7'*18' V-Nose Cargo Trailer Toy Hauler Conversion

[flboy]

flboy & TommyB. Howdy;

Just got bumped up to Cat. 5 Hope it turns before it gets to y'all,. In any
case you've got your escape pods handy. Use'em if ya need'em.
Stay safe and as dry as ya can.

hank

Thanks Hank. I have filled up all the vehicles with gas and have ~40 Gal in cans for evacuation if needed. I also bought water , tarps, and dry foods to get me by a few weeks if we have to hunker down and take it. I'll make the fight or flight decision in the last 24 hours based on trajectory, strength. and etc.. We'll see.

Hopefully this is just another drill... We've done this before... Just last year in fact when we were spared by the storm staying about 50 miles offshore while we took minimal hurricane force winds. At least this year my CTC is finished... can evacuate in comfort and boon dock just about anywhere.

[Spotman]

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[flboy]

Martin... I meant to ask you... have you ever went to "Jim's Smokin Que" in Blairseville? It is only about 6 miles down the road when you turn left out of Vogel St. Park entrance.

We went there for lunch and it was some of the best Brisket I have ever had and the Brunswick Stew was so good. I ordered some Brunswick Stew to go also and warmed that up and made some grits for dinner that night. Good stuff! They apparently are only open for business Thursday through Saturday. They had a line going out the door.

That was my first clue it just might be a good place.

[McDave]

I'm glad to hear you are a prepper, I knew you were. I've never had to deal with hurricanes, but I have seen Fire and I've seen Rain. I've seen Sunny Days that I thought would never end.
When we get the 24/7 coverage of those storms and the devastation I think to myself 'Why would you want to live there?'
Then I remember the 8 months of winter and minus 50, 60, and 70 wind chills. Oh yeah, That's why.
So, I know you know what you are doin', Just remember, Discretion is the better part of valor. No shame in taking an impromptu vacation, right after you come back from vacation. Anyways, play it smart. Keep an eye on Tommy.
Thoughts and Prayers,

McDave

[flboy]

Thanks McDave. I am a praying man and I really pray Irma takes out towards open water. Nobody needs this. Tommy and I are in Palm Bay which I highlighted with a red dot. Much time between now and then. This will likely move away. For now, we are in the "Cone of Uncertainty " as the forecasters call it. They like to get us all worked up so we prepare just in case.

Irma.JPG (86.12 KiB) Viewed 2635 times

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[McDave]

Well, doesn't sound all bad. I've spent my entire life in the "cone of uncertainty". It's not boring... I remember when they used to call it a Dunce Cap. Cone of uncertainty... heh heh, what'll they come up with next?

McDave

[m.colley]

Martin... I meant to ask you... have you ever went to "Jim's Smokin Que" in Blairseville? It is only about 6 miles down the road when you turn left out of Vogel St. Park entrance.

We went there for lunch and it was some of the best Brisket I have ever had and the Brunswick Stew was so good. I ordered some Brunswick Stew to go also and warmed that up and made some grits for dinner that night. Good stuff! They apparently are only open for business Thursday through Saturday. They had a line going out the door.

That was my first clue it just might be a good place.

Don,
Your more than welcome for the info on Vogel, let me know next time you head up, maybe we can do a "guys weekend", bring Tommy and we'll ride. Yes I do Jim's BBQ every time I'm up that way, I'm more of a pork guy but your right, the brisket is good stuff. If you like brunswick stew, I'll have to bring you some when I come down to FLA to ride. The wife and I make it from scratch, we usually make it in 5 gallon batches and can or freeze it for later use. I even smoke my own meat (pork & chicken) for it.


Hey like I told Tommy, if things get bad and you need a place to hide out the storm your always welcome to stay up this way. Bring the CTC and we'll find a place to put it. My cousin is in Naples and their leaving out tomorrrow morning headed north to our family land just outside of Jax.


Ya'll be safe.


Martin

[flboy]

Martin, Thanks for the offer.. We will likely stay put. There will be gridlock on the roads as people try to get out of the way (already starting on the interstates). If I evacuate, it will be a very last minute decision when only streetlights are swinging and roads are mostly emptied with tropical storm force winds and I will head towards Tampa and go South most likely to get behind it. I always take a chainsaw and pull rope in case I have to move a fallen tree on the way back in ( I keep Smith and Wesson with me also in case of the looters) .

Maybe we can get you down here sometime to ONF in January.

In any case, for now it looks like we will be getting some wind here late Sunday and early Monday based on 8AM forecast this morning. The 2AM position on Monday is right where Tommy and I live with the northeast quadrant (usually the worst) hitting us as it goes back offshore. I still think it will move further east and spare us the worst winds like Hurricane Matthew did last year. I'll shutter up the house and anchor the CTC down in the back yard regardless as these storms can be very unpredictable. I bought some 4' anchors and 6 50lb bags of cement and straps last night. It may help. Who knows. I will also fill all the fresh water tanks on board in case I need it later.

Irma Capture.JPG (149.83 KiB) Viewed 2612 times

[flboy]

I am wiring in a transfer switch/panel tonight (bought after Hurricane Mathew last year and did not install) with emergency circuits for the house. It will run the fridge, and outlets in the kitchen, living room, family room and master bedroom. I can use the Honda 2000 inverter generator in the garage (going to cobble a vent also) during the storm and avoid all the flickering and eventual grid failure. If the outage is extended, I will pull the main and backfeed the louder 6000W generator in to the whole house, but for the most part, 1800W should cover us even with fridge, a few lights, tv, and a window AC in the bedroom for sleeping comfort ( the 6000 BTU I pulled out of the CTC last month). But the emergency transfer switch is a quick and proper way that anyone can initiate. The backfeed through the clothes dryer outlet with a "suicide cord" isn't exactly code, but works and I know how to hook it up safely. Just have to make certain house main is pulled so it is not back feeding the transformer on the pole.

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[featherliteCT1]

Go flboy go!

[McDave]

Edited. Timing could have been better..

McDave

[flboy]

My wife is a nurse and just got called. She will be locked in the hospital until this is over. Not leaving town without her. Will stay and take my chances at home with the dog. I have a hallway and some bed mattresses to hide in if it starts coming apart. The track moved inland a bit so it could get hairy. We Will see. Strapping down the CTC also. I do have insurance on it this year.

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[Hader]

Hope that all goes well for Y'all.

[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

Know you'll be busy from now till it's gone by, so take care of your details
won't be suprised if you are "off the air" here on the forum till next week some time.
Look forward to hearing from ya then. Until then ... Stay safe & dry.

hank

[flboy]

flboy, Howdy;

Know you'll be busy from now till it's gone by, so take care of your details
won't be suprised if you are "off the air" here on the forum till next week some time.
Look forward to hearing from ya then. Until then ... Stay safe & dry.

hank

Thanks Hank! If this current forecast track holds, we may be catching a break. Good for us, bad for Tampa and Orlando. In any case, I am ready and I got my elderly neighbor's house squared away. ! Taking my truck down to the hospital parking garage and bringing my wife's Escape back which will fit in our home garage.. One antenna to take down (large 2 element HF antenna on a rotor) , then sit back and wait to see. Will let you know how it goes. In any case, millions of Floridians will be affected. They can use prayers in advance for strength to endure.

Looks like last year about this time.





CTC is not tied down yet. I will wait for tomorrow's forecast to decide since this involves fast setting cement. Will only do if greater than Cat 1 winds expected here . It is mostly protected from direct wind on three sides from other structure in any case. That is why I put it up against the house,