On trailer hitches and emails

[ABMax24]

I've never written a cheque, and never forsee a need to. I can't think of any local businesses that accept them anymore, cheque fraud is just too easy.

80% of my purchases are on a preferred rate cash-back Visa, the other 20% are on a standard rate cash-back Mastercard for our only retailer that doesn't accept Visa (Costco for fuel and in-store). Cash is just a hassle to withdraw and use. Plus getting up to 4% back on things like groceries will keep me using my Visa.

Interac e-Transfer has completely taken over for account to account transfers, it's so easy and instant.

I guess I'm a lot younger than most of you though, the cheapest gas I ever remember was 55 cents a liter, that would have been about '98, I would have been kindergarten age.

 

[johneh]

I've never written a cheque, and never forsee a need to. I can't think of any local businesses that accept them anymore, cheque fraud is just too easy.

80% of my purchases are on a preferred rate cash-back Visa, the other 20% are on a standard rate cash-back Mastercard for our only retailer that doesn't accept Visa (Costco for fuel and in-store). Cash is just a hassle to withdraw and use. Plus getting up to 4% back on things like groceries will keep me using my Visa.

Interac e-Transfer has completely taken over for account to account transfers, it's so easy and instant.

I guess I'm a lot younger than most of you though, the cheapest gas I ever remember was 55 cents a liter, that would have been about '98, I would have been kindergarten age.

Now I feel really old but then my kids late 30es early 40es and I don't think they have ever written a cheque
Now whatever comes to the farm is a swipe card they get paid immediately, Fuel, Seed, Fertilizer what ever we never carry more than 100$ dollars in our pockets

 

[stoveliker]

I've never written a cheque, and never forsee a need to. I can't think of any local businesses that accept them anymore, cheque fraud is just too easy.

80% of my purchases are on a preferred rate cash-back Visa, the other 20% are on a standard rate cash-back Mastercard for our only retailer that doesn't accept Visa (Costco for fuel and in-store). Cash is just a hassle to withdraw and use. Plus getting up to 4% back on things like groceries will keep me using my Visa.

Interac e-Transfer has completely taken over for account to account transfers, it's so easy and instant.

I guess I'm a lot younger than most of you though, the cheapest gas I ever remember was 55 cents a liter, that would have been about '98, I would have been kindergarten age.

I'm older (than you - I'm NOT old, at least that's what I tell my teenage kids - we got them later in life) but I do the same.

I do all (literally all) my shopping on a credit card associated with an airline. We never use anything else unless the place doesn't take the card brand.

It has a fee, but it has perks (boarding early so my 6'4" has some foot space because my bag can go up in the bins - I don't travel with a suitcase carryon (aka "roller board")...), getting upgrades etc. I spend enough on it each year to get a cash rebate each year that's exactly the yearly fee. So it's a free card. I have never paid a cent of interest as I (manually, not automatically) pay it off every month.
And the miles I rack up with my spending pay for 1.5 to 2 tickets per year to Europe (where all our family lives).

I had one time where my card data were stolen. Not online, but at a remote gas station in TN. I have alerts set so I get a txt message for any charge larger than $200. They charged $7.34 or so and once that worked they went big. Card company gave everything back.
I have not been a victim of online card theft - but i'm very careful who I do business with. Breaches at companies (I remember Target) are not controllable by me. Other than using cash, but I don't do that.

Funny thing about the $200 alerts is that I know when to prepare to help unload the grocery bags and carry them up the hill to the home if my wife is doing the groceries alone; "ding" (your wife is soon coming home because she just paid).
I do have a Visa card and Visa Debit card too. The latter i never use - as mentioned above, not enough protection.

I do check my charges every other day online. So I catch things quickly, even when they fly under the $200 radar.

Other than the airline card, my banking is with a local non-profit FCU.

Anyway, hitches.
I've been thinking about adding a hitch to the (ICE) Rav4 (and get a small (!) trailer - small enough to park it standing on its back to decrease the footprint - to get small (!) loads of wood if need be).
But it's an automatic, and I've always driven stick shifts. I prefer towing with a stick shift; better control of what the engine does.
I presume most pick up trucks these days are automatic too? So my control issues are non-issues?

