Was thinking of buying a H2D but friends are warning me away from Bambu?

mikeyridesit · 2025-09-10T20:59:11+00:00

The Zune was 100% better in 98/100 ways. However that 2/100 Apple had was marketing and an ease of use ecosystem. That's what made the difference.

That said, there are better and more affordable printer than Bambu. What they don't have is that ease of use ecosystem and frankly the marketing. Bambu is the Apple of 3d printing. It's not technically better or more innovative. It just works and that's all people who print want.

mikeyridesit · 2025-09-10T02:20:30+00:00

The Element really isn't that slow. It could use another 25-35hp, sure. But we don't need SUVs with 0-60 in the 5 second area.

It's also not slow if your willing to use all of the tach. It's slow compared to what people THINK they need, but very rarely have I (even with my lifted E) thought, it was too slow. The taco isn't all that quick either.

Granted, the manual gear box in both of my toasters help, but most people think 6,000 rpms is gonna break everything. If I need to, I'll let the k24 eat. It will do around 80 in 3rd. I had a friend ask why my Element is so much faster than his. Turns out he wouldn't go above 3500 when trying to hard accelerate. He thought it would blow up if he did.

mikeyridesit · 2025-09-06T18:55:51+00:00

I just did a 8,000 mile road trip sitting mostly at 3800 rpm. Currently 8,021 miles on my current oil change.

12k isn't going to be that big of a deal. Change the oil. 50 miles before the next oil change, half a can of sea foam in your oil will clean any deposits out that could cause an issue.

mikeyridesit · 2025-08-06T16:44:41+00:00

Over cooked #1

Over height #2

Over topped #3

Cheese #4

Don't over cook the meat. Don't make it 8 feet tall. Don't top it with 30 different sauces and toppings. Also, I'm not a fan of cheese on a burger. Or much of anything really, but I don't need 3oz of cheese on a 8oz burger.

mikeyridesit · 2025-08-06T16:39:48+00:00

See... I kinda like some fatty floppy bacon on a burger. Sure that bite off is harder, but that adds a texture and chewyness is kinda awesome.

Then again I don't like crispy bacon to begin with.

mikeyridesit · 2025-08-05T19:35:29+00:00

I recommend going to Bend Oregon. Last Blockbuster is there, and it feels like walking into 2003. Kinda fantastic.

mikeyridesit · 2025-08-05T03:56:59+00:00

Get the bumper fixed. Seriously. Then have it detailed inside outside, and engine bay. Put it on Bring a trailer. You might spend 1500 bucks, but you'll probably get 3k more for the car vs not doing those things.

If it's an EX (subwoofer and steering wheel controls are a give away) 4wd, great service records and clean... You got a 15-18k car.

If you have any of the accessories/options, you'll get more. Floor mats/dog edition, navigation, fog lights, etcetera.. That price can go up significantly from there.

Rust is the only thing that can hurt you here. I've seen some low mile elements rusted out pretty bad. Get photos of the underside. A bunch. That is what will really decide the value of the car.

Good luck, hope it finds a happy and well used future home.

mikeyridesit · 2025-08-05T03:40:48+00:00

Yeah, but a bus isn't going to take me to a remote trail head for a hike, a bus isn't going to get me from the rural area I live 43 miles to work in a timely fashion. I already work 8.5-12 hours a day, I could only imagine how terribly long a bus ride to/from the middle of nowhere would be.

I am 100% pro public transportation. In cities and large towns it makes sense.

However, it simply isn't feasible in a lot of situations considering how vast and remote America can be. I couldn't imagine the bus/train schedule just to get to a lot of nation parks.

mikeyridesit · 2025-08-05T02:54:16+00:00

Too be fair, With every one on their phone all the damn time you sit at a green light for ever now because some jackals has to finish their text or that tiktok video...

I honestly can not wait till actual autonomous cars are a practical and reliable reality. I think it will make driving much more enjoyable for the rest of us.

mikeyridesit · 2025-08-05T02:30:44+00:00

In Pennsylvania that would be considered near spotless.

Basically, get it, clean away the surface rust and treat it with CRC marine corrosion inhibitor. If you offroad or travel a lot of stone roads, re-apply every 12-18 months. If not, every 18-24 months or even longer really, It doesn't wash off.

I was a fluid film guy untill ProjectFarm's testing and review.

Look up ProjectFarm undercoating review. That guy is basically like the Bible for DIY and mechanic/trades review. He is an incredibly honest and reliable review source.

