Figured A new thread is in order with a new (older) base Suburban.

Haven't got it home yet, but paid for and registered. No Smog!!!!

Took a few more pics and here is where I am starting.

Well, as many of you know I am about to place mom in an assisted living facility. Issue is it costs more than she makes and I can make up. Monthly rate is around $3500 and her income is about 2K. I am looking at veterans spouse assistance, but not looking good now as they were still married, but separated. Military retirement looks low too at jut $175 month.
 
Answer I have come up with is to sell her home, invest the profit (about 275K) and use that to cover the extra monthly cost.

I have talked to my financial advisor and he recommends and annuity for just the income end of it. I am no fan of them and still looking at options. It does have a 5+ interest rate garanteed, which is what I need (about $1500 month) Fee's are 2.5 up front and 1% year after that.

Another is to get CD's and roll them over now and then using the dividens for the same use. Principle is gauranteed, but interest can go up/down with renewal.

Same idea on mutual funds, but same issues as with CD's for the most.

Per my tax guy the annuity would have little or no tax issues and she pays no taxes now or need to file with current income.

Nothing is going to happen quick except her placement. Getting the Dr paperwork monday, then getting her in just the home paperwork.

It is a nice place nearby https://www.brookdale.com/en/communities/brookdale-vacaville.html and even closer to me than where she lives now.

Anyway, any more ideas from you guys or feedback?

Just got informed my insurance guy does service my auto insurance now. (farmers)

Have had good luck with them but might be time for a change, who likes who?

I have auto, home, life and liability with them now, well someone.

I don't qualify for USAA and thinking of looking at AAA for at least some quotes. Think life would be pricey right no with me turning 60 history, but I want it too.

Shoot me some ideas guys!

Sans the grill, I think it does and GM even rounded out the wheel wells.

I read this on the other sight and have done a couple trucks now. About a 15 minute job and you need a small grinder is it.

You pop off outside the rail cover for the seat you want to do.

You will see the screw that adjusts the seat angle and a small collar on the screw that limits travel. (arrow)

You just grind the collar off trying not to damage the threaded rod. You don't need to cut it all the way through, just enough to pry it off.

Once removed just vacuum and put the cover back on and you have fully reclining seats!!!

Kids all need their own rooms, so this takes care of that. Daughter will get this and it will be bigger than all but the master bedroom.

Pretty much on my own with this and it goes behind a 2nd story I put on the garage a few years back. I have no plans but what are in my head. It goes over the the laundry, bathroom and closet in the master bedroom. Total area is 12x16, but 3ft of the 16 is a stairway I built for this last year. So the actual room is 12x13. The area was actual built with this in mind and is close to flat. The highest part of the build will only stick up about 5ft from the ridge of the current roof.   

Hurdles are moving bathroom vents, HVAC vents and wiring. Much of this will be handled in a cubby next to the stairway. Another hurdle is the actual floor for this as my home is a modular and built with stick, not 2x4s.
 
I have this on a schedule of 5-6 weeks to get it closed in. Another couple to finish the inside. This room will also have a stand alone HVAC unit, yet to be determined so comment are welcome (like they wouldn't come anyway) Another issue here is a whole house fan which will be relocated above the stairway. I will also be adding a 1/2 bathroom near the door that will serve the upstairs.

Week 1; Roof tear off with truss removal. 3 days into this now. There are 3 roofs here  . The original roof with a california truss under it and the roof I built over it when I added the garage.  First day was opening up the stairway to the 2nd floor and tarping it off.

Week 2; Moving all the above items and getting the floor in. I believe I will get to use 2x8s here and keep it level with the garage 2nd story. This step will show where my load is for the peak and I will pour a footing just to be safe even though I am tying into the load walls on both ends. This is the only real step I can see getting longer than scheduled.

Week 3; Walls. The room should have a center ceiling at 8ft, with both sides coming down a little. These will basically be finished when they go up with 1 inch foam on the exterior. That will also vapor seal them with just flashing and siding needed. Using Smartside primed OSB, matching the house.

Week 4; Roof. No fancy trusses just good ol 2x8s on 16 centers, about 10x12 roof is all. Stairs will be separate angled roof. Overhangs are 24" on the garage but I think 16 will be fine here and no gutters as it drips onto the roof. Since it ties into the current garage roof (2x10) I will simply drop it 2" down and run a flashing to the garage edge so no lacing the shingles.

I am figuring a couple extra weeks just to be safe.

The area is covered (still hot out), stairs closed in (but needs plastic sheet to temp seal it). Little camo to keep profile low.

Just a little heads up guys as I live for now in the wonderful gun loving state of Kalifornia.

I will let stand what I have posted but will not post my builds until I leave the state or the laws are changed.

With all the upcoming laws, what will stand and what may be legal, I do not want to post what I may own or when I built it.

I am trying to stay on the good side of the laws I disagree with, but for now I have to live with.

July 1st and Dec 31st are when most take affect.

https://youtu.be/7qCsvtrMbzI

Anyone have a GM 2500/3500 CV outer or the whole shaft? Looking to mod my engine stand and need that for my upgrade.

Now this is a great idea and I don't care if I piss some one off.

I got a 4.5 since I don't like the flat trigger.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/misc-stuff-sale/2481025-pof-ar-triggers.html

Don, your not going to like this,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/01/26/chilis-planned-parenthood-indiana-kentucky-promotion-customers-bills

http://store.dji.com/product/mavic-pro?gclid=Cj0KEQiAqdLDBRDD-b2sv6-i6MsBEiQAkT3wAkIxGwnjGN9piGya5eJoxxEhhFkgKGYHrNUVJS825hIaAl2i8P8HAQ#/?_k=wdakvz

These were at the show I just attended and it was cool. You can tell it or fly it to do about anything.

