 15 miles in no time and not be tired.  They have specialty units set up for fishing etc.  

You are welcome to come check out mine or borrow for a day of testing to see what you like or don't like.  The tandem is a big sucker - single unit is obviously smaller and easier to lug around.  Mine is the mirage oasis.  

19 minutes ago, Cookie said:

We need to figure out where they are going to spend that money and start our new business.  A new Malt Liquor maybe? 

 

"FUBU and KFC just merged"  - Dave Chappelle was a visionary!  Menthol cigs and 22" rims - invest now before prices go skyhigh.     

2 hours ago, Sand Shark said:

That is a ban on big rigs and unless they find a way to make electric big rigs that don't way a zillion lbs this is never going to work.   

Not to mention the fact it would take 50+ years of use to make up for all  the pollution caused by making the batteries for said big rigs.   Electric vehicles saving the planet has to be the biggest scam ever.  

Logic / making sense has never stopped them from implementing poor legislation in the past!  They have been tightening regulation at the port for years.  They are fining warehouses in So. Cal. for every diesel trucks that delivers or picks up (Indirect Source Rule 2305).  LNG trucks can work (sort of) in short hauls but are not zero emission.  EV's cost $500K+ and with enough batteries to go 250 miles reduced payload of 5,000 lbs. so your maxed out around 38,000 lbs.  

But they look cool!!!

Greatest actor of our generation!  (sarcastic) 

But seems like a good dude.  Nothing negative seems to come out about him and that takes effort from someone with that high of a profile.  

Not sure if you've found anything yet - not actively looking to sell but really don't use this.  2018 RZR Turbo - aftermarket seats, radio, lights, seats, rugged radio, paddles, whips, trunk, particle separator, exhaust......$22K.

Happy Birthday John!

13 hours ago, John@Outfront said:

I have dealt with the Cali crap for a long time but this one really bugs me...

Bill SB1383

so for the longest time in business i have had a $165 3 yard dumpster

then a few years ago they required another 3 yard dumpster for my cardboard.  they charge me an extra $135 for this dumpster, they put a lock on it so people dont steal it and then they make money on the recycling but cant give me the dumpster for no charge or any credit

so after Thanksgiving i find a new residential trash can on my property  i ask what is this.  They tell me that it is for my organic waste and is required by law. It told them im a shop and dont have organic waste.  after a month they denied my claim to forego the $91 a month small 65 gallon trash can.  they want me to now separate my food scraps and paper towels into the organic trash can and yard clippings.   

so i pay $391 a month for trash at my shop.  I have a single dumpster at my home and only pay $135 for a 5 yard dumpster and can put everything in

They have the franchise where my shop is so no alternative.  The state is claiming that organic waste going into the landfills are contributing to green house gases  Oh my  i am glad i only have a few more years of this

 

Angry in Calif

John - in Buena Park you don't have to use that company - I can't remember the name.  I've got four warehouses within a few miles of you and they tried that same thing on us.  We had them remove the bins.  I think your problem is you don't have enough waste to make it worthwhile.  We have companies pick up all our corrugate / card board and provide dumpsters for free and get paid for it ....depending on market, at times the corrugate market is bad and it's just free.  Same for our organic waste.  Happy to stop by any day and share some of our contacts if it helps.  Feel for you - CA is doing all it can to drive businesses and people out.  

Always go with urinal anytime it's possible!

1 hour ago, HP.Habits said:

 

Light-weight, Low center of gravity, Evenly weight-distributed, Flat surface rear tires, and a great power-to-weight ratio... can make almost anyone look good, lol. 

 

Great point!  While I think I'm a good driver, I've got friends that have 35+ years in the dunes.  They've got some really nice cars and I have no problem keeping up and when leading I can make it really difficult for them to keep up.  I'm sure they are better drivers / or willing to take more chances than I.  The difference is my Funco....it drives itself and makes me look good.  

41 minutes ago, wesinls said:

Can I add - we should have a no campsite light thread. There's always someone that leaves a bright as light on all night. Ruins the mood for me...would rather sit by a fire and look at stars than have some camps light in my side view.  I seem to always look at camps with a bright light in the middle but no one is outside, most lkely because they dont want it on to begin with :), except to cool guy that brought it.

I humbly submit having a camp light for cooking, games, racing, working on vehicles, etc. is exceptional.  

I too love to sit by the fire, relax and enjoy the stars, etc.  I love the night views and you lose that with massive camp light - time and place for everything.  If your camping so close to me that my camp light ruins your view while I'm cooking or working on my car - that's on you!

I love my see devil light - great for lighting up camp while working on multiple grills, used it to light up track while racing at night.  Expensive but the amount of laughs we've had racing around at night made it well worth it.  Watching grown men get ultra competitive racing each other on 50's at night is classic. 

$$?

24 minutes ago, Cookie said:

We are thinking of doing it in our trucks/jeeps, and then head up to Laughlin and do the Mojave trail home.  Probably a three night trip???