 

[begreen]

I've never written a cheque, and never forsee a need to. I can't think of any local businesses that accept them anymore, cheque fraud is just too easy.

80% of my purchases are on a preferred rate cash-back Visa, the other 20% are on a standard rate cash-back Mastercard for our only retailer that doesn't accept Visa (Costco for fuel and in-store). Cash is just a hassle to withdraw and use. Plus getting up to 4% back on things like groceries will keep me using my Visa.

Interac e-Transfer has completely taken over for account to account transfers, it's so easy and instant.

I guess I'm a lot younger than most of you though, the cheapest gas I ever remember was 55 cents a liter, that would have been about '98, I would have been kindergarten age.

In the states, Costco only takes Visa, even their credit card is Visa. That's the only place I have used our Debit card.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I remember digging for couch change gas in high school. I remember $1.20/gal at the time.

When my father came back from Vietnam, I remember him saying he was making just over $5k a year. I imagine this was in 71 or 72 by the time he was fully out.

I'm older (than you - I'm NOT old, at least that's what I tell my teenage kids - we got them later in life) but I do the same.

I do all (literally all) my shopping on a credit card associated with an airline. We never use anything else unless the place doesn't take the card brand.

It has a fee, but it has perks (boarding early so my 6'4" has some foot space because my bag can go up in the bins - I don't travel with a suitcase carryon (aka "roller board")...), getting upgrades etc. I spend enough on it each year to get a cash rebate each year that's exactly the yearly fee. So it's a free card. I have never paid a cent of interest as I (manually, not automatically) pay it off every month.
And the miles I rack up with my spending pay for 1.5 to 2 tickets per year to Europe (where all our family lives).

I had one time where my card data were stolen. Not online, but at a remote gas station in TN. I have alerts set so I get a txt message for any charge larger than $200. They charged $7.34 or so and once that worked they went big. Card company gave everything back.
I have not been a victim of online card theft - but i'm very careful who I do business with. Breaches at companies (I remember Target) are not controllable by me. Other than using cash, but I don't do that.

Funny thing about the $200 alerts is that I know when to prepare to help unload the grocery bags and carry them up the hill to the home if my wife is doing the groceries alone; "ding" (your wife is soon coming home because she just paid).
I do have a Visa card and Visa Debit card too. The latter i never use - as mentioned above, not enough protection.

I do check my charges every other day online. So I catch things quickly, even when they fly under the $200 radar.

Other than the airline card, my banking is with a local non-profit FCU.

Anyway, hitches.
I've been thinking about adding a hitch to the (ICE) Rav4 (and get a small (!) trailer - small enough to park it standing on its back to decrease the footprint - to get small (!) loads of wood if need be).
But it's an automatic, and I've always driven stick shifts. I prefer towing with a stick shift; better control of what the engine does.
I presume most pick up trucks these days are automatic too? So my control issues are non-issues?

To the best of my knowledge, the mid size Tacoma can still be ordered as a stick. You may be able to get a 3/4 or 1 ton in a stick. All half tons are automatic.

The Jeep Gladiator I think comes with a stick too, but I can’t confirm, and have no idea what its payload is.

 

[ABMax24]

In the states, Costco only takes Visa, even their credit card is Visa. That's the only place I have used our Debit card.

Costco Canada for whatever reason partnered with Mastercard, the "Costco Mastercard" in Canada is through CIBC. I've been contemplating getting one, because the 2% back on fuel is worth a fair bit to us, but not sure I want another card in my wallet or bill to pay.

 

[stoveliker]

I remember digging for couch change gas in high school. I remember $1.20/gal at the time.

When my father came back from Vietnam, I remember him saying he was making just over $5k a year. I imagine this was in 71 or 72 by the time he was fully out.

To the best of my knowledge, the mid size Tacoma can still be ordered as a stick. You may be able to get a 3/4 or 1 ton in a stick. All half tons are automatic.

The Jeep Gladiator I think comes with a stick too, but I can’t confirm, and have no idea what its payload is.

Ok. I don't want to buy a truck, but am wondering about automatic cars towing. As.most trucks are automatic, I presume it's possible.
What are folks' opinions on towing with an automatic car versus a stick shift?

