It has been a CRAZY week around here! We've got the truck up and running again and are back to working on our home. You can check out that build series here! 🏠 ua-cam.com/video/l-o4DeAybQM/v-deo.html
as a suggestion, you can mount a carport to the side of the garage that would possibly handle two vehicles allowing you to keep the camper and a trailer over there. make sure when you build it that it can handle the weight of the snow that piles up there or it could collapse. EDIT, yes... Get that girl a Skidsteer. they're incredibly versatile and would definitely help you around your homestead. You can mount more than just a shovel on them. there are all sorts of landscaping devices, not to mention forks for unloading pallets, that could come in handy.
You need an old tire or a platform to sit the plow on when it is not on the truck so you can drive up and connect or drop it off. Its cold and the snow is on the ground so you know something is going to break. You too are doing just fine. Please do one thing put a wrench set in the truck! Your attitude is everything, and it is GREAT!!
I definitely would not be smiling. Might have some choice expletives to use too! I don't think there is anything these two can't do and brighten my day doing it!
I have changed a few mounts myself and it's just not fun work, but NEVER had to change any laying in the snow. So, I'll just bet that Riley, off camara, did some growling and screaming!!! Just as I would have.
An IDEA you should really consider for next winter…. Get the army truck in top notch running condition over the spring & summer, get mounts to hook your plow to IT! That truck is 4x4 it’s a military vehicle was built to work in the roughest of conditions and will plow the hell out of the road, drive, parking or pretty much anywhere on the property you need! It was built to be a “work horse”… you’re both engineers/fabricators… make it work for you so your work is easier. The right tool for the job. No need to “buy” another truck for plowing when you have the PERFECT one already.
I've plowed snow for a living in northern Wisconsin for near 30 years. One of the best things you can do to increase your truck's ability to push snow is ADD weight. This will allow you to plow greater volumes of snow at lower speeds. Also if you can watch your transmission oil temperatures many modern transmissions don't handle plowing very well. Best of luck to you
You can air down the tires prior to installing chains. Once installed, air back up and it helps get thing a little tighter. There is no magic formula IMO, just be sure to check frequently and retighten when you can. You guys are doing well! PS you can get snow guard to stop the snow coming off your roof like a freight train. It kinda looks like angle iron that screws down. They also make cleats that look like bear paws that screw on. Cheers!
I like getting the snow off the roof. A metre of snow, and then rain will test the strength of any roof :-) Above doors it is a good idea to add the snow guards.
I let air out on all tires when mounting chains - tractors, snow blower unit, and trucks. I’ve done this for many years. You get a good snug chain fit when you inflate the tires. I love your videos and am trying to catch up as I.m a new subscriber. Problem solving is one of the joys of living in the country and the lifestyle you guys are creating.
Keep going guys, you look like a strong couple during hard times and that is what marriage is all about. You inspire and motivate people to keep going and trying. ❤🤍 ..... hearing the song marching song they sing in the military, "hard work." That's what Merica needs nowadays.
A Battery powered blower equals easiest way to get snow off of vehicles & trailers! Just make sure you have good footing before turning it on! 😉 Hope this helps ❤️
When using bungee cords to tension your chains make sure the hooks aren’t rubbing on your tires. Some times you have to twist the hooks so there are no sharp edges rubbing the rubber tires. For a short journey it won’t matter much but a season long run on chains the hooks can tear up your tires.
For some reason watching your UA-cam channel reminds me of one of my favorite TV shows of all time, "I Love Lucy." You guys, IMHO are very much like Lucy & Ricky Ricardo, and that is definitely a good thing. Keep us laughing with all your crazy antics. Never seen folks go through so much adversity with such a fantastic attitude and sticktuitiveness!
Remember my comment about tire chains several months ago? Now that's a set of chains! I run Ice breakers like that on my 4wd wrecker to do recoveries on a road here that has a 18% grade! Smart choice guys!
For someone that has lived in New Hampshire all my life . It's fun to watch you learn the things you need to know about winter. When you were cleaning the trailer roof off i was saying that's too close to the house roof. you will learn quick to plow that snow before you beat it all down. I think your doing pretty good so far.
@@AmbitionStrikes If you guys were in BC instead of Idaho, I'd totally come help survey/design your road upgrades. Shame about the border/ Covid issues.
@@AmbitionStrikes Wider roads mean SAFER roads. Its a must in snowy areas. Be sure to mark any ditches and obstacles with poles or flags before the next big snow.
Your friend is going to get his truck back better than he loaned it to you. I love the way you two keep moving forward together. Work smart, work safe, have fun.
Wow. Riley is a trooper. Lived in snow all my life. Never seen anyone fix so many problems in snow in one day and never seen anyone change motor mounts in the snow. I changed out a starter in the snow once and that sucked really bad. And you did it on Christmas no less.
I once replaced a freeze plug in the snow on the side of the road up above Coloma quite a few miles for a friend years ago. Fortunately I had a freeze plug tool I bought a couple years earlier from one of the route salesmen, think it is a Matco.
