Congratulations to Colin and Brenda on great family news and to Mike on his new job.
To keep the good news coming: Our little girl got accepted to all 5 math PhD programs she has applied to. Wooo-hooo. Now she needs to pick one - making the first important decision in her life!
PhD students in science/engineering typically always get a stipend sufficient to live on (VERY modestly) -- but they have to teach part-time in return.
She has gotten that standard package in all 5 schools, plus Berkeley and NYU threw in some additional money, and Berkeley won't require her to teach for first 2 years.
Colin, Congratulations to you and Jennie on Evan's arrival...does he drive yet? We used to bathe Michael in the sink also; now he doesn't fit, so we built a bigger sink!
Sleep will return evntually. The items you need to start saving for are: car, guitar, separate refrigerator, beer money, not necessarily in that order. Thanks for adding another crew member. Serge
Well after a few days in the desktop support thing, I'm definitely taking the CT job as it's more a hybrid trading/systems type role. These guys are on crack with the amount of online forms you need to fill out after completing each deskside visit! Ridiculous.
Welcome to my world as someone calling for help! It takes 2 -3 phone calls, followed by 2 forms, then waiting a week before I can get any proper tech help. If I call the tech guys directly (as we've gotten to be friends) they get in trouble for doing the work without any paperwork! And all this as a result of making things go more smoothly by out sourcing to IBM. Or so goes the Merrill way of thinking :confuse:
Snowshoeing's great... don't do it often, but love it. It's one of the few outdoor things my wife really enjoys, because there are no bugs out when it's that cold.
I have a towing question for the experts here. I have a 06 H6 OBW. Last weekend I used my nephew's enclosed trailer to move some furniture. At the end of the day when I was returning the trailer my nephew noticed a burning smell coming from my car. He thought it smelled like burnt transmission fluid. Considering at this time I do not have any plans to do more than the occasional towing, is a transmission cooler a practical investment? And if so, how hard is it to install? I will be using it in the next few months a bit more regularly, but nothing major.
One side note: I wish my friend had video taped my attempts to park the trailer in the street, then my attempt to back it into my driveway . I was so bad a neighbor who drives tractor trailers tried to direct me with no luck. I finally got it partially up the driveway, unhooked it, and moved it the rest of the way by hand .
One side note: I wish my friend had video taped my attempts to park the trailer in the street, then my attempt to back it into my driveway . I was so bad a neighbor who drives tractor trailers tried to direct me with no luck. I finally got it partially up the driveway, unhooked it, and moved it the rest of the way by hand .
Don't be embarrassed, Mark! Backing a trailer takes practice. My Dad has a friend who is so bad at it that when he has to back one, he just hops out and lets one of the other guys do it (only uses trailers during group activities).
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
Someone should write up a Guide about how to back up a trailer. I had one with my old CJ-5 and it was especially difficult for me to back up with the short wheel base of the Jeep.
I switched to minivans and just toss all that junk inside now. :shades:
Let's see, check the mirrors, hand centered at the bottom of the wheel, move the hand in the direction you want the trailer to go ... stop, pull forward, try again. Rinse and repeat, lol.
ATF Cooler: I'll check out which one to get, it's fairly easy to install I'd suggest it on any automatic, towing or not. Check out Summit Racing for ATF Cooler, I'll see if I can find a link for you. Now that I have "normal" hours we can install it one weekend if you want.
If you need to borrow the Armada, just let me know, you are more than welcome to borrow it.
Trailer backing: The longer the trailer the easier it is to backup. Jetski trailers are especially difficult. I am lucky I have a real easy time backing them up (maybe cause I've been towing boats for 15 years ) I'll try to snap a pic of the almost 40 foot triple axle boat trailer behind the Armada this Saturday.
Yeah, longer wheelbases (on trailers and tow vehicles) make the process less... responsive... to driver inputs, so it is easier to correct mistakes, etc. Shorter wheelbases simply mean that the driver has to be more precise and subtle about the movements.
Jet-ski trailers ARE the worst! Those and two-unit ATV/snow machine trailers. Light, short wheelbase... very tricky! Those are the only trailers I prefer not to back in "tight" spaces (like putting in garage, etc). I usually move them by hand, but then a 500# trailer is incredibly easy to move by hand, so why not save the fuel?!
