My car has not seen the inside of the shop/garage in over a year, but with subzero temperatures predicted for this coming week I had to finally roll the BT to its spot against the wall and breakdown my portable assembly table. I'd like to hear how other garage dwellers deal with old man winter.
-
Mike
"It's not the things you don't know that will hurt you, it's the things you think you know that ain't so." - Mark Twain -
Remote starter = $89 installed.Sam Conder
BT3Central's First Member
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas A. Edison -
A car had never been inside my "shop" which also has the large 16' door that rolls up towards the ceiling and is at the end of driveway where cars belong, until this Winter.
One morning after the temperature was -9°F or so the wife's car wouldn't start, so I had to get out of bed and jump her car. Then the following time she had to go to work same thing. Instead of just going down to the auto store and buying a battery, I figured that we could get by for a while longer if she would park in the "shop" instead of driveway, and since we're trying to sell the house I've moved a lot of the tools out of the "shop" into storage at various places and only had to slide the bt3 against the wall and the lathe against the other wall.
We got by with that for the week of cold weather that we were blessed with, but since I haven't been doing anything in the shop the wife still gets to park in the "shop". And the battery did quit on her and has been replaced.Comment
-
David
The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment.Comment
-
Don't know how cold you're expecting but, at -10 to -30 I just start the old truck or wife's car before going to bed and let it run for about 30 minutes. In the morning, about 8 to 9 hours later either will start without complaint. Then I let 'em warm up while I have a cup of coffee.
A headbolt heater is suggested by the greenies up here but, I've never found the need in over 45 years, just doesn't get that cold for that long a period of time around Anchorage to justify the expense. The wimpy chechako uses a headbolt heater and remote start when it gets down to 20 degrees.
In Fairbanks, where I went to school, they sometimes see -60 and taking the battery inside at night was required if the vehicle was left outside.A man without a shillelagh, is a man without an expidient.Comment
-
I was really proud of myself a couple months ago. After 6 months of living in this house I FINALLY moved enough stuff out of the garage to fit my car and tools in. Within the past couple months I reorganized and had a pretty good shop layout, still allowing for decent shop space.
THEN a couple weeks ago while helping my parents move, I inherited some furniture to restore and refinish, which is now sitting in my shop. I can still park in the garage (I have a Civic, thankfully) but I am literally 2" from the front rails of the BT to the passenger side mirror when I pull in. Needless to say, I am REAL careful pulling in and out.
I could care less about the car, I just don't want to scrape the BT.JoeComment
-
My wife still thinks she's getting back the garage, "yeah right"
Bruce"Western civilization didn't make all men equal,
Samuel Colt did"
Comment
-
Both my trucks sit outside, just no room in the garage/shop.John HunterComment
-
Your suppose to park vehicles in garages??!!
Ric
Plan for the worst, hope for the best!Comment
-
I live in Northern California where we rarely see frost so the cars now sit outside and my shop is where the cars would otherwise be. But to answer your question, winter weather in Anchorage is probably no worse than the weather in Chicago or Boston or Minneapolis. We have good friends who moved up there from Montana around Thanksgiving many years ago. It was 32 below when they left Butte and right around freezing when they arrived in Anchorage.Not to hijack the post but why on God's green earth would anyone want to live up there full time? I'm sure Alaska has its attractions but geez!
If you really like doing things outdoors (hiking, fishing, hunting), Alaska is paradise.Comment
-
Garage shop
I guess I am strange. Both cars get parked in the garage, and I am relegated to a one car garage for a shop. It really creates some challenges, but if I have some big stuff to do, both cars go outside until I can get the big stuff broken down to minimal size. I really dislike leaving the cars outside.Comment
-
David, Anchorage is fairly mild compared to interior Alaska (Fairbanks). It rarely gets below zero (10 to 15 days or so each winter). The Japanese Current moderates the weather. Sixties, seventies and few days of 80's in the summer.
The big reasons are: few people; big, craggy, snow capped mountains; great fishing; a couple of great golf courses and three lessor ones; great skiing; and it goes on and on.
The main reason is: few people, miles and miles of miles of miles within a few minutes of my house. Winter is not an inconvience, it's a challenge now and then though.
The place is starting to get a little crowded. I think we're up to a half million people in the State now. Might be time to load up the truck and look for greener (or whiter) pastures.A man without a shillelagh, is a man without an expidient.Comment
-
David
The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment.Comment
-
My wife still thinks she's getting back the garage, "yeah right"
Mine doesn't even have a key to the lock on the garage. I would like to say its becuse I am a garage natzi dictaor....but tis becasue she can't get the old wooden warped heavy door up and down
Awww forget trying to fix it!!!! Lets just drink beerComment
I know the current modulates the temps in Anchorage somewhat, my question was really about Fairbanks, and really just a soft poke.
Comment