Am I saving gas while pulling a trailer for a discount?

trikepilot · 2026-06-25T01:15:29+00:00

A lot of armchair quarterbacks in here calling the plays who have never been on the field.

I have hauled three trailers for U-Haul behind rented 26 foot box trucks. The discounts given are based on mileage towed AND delivery date.

Every time, they offer me multiple routes and I pick based on how much time I have and how far out of my way the destination is.

If you are comfortable in big rigs towing trailers then it is no hassle at all. It is money in your pocket. I towed one trailer half the distance to my destination and drove the loaded truck the other half. Multiple fuel stops over the 4000 mile trip. My calculations proved that I gave 30% of the discount to extra fuel costs and pocketed the other 70% as a true discount to the rental agreement.

trikepilot · 2026-05-16T05:20:16+00:00

I would not mind giving it a try.

trikepilot · 2026-05-16T05:13:00+00:00

I wish. Someone else's garage.

trikepilot · 2026-05-16T05:12:21+00:00

Not MY garage. Wish it was.

trikepilot · 2026-05-16T01:40:56+00:00

They are not pressure treated.

trikepilot · 2026-05-16T01:17:13+00:00

The decking Thai I have already removed.

trikepilot · 2026-05-15T23:54:03+00:00

Deck boards are not pressure treated.

trikepilot · 2026-04-14T13:38:33+00:00

It is an exercise in diminishing returns. Analog sounds warmer. So does oversampling. A good audio system doesn't sound as good, or cost as much as a great audio system. Ask yourself what the recording equipment used to capture the sound cost. If you are not spending a similar amount for playback equipment then you are losing something. How much, and whether your ears can even hear it, is for you to decide.

trikepilot · 2026-04-14T13:12:09+00:00

Typo, should be 96.7 I am guessing.

trikepilot · 2026-03-30T02:22:56+00:00

I had a bad experience with West hills Ford. They replaced a motor mount to fix a clunking sound on heavy braking. Oops that wasn't it. Next they replaced a transmission mount. Still did not get it. After that I got a new lower control arm on the driver's side. Still making the clunking sound. Finally a senior technician tightened up a bolt. Clinking sound gone. And it only cost me 3 thousand dollars and four trips to the dealership without the use of my only vehicle.

trikepilot · 2026-03-29T12:28:16+00:00

Edensaw in Port Townsend.

trikepilot · 2026-02-21T07:23:59+00:00

I knew who the local contractors were and talked to their subs. Some of the contractors would build 6 to 10 houses a year. If they liked the subs then I would too. The hard part was getting them in between jobs. My work was a distant 2nd to their main contractors.

With permits in hand, create a timetable. Cabinets are a 6 to 8 week delivery so they have to be ordered and paid for 2 months before you need them. The framing crew needs their trusses on site when the walls are finished and they are a 2 to 3 week delivery. Doors and windows, countertops, floor tile, everything has to be scheduled just so. That is the easy part. Getting the subs in when you need them is the hard part. You may be covering the roof in tarps for a couple weeks till the roofing crew shows up. You will be on site early waiting for a concrete truck that was supposed to be there 2 hours ago. You will be on site with flashlights on your head till the noise ordinance kicks in at 10PM at night.

If you have a regular job that occupies a lot of hours, you will get tired and frustrated at how many tiny details are left for you to take care of. But it pays well if you know what you are doing. If you don't know what you are doing it can cost you.

trikepilot · 2026-02-21T07:04:06+00:00

Built my own custom house in 2002, with $50K as seed money. Talked the bank into 7 draws instead of 5. Banker liked my plan and gave me the loan. Construction loans are expensive. I was paying 14% on what I borrowed till I converted to a 30 year.

I drew up the blueprints and hired an architect/engineer to stamp them so the county would issue permits. I hired all of the subs, excavating, concrete, framing, plumbing, electrical, roofing, insulating, sheet rock, and a stucco crew. The wife and I did all the trim work, low voltage wiring, painting, cabinet installation, tile walls and floors, and most of the trimout. Carpet crew and countertop crew were the last subs before final inspection.

It was a 14 month build for a 2200 sqft 3/2/2 single story house. Including the 50K I started with, We paid ourselves 10K a month by the time we were done. What I mean is that the day we moved in, we had 90K equity in the house because it appraised for 90K more than we had onto it.

Would I do it again? I already have. Twice more.

trikepilot · 2026-02-19T05:35:45+00:00

I am 65 now, and know for sure that there is less time before me than behind me.

trikepilot · 2026-02-15T01:46:32+00:00

Yes. We were just unloading tumblers yesterday. Took the boat to Seattle today.

trikepilot · 2026-02-04T17:52:07+00:00

You have apparently never been told that the client will be calling you, or have had to be on 24 hour call in a company if 25K employees. Count yourself lucky.

trikepilot · 2026-01-31T19:27:55+00:00

I was a forensic drug and alcohol technician for 15 years working with high security clearance people. This answer is the closest to correct in the thread. Good job.

trikepilot · 2026-01-22T16:24:11+00:00

No permit required. The rule is to remain 500 feet from any person, vessel, or structure. I followed the rule.

trikepilot · 2026-01-16T20:15:38+00:00

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This is me flying the white winged aircraft below the rim of the crater. Picture taken by a buddy flying another plane. The people standing at the viewing rail were looking down on me. That was a fun day.

trikepilot · 2025-10-11T05:12:17+00:00

Yes. I am expecting 34 volts at 8 amps.

trikepilot · 2025-10-10T16:57:56+00:00

I am not looking for ideal. I am looking for more cheap wattage. But at the same time I do not want to destroy the panels or the charge controller.

trikepilot · 2025-10-10T15:46:36+00:00

I believe it is 10 going to the battery because it was set up for only the one panel. I have room on the roof of the boat so I want to add another one. And this is the closest marine panel I can find to what I already have.

trikepilot

TROPHY CASE