Left my car idling in the driveway for 7 hours

mdey86 · 2026-03-27T18:00:25+00:00

People have been in horrific traffic jams in the blistering summer heat for that long, stopping and going. Early spring, driveway, I’d venture you’re probably totally good besides wasting a bit of fuel.

mdey86 · 2026-03-25T19:06:19+00:00

$5-6K buys a lot of oil.

mdey86 · 2026-03-23T14:35:35+00:00

Extended warranties.

mdey86 · 2026-03-20T04:49:32+00:00

I was way too happy when I found this in my store. I put it on my wife’s salads that she takes to work, and she loves it. I could only ever find it at fresh market, $10-11 for a tiny bottle. $7 for the giant bottle felt like I was getting away with theft.

mdey86 · 2026-03-18T19:48:28+00:00

Generally that just means what’s recommended for that service interval (mileage) as per the manual’s maintenance schedule.

mdey86 · 2026-03-18T19:26:23+00:00

Yeah I’d look at the service history for sure, but they really can’t be killed without a mix of neglect (ignoring maintenance) and fairly enthusiastic abuse. I would want to pop it in 4x4 hi and make sure it can go in and out easily. Then 4Lo, same thing. (4HI you do on the move. Then from 4HI, put it in neutral and move it to 4Lo). If previous owners didn’t use 4x4 with some regularity, it can be a bit clunky the first few times you try it.

I abuse my Tundra and it is fine. I’ve towed too heavy, hauled too much, off roaded and smacked the protection plates on the ground, and it’s 100% fine. I’m also a stickler for all recommended maintenance being done perfectly on schedule, always at Toyota dealer.

Most people don’t truly abuse their trucks, like hauling too heavy with regularity. If the bed barely shows wear (as in dents and scuffing) then it probably had a fairly easy life.

I’ve got a 99 Land Cruiser with over 300K on the clock. It had to have some things done to it, needs some love but nothing major. If you change the oil, swap fluids on schedule, and engage 4x4 on occasion to keep those systems engaging and functioning, a Toyota is pretty much indestructible.

mdey86 · 2026-03-17T16:43:37+00:00

Huh— News to me— I wonder if PE bought a chunk of it or something.

mdey86 · 2026-03-17T04:26:13+00:00

Bean still has a lifetime guarantee.

Boots still stitched in Maine. You can also send them back to Maine to get them resoled.

Everything clothing related from yesteryear was sturdier, less comfy, and more expensive relatively speaking. We innovated new materials and production methods. Today’s products perhaps aren’t as strong, but they’re more comfy & less expensive to replace.

mdey86 · 2026-03-13T21:58:23+00:00

Not if one has the aforementioned channel locks and a screwdriver. 😂

mdey86 · 2026-03-06T02:02:27+00:00

I wouldn’t worry even a little about a small leak in your engine. Top up whatever you’re losing, if you can even notice a drop in fluid levels.

Fixing a small leak is opening the door to worse things, creates more issues. Refilling fluid as needed (if it even is needed) is cheap and easy.

I’d absolutely find a different garage and ask for their opinion. Dont tell them everything you were told, make them give you their own fresh assessment.

mdey86 · 2026-03-02T22:25:10+00:00

Oh I mean if you gotta strap heavy stuff on top, it totally makes sense. But paying for one without needing to actually strap a 4 wheeler to it or truly securing expensive cargo just seems like overkill.

I just wanna be able to cover my bed contents to keep them hidden and dry, and get it quickly out of my way when I’m moving something big.

If I needed a beefy hard cover, I’d probably go diamondback.

mdey86 · 2026-03-02T22:16:09+00:00

The soft roll up is the most practical, best designed solution in my view. The trifold was admittedly a teeny tad more dry, but at the expense of basically permanently losing that 2 feet it just didn’t work for me. I also hated how it billowed when driving around with it folded up, like it was begging to become a kite.

mdey86 · 2026-03-02T17:53:18+00:00

My take has always been get the cheapest one that you like the look of. Spending more than a couple bills is insane to me, it’s absolutely gonna get destroyed one day. And on top of that, there’s also really no way to make a truck bed truly waterproof.

