Okay, go ahead and let me have it...

[TwistedCU]

Prices on the parts? I might be interested in the Rack. Is it gutter mounted?

Mingez it mounts with 4 gutter mounts, I have 6 in all (I ordered the wrong amount so I have 2 spares). It has an incredible weight capacity (I think 400 lbs?). I have the lockable garvin tire mount and 4 garvin light tabs as well. I never bought a Hi-Lift mount, I just used a couple small U-bolts from the hardware store.

It is a very stout rack. I would have to take it apart to ship it, and it would be really heavy, but I would be willing to look into shipping costs if you're interested. PM me if you want any more info. I'll start another thread soon...

 

[88Wrangles]

I'm also thinking about buying something small in order to save on gas. My daily driven Denali only gets 12-13 mpg...which really sucks since gas here is $3.10/gallon here right now. And, I've been spending close to $600/month on fuel for it alone.

 

[redrooster]

Since this thread has almost evloved into one on alternate fuels, let me add this little rant:
The local Huntsville, AL news has aired a three night segment about 3 seperate local farmers who are investing their family fortunes to jointly build a refinery and produce ethanol for US consumption. The news channel has jumped on the bandwagon over the buzz of alternate fuels and ethanol in particular. They are touting the three guys as innovators, idealists and heroes for bringing back self reliance for US fuel needs, providing jobs and minimizing the opportunity of terrorism funded by foreign oil profiteers.
While I have no problem with a few guys jumping in on the early going and paving their own way to personal wealth, let's call a spade a spade. They are neither innovators, idealists nor heroes, they are good ole Capitalists.
One other problem I foresee with ethanol is the effect production will have on other commodities. All three of the guys mentioned are major landowners in north Alabama and currently grow cotton. What do you think is going to happen to the price of cotton once farmers make the switch over to corn and soy because of the higher demand and inevitable increase in prices per bushel? The price of cotton will also increase due to reduced supply. The same will be true of many other agricultural products to include wood. Pine for pulp, paper and lumber is also a big industry in the south but takes years to turn over. Corn and soy can probably be turned over twice a season.
It's going to get interesting in the future as we search for viable alternate fuels.

 

[TwistedCU]

Yeah and the thing about ethanol and even biodiesel is that they cost as much or more than the fuels they are supposed to substitute for, but hey they pollute less.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Yeah and the thing about ethanol and even biodiesel is that they cost as much or more than the fuels they are supposed to substitute for, but hey they pollute less.

And at this point, I don't give a rat's arse about pollution. If I could get tires to burn in the YJ's fuel injection for less than what I'm paying for gas, I'd be fogging for mosquitoes all the way to the bank!:lol:

 

[mingez]

And at this point, I don't give a rat's arse about pollution. If I could get tires to burn in the YJ's fuel injection for less than what I'm paying for gas, I'd be fogging for mosquitoes all the way to the bank!:lol:

Y'see? That kind of thinking is why Mother Nature sent a bird into your windshield! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Y'see? That kind of thinking is why Mother Nature sent a bird into your windshield! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Ahhhh, shuddup, ya pinko commie surrey drivin' leftist liberal right wing whacko capitalist tree-huggin' dirt eater!:evil:

 

[Sully]

My cheaper alternative. The price.. FREE. She may not be pretty, but 25 city MPG is a beautiful thing!

 

[mingez]

My cheaper alternative. The price.. FREE. She may not be pretty, but 25 city MPG is a beautiful thing!

Not bad Sully! Chicks dig the wagon....don't let anyone else tell you otherwise!

 

[jaymz77]

I was just talking with a professor at my school who runs biodiesel in his Duramax. He's paying $1.30/gal. for biodiesel made by a friend and claims that it would cost $.70/gal. if he made it himself.:shock: Kinda makes me wish I had done the Cummins 4BT swap into my YJ instead of a Vortec.

 

[redrooster]

Yeah and the thing about ethanol and even biodiesel is that they cost as much or more than the fuels they are supposed to substitute for, but hey they pollute less.

I don't know if the report was accurate, but at the end of the newscast mentioned above, they read e-mails from several viewers. One mentioned that ethanol created more smog than gasoline. I guess we will see.