 

[NickW]

Ok. I don't want to buy a truck, but am wondering about automatic cars towing. As.most trucks are automatic, I presume it's possible.
What are folks' opinions on towing with an automatic car versus a stick shift?

It depends on the vehicle and the load. Transmissions are calibrated for the weight of the vehicle. Add weight and it stresses the tranny more. My diesel truck is automatic and does great pulling. Light loads I leave the transmission in it's standard range; but any time I pull a more serious load I use the pull/load setting which changes the shift range setting to accommodate the heavier load and help reduce the strain on the tranny. As big of a consideration when pulling is braking power...

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The biggest issue with car towing isn’t the engine or transmission, it’s the unibody going over things like bumps and potholes. The drivetrain is strong enough. Sometimes transmissions get hot and that’ll kill an automatic transmission fast.

For light towing, say something like this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/1195-lb-capacity-48-58-in-x-96-14-in-heavy-duty-folding-trailer-62666.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12192885310&campaignid=12192885310&utm_content=161913051106&adsetid=161913051106&product=62666&store=3514&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4cv7u44uWvUADK3iCA18kq36&gclid=CjwKCAjwhIS0BhBqEiwADAUhcx4uSVSIPhHJPQnWXVZiM8ZyKPZH2M_qcFWU7ug9HqXXBE32-D0_cxoCqFAQAvD_BwE

I don’t think I’d worry. But if you find yourself towing a lot, or really loading the trailer down, as it’s easy to do, you may want to upgrade the vehicle.

 

[stoveliker]

Thanks. Yes, something like that.at max is what I have in mind.
Okay. And it'll be infrequent as I tend to have my wood delivered in log lengths. But hauling some stuff every now and then is useful and I don't want to move unnecessary steel around when I'm not hauling. Trailer is then ideal.

I don't think our RAV4 has a pull/load setting.

Thanks. I'll have to get used to automatics...

 

[Poindexter]

When I was a nursing student one of my instructors told a story about how she came to work one night shift in 1938 and was incensed that the telephone at the nursing station had been replaced. The new phone had a rotary dial on it, so she was going to have to look up Dr. Smith's phone number and dial it herself, rather than have the hospital operator work the switchboard. Mrs. Rose wasn't chasing the students around on the hospital floors as a clinical instructor anymore; she got around with a walker, wore support hose and I am confident she hired out having her whites starched and pressed to a fare thee well, but she was fearsome behind the lectern.

I do remember clearly the day the one gallon gas can for my lawn mowing business could not be filled for a buck anymore.

I _think_ my wife's ~2010 Rav4 is rated for a class 2 hitch, but I would not do that with confidence or regularity. In general for what I have seen of Toyota's online (I own one also), transmission fluid temperature is the Achille's heel for towing. I do agree the Rav4's I have seen are simply not built to tow trailers with any frequency, but I am not an expert on them.

 

[ABMax24]

Tow haul mode isn't near as useful as it used to be. When vehicles ran 4 speed transmissions it was a a great feature, because what they did is lock the torque converter preventing it from slipping in viscous coupling mode, which greatly reduced heat buildup. Most modern transmissions now have more gears and typically run the converter locked most of the time anyway, mostly in effort to save fuel.

I wouldn't have any concerns towing with a RAV4 up to its max tow rating. They have a transmission cooler from the factory that should keep temperatures in check.

 

[sloeffle]

Costco Canada for whatever reason partnered with Mastercard, the "Costco Mastercard" in Canada is through CIBC. I've been contemplating getting one, because the 2% back on fuel is worth a fair bit to us, but not sure I want another card in my wallet or bill to pay.

How are the fuel lines are your "local" Costco ? If you go on the weekend to the closest Costco to my house you'll probably wait 30 minutes to get gas. If I'm in that area during the week you can usually get in and get our pretty quickly.

Since Sheetz has moved in locally, I can generally buy gas for a few cents more than a Costco across the street at Shell ( Top Tier gasoline like Costco ).

 

[blades]

Hey Nick W, we must be right on top of each other. Little town of Leroy for me.

 

[NickW]

Hey Nick W, we must be right on top of each other. Little town of Leroy for me.

