Will the latrine be the dig-a-deep-hole kind or the JP-8-half-drum kind? 

If its the former, I have an 9 year-old RL-1 operator and a mini-excavator that we can trailer down.

Not this weekend though, AA and AAA hockey tryouts... 

Thanks, everyone, I am liking the truck so far.  I took this pic before I stopped to fill the tank.  The truck AVERAGED 29.6 mpg over the last 406 miles.  About 50/50 highway driving and around town.  Can't beat that…
   

No BDBD (Big-Don-Beat-Down) intended…

Lose your phone again?

Cudakidd is right-on.  Pella makes a nice product.  I had Kolbe & Kolbe installed on my last house build, also a nice window. Anderson makes a good window also, I have 21 year old Andersons on my house now and have not had any problems.  I used Anderson windows on my recent garage-build too.

Caution: No permitting usually means no inspections;  so make sure your general contractor is technically proficient, has control of his sub contractors and visits the build site daily.  Remote build sites are often the target of thieves, so frequent if not continuous presence is advisable.  Install a concealed trail camera or two at the job sight.

You should visit as often as you can too and do so with a critical eye.  Its easy to get caught up in the excitement of the build and overlook or gloss over problems.  There WILL be problems.  Make sure they stop and fix them while they are easy to fix.  Its easier to get stuff corrected before the contractor gets paid than after.

We have built two houses using general contractors.  One was a semi-custom just outside of Clarksville, TN and the other one a full-on custom in the NW suburbs of Chicago.  Completely different but enjoyable experiences both times.  I GC'd a large house-like-garage here in KY and really enjoyed doing that.  The ability to spec-out every component and control the process was nice. 

If you have any questions during the build, ask here or pm.

Is the 12 gauge a pistol or a rifle cartridge?

I need a third choice! One pistol, one rifle, one shotgun.  Or just eliminate 12 gauge from the poll.  It wins hands down as the shotgun round of choice, me thinks...

Don, can you build on the old foundation? That would save a bunch and keep more people out.

Kits sound like a great way to go.

Keep the roads simple with just DG or gravel so you can access in all weather.

The foundation is a CMU basement that is shot.  Years of failing gutters, downspouts draining right at the foundation and grading that went towards the house has caused it to fail.  It has buckled inwards on two walls and the last time I was in the basement, there was 6 inches of standing water.

I was bush hogging everything...including my Husky chainsaw!

Yup, chopped that thing up into many smaller pieces!

Note to self: When you get done with a tool, put it up!

I guess you will be putting that Stihl to use now.  You are going to love that thing compared to the Husqvarna...

Looks like a good day of work nonetheless.

I'm looking at one too, haven't shot one yet.

The ride is great, as good or better than the Sequoia and on par with my mother-in-law's Cadillac SRX or Don's v-DUB. 

The engine noise inside the cab is pretty much non-existent. You can only hear or tell its a diesel if you are outside the vehicle or have the windows open.

You can use either of the bedside boxes as coolers, there is a drain plug at the bottom.  Lots of pictures of tailgaters using the ram box for this purpose.  I like the Ram Box holster myself, I will likely get one of these soon.

Thanks, everyone.  ED (Eco-Diesel) is my new daily driver.  It replaced a well-used 2004 Toyota Sequoia that we bought new.  This morning I had to drive back to the dealer, pick up some grass seed and straw bales at TSC and a few miscellaneous tasks.  Since I reset the mileage monitor yesterday, I have logged just over 100 miles, mostly rural driving.  Its averaging 27.5 mpg.   :)

The mileage is really appreciated because for 9 months of the year, we drive our 9yr old son 82 miles round trip 3+ times per week to the north side of Cincinnati for Ice Hockey.   

I am really impressed with the Ram Box bed.  It is well engineered and very handy.  I'll have to post up some pictures of it. 

I don't plan to do much to it initially, just drive it and get used to it.  It will lose the cheesy aftermarket chrome steps VERY soon.  It desperately needs a lift, but I will likely wait until I wear out the OEM tires and then I'll install 33 or 35 inch tires and a 2.5 or 4 inch lift.  I may also install a hard retractable tonneau so we can keep stinky hockey gear out of the cab.  I've been looking at the Bakflip G2.   

I spent the last two days negotiating a deal on this:

...trying to stay out of a mud hole...

We didn't try to stay out of the mud hole...

Good progress, sorry I missed it.  I'll help salvage the stove and stainless chimney parts.  The water heater is probably not worth saving.  The shallow-well cistern pump might be, probably worth pulling that out too.  If the pump head is cast iron they sell rebuild kits for those.