 

[Green97TJ]

"Yeah and the thing about ethanol and even biodiesel is that they cost as much or more than the fuels they are supposed to substitute for, but hey they pollute less."

Ya sure? Cuz around here I've seen 85% ethanol/15% gas mix and its usually quite a bit cheaper. Not trying to argue, just found that interesting.

Nathan

 

[90Xjay]

I was just talking with a professor at my school who runs biodiesel in his Duramax. He's paying $1.30/gal. for biodiesel made by a friend and claims that it would cost $.70/gal. if he made it himself.:shock: Kinda makes me wish I had done the Cummins 4BT swap into my YJ instead of a Vortec.

Wait till he gets busted by the Feds for not paying highway fuel tax and see how cheap the bio-diesel is.:shock: :shock:

 

[TwistedCU]

"Yeah and the thing about ethanol and even biodiesel is that they cost as much or more than the fuels they are supposed to substitute for, but hey they pollute less."

Ya sure? Cuz around here I've seen 85% ethanol/15% gas mix and its usually quite a bit cheaper. Not trying to argue, just found that interesting.

Nathan

I'm pretty sure that's 15% ethanol and 85% gas... right???

I know locally that it is the same or higher. I suppose biodiesel could be cheaper but you can't find it cheaper around here anywhere.

Now I might consider a $2000 - $3500 investment in being able to run SVO (straight vegatable oil) once my warranty is up... but we'll see.

 

[jaymz77]

Wait till he gets busted by the Feds for not paying highway fuel tax and see how cheap the bio-diesel is.:shock: :shock:

Now that I think about it he didn't mention anything about highway taxes.:lol: Plus, I don't know that I would want a still full of nitrous and methanol sitting in my back yard. But I would sure want to see it if it went off. :flamethro

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I don't know if the report was accurate, but at the end of the newscast mentioned above, they read e-mails from several viewers. One mentioned that ethanol created more smog than gasoline. I guess we will see.

No, that's not right at all. Part of the reason for using the E85 is to reduce greenhouse gasses, along with reducing the consumption of oil. It works to reduce the gasses in two ways, first of all, you aren't burning as much oil, thereby reducing the pollution from petroleum, and second, ethanol burns much cleaner than petroleum products, and produces less pollution. Just one site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E85#Life_cycle_impact_of_E85_on_greenhouse_gas_emissions

Using dry milling process technology (circa 1999) each gallon of E85 burned, reduced petroleum usage by an estimated 0.949 gallons. Reduced GHG emissions by 23.8%, compared to burning a gallon of gasoline, and reduced life cycle fossil energy consumption by 44.4% compared to gasoline.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I'm pretty sure that's 15% ethanol and 85% gas... right???

Nope, actually it is 85% ethanol and 15% gas. That's why only certain vehicle fuel systems can burn it. If it were only 15% ethanol, you could put it in any vehicle. Most "mid-grade" fuels are 10% ethanol. The problem is that many states have laws against selling any fuel with more than 10% ethanol in it.

Also from Wikipedia:

As of 2005, E85 is frequently sold for up to 36% lower price per quantity than gasoline.

At least around here it sells for around 35 cents a gallon less. We currently have one station in Wichita (actually in Maize, a suburb) that sells E85.

 

[redrooster]

Has anybody actually driven an ethanol powered vehicle??? I would like to hear whether it has the same or less oomph a gas burner does.
I assume the "85" in E85 is the octane rating. Regular is 87 so already seems to me that it would have slightly less power.

 

[judge09]

There was a report on the local news last night about a FL company that was working on hydrogen fuel. Right now it takes them about 8 hours to make 3 gallons of hydrogen fuel from water. There goal is to reduce that time so it is effective to make hydrogen engine a viable alternative to gas, electric and E85. They have a vision to have personal hydrogen refueling stations in everyones garage. Why is the gov't not throwing billions of $$$$ into this company for research?

 

[90growler]

I won't condem you for buying that car, they are well built. At least you did not buy a stinking Toyota.

I am doing the opposite.....selling my my WJ for a Toyota!! (still have 2 Jeeps)

Need a truck and going with the Tundra V8 gas gussler and I don't care to buy a Ford or Chevy. The only american make worth a crap is Jeep.

That sucks TC ..........liked the XJ.