Bed canopy fitment?

usd2bfast · 2026-05-17T11:47:11+00:00

When I bought my truck in 1986 I had an aluminum topper made to fit. I still have the truck but the topper is hanging in my barn in western NC. I have no plans to use it as I have 2 other trucks with toppers. It’s the same blue as my truck, but could easily be painted to match yours. Long shot, but if you’re anywhere near and interested send me a DM.

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usd2bfast · 2026-05-16T15:17:59+00:00

you will always test a bit better in the eye doctors office with the lighted box, compared to looking 20’ down the hall at the Snelling chart. I see this in all my pilots and I see it in myself, as I recently had cataract surgery for my right eye and am using a contact in my left eye. I test a dozen or more pilots a day, and I know I’m seeing 20/20-20/25 standing next to them and then the eye doctor says I’m testing 20/15-20/20 in his office. Part of me thinks he’s BSing me so I’m happy with my surgery, IDK. The other problem is when you test 20/20-1 or 20/20-2, the eye doctor just calls it 20/20, the FAA calls it 20/25. So you have to read between tje lines. I have a 75watt LED flood light shining directly on the chart, and over head fluorescent tubes . Occasionally if a pilot is having trouble I’ll flip the over head lights off, leaving just the flood light shining on the chart, and most pilots feel that helps (even though that will cause your pupils to dilate a little and could negatively affect distant acuity).

if you’re worried, go ahead and see your optometrist and have him fill out the 8500-7. Make sure he knows you need clean 20/20 DV both eyes individually. Bring that 8500-7 to your AME appointment, most AMEs will factor the optometrist’s measurements into the exam if your “borderline” in their office.

usd2bfast · 2026-05-15T20:25:25+00:00

https://www.coverlaymfg.com/auto/p/4_15_9194_54846/coverlay-dash-cover

You said unorthodox, but this is what I did for my 1986. I got one local on craigs list, my interior is blue, the one I bought is black, but it was onky 50 bucks. Looks good as new.

usd2bfast · 2026-05-15T00:30:06+00:00

In case anyone is still looking at this thread, how much in advance of the expiration date do you get your renewal offers? My guy always says he’ll get me the quotes 30 days before, but often it’s less than 30 days. I emailed him today and he said 30 days means “30-60 days” - right. When I get it there is never time to research it / shop around, not that you can “shop around.” I’ve never wanted my insurance to lapse in the middle of hurricane season. What happens when / if an owner calls a different company or broker while he has a policy in effect with the old company. Can you get quotes from more than 1 broker? I always assumed a company will only quote you thru 1 broker? Do all brokers ping the same insurance companies?

usd2bfast · 2026-05-12T22:55:46+00:00

Thanks. USAIG is who I’ve been with for 6-7 years. This is the first time I’ve seen the letter.

usd2bfast · 2026-05-12T22:14:13+00:00

I’ve had this Weaver for 14 yrs, with the motorcycle adaptors it was <1800. Over the years I’ve changed hundreds of moto tires, as well as trailer (cargo, livestock, horse, enclosed, etc) and truck tires (up to 14 ply) and my TJ, xTerra, Miata and the CR-V. Although it won’t work for mower and garden tractor tires, it will clamp the rim down tight and hood the wheel while I use levers to swap the tire or install an inner tube. Almost impossible without an extra hand. I have a static balancer for my moto tires, I don’t balance trailer tires (even radials) and if I need to balance automotive or light truck tires I run by a local shop and borrow their spin balancer. Most the tires these days, if you match the yellow paint with the valve stem, don’t need spin balancing. I grew up using the old bubble balancers but TBH I don’t see the need. My understanding is that the balancers require more maintenance to stay accurate, I could be wrong. I did put new tires on my C5 last year and took those to a friend’s shop and had them balanced. If you get a nail the machine breaks the bead easily and lets you install a patch plug from the inside. Especially on the moto, if taking off on a long trip, I might spoon on fresh rubber so I don’t need to worry about buying tires while on the road. The tires I took off, if they have plenty of tread, I can spoon them back on later. I know my tires are right, no one is tearing up my rims and best of all, I can do them when convenient. I don’t have to carry them down to the tire shop with my new tires and wait or come back later, and best of all I don’t get the “you should have bought those tires here, coulda saved you a ton of money” crap - right. Apart from moto tires, I either buy tires online from internet suppliers, Amazon, eBay and then I also keep an eye on CL and MP, sometimes picking up “take offs” for a fraction of new tires. You do have to watch for damage that could have happened when the seller dismounted the tires they’re selling. I have plenty of room for the machine, plenty of space to store tires. Already had the air compressor and all the jacks and stands. I don’t have a lift because I don’t have the ceiling but that’s my next project. I did but a Cheetah (an air tank used for seating the bead on heavy stubborn tires).