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
It's funny the Cig. Boat trailer doesn't even have a wheel on it, just a jack-stand for the front. I guess they know you won't be moving a 9000lb+ trailer by hand! haaaaaa
If you were making a lot of tight turns (as it sounds like from your trailer parking experience) it's possible the clutches/couplings/diffs in the AWD system had to slip a lot and made the odor. On my last two Outbacks, I would get the stink every time I drove up winding mountain roads to ski. According to Subaru, it's normal.
Unless you were grossly exceeding the towing capacity of the vehicle and felt the transmission's torque converter slip excessively, I would suspect the odor was the AWD system, not the transmission.
That's what I do, mike, desk side support. You need to be uber-patient.
Fortunately for me, I run IT things in my dept, as the only IT guy for 180 or so folks. So I made the executive decision - no paperwork! I use e-mail trails instead. :shades:
I swear though, while you need well rounded IT skills, what really matters is the patience and human aspects. I learned more in Organizational Behavior classes than I did in Calculus, Simulation, and Relational Databases put together.
Best way to back up a trailer is not to back it up at all!
Seriously, I just take two spaces when I park, and try to leave tons of room.
My driveway isn't that long but I've still had to back out Bob's trailer 3-4 times before I got it right. It's on a decline and has a gradual turn, too. Almost took out my mail box once. :surprise:
Heh...I remember the LAST time Dad took a nap while Mom drove our car with the camping trailer. (I have a pic of the setup in a CarSpace album) Backing up a trailer is a skill thatneeds to be practiced :surprise:
We were out near Vegas as I recall, like 6:30 in the morning, driving towards our next stop on the trip. Dad was catching some nap time in the rear seat, leaving 14 year old me to navigate for Mom. We came to a "Y" in the road. I told Mom to take the right branch, but she didn't think that was correct and wanted to look at the map, so she sort of pulls straight ahead right between branches of the road. She looks at the map, sees I was RIGHT...LOL...then realizes she's too far forward to simply turn left or right. She puts it in reverse and tries to back up a bit by simply looking in the rearview mirror. The Coleman tent trailer immediately jackknifes, a front corner of it caves in a fender, and the trailer tongue takes on the shape of an almost straight banana :surprise:
Oh I know the human side of things that's for sure. Having dealt with some of the hardest, most difficult traders in the world to deal with that's a cake walk. For me I get frustrated with the BS "Matrixes" that these ticketing systems supposedly track.
My training with that camping rig stood me in good stead one time. Way back when I worked for Kmart, and our store was going to be sending a truck to another store to pick up a load of store fixtures and merchandise. I got selected to go along and help load up, etc. Well, the assitant manager who was leading the expidition comes to me and asks if I've ever driven a big truck with a trailer.
I say I've towed a trailer with a car, he says, "You're driving"
A VERY interesting experience. Actually easier to back up that big trailer because of the length. It couldn't jackknife as fast.
I quite enjoy backing up trailers actually. I try to get em into tight spaces
Same here! I learned to back trailers as a young pup, using a small front end loader that had this really annoying, double-swivel trailer ball on it. Once one understands the physics of it, practice is the only thing needed.
The most challenging bit is getting down the depth perception so to be able to get that trailer with in 12" or less of an obstacle without saying, "Oops! Let me try that again...." The best part of backing, though, is the looks of horror on people's faces as they watch. :P
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I found these coolers link title from the place I had gotten the hitch on my old OB. Not sure how they compare to Summitt, but I'll go with your advice since you know a lot more on the subject than I do.
Craig- I was doing a lot of twisting and turning with the trailer, not heavy towing. I had to park it on the street in Brooklyn so that we could load the furniture in it. Then I was doing all the backing and straightening to get it in my driveway. Since then, I haven't smelled anything so I'm sure it wasn't anything major.
Mike - one last thing. How about offering Paisan style parking/towing lessons:-).