Dear friends, listen to an old man who lived in the Swiss mountains for 60 years. Plowing such a long road with a pick up truck will always cause you problems. So I recommend you buy a snow plow for the army truck. In the video I can't see how much gradient your road has, but I think you would only need chains on the front axle for the truck. Send you best regards from Thailand where I am now enjoying my retirement. Happy New Year!
When plowing a rough uneven surface (your road) you need to get "shoes" for the plow. This will lift the plow slightly off the ground and avoid hitting anything hard and breaking anything. While you guys "are not winter experts", yet, you're learning fast and doing great! Good luck! Watching you guys figuring it out is part of the fun.
When plowing a rough surface you should not have shoes shoes get caught in holes it can damage the plow more easier to not have shoes an 2 angle the plow / or \ an 👀 May have to raise it up a couple inches and raise it all the way back down .. After a while you'll figure it out where the holes are and now we're to be careful
A good trick for cold weather starting a Deisel is too use a little petrol on a rag and place it near ur air intake, it is not as violent for the combustion process as ether, is and is always on hand for the generator. DWF or carby cleaner also works well to spray up the intake while cranking ur engine .
On the chains, I use the black rubber straps for all of mine. Two points; I replace them after two years of use or four years of waiting ( reduced risk of failure from decay), I also keep 2 spare in every car and 4 spare on the trucks uncase something breaks one. The other point is to place the hooks so that the open side of the hook (pointy bit) is not rubbing the tire, this way if the tire+chain do rub against something you don't have a built in sharp edge. As for a skid-steer, YES! See what Wranglerstar purchased, he has I think the right setup for what you need. You might want to see what some heaters would cost, block, oil pan, transmission for the army truck. Though they probably draw too much for continuous use right now, even just and hour or two will make starting easier. Even if you need a small gas generator to power them. Great content, keep it up.
Ambition strikes equipment show. I would get chest protectors for the dogs for playing in the snow. Playing in the deep snow you don’t want them getting stabbed by sharp sticks and branches. The orange one piece bungee cords that are star shaped are best for the chains and proper tension. And putting the short ones on the inside of the wheel will keep a broken chain from ripping your lines out install them in a square pattern on the inside four each wheel. Also lay a tarp over the cab of the plow truck so when you need it just pull off the snow quick and easy. Also put some weight in the back of the plow truck over the axles.
It's great that when things started to turn for the worse you took a step back and managed to maintain focus. It's easy to have a meltdown when things start to snowball, tunnel vision on bad things just magnifies like situations.
Hey guys, as a retired mechanic, I was yelling at the screen when you were replacing the right side motor mount that if the right side is bad, the other side was most likely also destroyed. Obviously both mounts were toast. Also, growing up on the East coast, we had to plow our auto shop parking lot. We all learned that having the blade angled to one side pushes the snow much easier and moves it to the side. You can do it from the cab, we had to get out and move the blade by hand! Less hard work for the truck and an overall better result. Give that a try. I really enjoy your content, watching you both try new things and typically succeed. Much respect! ❄❄⛄⛄
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more capable couple! (Im from northern Montana, I know what I am talking about). Love this channel, thanks for letting us tag along and share your knowledge.
There's a lot of "overhead" to living off-grid :) My grandparents were Iowa farmers, pre- electricity, indoor plumbing, etc. I often wonder how much of their life was just keeping up with the minimum you had to do to get to the next day. Winter with bad weather could be a *lot* of work. Just clearing paths to and from the barn, getting the animals fed, etc. Not an easy life! A truck with a plow would have been beyond magical!
I have never seen two people have so many breakdowns & problems especially at Xmas time yet make fun out of it and enjoy the challenge of it all. The LORD has definately blessed you with great talent, tolerance and patience!!! I’m always impressed with your videos!
You guys are doing good 👍 Tire chains the best, couldn't find cross links work as well for ice. Chain closure install knuckle forward. Use mechanic wire (soft manipulative wire) doubled around knuckle turned twice then ears bent back towards knuckle. Side object such as frozen mud will make chain closure open. By using tie wire stops this from happening. When plowing snow you are going to run out of places to plow snow to. So when coming to snow pile raise the blade. You will build a ramp to enable more snow to be removed. One more thing when plowing a cross chain do break. Use mechanic wire to tie this broken cross link to side chain. The side chain should be in alignment with tire side wall rib evenly spaced. Watch chain tensioners, they will tell you if the side chains need tightened. Good Luck First Season Plowing ☺️
Like you keep; saying: 'This place is ours! We are living our dream "off grid," and 'this is our first real [living in the] snow winter' (e.g. not visiting for a week and then heading "home" to thaw out). Each challenge you overcome adds to your knowledge base. That is why you have over 130,000 subscribers, too! It is fun to watch you work together. (And your dogs "working" along with you, ha, ha). Happy New (Julian) New Year.