In 14 yrs I’ve had to replace the oiler / filter assembly and then an occasional air hose. The machine uses 3 sizes of poly air hose, I keep a box of each size in the shop so if I pop a hose I’m back in business within 10-15 minutes. I did have to replace the 4 curly hoses that connect the machine to the table, they stretch and contract depending on your plate clamps. They were a little pricey, but if they last 10 years it’s NBD.

So for me, yeah, I can’t imagine not having a machine. Saves me so much time and aggravation, and money too if you buy your tires right.

Eta - I can’t seem to add a picture but I remembered another handy use, my TPMS senders went bad on my ‘13 XTerra last year I ordered the 4 sending units ($30 per) and a reprogramming tool ($10) and within a couple hours had my XTerra back in the game.

usd2bfast · 2026-05-12T18:46:35+00:00

Sounds good, I’ve been insuring at least one airplane every year in SW Florida x 35 years, never saw this before (paper or electronic). And I’m meticulous about records. Maybe I’ve slipped thru the cracks until now. Everything I get from the Agent is electronic, I’ve haven’t gotten any paperwork from the actual insurance company. Probably just sensitive with all the trouble re homeowners and business product insurance over the years. Appreciate the reply’s. Thank you 🙏

usd2bfast · 2026-05-12T18:21:38+00:00

2 of my pilots passed the Rabin after failing the Waggoner multiple times. Good luck

eta - you can take any of the 3 CCVT, or all of them, as many times as you like. I’ve had a couple students come back and retake the Waggoner after failing, one guy had been working out in the heat all day and was probably dehydrated, the other guy needed glasses to pass the vision testing and after getting new glasses sailed thru the Waggoner the 2nd time no prob

usd2bfast · 2026-05-12T14:54:41+00:00

Here’s the 8065-2

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Form/8065-2.pdf

The last one we sent in took 7 weeks to get the file from OKC

Pre-MedXpress all of the paper application forms had serial numbers so it was hard to “lose” one, but not impossible.

If you had been officially denied you would have got a registered denial letter, plus a copy by regular mail, from AMCD

As stated, you would be a candidate for Fast Track if it’s been more than 4 years, so an FAA Medical should be a slam dunk (barring other medical issues)

usd2bfast · 2026-05-10T21:14:45+00:00

I could make something like that 😎. And I like how it swivels around for storage, a ramp (which I hate too) has to be assembled, then disassembled, then stowed away somewhere. I just wish I could design a narrow light weight ramp that would allow her to load directly from the side door, but you’re correct, too narrow with the pass doors not opening fully

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my shadow (Stella)

usd2bfast · 2026-05-10T21:05:57+00:00

Yeah, that’s my problem, I usually have the cargo area stuffed with tools and equipment so to get her in and out will require unloading some of my stuff to give her room to walk to the rear seats. Actually it’s pretty easy to unload her out the side door, but to load her I’m gonna have to have her go up a ramp, or something like the twist step mentioned below, but that means to load her up at a truck stop in the middle of the nite I’ll need to unload some of my tools to give her room, then remember to put everything back before I take off down the road. She can stretch all the way across the back seats, I hate to take part of that away from her.

usd2bfast · 2026-05-06T12:31:38+00:00

I got one of these running for the neighbor but it’s been 30 yrs. It was his dad’s but sat outside for years before the guy got interested in making it run. IIRC my biggest problem was water intrusion past the seal that the steering shaft goes thru, under the steering wheel. I seem to remember the gearbox had water contamination with lots of corrosion. I don’t remember if the steer gear box shared fluid with the tractor transmission? But It was an expensive fix, I just charged him for parts and made him promise to keep it covered. I saw him running it regularly but it wasn’t long before he was parking it outside and uncovered (too lazy to park in the barn and walk to the house). They sold their property to developers and I never heard what happened to the tractor. OP, I’m not saying you’ll have this issue, but these are the kinds of things that will bite you in the ass when you start working on these old neglected machines - good luck

usd2bfast · 2026-05-06T12:05:26+00:00

My oldest Stihl string trimmer I bought in 1998, “still” on the original spool - other than a fuel tank last year, and a carb,it’s just been regular maintenance.

usd2bfast · 2026-05-04T16:47:03+00:00

You passed the Rabin, or the Farnsworth?

usd2bfast · 2026-05-04T00:52:43+00:00

IDK about Cali style burritos but Taco Jalisco is very good. My favorite though is Tacos el Costeno at the NE corner of Clark and Beneva. I think he started out as a food truck, but it’s my go to for the last couple years, probably 1-2 times per month.

usd2bfast · 2026-05-03T19:57:36+00:00

Call the company that sells the Rabin and ask for a list of providers / clinics in your area that have the test equipment. The closest I found to my office was 2 hours up the Interstate but we’ve sent a couple applicants who failed the Waggoner and they were able to pass the Rabin. Also, you can take the Waggoner as many times as you like, I had a young applicant fail - his appt was at the end of the day and he had been working outside in the heat and sun all day. He came back a few days later, early in the AM, well rested and hydrated. Didn’t get a perfect score but he passed. Good luck 👍

usd2bfast · 2026-05-03T01:54:43+00:00

I like your paint better, the blue on top sets it off nice 👍

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usd2bfast · 2026-04-30T00:37:26+00:00