No such thing as overkill when cooling an automatic trans. I put that size one on the SVX when I was racing it on the track to keep the ATF temps down. An ATF gauge isn't a bad idea either, especially for spirited driving
when did we get the little 'information bubble' when you scroll a mouse over someone's screen name in the forum???? I just noticed it by accident today ... :surprise:
Time for some preventative maintenance on my Impreza(97 sedan. 68,000 miles)I went to Wisconsin and had the spark plugs,and wires replaced, brakes flushed (following Mike's advice about brake fluid)Never did brake fluid flush before in 50 years, but I figured Mike knows what he's talking about. I had two subaru bucks certificates so I filled the gap with a new set of wipers and three spare oil filters with compression rings. Only $3.70 out of pocket so I think I got a pretty good deal. ($203.70 for the whole works) I've never ridden in a Forester or Outback so I tried out one of each new. If I had the money I would have gotten one of them right there. I only drove about half a mile and back just to get the flavor, but seats in forester seemed to fit me better and it seemed peppier than the outback.I had my timing belt and pads and rotors changed last year at an independent shop. My brother lives down the road from the dealer so we went shopping while the car was worked on. A nice way to spend a beautiful spring day. Jim
Juice....I see from the info bubble you are going on almost 45,000 posts. Pretty incredible. For the services you have performed on these boards I think subaru should give you at least a dollar per post for your time and expertise. Then you could widen your selection of vehicles before you fall off the fence. I also admire your well thought out reasoning and diplomatic skills you have displayed. Could use you over at the U.N. Jim
I frequently move the mouse over the wrong area and the balloon info shows up. It is kind of obtrusive. Now after I post a message and go back to the topic screen it will show every topic has new messages! When I open a topic it brings me to page one instead of most recent! Works fine if I don't post and just read. :confuse: Jim
The Armada towed the Cig Boat without a problem at 65mph on the NJTP and the GSP today about 25 miles or so. Very impressed felt lighter than the 22ft boat from last year in terms of sway.
Mike....that photo looks like it was done professionaly for a boating magazine! I think Holland would agree. Awesome setup. With three pairs of wheels on the trailer it looks like it would track like it was in a groove. Impressive...!! Jim
The GM 502 marine engines are quite sweet! Very smooth and they run on 87 octane
I did notice that the fuel injected motors are much much better than the previous 454 carburated model I had on my 22ft. I also think that at about 3000 rpms which is about 1/2 way to redline these will sip the fuel since they are FI and aren't always dumping a large amount of fuel in.
Comments
For now though I'm working at Morgan Stanley at 1 NY Plaza with day-time hours but 10hrs a day.
We'll see how it goes.
-mike
It's cold though, brr. The air is crisp and the fall folliage is unbeatable, but I think I prefer it south of the Mason-Dixon line.
I often work 9-10 hours anyway.
~Colin
To keep the good news coming:
Our little girl got accepted to all 5 math PhD programs she has applied to. Wooo-hooo. Now she needs to pick one - making the first important decision in her life!
Bob
She has gotten that standard package in all 5 schools, plus Berkeley and NYU threw in some additional money, and Berkeley won't require her to teach for first 2 years.
Come for a visit to Fairbanks in January. I will take you on a snowshoeing trip. :P
Congratulations to you and Jennie on Evan's arrival...does he drive yet? We used to bathe Michael in the sink also; now he doesn't fit, so we built a bigger sink!
Sleep will return evntually. The items you need to start saving for are: car, guitar, separate refrigerator, beer money, not necessarily in that order.
Thanks for adding another crew member.
Serge
-mike
Welcome to my world as someone calling for help! It takes 2 -3 phone calls, followed by 2 forms, then waiting a week before I can get any proper tech help. If I call the tech guys directly (as we've gotten to be friends) they get in trouble for doing the work without any paperwork! And all this as a result of making things go more smoothly by out sourcing to IBM. Or so goes the Merrill way of thinking :confuse:
Mark
One side note: I wish my friend had video taped my attempts to park the trailer in the street, then my attempt to back it into my driveway
Mark
Bob
Don't be embarrassed, Mark! Backing a trailer takes practice. My Dad has a friend who is so bad at it that when he has to back one, he just hops out and lets one of the other guys do it (only uses trailers during group activities).
I switched to minivans and just toss all that junk inside now. :shades:
Let's see, check the mirrors, hand centered at the bottom of the wheel, move the hand in the direction you want the trailer to go ... stop, pull forward, try again. Rinse and repeat, lol.
Don't forget to video how it works.
ATF Cooler: I'll check out which one to get, it's fairly easy to install I'd suggest it on any automatic, towing or not. Check out Summit Racing for ATF Cooler, I'll see if I can find a link for you. Now that I have "normal" hours we can install it one weekend if you want.
If you need to borrow the Armada, just let me know, you are more than welcome to borrow it.