After the bit about you all being so over your heads for Winter Ops, I was thinking to myself that all you have to know to do is have firewood and keep that road clear ... a few minutes into the video later the plow breaks again - LOL! Ignorance can be bliss - the best way to learn is by doing and you'll have some practical experience to help you prioritize next year. Kudos to Reilly for snow, car maintenance ops - that is some serious character development, nothing like banging a knuckle while wrenching in freezing weather. I find wearing water proof Mechanix type gloves w/ toe warmer pads on the back of my hands, helps keep my fingers warm when I'm forced to do cold weather car maintenance. I still have to take them off for the fine detailed bits, but makes a big difference for just about everything else. Happy New Year!
Great tips! We have learned it is VERY important to keep our hands and toes warm while working outside. Once they're cold, it's hard to get going again!
i have had many days like you have had. there was a time, that i would love snow. i live in queens NY, and when it snowed, i would go out for hours, and snow blow all the neighbors on my block, i loved doing it. but last year, my back got really bad on me, so it hurt doing the people i used to do. now this year, i am having heart troubles, and also high blood pressure issues. they have me on so much medications, all i want to do is sleep. so right now, i am praying it doesn't snow. enjoy your time in the snow, and the advice i can give you in, DON'T GET OLD, IT SUCKS
You always make it fun to watch! Ambition Strikes vs me Laziness Struck (years ago) After 36 yrs dealing with snow and often lots of it i will stick to warm & sunshine ☀️. You still get more done by accident than i do on purpose? Ok, ready for next episode. Still hungry 😋
Courtney needs tracked skid steer- fixed several trucks out in the snow as long it is not windy life is good, stuff breaks and you figure it out and that is fun of it.
You guys have been so blessed in all that you've done! Now you're getting a little experience when things don't always go exactly right! However you are my champions because you don't quit you figure it out and you move forward love you!!
The flow was so good that i was nervous for what was going to happen. Fortunately none of the problems were very significant in the big picture. I admire the way your able to roll with the punches. Keep up the good work and cooperation with a positive mental attitude and things will work out.
Try using a 4x3 block of wood when you chain up or are adjusting them. Cut your block to fit inside the tire chain grid and set it down in the grid before you drive over the chains. Park on top of the block when you stop. This will give you slack around the tire and make it a click and done deal job. Also run bungees on the inside of tires as well as the outside. This will help keep the chains centered on your tires and away from brake lines! Fighting the snow is easy- wait until the thaw… You’ll know it’s spring when you smell dog poop! From a former Donner summit inhabitant
I have a heat pad that glues to the oil pan and can plug in to 110V outlet. Helps when trying to start my diesel tractor in cold weather. Also, might want to get a snow rake. Makes it easier to remove snow from roofs.
I've never lived in that type of climate but when I was stationed in DC, we got some huge snowfalls and it basically stopped everything. It's so pretty when it's coming down, but after a day, I was ready for it to be gone! Good luck with the equipment and stay warm!!
its kind of like that here in Seattle because everything has to go around The Olympics to the west! but wen it does snow herer it can become a real mess! luckily this year we got power snow and not a wet dump!
You know.... in retrospect, you should have built your road and widened it the first year, and then built the barndominum the second year. But I truly do understand the draw and need to have the barndominum built and be living on your new property as soon as possible. My suggestions are to seriously widen and level the roadway come late spring, keep working on getting the water to run down and away from the roadway, cut and trim all the trees along the roadway so you don't have trees and branches falling on the road in the winter, and finally, put in some snow poles like they use to mark the edges of the roads in mountain passes, etc. I think that would make plowing a lot easier; you'd have a place to push the snow off the roadway and you would know where the edges are so you will be less likely to get stuck or drive off the edge of the roadway. Love your videos and watching and learning from your experiences. Good luck!
Hey guys, next time put the plow-blade on some blocks & cover it up. Just a thought! I never loved working in the cold under a truck, when you have a wrench & bang/hit your hand while its cold, takes all the fun out of it LOL! And I knew it! You always replace both motor mounts! You guy's made my day. And don't over load the plow, or you will damage the truck in so many ways. Don't get the plow to low either by plowing the ground. You can learn about plowing on UA-cam. Merry Christmas!!!!!
Congratulations on overcoming adversity. On your chains, I've discovered the hard way on loose chains and brake lines. The best chains have cam tighteners on the outside perimeter loop. I never use chain tensioners anymore. The rubber ties are not nearly strong enough to keep your cross chains from rolling when you spin. Rolling them will almost always end up bending links and messing up your perimeter chains. Looking good guys. Happy New year.
Fixing stuff to fix stuff to move stuff to fix stuff. Yep, sounds normal on any farm, cabin, or project site. You guys rock. No cursing or even a thrown tool.
Living in a snow belt in Canada I could never give up snow, it's just too much fun. Also learned that blowing snow is a lot more efficient than plowing, especially by the end of the season. Oh, and all new, remanufactured or used starters are faulty. Find somewhere that rebuilds starters and alternators so your old ones are now your spares, you'll need them eventually. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and got yourselves a stiff drink after that day.👍🎄🍻
Rylie, you seemed so excited to be working on a vehicle instead of the house 😄 I get that when there is a super long project it’s nice to do something else for a little while to give ya a break and to be excited about something else for a while
Starting spray/ether works great for starting cold diesel engines. Spray a few seconds into the air intake. Northern Idaho is a fast and hard teacher. Roof slide-off will launch 10 feet away.
