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Camping, Hiking and Outdoor Activities Camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities within. |
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#1
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Build a mule
Thinking a neat project to help around the farmstead and get the kids hands on building practical stuff would be to build a 4WD 'mule'.
Hauling stuff around is an ongoing need. A mile pulling a trailer would be just the ticket. I'm thinking an old jeep drive train would be a good place to start. Maybe strap on a 15-20 hp diesel engine and get the ball rolling. What say you calguns builders?
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CA firearms laws timeline BLM land maps In interpreting this text, we are guided by the principle that “[t]he Constitution was written to be understood by the voters; its words and phrases were used in their normal and ordinary as distinguished from technical meaning.” United States v. Sprague, 282 U. S. 716, 731 (1931) -Scalia majority opinion in Heller |
#2
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Why not just use the jeep?
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"Freedom begins with an act of defiance" Quote for the day: Quote:
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#4
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An old Jeep drive train is pretty heavy. I knew a guy who spent a year dropping a 16hp Kubota diesel into an old CJ2A; it was such a dog he scrapped the whole thing.
I like the idea but would probably opt for an old Cushman Truckster, JD Gator, Kawasaki Mule or some other beater/parts vehicle off Craigslist and strip it down and build it back up. A Cushman would be sweet because most had a three on the tree tranny (not 4WD though). If you want to go the Jeep route look for a Suzuki Samurai. Then there's this: http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10181 Last edited by Barbarosa; 06-12-2017 at 3:20 PM.. |
#5
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Cobbing something together from parts not originally designed to work together is not easy. Can involve fabrication and stuff that takes a lot of time/money.
Not trying to kill your idea, but wouldn't it be easier/cheaper to find a old and broken 4wd on Craigslist that someone wants to offload for cheap? Oftentimes, folks sell cars for cheap b/c they can't afford a significant repair by an auto shop. Plus, you can choose a older 4wd that's commonly found in junkyards should you need to scavenge...
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The dude abides... |
#6
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Cool to get the kids involved.
Remember "tankerman"? That's how he raised his kids, to be smart and self sufficient on his "farmstead." Just in case you decide to go a different direction than cobbling something together: When I was in the Coast Guard, besides working search and rescue, my day job was ATON (Aids To Navigation), maintaining jetty lights, day boards, three lighthouses and in emergencies, buoys. One lighthouse was out on remote Anacapa Island and I had a US Marine hand-me-down 4WD "Mule" to lug my equipment from the landing grotto up the hill to the lighthouse. A real little workhorse and a ton of fun to drive, pulls trailers too. It was powered by a huge Briggs and Stratton (or similar) gasoline powered engine. I always thought if I had the property I'd try and pick one of these up. |
#8
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Just remember that the military mules and vehicles of that type had almost zero safety gear, so having kids + mule may be an accident waiting to happen.
What about a used Gator or golf cart?
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Active Army 1976-1986, Army Reserve 2005-2015, Afghanistan 2010-2011 http://www.thepolemicist.net/2013/01...t-for-gun.html https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ “This decision is a freedom calculus decided long ago by Colonists who cherished individual freedom more than the subservient security of a British ruler. The freedom they fought for was not free of cost then, and it is not free now.” - Hon. Roger T. Benitez, United States District Judge, March 29, 2019 |
#10
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Yeah, and we know how well THAT works out...
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Active Army 1976-1986, Army Reserve 2005-2015, Afghanistan 2010-2011 http://www.thepolemicist.net/2013/01...t-for-gun.html https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/ “This decision is a freedom calculus decided long ago by Colonists who cherished individual freedom more than the subservient security of a British ruler. The freedom they fought for was not free of cost then, and it is not free now.” - Hon. Roger T. Benitez, United States District Judge, March 29, 2019 |
#17
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I also think a jeep would make a good platform. Find one not running. Drop in a new motor.
Then maybe stretch the frame 3 feet. Make the back a flatbed. Drivetrain parts would be easy to find.
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Been gone too long. It's been 15 to 20 years since i had to shelf my guns. Those early years sucked. I really miss the good old Pomona Gun Shows. I'm Back. |
#18
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I remember these Mules. I can't imagine anyone manufacturing one today, without significantly amending safety items. Having one of these meant not having to hump all of the ammo in our packs.
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#19
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http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10181
Looks like his photobucket links are down, if you search half scale mule project they might come up.
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Fear is the spare change that will keep you broke Call him run-like-hell-when-shtf-guy or dial-911-guy but NEVER call an unarmed man "Security". |
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