>Walt writes:
>Must be that time, solved my problem today, Ranger 4X4 this time, tired
>of making my 2wd Ranger do 4X4 duty and it's been getting through the
>boonies for nearly 200,000 miles. For those in England, I envy the
>availability of a 2.5L diesel 4X4 Ranger there. I had to settle for a
>3.0L gas one here with a manual transmission, and that took a bunch of
>hunting. Ford has switched the 4X4's entirely to the larger 4.0L engine,
>so could not wait and had to find a good used one. Amazingly it got
>23.7mpg today driving it home from the dealer half way across the state.
>Can't wait to get out recording with it in places I turned back because
>the roads were too bad. Got to stuff it with recording and field
>equipment first. This is the first time I've used the internet for car
>hunting, and I can recommend it if what you are looking for is uncommon.
>Though you do have the problem that what you find may be way far off.
>
>A good vehicle may not seem like nature recording equipment, but it sure
>is part of it. The number of miles of driving for minutes of recording
>is pretty high for me with my coverage of a whole state. How's everyone
>else doing?
>
>Walt
>
Hear, hear! To me, a good vehicle is quite important. For the first thirty
years of my fieldwork, I always drove gas-conserving mini-cars like Toyota
corolla and cheaper. Then it occurred to me: the hunters and ATV and
Snow-Mobile guys all drive huge 4 WD trucks, at something like 12 mpg, and
they get all through the woods, whereas I was walking and carrying a lot.
One day I snapped, and now drive 4WD manual vehicles - currently '99
4Runner. I too noticed Toyota DOESN'T MAKE MANUAL TRANIES ANYMORE, so the
'99 was the latest one you could get a stick shift.
I also keep a set of sand adapters, since I have a cabin in NJ Pine
Barrens, and loose sand, once disturbed can be deadly. I post this list in
case anyone is curious:
1. I keep a battery-op compressor. I can reduce the air pressure in all
large tires for soft sand service, then reinflate when I get to highway.
2. I have a come-along - aka hand winch. This device has more uses . . .
3. I carry extra nylon tow-cable lengths, to lengthen the "reach" of the
come-along.
4. A set of boards or small old rugs.
5. I also have a set of sand stakes, a small shovel and baby sledge.
Sand stakes are fascinating if you've never seen them. It is a series of
three stakes, each about a meter long, with stout nylon cords.
It employs the lever principle to provide a "tree" to winch from when none
are close enough. The first, strongest stake gets driven into the sand
about halfway, angled away from the stuck car about 20 degrees to
vertical. The second then DIRECTLY behind it about 2-4 meters away, in a
similar attitude. The TOP of the first stake is tied tightly to the second
stake where it meets the ground. The third stake is driven a similar
distance away from the second and tied similarly. You then anchor the
winch to the bottom of the first stake. As tension increases, the lever
multipliers ideally keep the first stake from moving. In practice, getting
the pull slightly to one side or other is often fatal to the rig. Once you
have disturbed the sand, it gets tougher, too.
6. extra nylon old climbing rope. I find some of the areas near my cabin in
NJ the biggest tree is about 4 to 5 inches DBH, so I rig several tress in a
sling, distributing the force - actually I've never really had to do that:
when I meed sugar sand, all plowed up, I just learn to back accurately for
miles if necessary to exit the roadway.
I send my best regards,
Marty Michener, MIST Software Assoc. Inc., P. O. Box 269, Hollis, NH 03049
Spring has sprung, the grass has riz. Wonder what kind of grass it is?
Graminoids - a new book for naturalists to identify sedges and grasses.
http://www.enjoybirds.com/HomePublishing/PubHome.htm#gram
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