bigbuck

Depends on the vehicle. Some vehicles have a history of problems that get expensive real quick, some don't. Do your homework, what are common issues with the vehicle?? Are they covered?? You are looking at a warranty that covers the powertrain and nothing else. What are the issues with the powertrain?? Claims can also be a big issue, they look for excuses to not pay out. If you have bought a vehicle that has a proven history of reliability, then I wouldn't bother. Keep your money and spend it on maintenance and fishing equipment.

Definitely get the correct rims for the application, 'Universal' fit involves the use of shims etc.... The vehicle was not designed for use with anything that is 'universal' and your rubber is the only thing connecting you to the road so don't skimp out.

MOEN faucets and tub/shower faucets have been pretty good to me as well. Walk into Home Depot and the cartridges would be replaced free of charge with no headaches. I bought a Danze (Canadian Tire) kitchen faucet a few years ago to replace the old no name job that we had and it gave me nothing but grief from day 1. Fit problems, leaks, etc.... It was finally replaced last year with a brand new one since the cartridge was permanent and could not be changed, stupid design. When this one goes it will be replaced by either a MOEN or an American Standard (I have an 'in' there and go direct so I don't worry about CS) depending on the deal I get. I won't be buying any other faucets from any other manufacturer again unless it is from the abovementioned 2 and esp. from Danze who has to ship parts from Montreal and that takes a few days. I like being able to go into HD that's 10 minutes away to just pick up what I need and not have to wait with a tap or shower out of service.

Hey, Happy BDay Pete!!! All the best to ya in 2012!!

Oh, and I forgot an important thing, may you all catch your PBs in 2012.

Hopefully we will see an improvement in the team but with big co's, they are like the Teachers pensions fund and will be interested in clipping their coupon every month (bottom line profits). I hope I'm wrong but I personally believe there has to be a face to the ownership.

I wish all OFNr's a Happy New Year!! I hope 2012 brings health, happiness and prosperity to you and your families. I know for myself, there will be a lot of change in my life and hopefully it will be good for my family and I.

Before you know it, he'll be bugging you to take him out fishing. Enjoy this time with him, he only grows up once.

Great to hear the surgery went well. Now for the recovery. You'll be on the water in no time.

You have captured the true spirit of Christmas in this post Gerritt. Remembering those that are no longer with us is at the top of my mind this year. This will be the first year I am celebrating Christmas and my birthday without a grandparent. I miss the 4 of them dearly and their memory lives on inside me. For myself, it's another day now and I don't get too worked up, for my girls however, who are 6 going on 18 and 5 going on 6, Santa Claus is coming to town and they are excited because it is daddy's birthday as well. Live your lives by this folks: 'Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, that is why they call it the present'

Happy BDay from another Christmas baby!!! I think you have a couple years on me though!

An 18ftr rigged with trailer is probably north of 2500lbs. That means a real tow vehicle. So, what Lew said!

If you plan on doing ANY significant amount of towing, get a proper vehicle to do it with. This question always pops up in the silly season. A minivan can do the job BUT it takes a beating and you can forget about a panic stop. That's an overlooked issue. My minivan can tow 3500lbs. My boat gear and trailer come in around 3300 lbs. I can cruise at a hundred kph but stopping is another issue. That's why the only time I pull my boat is either really early in the morning or really late at night. A real tow vehicle won't be great on gas but will be useful. Besides, a fwd minivan sucks on unimproved or gravel boatlaunches. Good luck selling it to the wife. I presented the boat as a fait accompli. I went and bought it right after we bought our travel trailer and said 'Surprise'!!!

Cherokees are kinda nice too but I've had a bad experience with JEEP and would never go back. Ford is staking a lot on the new motor and I think it will be a good one. I haven't heard anything really bad about them.

Good one Jer!!! For all the guys who are in their 40s and up, the last time people were really happy was in the early 80s and earlier. They didn't have much but they sure appreciated what they had. These days, people are too caught up in materialistic Bull. Gotta have the biggest and baddest of whatever.

New F150 with the EcoBoost engine will do all you ask of it and more. The fuel economy will be on par or a bit better than your current truck with more usefulness. And besides, its a real truck.

I think the main point is that Dana now has broken glass all over his property and is wondering if the cleanup has to be done solely on his dime. Contact your insurance broker, he/she should be able to help you. I'd work on cleaning up the big stuff as best as possible to start, put it all in a box and don't throw it out. As for what is on the lawn and is covered with snow, you may have to wait until spring. You aren't trying to profit from your neighbours misfortune, you are trying to restore your property to the state it was in prior to the fire. That is what everyone's insurance is for. Take pics and document what you do, don't give the insurance company an out. Also, as Lew mentioned, see if there is anything you can do to help them out. Their lives blew up along with the house. Good luck with this.

IN GOD I TRUST, ALL OTHERS PAY C A S H! ! ! Or C.O.B. = Cash on the Barrelhead

I hate to tell you this but you really should have checked EVERYTHING before you even left. That way you could have pointed out the deficiencies (damaged boat cover especially). As for the work they did, they will have to make due on it because that is definitely their fault, they can't argue that it happened after the fact. You can try to fight them to repair your boat cover but your chances are pretty slim, BUT still give it a shot. Good luck!! It burns my biscuit when I hear stuff like this happening, people don't take any pride in their work any more but still expect a bigger paycheque. I'm just ranting and don't want to start anything with that comment.

Let's see, 4am departure, 8am brekkie outside of Sudbury, 2pm lunch in White River or Wawa, Dinner in Thunder Bay around 6ish and arrival sometime after midnight. I've done the route to Kenora a few times so I know the drill and can recommend where to stop. I'd be in but I can't commit to something that far out. Keep us all posted.

Irish, it's just being frugal, that's all. Why buy gifts at Christmas time +a ring later, just buy it at this time of year and you are off the hook.........

Lew, keep Jim in your heart and his memory goes on. His legacy is there for all to see in all the buildings he helped erect. Take care of your wife, daughter and yourself my friend.

Cdn Tire is fine for oil changes and very basic maintenance as well as E Tests. Beyond that, I'd take it to an independant shop. Unfortunately, the mechanics seem to be paid by piece work so the more they generate the more they make so they go looking for and create problems. Brakes are easy picking, tell someone their brakes are shot and most times they will get them done on the spot. Brakes take less time than the book calls for so the mechanic has more time to hose other folks. Just have your normal mechanic take a good look at the front end and have him check the brakes just to make sure.

It is an incredible body of water. I've fished a small part of it and its worth it if you have the chance. I'd go back up in a heartbeat.

I'd think about going up hwy 11up to Cochrane and go around the top side to get to TBay. It is longer but is a fairly straight road that isn't quite as treacherous as 17. Truckers go that way and avoid 17 north of the Soo.