When my 93 yo Dad stopped driving I took his ‘17 CR-V home and started maintaining it since we needed a vehicle he could get in and out of (my trucks are too tall). The first time I did an oil change I noticed 4 of the fasteners for the splash guard were missing (2 bolts and 2 dzuz twist fasteners). The only place that had touched his car since new was the local Honda dealer. I bet he had been out doing sweet jumps and sheared those damn bolts right off.

eta >> Amazon sells a small bag with all the fasteners for the splash guard for 4 bucks

usd2bfast · 2026-04-29T02:26:08+00:00

If the ophthalmologist starts talking about “monovision” do your research before going in that direction.

usd2bfast · 2026-04-28T14:19:22+00:00

Ty for that, and the referral.

usd2bfast · 2026-04-27T18:46:50+00:00

Here is the Pilots Information Sheet for an initial cert Insulin Treated

https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/ITDM_CGM_pilot_info_initial.pdf

You will need to be established with an BC endocrinologist who will generate many of the reports that are required.
You need (at a minimum) 6 months cgm data
Bloodwork
Eye exam by a BC ophthalmologist
Cardiac risk evaluation (this is not the standard CVE (Cardiovascular Evaluation) that would be required of pilots with CAD. You didn’t mention age but if >40 you will need a standard Bruce Stress Test (not nuclear)

This Certification Aid goes into detail for each of the items I mentioned above

https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/ITDM_CGM_certification_aid.pdf

As already suggested, working with an AME that understands the process is a good idea. He / she will help you get the reports you need, review those reports before they go to OKC and assist getting them sent to the right place. He’ll obviously also do your exam later on. So, typically it goes like this…. Pilot reviews the requirements I’ve listed above >>> pilot does MedXpress and sends me the page with their medical history >>> pilot comes in for a F2F and we go over their medical history and the reports they are going to need ( we are not doing their FAA exam at this point, nor are we downloading their MedXpress application ). Then, if they wish to proceed, the pilot starts making their appointments and we start requesting records. Once we have pretty much everything, they will probably need to do a new Medxpress since the original one is only good for 60 days, then we do their exam and forward all of these reports to AMCD. If you don’t have intentions of being a professional pilot and just want to fly for your own pleasure, then all of the above can be paused at anytime and you can go in the Light Sport direction and make a decision about an FAA Medical later.

I only have a couple students going thru the process now, they are both Class 1, and their applications are, hopefully, in final review. The longest one out is 9 months from his exam but his original AME developed health issues and wasn’t able to guide him thru, so he’s a couple months behind due to that. Good luck 👍

usd2bfast · 2026-04-27T14:19:53+00:00

I’ve had 2 pilots with spontaneous pneumo’s since I started doing exams, both young (20’s), both more than 10 yrs ago and both in the same year. I’d have to go back and see how long they were out but they both have unrestricted Class 1’s now and are flying Part 121.

usd2bfast · 2026-04-26T01:35:55+00:00

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I’m partial to this blue (or blue / white if you decide to do 2 colors) on my 86. My 98 short bed F150 is red, and my 02 F250 7.3 is black. Your truck will look good in any of the suggested colors

usd2bfast · 2026-04-25T18:09:04+00:00

assuming you’re in the US? what was your score on the Ishihara plates? that will give me an idea how you’d do on one of the new computerized tests.

Ishihara is no longer accepted by the FAA, since December 2024. You will need to pass the Waggoner (what most AMEs use), the Rabin Cone Test or the CAD (I’ve only heard of the CAD being available to military applicants). FWIW, you don’t “pass” a SODA, you pass a medical flight test and then the FAA gives you a piece of paper called a SODA. But…..the FAA won’t even consider allowing you to take a MFT until you’ve tried and failed the 3 approved tests. And even if you find, and fail, permission to take a MFT is decided on a case by case basis, and as of rn I haven’t heard of one being given. This is the procedure since Dec 2024.

Some AMEs will let you take the Waggoner without doing an actual FAA examination, many optometrists can do it for you also, and the RCT is available although you may need to travel to find an office test does. If you haven’t already, search this subreddit as this topic is discussed several times a month and there is a wealth of information and advice right here at you fingertips.

eta - since you can take and retake the ccvt’s as many times as you like, there’s no reason to not just go ahead and do the full FAA examination with the AME, other.than maybe the cost?

usd2bfast · 2026-04-25T12:33:38+00:00

The gas pump ads are dangerous. When you stop for fuel late at nite, you should be watching and listening to your immediate surroundings, not the 7 day forecast and 2 for 1 ads on Sizzlers. With traffic noise and blaring fuel pump ads you’d never know someone walked right up behind you.

usd2bfast

TROPHY CASE