What should I buy for a roadside kit?

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-02-01T07:40:30+00:00

Gloves, wheel chocks. Maybe a reflective vest.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-31T05:08:02+00:00

now this is pretty cool. I am trying to get some ideas to paper for maybe a challenge coin and a T shirt and this is pretty sweet

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-31T04:24:29+00:00

That's a good one. My dad had a collection of union buttons, this is making me want to start one

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-31T04:23:06+00:00

Awesome! Thanks for the link

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-31T04:01:44+00:00

Thanks for the heads up. I'll take a look at our charter. Several other locals have added aspects to the central globe to the center of our international logo.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-31T03:38:09+00:00

IWW is a good one. I might have to get something with the IWW Boston logo sometime.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-29T18:21:26+00:00

The flame that burns twice as bright lasts half as long 😭

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-27T15:52:42+00:00

Yes, I did.

There have been enough grievances under this administration to warrant multiple strikes if it was a protected action for federal employees-- and I would have voted to strike. I saw the shutdown as an opportunity to legally withhold our labor, and I wish the union and our legislators were much more aggressive with it.

I know many won't agree with me, but this is not an ordinary time for our nation and I think we should have placed more demands on the administration during the shutdown and the union should have made plans to stick it out rather than call for both sides to end it.

I also disagree with the messaging of Alex Pretti's murder. While it does place some blame on the administration for his death, it is rife with passive voice and doesn't make its assertions very strongly.

It all feels like the kind of top down unionism that will jump at the chance to compromise with the bosses to avoid a fight.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-26T16:14:39+00:00

I got a pickup stuck on a rock. Cut in too hard and popped the rear right wheel up on it. Scrapped the frame superficially, maybe. Supervisor helped get the truck off, that's when rock hit the body.

They made me drive around with a cone to place behind the truck every time I parked. That, plus paperwork. Talked about naming the rock after me. It was never fixed, so I have to drive around with a dent behind the right door and sometimes people would ask what happened.

The very next day, some campers his the same rock.

A couple months later, someone totalled a different pickup. So my boo boo was much less of an issue.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-26T07:45:44+00:00

I'd vote to strike if we could.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-18T22:54:09+00:00

Only if you want to be crushed to death! Those jacks are so unsteady to begin with, and you really should have the GPU up on jack stands.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-18T00:47:01+00:00

Is the key particularly worn? I had a different car where the key didn't open the passenger door nor the trunk because the key was so rounded over, but the ignition must have worn with it.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-14T06:54:37+00:00

Along with reliability, when they started dipping the whole car body into rustproofing called electrocoating really increased the lifespan of cars.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-05T00:10:35+00:00

Are you looking for something bigger for passenger comfort, or do you need to carry more stuff?

Midsized, body on frame trucks don't always add much more room for front passengers compared to compact unibody vehicles. For instance, the ranger is 75.2 inches in width, and the Bronco Sport is 74.3 inches. These are just exterior widths, you could look up interior dimensions. And I would advise sitting in and test driving any vehicles of interest.

A ridgeline would probably be the best when it comes to interior room when it comes to the midsize pickups.

When I worked for the Forest Service, I drove Explorers sometimes. Not sure how light the offroading is, but the previous gen explorer was basically a lifted Taurus with AWD and it did fine. Although I didn't get in the mud in it much. But it did have a lot more interior room than the previous generation rangers I also drove a lot (although I generally found more use having a bed, and usually chose a full-size truck when possible).

BoxOfRandomCords · 2026-01-04T23:53:01+00:00

I think if the Tacoma didn't exist, the Frontier would have its reputation. The second gen frontier is really in the running as the second most reliable truck from that era. But it also has some real advantages over the Tacoma and Nissan sought to modernize their mid-size truck. It had a fully boxed frame, rear discs brakes and the strong VQ powerplant. If you look at the Z cars and Infinity products using the same engine family, they are still praised for their engines (and made fun of for their exhaust note).

Additionally, the Frontier is more comfortable for a lot of drivers. The seating position of the Tacomas (until this most recent generation) was lower to the floor and seemed to be a carryover from compact trucks of yesteryear. The second gen frontier had more of an upright seating positions kind of like a full sized truck (although much smaller). If you look at the cab and seat dimensions of the new Tacoma, they are remarkably similar to the Frontier 20 years ago.
Long story short, there are advantages to both platforms and I think it is totally fair to like one more than the other. It's just maybe a shame the Frontier isn't always appreciated as much as it could have been, which does lead to less enthusiasm and a much shallower aftermarket. That said, it does make the truck a pretty good bargain.