The weather test you and your equipment up in them mountains! Well done for dealing with all the breakdowns and adversity. As usual, utterly inspiring.
In addition to my larger gas chainsaws, I have a 40V Delta battery chainsaw. It has a 16" bar, plenty of power, and lasts surprisingly long between charges. So handy to keep around in the vehicle for the little unexpected jobs like trees falling across your road.
You need snow brakes and car brakes…what are snow brakes, you ask? Keeps the snow on the metal roof so it melts of rather than avalanches. Really helps so you don’t have to climb on the roof to get the snow off in a controlled manor.
I have watched and been subscribed to your channel since the beginning and really enjoy watching all your projects. I am very impressed with all that you guys have done and continue to do. If you are in over your head, it sure doesn't show. Unfortunately trolls will always be there to try and knock you down. Keep up the great work and congrats on all your success!
Ha ha, while watching you change the motor mount, I thought "if one is bad, the other probably is too". Whenever I do motor mounts, I always change both. You have the tools out, you have the motor lifted, it's only a little extra work compared to doing it all over again later. Experience really is the best teacher.
Man alive, sounds like one of my days where it's one bloody thing after another.... Suggestion on snow clearing: when you think you have the snow pushed far enough back, push it that far again if you can. Last thing you want to be doing by the end of January is trying to move mountains of frozen snow because you don't have any room to put more. Of course free advise is worth exactly how much you pay for it.
The Fan should have ground a hole in the shroud if the clutch was good. I would check the fan clutch, Also with a plow they some times need a HD fan clutch because the plow blocks air flow to the radiator causing over heating. Just my 2cents.
It has been a CRAZY week around here! We've got the truck up and running again and are back to working on our home. You can check out that build series here!
🏠 ua-cam.com/video/l-o4DeAybQM/v-deo.html
Oh & same goes for welding always unhook cuz u can blow the pcm up
Martin Johnson on UA-cam might be dispositive.
@@doolittlegeorge what ???
Looks like a snow blower is in your future!
chain motor mount
Things Cortney Needs and What Riley Should Get Her : Skid Steer, Side By Side UTV, Jet Ski, Bulldozer, and Hot Air Balloon
Yes, yes, yes and YES!! 😉
The things you two build do not break, the bought stuff does. You are good builders!!
Got to admire Riley. Dude, doing mechanical work in cold/slushy weather is no swiss picnic. I liked to go to the snow, then leave.
as a suggestion, you can mount a carport to the side of the garage that would possibly handle two vehicles allowing you to keep the camper and a trailer over there. make sure when you build it that it can handle the weight of the snow that piles up there or it could collapse.
EDIT, yes... Get that girl a Skidsteer. they're incredibly versatile and would definitely help you around your homestead. You can mount more than just a shovel on them. there are all sorts of landscaping devices, not to mention forks for unloading pallets, that could come in handy.
You need an old tire or a platform to sit the plow on when it is not on the truck so you can drive up and connect or drop it off.
Its cold and the snow is on the ground so you know something is going to break. You too are doing just fine. Please do one thing put a wrench set in the truck! Your attitude is everything, and it is GREAT!!
Watching the snowverlander cut through snow like a hot knife cuts through butter, just makes me smile.
Don't let some of these fools get you down. You guys are doing great.
I want some of what Riley is drinking!
I have changed many motor mounts in my life, and never been as happy doing it as he seems to be.
I definitely would not be smiling. Might have some choice expletives to use too!
I don't think there is anything these two can't do and brighten my day doing it!
I have changed a few mounts myself and it's just not fun work, but NEVER had to change any laying in the snow. So, I'll just bet that Riley, off camara, did some growling and screaming!!! Just as I would have.
@@piepawrench Been there done that with my back in the snow thing too. I am still convinced she is mixing something in his food and drink.
All he needs is Courtney! How could he not always smile 😊 😂
An IDEA you should really consider for next winter…. Get the army truck in top notch running condition over the spring & summer, get mounts to hook your plow to IT! That truck is 4x4 it’s a military vehicle was built to work in the roughest of conditions and will plow the hell out of the road, drive, parking or pretty much anywhere on the property you need! It was built to be a “work horse”… you’re both engineers/fabricators… make it work for you so your work is easier. The right tool for the job. No need to “buy” another truck for plowing when you have the PERFECT one already.
I've plowed snow for a living in northern Wisconsin for near 30 years. One of the best things you can do to increase your truck's ability to push snow is ADD weight. This will allow you to plow greater volumes of snow at lower speeds.
Also if you can watch your transmission oil temperatures many modern transmissions don't handle plowing very well. Best of luck to you
That driver's side mount is a real pain to change. Make sure you are in a good mood when you go to change it !
