• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

After work, hobbies & life after the logs are loaded!

farmerlund

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2014
Messages
1,237
Location
North Dakota
Occupation
Farmer/ excavator
Yep, it can be addicting. Although we get some snow here in ND, it usually is wind blown and hard as a rock. I have always loved going to the mountains. Besides the fun of riding, the scenery is always been a big draw for me.

Plus the newer machines (last 10 years) are great. Run and ride like a dream.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,542
Location
WWW.
When I was younger my real hobby was 14-1 and 9 ball, no joke I was what was known as a road player back then. One of the reasons I quit driving was I liked my night life
shooting pool. I use to play at the 211 Union Club in Seattle when it still existed years ago. Some of the best shooters come from Milwaukee Wis there were 1500 taverns
in that town in 1981, it would take you 4 years to visit a new one each night and every bar had at least one table. I still have my favorite cue a McDermitt.

That's Willie Hoppe instructing Paul Newman, Gleason was a shooter he made his own shots in the movie The Hustler. I never cared for other sports just pool and especially
the game 14-1 which no one plays anymore. In the movie The Hustler that's the game their shooting.

Mike

4058f3460d8868ac736c6715c80ae8a6--the-hustler-paul-newman.jpg
 

Hallback

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Messages
2,306
Location
Aberdeen Wa.
Occupation
Gyppo tower logger
About 15 years ago I had one eat the shifter knob off of a brand new crewcab!
 

treemuncher

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
733
Location
West TN
Occupation
eatin' trees, poopin' chips
When I make the time to get away from the shop or a machine, I'm trying to ride across the country in the warmer months. Typical road trips run 5k-8k miles over a 2-3 week period and consist almost entirely of tent camping. ADV and Sport Touring bikes are my rides of choice.PA051378 alt cmp.JPG arkansas valley with tenere.JPG
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
When I make the time to get away from the shop or a machine, I'm trying to ride across the country in the warmer months. Typical road trips run 5k-8k miles over a 2-3 week period and consist almost entirely of tent camping. ADV and Sport Touring bikes are my rides of choice.View attachment 177751 View attachment 177750

I love sleeping in a tent. It's that damn hard ground that I have issues with. I can't pack a thick enough pad on my scooter for my old carcass to be comfortable.
 

treemuncher

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
733
Location
West TN
Occupation
eatin' trees, poopin' chips
"I love sleeping in a tent. It's that damn hard ground that I have issues with. I can't pack a thick enough pad on my scooter for my old carcass to be comfortable."

The answer is Air Sleeping Pads. Until I tried my Big Agnes Dual Core air mattress, sleeping on the ground, no matter what kind of foam I used, SUCKED! My air mattress packs to about the size of 3/4 loaf of bread, keeps me insulated and off the cold ground (works well into the low 20's) and I sleep even better than I do at home in a regular bed. Other makes are out there. You never knew 2.5" of inflation could provide so much comfort.

Hammock camping is pretty comfortable, too. Been doing a bit of that as well. Get the right gear and there is more comfort to be had than you might imagine. Except for my cooler, everything I need is packed within the boxes on the bikes.
 

treemuncher

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
733
Location
West TN
Occupation
eatin' trees, poopin' chips
I forgot to mention that I now always carry a cheap hammock with bug netting in my work truck these days. Takes up about as much room as a softball. Working lots of 12-16 hr days and starting to fall asleep at the joysticks? Clear out a space between 2 trees and set up a hammock. 20-60 minutes of siesta time can salvage the rest of the day when no amount of coffee can revive you.
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
I forgot to mention that I now always carry a cheap hammock with bug netting in my work truck these days. Takes up about as much room as a softball. Working lots of 12-16 hr days and starting to fall asleep at the joysticks? Clear out a space between 2 trees and set up a hammock. 20-60 minutes of siesta time can salvage the rest of the day when no amount of coffee can revive you.

I had a hammock I bought in a market in Mexico that I slept in for 4 months while we hiked from Mexico City to Panama in the early 70s. It is made for a family of 4 and was spacious and comfortable. I would like to find another like it. I am going to check out them air mattresses. Maybe they are better than the air mattresses of old.The wife picked up a camping trailer for her bike last summer, but it is two crowded for two so you know where I end up.
 

Hallback

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Messages
2,306
Location
Aberdeen Wa.
Occupation
Gyppo tower logger
I will have to look into that air mattress. I ride a streetglide and put about 25k a year on it.
 

Jumbo

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2010
Messages
682
Location
Black Diamond WA
Occupation
retired
To all you tenters or sleeping bag users; for me, roughing it is not having a mint on my pillow. Tents and sleeping bags are to be stared at and studied, they should all be in some museum of ancient history....
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
To all you tenters or sleeping bag users; for me, roughing it is not having a mint on my pillow. Tents and sleeping bags are to be stared at and studied, they should all be in some museum of ancient history....

Now how can you smell the forest if you got mint breath? Or hear the mosquito buzzing with the TV on? ;);)
 

Jumbo

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2010
Messages
682
Location
Black Diamond WA
Occupation
retired
Now how can you smell the forest if you got mint breath? Or hear the mosquito buzzing with the TV on? ;);)
I also don't hear the mosquito buzzing when the hot water in the clean shower is running. Of course semi warm Vienna sausage and beans cannot compare to a nice New York steak with baked potato, grilled asparagus washed down with a double of "Never Sweat" from the Headframe Distillery in Butte. Topped of with a warm bread pudding. No, I think I'll let you keep the bugs and the Vienna sausage I don't want to encroach. I can smell the trees tomorrow with the window rolled down....:D:D
 

treemuncher

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
733
Location
West TN
Occupation
eatin' trees, poopin' chips
To all you tenters or sleeping bag users; for me, roughing it is not having a mint on my pillow. Tents and sleeping bags are to be stared at and studied, they should all be in some museum of ancient history....

I sort of expected nothing but the John Wayne types here playing with heavy equipment but, to my amazement (old thinking), Pajama Boy (sucking on a Soy Latte) is also in the mix.;) Maybe AC, quiet diesels and slick trim finishes are changing our industry to a newer, more "civilized" and PC compliant type.

I will continue with my archaic ways: grinds in my coffee, weapon on my person, bugs in my teeth and contently sleeping on the ground out in the elements. AC sure is nice but I never sleep better than when in my tent on a 3 week road trip across our great country. I would rather be living and working in the wild than stuck in a museum or close to a city. However, I'm thankful for all of the city people - keeps the wild areas a little less crowded. :D

Camping next to a lake with a woman who rides her own after a long, bug spattered day = paradise found for me. Livin' my dream. May we all be so lucky as to find that which appeals to us the most, no matter the path.

fun times.JPG
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
Well treemuncher, it's not that we don't appreciate being in the outdoors for recreation. It's just that when you make your living wearing coveralls or rain gear and being in the wet, hot or cold for work at least five days a week, you eventually lose your appreciation for being tired, cold, hot, sore and hungry on the weekend or for vacation times.
 
Top