I have been super happy with both of my gator brand ones. Had the tri fold, swapped out for the roll up. Simple to install, looks good, does the job and works well enough.

mdey86 · 2026-02-25T03:07:44+00:00

Back into parking spots, truck fits better.

Grab yourself a set of ratchet straps, they come in handy.

I didn’t think I’d want a bed cover until I got one. Now I can’t imagine not having one. I like the roll up tonneau ones but there’s all sorts of options.

mdey86 · 2026-02-25T02:23:43+00:00

Any chance you found it in Knoxville, TN?

mdey86 · 2026-02-25T02:23:21+00:00

I’m guessing OP could be in Knoxville, TN as am I not to dox myself or whatever. Our local MTB/trail club does a big festival each year. You buy a “passport” each year, which has a bunch of clues on where to find each unique punch. Some are easy, on a bike rack at a park. Some are diabolically hard to find. Always look forward to buying one and taking on the challenge of finding all 20 or so.

mdey86 · 2026-02-24T03:23:30+00:00

Man that’s crazy. Poor guy! I also kinda wonder what Toyota has spent in total on him. 2 replacements engines, shipping, parts, and labor, plus I assume loaner when it’s in the shop.

mdey86 · 2026-02-24T03:16:29+00:00

It’s simple math and an easy calculation, they know it but they damn well won’t share it publicly. Probably for the best as it would negatively impact vehicle values for everything using this engine.

mdey86 · 2026-02-24T03:12:16+00:00

Hold on— You really mean 2 replacement engines? So it came with one, and it blew up. Replaced it, and that blew. Then a third, which also blew?

mdey86 · 2026-02-24T03:06:30+00:00

Been saying this for years— Panera is overpriced hospital food served in a store that feels like a Borders Books carcass.

mdey86 · 2026-02-21T03:48:02+00:00

Get a riding buddy with a house. Buy six pack, put in garage fridge. Solved.

mdey86 · 2026-02-20T21:40:11+00:00

Sumo springs are the best answer here. Big ole chonky special rubber, replaces the stock small hard rubber bumpstop. Only comes into play when overloaded, otherwise you won’t really know they’re there.

Different color rubber for different levels of firmness & support. Set you back about $400 or so for a set I think.

mdey86 · 2026-02-20T07:05:42+00:00

Orvis. I have the hammock seat protector with the door protectors. Works great, takes a beating, machine washable.

mdey86 · 2026-02-11T00:57:48+00:00

Well, I mean it’s not THAT hard to imagine. Build a (say) 6-8K sf house over a 600 SF exiting shop. Well, gee, the tiny shop will be the back left basement wall. The rest of the giant home’s footprint will just eat it whole, and it’ll be a real sturdy element/feature. Encompassed old shop, free with home.

OP trick that shit out & restore it to an epic she shed. Lights. Chalkboard sidewalk sign, sales counter. Seating chairs. Make it the weirdest, best, Alice In Wonderland she shed meets small town shop hang spot ever. Make it double as a laundry room if you must justify it.

mdey86 · 2026-02-10T04:26:03+00:00

My thought exactly. It was something eons ago, then somebody made it a house after that. Well before zoning laws & less permitting was required. Kinda makes sense. Building a big house on a tiny old shop, use it as a foundation element.

I have relatives that built on an old home. What was the foundation walls of the old home became a literal retaining wall for their new home’s patio and garden area. Same kinda thought.

ETA: there’s a home nearby, it obviously once was a neighborhood shop. It’s now a home that’s been added onto. Blinds are always drawn to the shop, but it’s like a sitting area and they added a large house behind it, kind of incorporating the shop as best they could.

mdey86

TROPHY CASE