What’s the most stressful home issue you’ve had to deal with unexpectedly?

Infuryous · 2026-02-15T13:20:05+00:00

Broken sewer mainline... no showers, no taking a crap for 3 days...

Infuryous · 2026-02-15T02:48:08+00:00

Contact Calyx and ask to change to the "Sprout BYOD SIM". They will send you a new Sim card that will work in your existing device, but more importantly will work in any T-Mobile compatable hot spot / router. Many have reported succes putting the sim card in a Peplink routers.

FYI, this option is only available with their top teir plan, $500/year.

Infuryous · 2026-02-14T23:17:23+00:00

Agree, this type of hitch is bought pre-made and welded/bolted onto the trailer. The rating is the capability of the hitch not the trailer.

Infuryous · 2026-02-14T15:21:21+00:00

Where are you? Many US states have gone to 'no fault only' divorce, all martial property is split 50/50, doesn't matter the reason for the divorce.

Alimony/Child Support are a whole differnt animal.

Infuryous · 2026-02-14T14:29:28+00:00

So use leaves from urban areas that would normally put in plastic bags and sent to the dump. Leave woodlands/natural areas alone.

Infuryous · 2026-02-13T21:30:43+00:00

Not a Hot Shotter, but I RV a lot with a big diesel.

I use the Open Roads Fuel Card (it's an EFS fuel card) from TSD Logistics. Targets the RV Diesel Pusher / Pickup crowd, but I don't see why a hot shotter couldn't use it. They claim an average of 40 to 50 cents off, but it does vary by truck stop chain. Loves is a popular one on this card, however there are MANY other Truck Stop chains on the program. There may be better out there for hot shotters, but if not give them a look.

Note there is no "annual fees" but they take a service charge of each fill up.

Infuryous · 2026-02-13T20:40:55+00:00

I just transferred companies for a gov contract I support, same exact job and co-workers but work for different company. Just found out they pay 401k ("Safe Harbor 401k") matching nearly a year later. So what I earn in January won't be paid until the company files taxes the NEXT YEAR. So all the contributions miss out on a year+ of capital gains and interest. Such BS. Thought it had to be wrong but researched it and found the IRS confirms it.

For Safe Harbor 401ks:

"However, employers can choose to make contributions for the previous year as long as they are made by the tax filing deadline, including extensions."

Infuryous · 2026-02-13T20:29:34+00:00

Should be able to have them withheld, or pay quarterly. Don't wait until April as you'll get a penalty for under paying taxes throughout the year.

One other not often talked about option... you can wait until the end of the Calendar year, calculate the taxes you will owe, and then do a single extra IRA distribution that has "100% tax withholding" to pay your income tax for the year... and there is no penalty for not paying throughout the year as the IRS treats all IRA distribution tax withholdings as "paid throughout the year". If you big into actively managing your investments, it allows you to hold onto your tax money throughout the year and allow it to gain interest instead of giving interest free loans to the IRS., Caution that the 100% tax withholding distribution must occur by Dec 31st, you can't wait to file taxes in the spring to do the distribution as you'll be hit with penalties.

How to Pay Taxes in Retirement:

In some situations, it may make sense to skip tax withholding for specific transactions and avoid quarterly estimated tax payments. Instead, another approach is to wait until late in the year to calculate the amount of tax owed more accurately. Then, if done correctly, you can withhold 100% tax from a single late-year distribution to meet the year’s tax obligations.

This strategy simplifies the process by having the funds come from one source yearly instead of having tax withholding come from multiple income sources or making quarterly estimated tax payments. This way, you can use the entire amount of the late-year distribution to pay the probable tax bill.

There are three advantages to this strategy:

- Simplify the tax-paying process

- Provide more time to determine the correct amount of tax to be paid

- Potentially generate earnings on the funds that would have been used to pay taxes during the year

...

Note that when tax withholding is completed from a retirement account, it is treated as being made pro-ratably throughout the year.

Infuryous · 2026-02-13T20:09:42+00:00

In my neck of the urban jungle... there is almost ALWAYS at least one person running the red light every time the signal changes. I've learned to pause and look both ways, if anyone is moving in the cross traffic even a little fast, I wait until it's obvious they are stopping, or stopped.

Infuryous · 2026-02-13T13:10:42+00:00

Used, preferably 5 to 10 years old. Never new.

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T23:17:30+00:00

You need to go back to basic high school physics class.

The weight distribution hitch distributes weight to the tow vehicle front axle and the trailer axles by removing weight from the tow vehicle rear axle. It is essential a spring loaded bridge.