Yes, I'm between Kewaskum and Random Lake by Boltonville and St Michael's. I have 2 sisters in Brownsville which is very close to you. Was just by one of them yesterday...

 

[ABMax24]

How are the fuel lines are your "local" Costco ? If you go on the weekend to the closest Costco to my house you'll probably wait 30 minutes to get gas. If I'm in that area during the week you can usually get in and get our pretty quickly.

Since Sheetz has moved in locally, I can generally buy gas for a few cents more than a Costco across the street at Shell ( Top Tier gasoline like Costco ).

I've never waited more than 5 minutes. Ours has 20 pumps, all with regular, premium and diesel. I'm also only 5 minutes from Costco, so I can avoid the busy times like 5-7pm on a Friday or the last day before a long weekend etc. Generally though the lines aren't that bad.

 

[begreen]

I've never waited more than 5 minutes. Ours has 20 pumps, all with regular, premium and diesel. I'm also only 5 minutes from Costco, so I can avoid the busy times like 5-7pm on a Friday or the last day before a long weekend etc. Generally though the lines aren't that bad.

Must be the lower population density. I have waited 20+ minutes more than once and that is on weekdays. Summer is always worse. A big pickup tank can take quite a while to fill so I try to pull behind smaller cars, even if the line is a little longer. If I only wait 5 minutes that's a good day. It's to the point where I will just skip Costco and go to a close-by, low-priced stop.

Just for kicks I pulled up Google Maps to see what it was like the day the satellite caught a shot of the local Costco gas pumps.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I think I’d pay 10c more per gallon than wait 20 minutes to get to the pump. A 20 gallon tank would only be $2 more to fill up.

 

[begreen]

I think I’d pay 10c more per gallon than wait 20 minutes to get to the pump. A 20 gallon tank would only be $2 more to fill up.

Likewise, though typically it is only 2-3¢ more per gallon where I usually fill up on my way to the north Cascades. In Seattle, the difference can be 10¢ or more.

 

[ABMax24]

Must be the lower population density. I have waited 20+ minutes more than once and that is on weekdays. Summer is always worse. A big pickup tank can take quite a while to fill so I try to pull behind smaller cars, even if the line is a little longer. If I only wait 5 minutes that's a good day. It's to the point where I will just skip Costco and go to a close-by, low-priced stop.

Just for kicks I pulled up Google Maps to see what it was like the day the satellite caught a shot of the local Costco gas pumps.

View attachment 328139

Our city is only 67,000, so we don't get the traffic that many other Costco's do. We have the smallest population of any center with a Costco in Canada, but our City acts as the service center for 2.5 hours in any direction, and for the NWT as well upping that number closer to 120,000.

On a bad day we save 4 cents/liter, on a good day it's closer to 12 cents. Plus they sell top tier fuel and due to high turnover it's the freshest in town.

 

[sloeffle]

Supposedly Costco gas is the best gas you can buy because they add the additives to the fuel as you pump vs them being added at the fuel depot ( I would assume ). From what I've read that's why their stations look different than other gas stations.

 

[begreen]

There are a lot of sources of top tier gas. This is a list of those qualified by the EPA. We have a lower priced gas station locally. Their gas supplier (Marathon) is on this list. Truth be told, I have only once gotten poor gas, years ago, on an Indian reservation. The price was great, but the van started knocking after about 25 miles of driving.

• 76
• Aloha
• ARCO
• Beacon
• Belmont Car Wash
• Cenex
• Chevron
• CITGO
• Conoco
• Costco Wholesale
• CountryMark
• Diamond Shamrock
• Express Mart
• Exxon
• Fast Fuel
• Gold Medal Gasoline
• Harmons Fuel Stop
• Hele
• HFN – Hawaii Fueling Network
• J&E Wendy
• Kirkland Signature Gasoline
• Marathon
• Mega Saver
• Meijer & Meijer Express
• Mobil
• Ohana Fuels
• Phillips 66
• QT
• QuikTrip
• Ranger
• Reeders
• Road Ranger
• Rutter’s
• Shamrock
• Shell
• Simonson Station Stores
• Sinclair
• Sunoco
• Texaco
• True Turbo
• Tulalip Market
• Valero
• Value America
• Waterway Fuels
• Win Win
• Wow