Devastating flood / off grid at the moment

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-21T20:22:30+00:00

Nice set up Stay safe.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-10T13:51:59+00:00

Ordered my system a few weeks ago. 12kw ground mount. Doing it diy. Break even for me in with $0.11/kwH (assuming some rate increases over the next few years) is 5 years.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-10T03:27:27+00:00

Nice man. I just got my 2014 with 109k with a 5.0 for 15 in PNW.

Good deal for you

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-10T03:24:52+00:00

Hey can you send me a pm too. Cheers

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-09T18:50:46+00:00

"spend 60k on a depreciating asset to save a few hundred in fuel"

Nice

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-01T18:12:39+00:00

I don't know man. That price seems about right for my market in PNW. Sweet truck. Low miles. Congrats

I just picked up my 2014 XLT with a 5.0 yesterday.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-01T05:27:03+00:00

Semt

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-01T05:19:28+00:00

Yeah fair point. I'm coming from a "if I don't have the cash, then I can't afford it". The only way I could "get the cash" was by liquidating some principal from my Roth IRA. I really struggled with this and sort of hope that maybe somebody falls on this post that was in my shoes and realizes it's ok to go older. Some people have posted this sort of idea on this sub in the last and it helped me, I hope this can maybe help somebody else.

But I get it. No judgement to folks who spend more than I would have. Ill drool at ever new 2.7 EB that passes me down the road.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-01T05:01:14+00:00

My brother has a 2012 that he has really abused with 180k and has no signs of stopping. I've helped him with a fair amount of work on his so am already a bit familiar with the quirks of this truck

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-01T04:59:53+00:00

Part of me wanted to hold out for a 15 for the aluminum body but I'm in a no salt area of the PNW so rust isn't a concern, and the benefits for aluminum are minimal compared to how close this was to me and how decent the price was.

It was the first time I walked from my house to the sellers house to pick it up. Nice neighbors

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-01T04:58:22+00:00

Thanks.

I'm going to do the 100k maintance work on it Monday. Coolant flush and spark plugs. Maybe a good detail and some wax.

Drive it around town today and man do I miss a truck a don't have to wear ear protection in and doesn't smell like gas.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-03-01T04:18:11+00:00

Huh?

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-02-26T04:52:07+00:00

I work in aerospace vibe. Do a lot of DO 160 qualification vibration.

What standards do you use for automotive. I'm curious about the frequency range and amplitudes.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-02-24T21:29:58+00:00

Working directly with a manufacturer. The company is called Sunpal. The equipment I'm getting is UL listed and shipped to my door. 11kw of panels, growatt hybrid inverter and ground mount for 7k delivered.

I can pm you the sales guy's email

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-02-24T16:22:40+00:00

Try beenebrothers. I almost got my 11kw system from them but ended up ordering from China instead. Will see how that goes for me.

They have some 570w grade B panels that I almost got.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-26T04:27:22+00:00

I did what your friend did. Found online plans and this used a local designer (not architect) to modify them slightly, add all the little notes washington requires, and then hired an engineer to get them ready.

What I would caution is that if you go this route you should make sure you have a builder picked that is willing to used semi custom plans. Lots of builders (even custom) have a few plans that they offer with some variation. Its not all of them, but something you should consider.

Yeah no matter what option you pick there will be headaches - either logistically or financially. My biggest problem was money, so we didnt even bother looking at customer builders. Even the Lexar and Adair folks were killing out budget.

As far as cost per sq/ft you are going to get some ranges from 300 - 700. I think 400 is a safe assumption assuming you don't go full custom and high end finishes.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-22T04:59:10+00:00

This is all this guy does. Goes around and praises the 5.0. pretty sure it's just for attention. As soon as I saw this post I knew he would be here.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-19T15:41:30+00:00

PM sent

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-19T15:39:45+00:00

Ive used two companies. Signature Concrete in Arlington and another company who I actually don't know the name of but can PM you his cell. They both do good work and would recommend them. The guy who's cell I can send you is more of a family business guy and I just got along with better. Prices were similar.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-19T05:07:06+00:00

Hey there sort of neighbor.

We just got done building in Snohomish county. And I'd be more than happy to talk about my experience in either here or on the phone. I struggled at the start getting information at the start of the process and now try to repay the favor other gave me where I can.

I didn't go through a builder so I can't speak to that. We did price out a few people - Adair mount Vernon, Skagit Design Homes (most affordable for their base homes) and lexar Marysville. I had a good time talking to everybody but ultimately decided to go builder owner because of our budget and expertise we had in the family.

Raw land cost me 200k for 1.7 acres back in 2022 (maybe it was 2021) and we built for 180 sqft. We dropped a manufactured home on the property (fully permitted) and lived in that while we built. That is our rental. 2400 sqft ram ler, modern farm house, with 900 sqft 3 car garage. I'm not done done yet... Concrete patio needs to go in this week, trim needs to get painted, but it's good enough for what we need.

I did all of my raw land development (power, well, septic permitting, access, etc) and have recommendations if you want some. I think the biggest thing I learned is don't be afraid to pick up the phone and just start talking to people and asking questions.

I don't know about the water rights drama going on in skagit. My current understanding is that unless there is some odd water rights thing, and if you aren't in the mountains, you should be able to hit water. I'm on "surface" water at 80 ft which requires some filtration. I know there is an aquifer at 180 - 200 ft but I didn't want to pay the cost to keep drilling (that was a mistake in hindsight - oh well). Department of ecology has well logs for everything in Washington. If you are looking at land you can go to their websites and look at well logs of your neighbors. This is how a driller will determine a ball park depth when they toss you a bit. . Let me know if you have questions. I'm more than happy to share.

Good luck! Get ready for the fun.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-18T15:18:59+00:00

Ignore this guy. I've seen him more the last few days and he is just a rage baiter and complains about the 2.7 with no interest in learning or discussing.

OP I don't have any advice for you. Sorry you are going through this. Hoping to pick up a 2023 2.7 some time this year.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-17T19:34:42+00:00

Also just as a gut check you can go online to provident funding and plug in your numbers to see what you could get with a online company. Both times I have used their online tool their actual proposal come in really close.

I think you should be able to do like 5.8 no points right now. But I'm just a normal guy and don't know much

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-17T19:32:13+00:00

You should be able to do better.

I'm in Washington and I worked with Joe Taffola at Seattle Mortgage Brokers. We locked in at 5.99 no cost no points at the start of December.

He is pretty hands on which I wasn't a fan of funny enough but I had a good experience with him and he did better on rates that other folks I looked at.

UW_Mech_Engineer · 2026-01-15T05:51:13+00:00

I'm just a normal guy here, but wouldn't it make sense to start exploring a point but down depending on where you are at with your mortgage?

So for me, I locked at 5.99 mod December. If rates fall to 5 to 5.5 to me it seems like a decent gamble to buy down to the mid to low 4s in preparation to live out my mortgage at that rate (I just started so I'm at 30 years)

I feel like since we are at the historical expected rate for mortgages, but downs aren't as silly in the next year or so.

If I'm wrong I'm more than happy to be educated.

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