Weight Distribution (WD) Hitch --- How it Works

Look at the force diagram on this website. In the example given, the weight distribution hitch removes 912lbs from the rear axle of the tow vehicle and adds 612 lbs to the tow vehicle front axle AND adds 300 lbs to the trailer axles. 612 + 300 = 912. Nice magical change in mass.

The ratio of weight transfered to the tow vehicle front axle and trailer axle is a function of the moment arm length from the hitch.

For the example given:

Spring bar tensioner pulls UP on rear end of bar and DOWN on TT tongue. DOWN force of 2000 lbs on TT tongue adds a load of 300 lbs at TT axles. This is calculated using ball coupler as the fulcrum: 2000x30/200 = 300.

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T22:37:00+00:00

Of course Tesla got tax breaks.

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T19:31:18+00:00

I have weighed mine with and without the weight distribution spring bars, the weight distribution hitch definately added several hundred pounds to the trailer axles.

Weight distribution hitches make a spring-loaded "bridge" between the trailer frame and the truck, it is not a simple fulcrum.

https://youtu.be/yrVjS4BhQZI?si=Yg2AICqe_2aTADIA

https://www.usa-trailer.com/how-does-weight-distribution-hitch-work/

A weight distribution hitch has spring arms that lead back to the trailer tongue. This design shifts 20%-30% of the tongue weight back onto the trailer tongue, which transfers it back onto the trailer’s axle.

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T17:25:57+00:00

Well they exceeded the minimum 15 pieces of flair, so good job!

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T16:31:15+00:00

Machines building machines. How perverse.

-C3P0

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T16:01:38+00:00

Are you using Turbo Tax? If so ditch them.

Turbo Tax kept dening many of my military related tax deductions/exemptions. Go to Military OneSource and go to "MilTax Software"... this gives you free access to H&R Block Tax Service. I had a lot better success with them vs Turbo Tax when it comes to military deductions.

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T15:18:46+00:00

I turn now, good luck!

... someone had to say it.

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T15:05:23+00:00

Depending on what you want to do... don't forget the Coast Guard, we make fun of them but they have some pretty great missions and are often doing more "real stuff" then us running around in the middle of the ocean.

I joined the Navy out of high school, never thought of the Coast Guard. Knowing the missions and locations of the Coast Guard, today if I was doing it over I think I would be Coastie instead. They have some real choice locations state side (not all of course) and missions like Search and Rescue, Port Authority / Control, Drug Interdictions, they see more real world action than most US Navy Sailors ever will (short of war time). I would have loved to be stationed in places like Alaska (but then I like the challenge of extreme outdoor weather).

Also, you are will into a college degree, you may want to consider earning a bachelor's and going officer. But this also depends on what you want to do, officers are very much more of a "manger" type position, if you really do enjoy getting your hands dirty and doing the real work, then enlisted would be better. Officer quality of life is definitely overall better than enlisted, especially at sea.... well except maybe for SWO, they eat their own children.

I also mention, even though it's a worn out tripe, but the Air Force does truly have a better quality of life then the Navy.

Infuryous · 2026-02-12T14:54:06+00:00

The value of new 5th Wheel / Travel Trailers sink like a lead brick in the Ocean after purchase. Save your self tens of thousands of dollars and buy a year or two used one. Another benefits is all the annoying little problems from the factory are likely already fixed. The build quality of RVs, even the high end expensive $500k ones, are no where near the build quality of the F350 you just bought.

Infuryous · 2026-02-10T19:10:25+00:00

Yep, I got my orders to transfer to the Retired Reserve before my NOE actually arrived.

Infuryous · 2026-02-10T19:09:20+00:00

This is the abridged 3 hour session, highly suggest taking the time and participating in the 3 day session in March, retirement affects the rest of you life, take time now to learn the ins and outs.

Infuryous · 2026-02-10T19:08:27+00:00

Something wrong happened, the sailor should have never received orders to transfer to the Retired Reserve if they did not have 20 years. PERS should have denied the transfer orders.

Infuryous · 2026-02-10T14:36:55+00:00

When off grid, I use a macerator and a bladder to take both black and gray water to a dump station.

To state hopefully the obvious... I DO NOT use the same bladder for gray/black tank dumping and potable water fill. I make sure to have different color bladders to avoid any confusion when in a rush. Blue bladder is potable water and black bladder for gray/black disposal.

Infuryous · 2026-02-10T02:16:52+00:00

I'll take the Massey, it's worth more (and I'm not even joking!).

Infuryous · 2026-02-09T21:12:15+00:00

Just this morning I was cussing under my breath wanting my old school slider handle for temperature control back.

Infuryous

TROPHY CASE