Will you buy another gas powered car?

PrairieMule

On the subject of trucks and ranches.

For our ranch, my dad uses a 2001 F250 4x4. It only gets at the most 5000 miles a year. The rest of the time he drives a 2002 Cavalier with a stick that gets 39mpg on the highway.

My old 1991 Ranger use to get 29 on the hwy but I sold it back in 2003 to pay hospital bills for the delivery of daughter#2.

I truly think we are headed for gas rationing in the next 5 years. Certain folks will get priority over others. I am of the firm belief that if gas rationing were in effect the rancher/farmer will get priority of the the typical suburbanite.

That will mean 8 suburban housewives will have to skip driving their tahoes to their Pilates class so that I, the poor ranchhand/slave can haul 10 steers to market. Then that will be the shape of things to come.

So what will the mule drive post peak? A truck. I just can't haul a spools of wire across washed out ranch roads in Hybrid Civic. The good news is my current job has the ability to work out of my home, and I am headed in that direction. So if I drive a Chevy 1500 Silvarado 6000 miles a year am I really clueless idiot compared to the guy putting 18,000 miles a year(that's normal in Dallas) commuting on his Corolla?
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In other words, it's a huge sh*t sandwich, and we're all gonna have to take a bite.-from Full Metal Jacket

cavemandoom30

I bought a used vehicle last fall, I really hated to do so, I was hoping my previous would be my last. I did go down to a four cylinder from a V8 truck, and, I got a newer model than my old truck, in the hopes it would last awhile, and be my last vehicle. I'm not into the hybrid or electric stuff, not much of a solution as far as I can see, I just hope to buy a horse, or ride my bike or walk in the future. I have to relocate first..

Ludi

anagami

joeltrout

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1407

Ludi,
I'm afraid you're right about the small farmer/rancher getting the short end of rationing. If so, that is one more of the dumbest things govt could do. But, they are doing dumb things now, always have, and I see no reason for them to change their approach. For that reason, I think it would be wise for those little guys to look out for their own energy needs, because I don't think anyone else will.
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Local fix-it guy..

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3112 Location: Maine

We're getting a small solar/electric pickup. It will only go 25 mph, and carry 2 people and maybe 300 pounds of stuff, but I think it will beat hoofing it.

Check out the link to our movie on youtube.

We're working on the next version of it now:

www.sunnev.com
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

frankthetank

If i could find a good deal on a 2x4 Ranger 4 banger with a stick, i'd grab it. I use to own an '85 4x4 4 banger with a manual. I avg'd 25mpg in almost all situations, plus i could climb up and down hills that no car could ever. I don't need to do that anymore, so 2 wheel will do. Trucks are great if you work on your vehicle yourself. Front wheel drive cars suck to work on. No room to do anything. Try pullng a starter out of a Sentra...almost impossible without a lift.

There isn't anything wrong with trucks, its just that they are probably overpowered for hauling a little boat or an atv. If your hauling a M1A1 tank, then yeah, maybe a new Tundra is what you need...here are the specs for a Tundra

Pops

I'm with Ludi and Patience, the last rationing (aside from price) was simply odd even plate numbers.

I'd like to hear from folks filling the farm tank in the '70s though, I'll ask the neighbor tonight as well.

I own 2 V8 4wd pickups and I could get by without the big engine but not the vehicle, one is old and mostly a toy and ongoing project and the other is getting a little long in the tooth as well. I only haul one or two calves or a piggy or two in a cage in the back but more than that I do odd jobs here and there requiring materials and tools and I haul around maybe 15-20 buckets of feed daily and posts and panels and straw and...

OTOH for the 30-40 head of steers I sell every year I hire someone at $10 a head which is less than the interest alone on a rig of my own so it would be possible to get the yard to deliver materials to my odd jobs I suppose for a like savings.

I'll keep a dino-burner of some type as long as it seems sensible but it may be the old one with the 390 pulled and converted into a flower pot and replaced with a straight 6 converted into a straight 3.
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Make a plan and work it:

jlw61

PrairieMule

emersonbiggins

KillTheHumans

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3112 Location: Maine

A lot of states have low speed vehicle laws now. The small vehicles can't go faster than 25 mpg, and they are limited to places that are posted at 35 mpg.

It could be a perfect little car to get you around a town, or a farm.

Here's the one we're working on:

www.sunnev.com
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

Pops