Trailer backing: The longer the trailer the easier it is to backup. Jetski trailers are especially difficult. I am lucky I have a real easy time backing them up (maybe cause I've been towing boats for 15 years
-mike
Jet-ski trailers ARE the worst! Those and two-unit ATV/snow machine trailers. Light, short wheelbase... very tricky! Those are the only trailers I prefer not to back in "tight" spaces (like putting in garage, etc). I usually move them by hand, but then a 500# trailer is incredibly easy to move by hand, so why not save the fuel?!
-mike
If the Armada can't handle it comfortably, I'll have to trade it in for a Diesel 2500 series.
-mike
Unless you were grossly exceeding the towing capacity of the vehicle and felt the transmission's torque converter slip excessively, I would suspect the odor was the AWD system, not the transmission.
Craig
Fortunately for me, I run IT things in my dept, as the only IT guy for 180 or so folks. So I made the executive decision - no paperwork! I use e-mail trails instead. :shades:
I swear though, while you need well rounded IT skills, what really matters is the patience and human aspects. I learned more in Organizational Behavior classes than I did in Calculus, Simulation, and Relational Databases put together.
Seriously, I just take two spaces when I park, and try to leave tons of room.
My driveway isn't that long but I've still had to back out Bob's trailer 3-4 times before I got it right. It's on a decline and has a gradual turn, too. Almost took out my mail box once. :surprise:
We were out near Vegas as I recall, like 6:30 in the morning, driving towards our next stop on the trip. Dad was catching some nap time in the rear seat, leaving 14 year old me to navigate for Mom. We came to a "Y" in the road. I told Mom to take the right branch, but she didn't think that was correct and wanted to look at the map, so she sort of pulls straight ahead right between branches of the road. She looks at the map, sees I was RIGHT...LOL...then realizes she's too far forward to simply turn left or right. She puts it in reverse and tries to back up a bit by simply looking in the rearview mirror. The Coleman tent trailer immediately jackknifes, a front corner of it caves in a fender, and the trailer tongue takes on the shape of an almost straight banana :surprise:
THAT woke Dad up...heh
-mike
Practice is key. I'll have fun with the almost 40' trailer, not necessarily looking forward to it.
-mike
Funny thing was my dad asked him to park it, and shouldn't have. He had no experience or training, so of course things didn't end up well.
Even more funny, he was cursing phrases like "that's impossible" and "how did you even manage to do that".
It's not hard, believe me!
I say I've towed a trailer with a car, he says, "You're driving"
A VERY interesting experience. Actually easier to back up that big trailer because of the length. It couldn't jackknife as fast.
Bob
Same here! I learned to back trailers as a young pup, using a small front end loader that had this really annoying, double-swivel trailer ball on it. Once one understands the physics of it, practice is the only thing needed.
The most challenging bit is getting down the depth perception so to be able to get that trailer with in 12" or less of an obstacle without saying, "Oops! Let me try that again...." The best part of backing, though, is the looks of horror on people's faces as they watch. :P
I found these coolers link title from the place I had gotten the hitch on my old OB. Not sure how they compare to Summitt, but I'll go with your advice since you know a lot more on the subject than I do.
Craig-
I was doing a lot of twisting and turning with the trailer, not heavy towing. I had to park it on the street in Brooklyn so that we could load the furniture in it. Then I was doing all the backing and straightening to get it in my driveway. Since then, I haven't smelled anything so I'm sure it wasn't anything major.
Mike - one last thing. How about offering Paisan style parking/towing lessons:-).
Mark
Looks good! Go for it.
Trailer lessons: let me know and I'll give paisan parking/trailering training!
-mike
Is that overkill seeing how it's a Class III cooler, while I only have a Class II hitch on my car? Or that doesn't matter?
Mark
-mike
I just noticed it by accident today ... :surprise:
They should add a little "x" so you can manually turn it off.
Jim
Jim
Jim
The Armada towed the Cig Boat without a problem at 65mph on the NJTP and the GSP today about 25 miles or so. Very impressed felt lighter than the 22ft boat from last year in terms of sway.
-Mike
Jim
Bob
The GM 502 marine engines are quite sweet! Very smooth and they run on 87 octane
I did notice that the fuel injected motors are much much better than the previous 454 carburated model I had on my 22ft. I also think that at about 3000 rpms which is about 1/2 way to redline these will sip the fuel since they are FI and aren't always dumping a large amount of fuel in.
-mike