Nice find on the aluminum steps.

Nice load for your Skidsteer.

quote:

Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:
Thanks for the update , hope grandson is doing great.

Thank you for remembering. He is doing great. I'll have an update about him in a few days.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Those are the storms that blew past us and grew on the way to you.

Loving the updates brother.

Yea, they grow and then come nowhere near us in this wicked weird vally we are in. I can always see the storms, but then we get like 12 drops a rain from the edge of it, then they are gone.


Also, Murder Beasts 9+ that I know of, lizards and mice 0.

Thanks for posting up, shipmate. I have enjoyed your updates and admire your tenacity.

Didn't make it to the Upper Missouri but twice had a memorial drive through NM on US-60. Excellent fresh-ground burgers in Datil! 20+ mile long straight-aways in God's Country.

And nearby, the speed trap in Springerville AZ, just over your state line.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigolicious:
Yea, they grow and then come nowhere near us in this wicked weird vally we are in. I can always see the storms, but then we get like 12 drops a rain from the edge of it, then they are gone.

We see something similar here northwest of Wickenburg. During the summer monsoons, we get about 50% coming out of the south/southeast, which generally soak everything in their northward path. But the other 50% come out of the northeast. We see them forming up over the Weaver Mountains as afternoon/early evening thunderstorm cells or fronts. Then they slide down to Yarnell, but when they come off that hill they tend to peter out on the desert floor before they get to us. Sometimes they reform just south of us and pound the Phoenix area.

Sigolicious, can you tell me more about your water treatment setup?

Is your rv pump the only thing moving water through the filters, or are you using a larger pump and connected to your "city" water inlet on the RV?

Also does the UV filter need constant power, or only when moving water through it?

For your rainwater collection do you draw from above the base of the tank so as not to suck too much sediment? Do you expect to have to clean the tanks at some point?

Thanks in advance. We have off grid property and I'm looking at options for water storage and treatment as well cost has gotten very high as of late.

In glad to hear your Grandson is doing well. May God Bless.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Nice find on the aluminum steps.

Nice load for your Skidsteer.

Yea, about that skid steer.....It has been awesome. I got a three point adapter for the front that has an included hitch mount. Can move trailers easy and use all of my father in laws tractor attachments.

quote:

Originally posted by Tailhook 84:
Thanks for posting up, shipmate. I have enjoyed your updates and admire your tenacity.

Right back atcha shippy! I has really been fun. But I will always repeat that having a plan made it so. Without that I could easily see misery and real hard work being the everyday. This isn't bad for a retirement gig.

quote:

Originally posted by ubelongoutside:
Sigolicious, can you tell me more about your water treatment setup?

Is your rv pump the only thing moving water through the filters, or are you using a larger pump and connected to your "city" water inlet on the RV?

Also does the UV filter need constant power, or only when moving water through it?

For your rainwater collection do you draw from above the base of the tank so as not to suck too much sediment? Do you expect to have to clean the tanks at some point?

Thanks in advance. We have off grid property and I'm looking at options for water storage and treatment as well cost has gotten very high as of late.

Our water comes from two sources. We can go to town and draw water for a penny a gallon or we get it from the rain on the roof of our building. I plan to add more roof spaces and collection as we go along. Either one we filter.

The water off the roof goes through a first stage or first flush diverter as it comes down the gutter prior to filling the tank. This is to remove most heavy solids from the water that may have been washed off the roof. This should keep the tanks fairly clean.

Water can be drawn from any of the tanks and comes out through a floating intake hose. So all water comes from about 4 inches below the surface inside the tank to minimize drawing any solids that may have made it into the tank. I didn't purchase mine as shown in the link, I made them from parts sourced on amazon for about 1/4 of the prices shown.

I have three tanks, two near the building for collection/harvesting water and one up on a slight rise for feeding the RV. Harvesting tanks can be pumped up to main RV feed tank and vice versa. The one that feeds the RV we buried 1" PVC for close to 75' at 18"+ from tank to a spigot and then into RV. With the height difference between tank and RV we get decent flow that helps the pump system we have.

All water still comes in VIA the city water connection and first goes through our filters. 10 micron paper sediment filter, 5 micron carbon GAC filter, and then the UV filter. The sediment and GAC carbon filters are standard 10" filters and should last us 1 year. Replacements can be had for around $30-$40 for a set of six. The UV filter is 120v and does require constant power. Ours is VIQUA S5Q-PA 6gpm whole house version that uses 120v @30w. The bulb should be replaced every year at $99ish, I found a 5 pack on sale for $410. There are tap only versions that dont use as much power (less than 15w) and there is a company that makes one for a single tap that only comes on when it senses water flow. I'm not convinced that having it only come on suring flow is the best way to go with a UV filter.

After the filters I have couple of bypasses I added. Fist bypass routes to a SeaFlow 3gpm marine 120v on demand pump and surge tank. Second bypass routes to OEM 12v RV water pump. Also have bypasses that either pump can draw from the internal fresh water holding tank. Basically I can usa a city connection with it associated pressure or either of the internal pumps and or draw from fresh water holding tank depending on situation. Can also use either pump to draw water into the fresh water tank.

Thanks for the info on the water.

Mostly finished the Rock retaining wall today. 24 bucket loads at approximately 1600 lbs per load (19ish tons of rock!). We loaded every stone into and out of the bucket! Wall is 62'x5.5'. Sometime over the next couple weeks I'll finish the stairs. Quite early today because we were packing dirt in the crevices, but we have a steady 25mph wind and I'm done with eating dirt. Will finish when the wind dies down.



Taking pictures of hummingbirds when the wind is blowing is a PITA.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigolicious:
Quite early today because we were packing dirt in the crevices, but we have a steady 25mph wind and I'm done with eating dirt. Will finish when the wind dies down.