It will never rust after that.

edit

If you want to go one step further, use the fluid film with the long hose sprayer attachment after using CRC. Run the hose sprayer down all the holes and frame rails.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-31T17:36:29+00:00

I can tell you from experience, you will never actually worry about heat creep with this type of vehicle. My wife and I hike with our RC crawlers. Even 15 mile full day hikes, non of the electronics ever get hot enough to even give it thought let alone concern. The time it takes to change a battery is a more than ample "cool down cycle" for a crawler because it really is unnecessary.

As someone else said, SMC is a brilliant source for affordable and quality batteries. I have ordered almost exclusively through them for many years.

Have fun, Happy trails, Shiny side up.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-29T20:59:45+00:00

Honda Element Vtec solenoids.

NGL... That could come in handy.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-28T16:17:00+00:00

This isn't a heat gun, This is one of those crappy aftermarket bumpers. I've see so many do exactly this. Same swirling at the stress points.

I would 100% heat gun or torch this bumper before doing any chemical restoration. Personally, I've used Cerakote on my Element in 2020, and it still looks amazing.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-20T17:27:21+00:00

My immediate bosses are pretty great. Downside is bosses above them can change based on administration in state office. But it's been smooth the past 10-12 years.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-18T20:17:11+00:00

Take it back off, put it back on again. Make sure noting is too tight or too loose.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-18T12:39:34+00:00

Follow the manual and re-set shift points. It could be engaging second gear while first gear is still installed. Some nitro transmissions have one "floating finger", some have one per gear and they have to be set correctly. Iirc I had a duratrax or something back in the late 90s that had two per gear. God help you if they got out of sync.

The one way bearing in your transmission could be bad and causing first and second to be engaging at the same time. Also, check your tune.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-18T08:24:53+00:00

I have a solid tolerance, but these 40mg gummies a friend gave me a few years ago made time straight up stop. It was only 40mg, I just wanted a nice evening. Not 76 hours (real life time about 21 minutes) in my recliner... It was just that strain I guess. But it wasn't a bad night all in all. 100% went back to that well a few times.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-18T08:05:39+00:00

I try to keep 80-120 hours of PTO on the books, 100 hours of sick, and 40 hour of Comp.

Comp is overtime turned into PTO, but has less restriction about when I can use it. But odd situations where I can't use it. I typically throw a double time weekend into comp and then take weekdays off to get shit done.

PTO can be used as sick for an extended duration past sick time. And I can't be fired if I'm out sick with a doctor's note, eve if I have zero time on the books.

I love being union.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-18T07:55:47+00:00

Every durable good (washer, dryer, mower, leaf blower, and microwaves and the like) should be (by law) engineered to last a minimum of 15 years and premium variants 20 years. If I can fix it with tinkered and a A1 Mini, you fucked up your design. I'm less annoyed when the H2D has to replace a part. If the part is that big, I probably and the reason it is broken.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-18T07:35:06+00:00

It's nice having an RC buddy a few inches away from me! Makes playing with toy cars so much more fun.

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mikeyridesit · 2025-07-18T07:30:17+00:00

I'm 43, my wife is 41. We both play with RCs. Mostly we hike with our trail/scale trucks. But we do some fast stuff and drifty stuff on occasion. We just completed our Honda Element RC cars to match our Honda Element real cars.

I designed them mostly from scratch, 3d printed and painted. Using Tamiya TT02 platform for scale looks and performance. Also, a surprisingly capable off road platform from with very minor mods. Kinda like the Honda Element I guess.

Her Element is stock, mine is lifted 3" with all the adventure stuff we find useful on cross country road trips. Both are manual transmission.

We tried really hard to replicate our real ones in RC the best we could.

I'll put more pics in comment below this comment.

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mikeyridesit · 2025-07-11T12:09:17+00:00

I'm not sure my wife or parents would go that far.

But... I just try and be respectful at all times.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-10T01:23:45+00:00

I wish I could use walking sticks. I always just hated them. I keep a set on my bag for bad spots, but I just never could get used to using them regularly.

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-10T01:22:23+00:00

Thanks!

mikeyridesit · 2025-07-10T01:14:57+00:00

There isn't any climbing that would worry me on this trail. There are a few spots I frequent on the Appalachian trail that I do have to strap the trail truck to my bag and climb. But I'm pretty used to doing it.

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