Done both a few times.  Timing depends on beverage stops, site seeing and breakdowns!  But none of those trails are difficult so I wouldn't expect too much risk of breaking stuff.  You can go out Bradshaw to river easily in half a day.  From Palo Verde to Laughlin depends on if you want to take dirt or pavement.  From Laughlin coming back on Mojave is another half day - leaving you in Barstow area.  We were just out exploring two weeks ago at my step fathers family mine, Mojave Cross, Lava tubes, etc. 

You can do the entire thing in two days and one night - or spread it out over another day.  I don't think there is enough for three days of driving.......even if you went slow and stopped for everything!

15 minutes ago, Cookie said:

I think it is called the bradshaw trail.

Yup!  Relatively easy, simple trail - we've staged and started at Chiriaco Summit headed south or staged at Glamis North KOA / Niland and head north.  Ride to Palo Verde and camp on the beach and ride back next day.  There are some cool sites to see and fun trip.  I wouldn't say spectacular but relatively close and easy to do which was the attraction.   

9 minutes ago, Lord of the Dunes said:

Yes, I agree, an EV is the wrong tool for towing, yet Ford and Chevy (and soon Tesla) are selling trucks and the only reason I bought a truck was to tow with it. I never used it for anything else, so those EV trucks make no sense to me.

The other issue with EVs is where the power comes from. If someone has a large home solar array and correspondingly large battery bank to charge their EV only from solar, more power to them. Most people aren't doing that and the amount of power they consume from non renewable sources isn't helping.

79% of US energy comes from fossil fuels, so thinking EVs are a green way to get around is false.

More importantly, our government should have been developing LFTR reactors, more hydro and tidal power plants, but now they're pushing for more offshore wind turbines. Why? Because the lobbyists told them to because their bosses will make more profits from less efficient, more expensive sources.

Same thing happened with the corn subsidies for making E85 from ethanol. Brazil makes 8x more ethanol from sugar cane, but the powerful corn lobbyists prevailed.

Our government doesn't do what's in our nation's best interest, they do what the powerful lobbyists tell them to do. The vaccine scam is just another in a long list of rich people and politicians getting richer off of fleecing the public.

10-4 - don't disagree with much of this!  I will say, not all trucks are really trucks - would you tow with a Honda Ridgeline? 

Yes, our government doesn't do what's in our best interest or right - nuclear is the current best solution in my mind but they want nothing to do with it.  hydro and tidal too!

All that said, hate on the government and our corrupt officials for their policies - not on EV cars and trucks.  If a guy wants to compliment his manbun with an EV truck - good for him.  And if he's got a manbun, he shouldn't be towing anyway.    

There is some great data and information on this thread - when it's accurate.  As is typical in todays world - tons of bad info too.  Interesting all the hate for EV's out there - in many cases its comical and based on inaccurate info or bad concepts.  The start of this thread's assumptions are faulty and on another thread comparing EV for towing - wrong tool for the job.  I don't think a Corvette would tow well but that's not a problem with the car - you are the problem if you purchase a Corvette and aren't happy with its towing capabilities. 

There are tons of applications and situations that EV's are fantastic for.  I don't own an EV and generally don't see a time in the near future I will.  But I tow all the time, I drive long distances, I won't wait for a charge - my time is more important than cost.  I can't afford multiple cars for different functions - so I've stuck with a big diesel truck. 

Now the government and Newscum ramming electric vehicles down my throat - that gets me upset!  But I'm mad that them, not hating on the EV or the advantages this technology will bring.  I think they have a place in many peoples commuting situation and hopefully they all adopt.  Just don't force everyone to adopt.    

12 minutes ago, LegitDuner said:

I'm a white knuckler in the wind with my class a. I've had that thing for 15 years and still not real comfortable driving it when it's windy. I spent over $6,500 in suspension, airbags, sway bars, front tire blowout system,etc.. 

Has any of those things helped?  Worth the money?  I've looked at many of them but never felt I needed them - except in the wind - been a few times that shook me up.  Always wanted to do the front tire blowout system.....never had a front tire issue in the motty but have had nightmares about it!

From my wife (cop) they talk crap about CHP all the time but it's usually in good fun - good and bad apples on both sides.  She's got CHP friends that have helped me several times get off road stuff registered. vin verifications, etc.  She spent 7 years riding moto to / from work on the freeway and they know her well.  Now that she's in a car, they've given her a pass many times.  On the question of off duty and see bike go by at 125 mph....as long as you are only endangering yourself - do nothing.  

ASA Website says :??

SEASON PERMITS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

28 years is awesome!  Bummer, you'll have to replace it every 5 years from now on.  Everything made these days is disposable.  

My house was built in 1942.  My guest house had a ton of appliances in it when I bought the place that were original or at least from the 70's.  Washer, dryer, stove, microwave, water heater, etc.  I've had the house for 22 years.  In the last 10 years I've been replacing stuff that was at least 30 years old.  Washer, dryers and hot water heaters all replace more times in the last 10 years than in the previous 60 years.