You can air down the tires prior to installing chains. Once installed, air back up and it helps get thing a little tighter. There is no magic formula IMO, just be sure to check frequently and retighten when you can. You guys are doing well! PS you can get snow guard to stop the snow coming off your roof like a freight train. It kinda looks like angle iron that screws down. They also make cleats that look like bear paws that screw on. Cheers!
But they want the snow off the roof.
I like getting the snow off the roof. A metre of snow, and then rain will test the strength of any roof :-)
Above doors it is a good idea to add the snow guards.
I've never had to let air out of tires to put chains on.
@@bobbg9041 no u let it out put them on then put the air back in to get ur chains tight
I let air out on all tires when mounting chains - tractors, snow blower unit, and trucks. I’ve done this for many years. You get a good snug chain fit when you inflate the tires. I love your videos and am trying to catch up as I.m a new subscriber. Problem solving is one of the joys of living in the country and the lifestyle you guys are creating.
If it wasn't for bad luck you would have no luck at all . I hope your day gets much better and brighter days ahead .🥰
Keep going guys, you look like a strong couple during hard times and that is what marriage is all about. You inspire and motivate people to keep going and trying. ❤🤍 ..... hearing the song marching song they sing in the military, "hard work." That's what Merica needs nowadays.
I think if I'd had that many things break, I might have been crying. Your attitude is admirable.
The thought crossed our minds... 😬
A Battery powered blower equals easiest way to get snow off of vehicles & trailers! Just make sure you have good footing before turning it on! 😉 Hope this helps ❤️
When using bungee cords to tension your chains make sure the hooks aren’t rubbing on your tires. Some times you have to twist the hooks so there are no sharp edges rubbing the rubber tires. For a short journey it won’t matter much but a season long run on chains the hooks can tear up your tires.
Use the hard black rubber tarp straps, rig w hooks pointed out!
For some reason watching your UA-cam channel reminds me of one of my favorite TV shows of all time, "I Love Lucy." You guys, IMHO are very much like Lucy & Ricky Ricardo, and that is definitely a good thing. Keep us laughing with all your crazy antics. Never seen folks go through so much adversity with such a fantastic attitude and sticktuitiveness!
In over your head? maybe, but thats how you learn. You guys are doing great
Lessons learned, I'm guessing. REALLY nice of your neighbor to lend you a truck. Living in a winter wonder land.
Remember my comment about tire chains several months ago? Now that's a set of chains! I run Ice breakers like that on my 4wd wrecker to do recoveries on a road here that has a 18% grade! Smart choice guys!
For someone that has lived in New Hampshire all my life . It's fun to watch you learn the things you need to know about winter. When you were cleaning the trailer roof off i was saying that's too close to the house roof. you will learn quick to plow that snow before you beat it all down. I think your doing pretty good so far.
I think you all have the talent to create a plow mount for the LMTV. I would just mount it seasonally.
That is the plan! But we will need to widen the road significantly before we can use it.
@@AmbitionStrikes If you guys were in BC instead of Idaho, I'd totally come help survey/design your road upgrades. Shame about the border/ Covid issues.
@@AmbitionStrikes Wider roads mean SAFER roads. Its a must in snowy areas. Be sure to mark any ditches and obstacles with poles or flags before the next big snow.
Definitely need a big set of snow chains. Chain up all 4 tires, hit mode button on the transmission controller, and that thing becomes a beast in 4x4.
@ambition_strikes how come you guys don't just use the army truck in the snow?
This week's life lesson, a good battery leaf blower clears a vehicle off pretty well. (Well dry snow).
Your friend is going to get his truck back better than he loaned it to you. I love the way you two keep moving forward together. Work smart, work safe, have fun.
All these little setbacks will make you far more prepared next winter.
Wow. Riley is a trooper. Lived in snow all my life. Never seen anyone fix so many problems in snow in one day and never seen anyone change motor mounts in the snow. I changed out a starter in the snow once and that sucked really bad. And you did it on Christmas no less.
I once replaced a freeze plug in the snow on the side of the road up above Coloma quite a few miles for a friend years ago. Fortunately I had a freeze plug tool I bought a couple years earlier from one of the route salesmen, think it is a Matco.
Wow! That’s a day to remember and good news, you won’t be able to forget it.
I want to have such a wonderful life!
Dear friends, listen to an old man who lived in the Swiss mountains for 60 years. Plowing such a long road with a pick up truck will always cause you problems. So I recommend you buy a snow plow for the army truck. In the video I can't see how much gradient your road has, but I think you would only need chains on the front axle for the truck. Send you best regards from Thailand where I am now enjoying my retirement. Happy New Year!
Amazing ability to stay calm and put a smile on your face when you start facing repeated setbacks. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
That was a hell of a day, WOW!
A Is character building day!
Keep Rocking! AMF Is always moving forward
When plowing a rough uneven surface (your road) you need to get "shoes" for the plow. This will lift the plow slightly off the ground and avoid hitting anything hard and breaking anything. While you guys "are not winter experts", yet, you're learning fast and doing great! Good luck! Watching you guys figuring it out is part of the fun.