I don't think so Bobby,  I'd be they first one he would call if I wasn't already down there.  Learning how to change or repair a track…
         
on a hill…

in the mud…

while its raining…

at night…

No thanks.

I was in the 3D ACR for a few years but in the Aviation Squadron.  No tracked vehicle experience.  Will try to keep it that way.

Is Daisy still in the corner?

 On hold until taxes are compete…  :-\

The title for this chapter: "The 6BT gets a Colonoscopy" or something to that effect...

This pic hangs on my wall. That's me inside, driving my pristine 1970 Boss 302 Mustang I used to own. It was the actual NHRA G-Stock world record holder for a time, set somewhere in Oklahoma, I believe by the original owner, an Army Captain. I bought it from him and restored it to the condition you see it in here. Those things were darned fast for what they were. That car actually posted a 12.06!

Was that pic taken on-post at Campbell?

From the article:

"It practically flies itself," a crew member said.

Probably a good thing, I know a few of those Chinook pilots...

yep, you need somethin up on that roof. It looks bare!!! Maybe an LED light bar or 2 that could be moved to a rack later?

Good thing it was bare on Friday or cedar branches would have been brought along for the ride!  The farm road is a little over-grown!

I just came across this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-10-5-14-Bolt-Chevy-Ring-Pinion-Gears-3-55-Ratio-Thick-14T-39-11-/281311020712

3.55 ratio R&P gears for a 10.5 inch 14 bolt...

OPTION D (Ken's Choice) added.  You can change your vote if you like, you know; vote against it after you vote for it; that kind of thing…
 
This POLL feature has a lot of options.  Kinda cool.

On the shave kit, I saw one installed on the Xtreme 4x4 show on Powerblock TV a few years ago. I knew if I ever had a vehicle with a 14 bolt, I would want to do that.  The kit itself was not that expensive, Its mostly labor / welding, which will already be happening on this axle with the new perches, shock mounts and tube welding.

http://www.powerblocktv.com/episode/XT2011-09/14-bolt-axle-101-low-dollar-wheeler-part-3#.VRU-8kv_ITs







 

I'm not likely to do much rock-climbing but do recognize the poor rear axle clearance I'll have with a 33" tire.  Even the roads around Don's farm are deeply rutted and can snag an axle.  The TMR Shave will increase clearance by 1.5 inches.  That's the rough equivalent of 3 inches of tire size…


…So, its decision time in regards to the 14 bolt rear axle.  I have several options to ponder, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.  Lets lay them out and take a look:

OPTION: A

Button up the axle with the GLO cover, keeping the 3.73 ratio and stock Gov-Loc differential. No axle Shave. 

PROs:
1. The diff and gears are virtually new.
2. Easiest and least expensive option.

CONs:
1. Higher gear-ratio than I'd like with my intended tire size of 33".
2. Questionable Longevity / Durability of the Gov-Loc.
3. Poor ground clearance with the 33'" tires and the notoriously low-slung 14 bolt axle.
4. Have to purchase new gears for the D60 front axle; gear change / setup is more difficult on a D60 than a 14 bolt.

OPTION B:

Upgrade the differential to a Grizzly and change gears to a 3.55 ratio. No Shave kit.

PROs:
1. Ideal gear ratio for my power train and tire choice.
2. Will not have to buy new gears for the D60 front axle.
3. Bullet-proof differential, no future worries of a possible "Gov-bomb" incident.

CONs:
1. Have to disassemble and set-up gears in 14-bolt, although easier to do than in the D60.
2. Poor ground clearance with the 33'" tires and the notoriously low-slung 14 bolt axle. 
3. Cost.

OPTION C:

Full-tilt.  New 3.55 gears, New Grizzly locker, TMR Shave kit (no ring-gear machining req. on my model)

PROs:
1. Ideal gear ratio for my power train and tire choice.
2. Will not have to buy new gears for the D60 front axle.
3. Bullet-proof differential, no future worries of a possible "Gov-bomb" incident.
4. Rear axle clearance close to that of a D44.

CONs:
1. Have to disassemble and set-up gears in 14-bolt, although easier to do than in the D60.
2. Most work / time involved.
3. Highest cost.

What am I missing?



 

   
 

One last item I forgot to post up.  Can anyone identify what this is? :o

Here is a great item to protect that vulnerable u-joint out back, the GLO Pinion guard.  Also fabricated from 1/2 inch steel.