Andrew Welser

If you need to do "truck things" often, &/or need 4x4 then a small truck makes sense, but if, like me you aren't hauling the majority of the time, may I recommend a hatchback, station wagon, or minivan (much better interior space for hauling vs a sedan) and a trailer. If you need the 4x4 traction you could go with a smaller SUV and a trailer. You want something big enough to handle your normal loads (inside and on a trailer) but no bigger than necessary to minimize fuel usage; rent/borrow for the occasional large load outliers. Or you could have multiple vehicles with different purposes: something small that sips fuel for daily commuting and a larger truck/SUV for occasional hauling.

I'm also partial to Toyota reliability and manual transmissions.

Eric Hanson wrote:
The long-johns that I have are not terribly far from a T-shirt.  I think that they have a soft & fuzzy interior.  They are fairly thin, but I am really surprised by how warm they are given that they don't really have much bulk.  This is a really good feature because it allows for more layering.

were those poly-synthetic long johns that you disliked scratchy and itchy?  Or did they just make you sweat and then not remove the moisture?

Eric

They're not scratchy/itchy, if I remember correctly  I would sweat and it didn't seem to be removing it, but that also could have been an issue with the material of my underwear, and/or over dressing for the temperature. I wore a pair for the first time this winter a couple days ago and didn't have any issues, so it may have been user error in the past; plus I sweat easily when I get overheated.

Also, I checked the tags on a few of the waffly ones, and they're at least 50% poly, not mostly cotton like I had been thinking; but even a low percentage of cotton can be bad in winter clothing?

I have a few different brands of poly long johns, but your description above was a good match to the pair I wore the other day; in retrospect I may have not been expecting the same warmth out of them as the waffly ones, so I was probably overdressing then overheating. I'll experiment more with them this winter.

Eric Hanson wrote:Andrew, did you check the link in the post I made above your question?  I made a specific link to a pair of long-johns that I find to be pretty close to ideal.

https://www.amazon.com/Roadbox-Thermal-Underwear-Men-Thermals/dp/B0D8HZSGP3/ref=pd_ybh_a_d_sccl_73/136-6728180-2216168?pd_rd_w=6VsV2&content-id=amzn1.sym.67f8cf21-ade4-4299-b433-69e404eeecf1&pf_rd_p=67f8cf21-ade4-4299-b433-69e404eeecf1&pf_rd_r=2A7RXRM3Q8PJBZFJAYFS&pd_rd_wg=bix8O&pd_rd_r=8ddb264f-a934-40ed-a988-6fc8c13e1ae1&pd_rd_i=B0D8HZSGP3&th=1&psc=1


And if you are referring to those poly-itching waffle type of long johns that seem to be everywhere--yeah, I find those to be next to useless.  The DON'T feel good on the skin.  I don't think that they are especially warm.  I really don't see that they are worth any amount of money.


Eric

I did see your link after I made my last post, I think we were typing/posting at the same time. You said the linked long johns feel fuzzy; the fabric on what I have that I don't like is more like a T-shirt, but poly, not cotton; only the cotton ones I like are waffley. I'll have to give those a try.

And how could I have forgotten the most important layer: a knit cap!

Eric Hanson wrote:Douglass--

I am going to second what you stated about the no-cotton recommendation for the first layer.  I should have included that specification in my post.  Actually, when it comes to *really* dressing for cold, I don't want cotton to be a part of the conversation at all.  I had a little (mostly vicarious) experience with mountain climbing and they swore by the phrase "cotton kills."  Most of those guys (and ladies) would not wear cotton *ANYTHING*!  Cotton goes from being too warm to too wet to too cold too quickly.  Cotton *feels* like a great fabric, and is skin friendly and breathable--as long as one is sitting and not doing anything.  But the moment that one starts moving and exercising, that cotton heats of FAST and leads to a lot of sweat which gets soaked up by the cotton.  This is not good.  The last thing one wants in a cold environment is to have a wet towel draped right next to the skin!  Almost any other fabric is better.

Do y'all have recommendations for non cotton long johns? I much prefer the cotton "waffle knit" ones, but the only other type I've tried have been some kind of thin poly/synthetic that seems to make me more prone to sweat and don't wick it away.

As a Texan I don't encounter the same extreme low temperatures as y'all in "Da Great White Nort", but because of that I also don't get as much of a chance to acclimate to the cold. The biggest issue for me, is the temperature swing from inside to out, that I encounter many times a day. I can dress for the cold, or I can dress for inside temperatures, but having to go back and forth is where I find the biggest challenge, especially since I'm regularly going in and out working maintenance; if I was changing from mud boots, etc. to slippers then it wouldn't be as big a deal to shed some lower layers, but since I'm normally keeping my shoes on and going in and out of office buildings, its more difficult/inappropriate to shed those layers.

What's worked for me is dressing for the expected outdoor weather below the waist, and adding/subtracting layers above the waist as needed for indoor/outdoor comfort:

Lower layers that are difficult to add/subtract throughout the day normally looks like adding wool/thicker socks over my regular pair, and some combination of flannel lined work pants and long johns (one or the other if it's staying above freezing, or both if going much below). If it's going to be really cold and/or I'm going to be outside for a long time I also add insulated overalls or coveralls that can be removed/added without having to take shoes/boots off.

Upper layers end up being some combination of sweaters, sweatshirts, jacket or heavy coat to suit the outside temperature; that all end up removed down to a T-shirt &/or button-down work shirt if I'm staying inside for any length of time.

Gloves, I haven't yet found a good solution; my fingers get cold easily, and I don't have the dexterity I need with gloves on, so I find myself regularly putting on and taking off gloves once the temperature is maybe 40's and lower.

Rico Loma wrote:Please be careful about used Mitsubishi models. I've read that they cut car production and parts drastically for the zN American market, so research fully your ability to repair.  

That would definitely take it off (or move it far down) the list!  
Thanks for the heads up!

Currently driving a minivan, but have minimal commuting distance; previously had a 1st Gen Vibe (as mentioned near the beginning of the thread.)

If I was looking for something new (to me), one that would be on my short list, that I haven't seen mentioned yet, is the Mitsubishi Mirage: probably the closest "modern" equivalent to the Geo Metro.

I'm using a hand siphon pump (see example pic attached) out of 5 gallon containers since pour spouts are annoying at best, even before all the vapor/spill modifications added in recent years. Pumping the bulb starts the siphon, as long as the container is high enough. One of the main downsides to using this is lifting & supporting the full container, but at least it doesn't need to be held in an exact position for a pour spout.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
--Robert A. Heinlein  

For me, it's been difficult to hold a career path: I want to change jobs every few years because I'm getting board and want to learn something new.

I've been thinking and planning, hoping to build in a few years, and am leaning towards radiant/hydronic heat (as a backup/supplement to Passive Annual Heat Storage), primarily sourced through solar hot water panels, with a rocket water heater as backup/supplement.

I will likely start off with something similar to the Geoff Lawton and Tim Barker design of water heater, pumping hot water to a large insulated buffer/storage tank, and feeding the radiant system with a thermostat controlled pump.