When plowing a rough surface you should not have shoes shoes get caught in holes it can damage the plow more easier to not have shoes an 2 angle the plow / or \ an 👀 May have to raise it up a couple inches and raise it all the way back down .. After a while you'll figure it out where the holes are and now we're to be careful
A good trick for cold weather starting a Deisel is too use a little petrol on a rag and place it near ur air intake, it is not as violent for the combustion process as ether, is and is always on hand for the generator. DWF or carby cleaner also works well to spray up the intake while cranking ur engine .
That's definitely the story of a plow truck. You always wonder what will break next. Good luck, and may the rest of the winter go smoother for you.
On the chains, I use the black rubber straps for all of mine. Two points; I replace them after two years of use or four years of waiting ( reduced risk of failure from decay), I also keep 2 spare in every car and 4 spare on the trucks uncase something breaks one. The other point is to place the hooks so that the open side of the hook (pointy bit) is not rubbing the tire, this way if the tire+chain do rub against something you don't have a built in sharp edge.
As for a skid-steer, YES! See what Wranglerstar purchased, he has I think the right setup for what you need.
You might want to see what some heaters would cost, block, oil pan, transmission for the army truck. Though they probably draw too much for continuous use right now, even just and hour or two will make starting easier. Even if you need a small gas generator to power them.
Great content, keep it up.
I did not think things were going too well for you. You two are so very blessed. AND, you share your blessings with us! Gives me hope. Thank you!
Ambition strikes equipment show. I would get chest protectors for the dogs for playing in the snow. Playing in the deep snow you don’t want them getting stabbed by sharp sticks and branches. The orange one piece bungee cords that are star shaped are best for the chains and proper tension. And putting the short ones on the inside of the wheel will keep a broken chain from ripping your lines out install them in a square pattern on the inside four each wheel. Also lay a tarp over the cab of the plow truck so when you need it just pull off the snow quick and easy. Also put some weight in the back of the plow truck over the axles.
It's great that when things started to turn for the worse you took a step back and managed to maintain focus. It's easy to have a meltdown when things start to snowball, tunnel vision on bad things just magnifies like situations.
I love how you take it in strides keep your head up and plunking on soon you'll have everything down pat.
Young wild and ambitious. Let’s go.
watch total of 6 ads my small way to support this amazing couple 😍🤟
You guys are true Idahoan self reliant people. You don't wait for help you get it done.
On the positive side, you only have four more months of that lovely weather!
Hey guys, as a retired mechanic, I was yelling at the screen when you were replacing the right side motor mount that if the right side is bad, the other side was most likely also destroyed. Obviously both mounts were toast. Also, growing up on the East coast, we had to plow our auto shop parking lot. We all learned that having the blade angled to one side pushes the snow much easier and moves it to the side. You can do it from the cab, we had to get out and move the blade by hand! Less hard work for the truck and an overall better result. Give that a try. I really enjoy your content, watching you both try new things and typically succeed. Much respect! ❄❄⛄⛄
I think it was mostly wishful thinking on Riley's part... 😉
@@AmbitionStrikes Well, without wishful thinking where would we all be?
I'm watching this 3 years later and man I shed a tear with all that went wrong, but your constant optimism seriously makes this old lady smile!!!
The fellow that loaned you his truck is an amazing friend and Riley has the talent to get it sorted out for plowing good job 🇨🇦 .
I don’t even care that we can’t have nice things! ❤️❤️
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more capable couple! (Im from northern Montana, I know what I am talking about). Love this channel, thanks for letting us tag along and share your knowledge.
For every obstacle thrown at yous, yous grit your teeth, with a smile, and plough through it. :D
There's a lot of "overhead" to living off-grid :)
My grandparents were Iowa farmers, pre- electricity, indoor plumbing, etc. I often wonder how much of their life was just keeping up with the minimum you had to do to get to the next day. Winter with bad weather could be a *lot* of work. Just clearing paths to and from the barn, getting the animals fed, etc. Not an easy life! A truck with a plow would have been beyond magical!
We have SO much respect for people who do this without equipment...
I have never seen two people have so many breakdowns & problems especially at Xmas time yet make fun out of it and enjoy the challenge of it all. The LORD has definately blessed you with great talent,
tolerance and patience!!! I’m always impressed with your videos!
You guys are doing good 👍
Tire chains the best, couldn't find cross links work as well for ice.
Chain closure install knuckle forward. Use mechanic wire (soft manipulative wire) doubled around knuckle turned twice then ears bent back towards knuckle. Side object such as frozen mud will make chain closure open. By using tie wire stops this from happening.
When plowing snow you are going to run out of places to plow snow to. So when coming to snow pile raise the blade. You will build a ramp to enable more snow to be removed. One more thing when plowing a cross chain do break. Use mechanic wire to tie this broken cross link to side chain. The side chain should be in alignment with tire side wall rib evenly spaced. Watch chain tensioners, they will tell you if the side chains need tightened. Good Luck First Season Plowing ☺️
Oh YES ! A Skid Steer is the best gift to get !
