A pickup truck is a good choice for someone working in the trades or for agricultural use. In suburbia, a pickup is not a very practical vehicle. I always see an empty bed. The boat or travel trailer is lucky to be towed once or twice a summer.
Both Lowes and the Home Depot have trucks for rent. At about $20 for 75 minutes, they are a very economical option. A U-Haul trailer can also be rented for as little as $15 a day.
It is important to secure the load. I have seen drywall, plywood, mattresses, and empty 55 gallon drums blow out of truck beds. Unless you are an Eagle Scout, I do not recommend using rope or twine. There is a science to knot tying and a mistake can result in the loss of a load. Ratchet straps and tie-downs are reasonably priced.
I think it is general knowledge that a 2×4 does not measure 2 inches by 4 inches. They are usually about 1 1/2″ by 3 1/2″. The length is not supposed to vary, but often does. I have found 8 ft 2x4s vary by as much as 3/4″. Usually they are too long, but sometimes they are too short. Assume they are correct, and you may find your project doesn’t quite fit together.
I have had this little mixer for a couple of years now. Assembly was easy and the smaller size doesn’t need much storage space. It is capable of mixing a full 80 lb bag of concrete. My only complaint is that it sits too low to pour out into a wheelbarrow. I need to build leg extensions.
Today I started digging post holes for my new fence. A digging bar works best, especially if the holes come pre-filled with large rocks. I got mine from Lowes for about $30. I use the post hole digger for removing the loosened material. Note that I have marked the handles of the digger so I know when I am at the correct depth.
Before any excavation, call 811 and get the underground utilities marked. The red marks are power lines and the orange marks are communications. Two down, and about twenty to go.
Some locations have an online service to submit a request…
I was never really impressed with the filters that came with my Harbor Freight compressor pump. I’ve heard that some of these pumps have been damaged by dirt getting past the filters. I removed my filters and confirmed that the filter elements do not fit properly. They are too short to form a seal between the rear housing and the cover.
Compressor intake filters have two purposes. The first is to prevent dirt and foreign objects from entering the compressor pump. The second is to reduce noise.