Working on a tractor in the AZ wind can suck. I bought a pair of Uvex goggles (I like the yellow tinted lens), and that helps a lot as they seal completely around your eyes. Even just carrying a bucket load of gravel can blow a lot of dust in your face when you head upwind.

Lots of projects and things going on recently. Most importantly we have everything completed to help stay warm and keep things from freezing done. Winter nights are here as we have had some sub freezing ones. Even got down to 18*F one night a couple weeks ago.

The better half has been canning like crazy and we might just have enough soup and chili to not have to cook for at least three months. About two weeks ago she helped her mom harvest the entire garden at their place the day be fore a freeze. Good thing too, because they lost the entire garden in an overnight freeze. So add a couple dozen quarts of fresh veggies on the canning shelf.

Completed a rip rap retaining wall and stairs.





Skirted the big RV to help knock down the cold in winter, including stirs my old big dog can easily get up n down. No pics, but there are 4x 48" LED dual tube shop style lights mounted on blocks underneath there. Very little power use and should keep the temps under there from freezing.







Water boxes for the valves on the 2500gl water tanks that needed to be insulated. So in addition to insulation, I added an LED light on the lines. There is a battery mounted on a rubber mat, Solar charge controller, and a thermal controller that will turn the light on at 33*F and off at 35*F. The light is mounted directly to the line. These pictures are before I fill with bailing twine, painted, and cut a hole in the side for the garden hoses. Bailing twine makes an excellent insulator because varmints don't like to eat it.







We have a few different swales/ditches on the property top help reroute water during monsoon. This is one that is inside the fence line. So I decided we needed bridges over it.





It has been mating season for the desert tarantulas. These little demons are not afraid to fight, anything. However I have murder beasts in my employment, and they think the desert tarantula is dessert. So I say have at em boys!





Added a new piece of equipment to the inventory. It is the perfect thing for moving steel targets out further. Kubota Xg850 RTV.



Also figured out the a skid steer bucket makes an excellent shooting bench.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sigolicious,

Great update, though if I knew cats would eat tarantulas, I'd have a few dozen. Spiders are a major nope, just one notch OVER snakes for me...

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
Great update, though if I knew cats would eat tarantulas, I'd have a few dozen. Spiders are a major nope, just one notch OVER snakes for me...

I am convinced they are a combination of Terminator, Predator, and Alien. Designed perfectly to destroy anything that scurries, slithers, crawls and in many cases flies. I have watched them eat mice, lizards, small desert tarantulas, moths, stink bugs, and a plethora of other insects. They were pissed when I took the first tarantula I saw them with away. I wasn't sure it was safe. Did some research, and they are good to go. They were born feral, but have spent their short 7mo life in my 1200sqft building doing the job I hired them to do. They are very friendly and loveable to the humans. They even sort of like the dogs. 115lb Akita won't even mass with them. All in all, I'm not exactly a cat person, but this business relationship is working excellent for both parties and is kind of growing on me.

quote:

No pics, but there are 4x 48" dual tube shop lights mounted on blocks underneath there. Very little power use and should keep the temps under there from freezing.

Are you sure about this? Incandescent bulbs are frequently used as a heat source because they are energy inefficient, ie. they waste a lot of energy putting out heat instead of light. I've never really thought about florescent lights in the same manner, although I guess the transformers put out some heat. If they're l.e.d. lights then certainly not much heat is being created. The more efficient a light is for energy, the less heat created.

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:

quote:

No pics, but there are 4x 48" dual tube shop lights mounted on blocks underneath there. Very little power use and should keep the temps under there from freezing.

Are you sure about this? Incandescent bulbs are frequently used as a heat source because they are energy inefficient, ie. they waste a lot of energy putting out heat instead of light. I've never really thought about florescent lights in the same manner, although I guess the transformers put out some heat. If they're l.e.d. lights then certainly not much heat is being created. The more efficient a light is for energy, the less heat created.

I failed to mention that they are LED shop "style" lights. LED puts out enough heat to knock the edge off and keep the air above freezing. Also energy efficient to keep the solar and batteries happy.

Haven't updated for a bit because of winter prep and holidays. So I'm tagging this to keep it from getting pruned. I'll update with pictures and news tomorrow evening.

Looking forward to the update. I’m in the Verde Valley and it’s been pretty chilly. I’m sure it’s a lot colder in the high, open desert.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Looking forward to the update. I’m in the Verde Valley and it’s been pretty chilly. I’m sure it’s a lot colder in the high, open desert.

We had 20+ inches of snow since the 27th. 5" of that came last night. Roads on the ranch are a mess. Best time to drive is in the early morning or late in the evening when they are frozen.

We've been averaging about 15* at night and mid 40s during the day. Today we didn't get above freezing even with the sun, tonight it's already down to 10* and dropping fast. Add in a steady 5-10mph wind coming from the east in New Mexico. Got Dang cold.

quote:

Originally posted by Sigolicious:

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Looking forward to the update. I’m in the Verde Valley and it’s been pretty chilly. I’m sure it’s a lot colder in the high, open desert.

We had 20+ inches of snow since the 27th. 5" of that came last night. Roads on the ranch are a mess. Best time to drive is in the early morning or late in the evening when they are frozen.

We've been averaging about 15* at night and mid 40s during the day. Today we didn't get above freezing even with the sun, tonight it's already down to 10* and dropping fast. Add in a steady 5-10mph wind coming from the east in New Mexico. Got Dang cold.

It's 63 in Pittsburgh today. Haha! Wouldn't have been folks in AZ would be under winter's boot while we're making Long Island iced teas. Hang in there.