😉
Like you keep; saying: 'This place is ours! We are living our dream "off grid," and 'this is our first real [living in the] snow winter' (e.g. not visiting for a week and then heading "home" to thaw out). Each challenge you overcome adds to your knowledge base. That is why you have over 130,000 subscribers, too! It is fun to watch you work together. (And your dogs "working" along with you, ha, ha). Happy New (Julian) New Year.
Never a dull moment around here! But turns out we don't remember the dull moments nearly as much as the ones like this...
Putting a new starter in your POS truck was the SMARTEST THING you could have done for yourself!! Good job!
After the bit about you all being so over your heads for Winter Ops, I was thinking to myself that all you have to know to do is have firewood and keep that road clear ... a few minutes into the video later the plow breaks again - LOL! Ignorance can be bliss - the best way to learn is by doing and you'll have some practical experience to help you prioritize next year. Kudos to Reilly for snow, car maintenance ops - that is some serious character development, nothing like banging a knuckle while wrenching in freezing weather. I find wearing water proof Mechanix type gloves w/ toe warmer pads on the back of my hands, helps keep my fingers warm when I'm forced to do cold weather car maintenance. I still have to take them off for the fine detailed bits, but makes a big difference for just about everything else. Happy New Year!
just need to put the plow on the LMTV
Great tips! We have learned it is VERY important to keep our hands and toes warm while working outside. Once they're cold, it's hard to get going again!
i have had many days like you have had. there was a time, that i would love snow. i live in queens NY, and when it snowed, i would go out for hours, and snow blow all the neighbors on my block, i loved doing it. but last year, my back got really bad on me, so it hurt doing the people i used to do. now this year, i am having heart troubles, and also high blood pressure issues. they have me on so much medications, all i want to do is sleep. so right now, i am praying it doesn't snow. enjoy your time in the snow, and the advice i can give you in, DON'T GET OLD, IT SUCKS
You always make it fun to watch! Ambition Strikes vs me Laziness Struck (years ago)
After 36 yrs dealing with snow and often lots of it i will stick to warm & sunshine ☀️. You still get more done by accident than i do on purpose? Ok, ready for next episode. Still hungry 😋
Courtney needs tracked skid steer- fixed several trucks out in the snow as long it is not windy life is good, stuff breaks and you figure it out and that is fun of it.
You guys have been so blessed in all that you've done! Now you're getting a little experience when things don't always go exactly right! However you are my champions because you don't quit you figure it out and you move forward love you!!
Keep your chin up, these are the best days of your lives. Good luck and God bless you.
With so much positive energy the two of you are just unbeatable!
Next time put a tarp on the trailer and when it gets a lot of snow slowly pull it off and replace it back on top!!
The flow was so good that i was nervous for what was going to happen. Fortunately none of the problems were very significant in the big picture. I admire the way your able to roll with the punches. Keep up the good work and cooperation with a positive mental attitude and things will work out.
How frustrating... You absolutely have "Sisu" .
Keep plowing ahead! You got this.
Keep doing what you are doing….learning to solve problems is half the fun. You guys ROCK..😎
Try using a 4x3 block of wood when you chain up or are adjusting them. Cut your block to fit inside the tire chain grid and set it down in the grid before you drive over the chains. Park on top of the block when you stop. This will give you slack around the tire and make it a click and done deal job. Also run bungees on the inside of tires as well as the outside. This will help keep the chains centered on your tires and away from brake lines!
Fighting the snow is easy- wait until the thaw… You’ll know it’s spring when you smell dog poop!
From a former Donner summit inhabitant
I love the ...I can do it attitude, despite all the challenges and you do it all with a SMILE!! kudos to you both 👌👌🙌🙌😃😃👏👏👏👏
I lived in the mountains and snow for years untill I said screw this and moved to Hawaii.
Good to experience all climates while we're here. 🍻
I have a heat pad that glues to the oil pan and can plug in to 110V outlet. Helps when trying to start my diesel tractor in cold weather. Also, might want to get a snow rake. Makes it easier to remove snow from roofs.
Oh...I am so glad you know how to properly bleed brakes! Drives me crazy when I hear people think the pump and squirt method works.
I've never lived in that type of climate but when I was stationed in DC, we got some huge snowfalls and it basically stopped everything. It's so pretty when it's coming down, but after a day, I was ready for it to be gone! Good luck with the equipment and stay warm!!
its kind of like that here in Seattle because everything has to go around The Olympics to the west! but wen it does snow herer it can become a real mess! luckily this year we got power snow and not a wet dump!
You know.... in retrospect, you should have built your road and widened it the first year, and then built the barndominum the second year. But I truly do understand the draw and need to have the barndominum built and be living on your new property as soon as possible. My suggestions are to seriously widen and level the roadway come late spring, keep working on getting the water to run down and away from the roadway, cut and trim all the trees along the roadway so you don't have trees and branches falling on the road in the winter, and finally, put in some snow poles like they use to mark the edges of the roads in mountain passes, etc. I think that would make plowing a lot easier; you'd have a place to push the snow off the roadway and you would know where the edges are so you will be less likely to get stuck or drive off the edge of the roadway. Love your videos and watching and learning from your experiences. Good luck!
