My new hauler is here!

Well, its not the ultimate wood hauler, but Im pretty happy with it Only had to wait two whole months to get one on factory order




The kids approve too




Yes I know Ill only be able to get a face cord or less at a time... But we dont burn all that much. My town dump has a log drop off spot next to the brush pile thats usually full so I should have access to almost unlimited free wood when I want it, just get a little bit each week

If I decide I want to haul more I can always get a trailer.... I made sure to order the full tow package for that.

Thanks guys.... I love it!


I have the Amp research tailgate extender and an access tonneau and bedrug to go in it... probably tomorrow. Saturday we will take the first road trip with the kids down to the Cape for a beach day with their grandma... Maybe drive it out onto Sandy Neck bearch if I dont have to pay $$$$ for a pass.

to answer all the questions....

No it definitely will not haul a half cord. Wasnt me that said that. At best, with the extender I could probably get a face cord in their tightly stacked. And that would have to be a face of seasoned pine for hte springs to take it. By weight, probably a 1/4 cord of green wood is tops (load rating is about 1200lb including passengers).


Why did I get the short box? Well, reason is that this is going to be my daily driver and I want to garage it. (if I had the luxury of buying it as a 3rd vehicle I would have gone extra cab + long box rather than double cab) For the kids I needed the double cab to fit their car seats and going double plus the long box makes it as long as a Tundra... something like 220+ inches. Too big for the garage and a pain on some of the cramped roads and parking lots around Boston. Gas mileage is a wash.... Tacomas are gas pigs, a V6 F150, Ram or Silverado probably does better. Really if one wants a double cab long bed compact pickup, you are better off all around just getting a fullsize... You get a lot more for your money.

I would have liked the longer bed for hauling lumber but even then a 4x8 sheet of ply would have to sit on the wheel arches and strap down to the top of the bed extender. I can do the same on the short box, it will just hang out a little farther.


Probably 60% of my driving will be commuting, 25% making lumberyard and dump runs and other light hauling like gong to my RC field. Maybe 10% family trips if we decide to take the truck like for camping. Firewood runs might be 5% of its use... and for that I'll just have to take a couple trips each run.

I know it wont haul much guys, and honestly I'm not too concerned. Today it passed its most important hauling test for my needs

begreen said:

Deluxe. Is the bed carpeted?

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Didn't come that way, its a snap in /snap out carpeted bed mat made by Access Tonnau covers. Cost $80.

Does Red Bull sponsor you?

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No they dont sponsor model pilots. In fact there have been stories of them chasing after people for royalties using the logo in contests etc without their permission. I just built it with that color scheme since I liked the look, I dont compete or anything.

Swedishchef said:

OMG Awesome. It's my childhood dream come true. As BG mentioned, are you sponsored? I want to get into RC planes...badly!! I guess your truck already served it's greater pourpose.

Andrew

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Not sponsored, not good enough to be a contest pilot. I know people who are (sponsored by hobby ocmpanies, not RedBull that is) and they practice daily year round, its a serious commitment.

If you want to get into them, the "old fashioned" way is to find a local model club and pop in. Most of them have volunteer instructors to help you start out -in canada they would be part of the MAAC

Here is another angle for you to drool over. Ive been at this a good 15 years working my way up to the big ones, best to learn on small/simple models first if you want to start.

Believe it or not the plane is over 7 years old.

OK time to put the truck to work!

I made a dump run today to drop a load of brush and yard waste at the town recycling depot and pikcup up a small load from the log pile while I was there.


You can see the pile. Basically you are free to dump and to take whatever you want. Only rules are no commercial dumping (looking at some of this stuff it looks like that may not be enforced well and no cutting on site. Main limitation is the dump is only open Saturday



I had the kids with me and I wanted to test out how the truck rides with a load so I went very light this first time - some green rounds and a few chunks that where relatively dry already and light. Probably not even a half face cord once I cut and split it.



I looked up the load rating, its 1250lb. Figure with me and the kids onboard I'm good for, what, about 950 lb in the bed? I dont have experience with this guys, help me out whats the best way to judge if Im getting close to or overweight? It rode just fine and I took a look at the springs, nowhere near the bump stops. If anything the rear sat maybe an inch lower than empty.