Not cheap, but not a killer either and the foldup format with 20 minute flights are great.

Can be programed to follow anything, flys around objects, returns to home and then you can pack it into a case.

Well, since we have a new forum and I have played with this some, here is my take on a simple DIY water heater.

Sure you have seen pictures and some how too's but everyone has diff needs so "roll" your own!

I used this on my above ground pool and it worked great. I let it freeze one year (yep it does that here too) so I have moved on to real panels now that I get on GL for about nothing. (another thread on this)

I used just 1 roll (100') I believe and got 95F+ out of it in direct sunlight, showing about a 5-10F rise from the cooler pool.

I used the included pool pump (intex) and garden hose sucking from the filter onto the roof of a shed (8ft rise) and running into the above ground pool. Just used 1/2 drip line (cheap).

Here is a link also to a little more on it; http://rimstar.org/renewnrg/diy_pex_solar_hot_water_thermal_dn.htm

This looks interesting; http://www.horizonhobby.com/breeze-4k---self-flying-camera-drone-yunfcaus?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Spot5&utm_campaign=10032016_AIR&_bta_tid=205372448676000573693757841046882129129714199635964446140099252305935670831020156577032&_bta_c=f1nbua22ogn6ba0h85rfaor40s1pv

Follow mode, return to home and all real time!

My mother in law just passed today from complications with her kidneys. She had been on dialysis for several years now with other related issues.

We saw very little eye to eye, but she is in a better place now.

I will be around but probably getting little done for a few weeks (like I had anyway).

So running my little RV cooler I noticed the running voltage was around 13.5, sometimes goes to .8 and sometimes a little lower than .5. This is on the CTS monitor and the dash shows about the same. This was after I unplugged the cooler to see if it was dragging in some.

Batteries are just a year old, new interstates from costco. Before startup I see 12.4 on the CTS, so think I am good. Think I will through a meter on it first though to be sure, but it 10 years old.

So I am thinking the Alt is on the way out. Now true it has been hot here (107 again today) and all runs fine but I know it should be about 14.5 volts when running.

Called Napa and got a rebuilt (3 yr warranty) and found the Dmax has a clutch on the hub? Look at yours, closed front it has a clutch, nut showing it does not. Never heard of this but it is GM.

In building my garage back in 07-10 the plan was always to add a set of stairs and add a room above the one area next to that that didn't have a vaulted ceiling.

Right now I have a pull down stairs just off center in the garage. Upstairs is huge, being 22x32. I built a 16x22 room in the center of this with storage rooms on both sides.

Right now I have most of my RC hobby stuff up there and my kids have an HO train set. I even put a winch in that really helps with the big stuff.


So I started the stairs by cutting a small access hole where it would come out upstairs. landing are code but the stairs will be a little narrow at 32".

This is the room they are taking over, which will be a small office later.

You judge, but I have noticed this and so have others,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I have thought about a portable generator for some time. Size, weight and $$ were an issue as I want to use it for camping and small projects. I already have a 5000watt for the house and 3000watt in the TH so backup here is set. Plus my solar has a 1500 watt circuit when the grid is down.

Sound level was another factor along with run times to be user friendly. It also had to have a 12v charge outlet for obvious reasons and some smaller ones do not which I looked at too.

I could go Honda or Yamaha but if you were lucky you got those for $1000. Both are around 45lbs and tend to be the standard.

Westinghouse kept coming up and they even have a 2400 watt unit, but the price reflects that and closes in around $700. Still not bad, but I thought I could do better.

After some searching I found the Wen 2000 watt Inverter-Generator. Watched a few videos (had time on my hand with my surgery) and it seemed to be right up there with the brands on power, weight and US support. It even has a 2 year warranty and was just $450 about everywhere. I ordered it via the local Sears, used my discounts and got it out the door for $435 with tax. Another reason I chose it was the engine is an exact copy of the Yamaha, so I ordered a magnetic dipstick for it.

I wanted to deal with a local store if issues came up, so about a week later I picked it up. Even got the brand cover for it for another $14 as it may spend time on the shelf waiting.

It came packed well with a nice tool kit and 12v charge cord. Manuals were sealed up but it included no oil. So cheap wally oil was obtained and the dipstick arrived.

Well, having an issue at night with my dash lights. They turn on and work OK until I use the Cruise Control, then after a couple minutes they shut off. Everything works but the dash lights. When I apply the brake, they come back on, or when the truck accelerates or slows down in CC.

So basically in CC they shout off, any change and they come back on, then go off again when CC starts. The DIC works fine.

I am thinking the VSS or brake switch, possibly a ground as that can do strange things on its own.

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/1603-the-audi-sq7-tdi-needs-to-come-u-s/

Let the war begin

Black, premium brakes and nice padded seat.

Will be on this for 6 weeks, last night was not fun.

Well, I go in on friday to have my right ankle rebuilt. Took months to get here and trying to finish a paver patio AND a solar system before then. This is what it looks like at the end of most everyday.

Pavers about 60% done. It is more leveling and moving them than actually setting them. But I sure like them! Biggest mistake was getting WAY to much sand and waiting to do it until now.

Just came back from an Scout overnight with my boys at the Ca Science Academy in SF. Went over the GG bridge on the way home and went to the old forts and gun sites above the GG that watched the bay in WWII.

Didn't walk a lot, but with chasing the boys in the museum and a few hills, my ankle feels wonderful! Friday starts the end I hope. They say as much as a year for full recovery. Then we do the other!

Another little-big issue is the homefront. Kinda hard to put into words now but things could be much better. For now I will call it lack of communication, but it is more and I know it.  Maybe throw a little help from above my way. Not a great time as I am going to be relying on others pretty heavy for the next few weeks.

found this website after learning youtube is shutting down many gun videos.

https://www.full30.com/