You are living the DREAM!!🤗👏😉😎 So happy for you both!!
Hey guys, next time put the plow-blade on some blocks & cover it up. Just a thought! I never loved working in the cold under a truck, when you have a wrench & bang/hit your hand while its cold, takes all the fun out of it LOL! And I knew it! You always replace both motor mounts! You guy's made my day. And don't over load the plow, or you will damage the truck in so many ways. Don't get the plow to low either by plowing the ground. You can learn about plowing on UA-cam. Merry Christmas!!!!!
Congratulations on overcoming adversity. On your chains, I've discovered the hard way on loose chains and brake lines. The best chains have cam tighteners on the outside perimeter loop. I never use chain tensioners anymore. The rubber ties are not nearly strong enough to keep your cross chains from rolling when you spin. Rolling them will almost always end up bending links and messing up your perimeter chains. Looking good guys. Happy New year.
Omg! Sounds like an adult version of Home Alone against the home owners!
😂
I hope you both know how lucky and blessed you are to have each other. you two are such an inspiration. and yes Courtney should get a skid steer.
Fixing stuff to fix stuff to move stuff to fix stuff. Yep, sounds normal on any farm, cabin, or project site. You guys rock. No cursing or even a thrown tool.
Living in a snow belt in Canada I could never give up snow, it's just too much fun. Also learned that blowing snow is a lot more efficient than plowing, especially by the end of the season. Oh, and all new, remanufactured or used starters are faulty. Find somewhere that rebuilds starters and alternators so your old ones are now your spares, you'll need them eventually. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and got yourselves a stiff drink after that day.👍🎄🍻
Ample aptitude and amazing attitude will get you through anything. Impressed.
Rylie, you seemed so excited to be working on a vehicle instead of the house 😄 I get that when there is a super long project it’s nice to do something else for a little while to give ya a break and to be excited about something else for a while
Starting spray/ether works great for starting cold diesel engines. Spray a few seconds into the air intake.
Northern Idaho is a fast and hard teacher. Roof slide-off will launch 10 feet away.
Make sure all vehicles have anti freeze in them
You guys didn’t break anything. It’s just Murphy putting you to the test. Don’t forget to say good morning to him and he will leave you alone.
U 2 ARE AMAZING.... GOOD ON YOU FOR FIXING YOUR STUFF!...LOVE TO SEE THIS!...thanks 4 video. be kind.
Surprised you didn't put a plow on the military truck!! To me that would be the perfect vehicle for it. Murphy is getting you! :)
Best way to learn is by OJT! On the job training! Steep learning curve and you both are doing great! Keep up the great work!
My grandfather plowed in northern Minnesota for years in an old 4x4 chevy with only parking brake and a 3 on the tree. No chains.
The weather test you and your equipment up in them mountains! Well done for dealing with all the breakdowns and adversity. As usual, utterly inspiring.
Y'all are doing Great Y'ALL don't give Up,so that a good thing.
GOD BLESS Y'ALL...
In addition to my larger gas chainsaws, I have a 40V Delta battery chainsaw. It has a 16" bar, plenty of power, and lasts surprisingly long between charges. So handy to keep around in the vehicle for the little unexpected jobs like trees falling across your road.
That would be a great addition to our fleet!
Go makita 18volt if you have that platform. 💪
You need snow brakes and car brakes…what are snow brakes, you ask? Keeps the snow on the metal roof so it melts of rather than avalanches. Really helps so you don’t have to climb on the roof to get the snow off in a controlled manor.
I have watched and been subscribed to your channel since the beginning and really enjoy watching all your projects. I am very impressed with all that you guys have done and continue to do. If you are in over your head, it sure doesn't show. Unfortunately trolls will always be there to try and knock you down. Keep up the great work and congrats on all your success!
Ha ha, while watching you change the motor mount, I thought "if one is bad, the other probably is too". Whenever I do motor mounts, I always change both. You have the tools out, you have the motor lifted, it's only a little extra work compared to doing it all over again later. Experience really is the best teacher.
hi guys!!👍🏻you two are just wonderful. I've been with you for months now. Bravo!! keep it up ... greetings from switzerland🇨🇭🇨🇭❤️🥰🌹
Man alive, sounds like one of my days where it's one bloody thing after another....
Suggestion on snow clearing: when you think you have the snow pushed far enough back, push it that far again if you can. Last thing you want to be doing by the end of January is trying to move mountains of frozen snow because you don't have any room to put more. Of course free advise is worth exactly how much you pay for it.
The Fan should have ground a hole in the shroud if the clutch was good. I would check the fan clutch, Also with a plow they some times need a HD fan clutch because the plow blocks air flow to the radiator causing over heating. Just my 2cents.