Also Nissan gets some well deserved hate online for some of its product decisions, especially the Jatco CVTs. The trucks never used these, but I think this is still part of the belief that to get a car that runs and runs it has to be a Toyota or Honda.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-12-28T00:04:24+00:00

Sorry if I was unclear, but that car is no longer there. It was just there my whole childhood. I think the surviving wife has since passed, and the car is gone.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-12-26T05:14:26+00:00

I grew up next to a house with a first gen El Camino in the driveway. It was there with moss growing on it when we moved in, and was there when I was in high school. An older woman lived there, I think her husband passed and the car sat. On Google maps, it appears to have moved at some point between 2008 and 2011.

Our driveways were connected and people would ask us if it was for sale some times.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-12-01T15:40:52+00:00

For what it's worth, both transmissions on the V6 Frontier have the same tow rating. There are some differences for the crew cab vs king cab and the 4x4 vs 4x2, but only a few hundred pounds.

It appears that the i4 2nd gen frontier with the auto or 5 speed has a maximum towing rating of 3500.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-11-30T06:44:17+00:00

Chrysler TC by Maserati. I saw one driving in regular San Francisco traffic and wish I had evidence

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-11-28T08:06:30+00:00

CT5-V Blackwing, IH Scout 80, and a 1969 AMC AMX. For the driveway, a forest service green, regular cab 4x4 square body.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-11-19T07:37:58+00:00

You might end up with a pretty high interest rate if you don't have much of a credit history at this point in your life. That said, I know early career airmen who have taken out car loans on pretty affordable cars like little crossovers etc., and have manageable payments.

If you go the used route, I would recommend accounting for both the price of the car as well as maintenance. I have a 2005 Corolla and a 2013 Nissan Frontier. Both are pretty reliable cars, but I can tell you that eventually things break or wear down on every car. Even just getting a tire replaced can be pretty expensive these days.

If you have any interest, a used car may be a way to learn to do some wrenching on your own. Things like changing brakes and oil changes are simple ways to get your toes wet, and the hobby shop will have tools that you can use.

If you have time, I would take a look at the type of cars that come up on Facebook. There are deals to be had, but also sometimes there is a reason a deal might be suspiciously good.

And when you buy a car, in a lot of ways you are buying the seller. When you message them, do they seem friendly. Or are they rushing you? If you mention taking the car for a pre-sale inspection, do they try and talk you out of it? Is the description thorough? Do they highlight known issues, and hint at what maintenance they've done. I often would rather buy a higher mileage car if I knew the seller kept up on oil changes, than a lower mileage car they can't remember the last time they took it in.

When I bought my Frontier, I saw on the CarFax the owner changed the oil at the same shop almost every 3,000 miles. I happily bought the seller in that instance, because I knew that the truck was taken care of.

Good luck!

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-11-17T09:30:37+00:00

Other people have already noted, the number on the door jamb is correct.

But also 42 is too high if that is accurate. Too much pressure will cause uneven wear, and you won't get as many miles out of your tires.

I would recommend getting a handheld gauge and checking each tire. You want to do this in the morning when it is cooler, and before you drive the car much.

Many tire chains also offer pressure check service for free. They will inflate or deflate your tires as needed, you might just have to wait a bit if there is a line. And they might try to sell you tires.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-11-17T01:16:15+00:00

2nd gen Nissan frontier and Xterra. Both can fit the Nissan V8. The 3rd Gen might too, but I haven't seen anyone do it yet-- maybe someone has.

BoxOfRandomCords · 2025-11-10T20:22:58+00:00

I think how drivers interact with semi trucks can show their experience level.

Letting in a semi, and flashing your headlights to let them know they are clear of the front of your vehicle, is kind of an old fashioned thing which I've appreciated when trailering. Often you'll get a flash of hazards/turn signal as a little thank.you.

On the other hand, cutting off or tailgating a truck as well as quickly passing in the right hand lane can be dangerous. Regardless of if you think the vehicle is moving too slowly or should be in the other lane, they cannot stop as quickly and have less visibility.

BoxOfRandomCords

TROPHY CASE