Buy a trailer (instead of a pickup truck)

[dremd]

Damn Neil, a 3 EV household. I thought I was doing something with 2.
2012 Model S and 2012 Nissan Leaf. I actually own hitches for both, but haven’t gotten around to installing them.
I really just wanted the hitches for racks to carry a bit more stuff.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

I put a trailer hitch with a 2" receiver on our Chevy Bolt EV, and the wiring harness was designed for a Volt; and it works for taillights and brake lights. I also got a 5'x8' mesh trailer from Lowes (they had it on sale for $730).

The Bolt is an excellent tow vehicle. Smooth controllable torque, and a relatively short wheelbase means that it is easy to drive, and easier than most to back up.

Pics, please!

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The Bolt is an excellent tow vehicle. Smooth controllable torque, and a relatively short wheelbase means that it is easy to drive, and easier than most to back up.

Truth. My 5x10 trailer is super easy to back up behind the Fit, but a challenge behind the Odyssey.

[NeilBlanchard]

These are the pictures of putting the hitch on my sister-in-law's Bolt:









My brother and I did this installation, and on my own Bolt, I did it by myself.

I also bought a Curt T-One trailer light connection harness, and therein is a tale. The unit is designed for the Chevy Volt, and said that it fits a Chevy Bolt, as well. It does have to correct connectors, that T into the left and right light groups that are in the bumper of the Bolt EV.

Two problems became apparent, though. Here's my email that I sent to TorkLift:

I received the T-One connector a few days ago, and I finished installing it today. It is made for the Volt - and it is supposed to "fit" the Bolt EV; which is what I have. While it does "fit" - it has two fairly serious issues:

The location of the 12v battery in the Volt is in the back, under the floor of the hatch area (where a spare tire is often located). So the wire on the T-One that connects to the battery is roughly 3 feet long, or so. The 12v battery in the Bolt EV - is up in the front of the car, under the hood, on the driver's side - where many if not most, are located. I had to add 16 feet of 12 gauge wire to be able to connect to the positive terminal; and I needed to make 2 splices, so I could keep the 10A fuse in place.

The second issue is a bit more subtle. While the Volt is a hatchback, it's taillights are located on the body of the car. The Bolt EV is a hatchback as well - but it's main taillights / brake lights are located on the *hatch door* itself. The turn signals are located in the bumper. The issue is that by law, there have to be "alternative" tail / brake lights on the body - for when the hatch door is open. This is because, if the door is all the way open, the lights would not be visible.

So, basically, I have to open the hatch door, in order for the trailer tail / brake lights to function. The T connections on the unit do "fit" in that they plug into the left and the right side lights *on the bumper*. I don't know where to find the connectors for the lights in the hatch door - and the turn signals are in the bumper, anyway. They are probably too far away for the length of wires on the T-One unit you provided.

I hope this all is clear - if you have questions, I'd be happy to answer, if I can. I think you need to not sell this unit for the Chevy Bolt EV, and hopefully Curt can make one that does have 1) a long enough wire to reach the 12v battery, and 2) connectors AND INSTRUCTIONS to connect it properly to the Bolt EV *without* having to tow a trailer with the hatch door (slightly) open.

[freebeard]

This beats the 2X expansion I found in an old Air Force video — the Beauer 3X:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkTIEcnKTWM

[Fat Charlie]

Had another win today!

My dryer died last weekend. I found one on CL three towns away for $30. It pulled my tank average down to 39, but I'm okay with that. It's running right now, and I've got 3/4 of a tank to get that average back up.

[Frank Lee]

The issue is that by law, there have to be "alternative" tail / brake lights on the body - for when the hatch door is open.

I was looking at the Statutes years ago for required motorcycle equipment and noticed that bikes had been prohibited from having more than two headlights since 1950. Thing is, almost EVERY touring bike has three and it's been that way forever. How many bazillion illegal bikes were manufactured, sold, and licensed in my State since 1950? Did the manufacturers and dealers and owners give a isht? Evidently not. Nor the cops either, since it appears not a single citation was written, ever.


Point is, there are laws, and then there are laws that are enforced. Nobody cares about the others unless there is money to be made (enforcement fines a.k.a. revenuers).

[oil pan 4]

I fix my own dryer. Normally it's the heating element or door switch about 90% of the time.

[redpoint5]

I had a dryer that was leaving rust streaks on my whites. Clothes would get caught between the felt and the drum and rotate around where there's a bit of rust. Maybe it needed new felt, but the drum appeared off center. My mom had hit it with the car after all... while it was inside the house.

Just found a pool of oil on the floor where the washer sat. Seems like signs of an impending transmission failure.

I'll be looking for a front load washer and a gas dryer to replace this awful units.

[oil pan 4]

I love gas dryers for winter.
My natural gas dryer will get converted to LPG this fall so I can start using it again. I haven't used it in over a year since I moved.

Front loaders use a fraction of the water of top loaders.
My big 2006 kenmoore front load that is now moth balled would use about 12 gallons of water to normal load of water.
A normal top load would use at least 50 gallons per load.
Front load also uses less soap and fabric softener.

The only advantage top load has if if you wash really dirty nasty stuff, say if you are a plumber, oil rig worm, coal miner ect. Like exceptionally dirty, way beyond about 99% of people. Top load will get the laundry cleaner in one cycle.