Antique Garden Tractors as Preppers Tools?

dirtsaver · Jan 6, 2016

Just something to consider. When you look at the political climate of the world today and see the number of people getting into the "prepper" movement you have to think about how our pre-1985 garden tractors would fit into the plan. Seriously, if you've ever watched some of the Italian or European movies and seen the people driving what looks like a walk-behind roto-tiller with a cart behind it you may see where I'm going. Some of those folks never own a car but get along just fine with their little 2 wheeled garden tractor.

I mentioned pre-1985 because one of the issues we may one day face is a situation know as an EMP attack. EMP is short for Electro Magnetic Pulse. EMPs can be caused by anything from a solar sunspot to a type of bomb that will destroy every electrical circuit made of transistors and microchips. The reason our antiques may be a viable tool is the lack of such electronic componets. The old point/condensor ignitions may survive just fine according to most experts. If you've got an oldie that has been converted to modern ignition no problem,keep it that way,just keep the point system parts handy to convert it back. You can also study up on something called a Faraday Cage to store and protect some electronic items.

Just something to think about and another reason to love our old tractors.
Larry

Note to Mods..... I don't mean for this post to be a political statement, just informational and educational.... LWB

RoyM · Jan 6, 2016

Tractor-Holic · Jan 6, 2016

I'm hoping we never have an EMP,but if we do,I'm also hoping a metal quonset building will act as a Faraday Cage....
I also have two 1980's diesel powered trucks,those wont care much if all the computers go "poof" ,cause they dont have any...I'll be lost without my PC though!..despite the fact I lived without one for about 42 years of my life..

PineRidge · Jan 6, 2016

If you are to seriously talk about preppers :sidelaugh you really need to talk horses and horse drawn equipment. If you can't grow gas you will be out of luck.

dirtsaver · Jan 6, 2016

I don't mean to stir up a hornets nest guys, I just thought this was a topic that seems to be in the forefront lately and might deserve some thought, and Pine you're right about the horses. As a long term plan that's about it.

Larry

PineRidge · Jan 6, 2016

Is talking about Preppers off limits on this forum too.
Is it crazy people or crazy politics that we can't talk about. :dunno:

Steevo · Jan 7, 2016

PineRidge said:
Is talking about Preppers off limits on this forum too.
Is it crazy people or crazy politics that we can't talk about. :dunno:

Both. And how do you tell the difference?

tracktortag · Jan 7, 2016

Steevo said:
Both. QUOTE]

Good answer, Steevo.:fing32:

MountainBuzzMan · Jan 7, 2016

PineRidge said:
If you are to seriously talk about preppers :sidelaugh you really need to talk horses and horse drawn equipment. If you can't grow gas you will be out of luck.

Corn based fuel will burn just fine with a carb jet tweak and maybe a little timing change.

Whirly · Jan 7, 2016

PineRidge said:
If you can't grow gas you will be out of luck.

now how do u grow GAS...

dirtsaver · Jan 7, 2016

Whirly said:
now how do u grow GAS...

Whirly we've been doing that for years. Why do you think your steaks and bread and other groceries are so dang high priced? A big chunk of our food and cattle feed crops have been hi-jacked for "alternative fuels". Corn and soybeans that used to feed us now goes into ethanol and bio-fuel diesel!

Whirly · Jan 7, 2016

dirtsaver said:
Whirly we've been doing that for years. Why do you think your steaks and bread and other groceries are so dang high priced? A big chunk of our food and cattle feed crops have been hi-jacked for "alternative fuels". Corn and soybeans that used to feed us now goes into ethanol and bio-fuel diesel!

well.. only part of it goes for fuel.. the soybeans oil is made into that new diesel stuff.. this has been extracted for a long time.. they found another use for it .. there is a plant about 25 miles from us that brings the oil in by RR tankers.. then refines it..

now the corn is processed at 2 plants within 10 miles from us.. what ain't used for fuel is still fed to cattle..

dirtsaver · Jan 7, 2016

Steevo said:
Both. And how do you tell the difference?

Since I opened this can of worms I won't take offense with that generalization. However if you have a garden and can or freeze the veggies for use in winter... YOU are a prepper. If you tuck back a little of your check each week against a rainy day.....You are a prepper.

Yeah, let's get it out in the open. The term prepper brings a lot of negative thoughts due to some "characters" hiding in the hills but prepping is really just common sense. Any of you that grew up on a farm or small town likely grew up with a filled pantry,spare gas in the garage,and anything else the family needed to survive a week of being snowed in or several days without power due to a storm. Those supplies may have included wood for a fireplace or a kerosene heater and fuel for it for several days.

I'll bet by the above definition there are more preppers on this forum than not.

So like I said in my original post, I had no intention of starting a political thread,only to get the group thinking outside the box in reguards to the functionality of our old tractors. If the Mods deem it time to lock this one down....so be it

Larry

tiretrx · Jan 7, 2016

dirtsaver said:
So like I said in my original post, I had no intention of starting a political thread,only to get the group thinking outside the box in reguards to the functionality of our old tractors. If the Mods deem it time to lock this one down....so be it

Larry

I believe you, Larry. Personally, I find it a thought provoking subject. One that could, and should be, discussed in a calm, intelligent, non-political manner. The reason folks sense the antennas going up is due to the long history of some members being unable to do that.

For those who still aren't quite clear as to the parameters of discussion, I submit the forum rules :fing32:

http://www.mytractorforum.com/3-wel...come-mytractorforum-com-getting-started/821-mytractorforum-com-house-rules.html

PineRidge · Jan 7, 2016

8. Political threads or Religious threads of a derogatory/controversial nature are NOT allowed. If you're not sure, don't post it.

The last part of rule 8 would have me never posting as this is somewhat subjective but I defiantly try. The biggest issue I fall into is the difference between American and Canadian societal attitudes/differences. Americans and Canadians are way different in this area.

Talking about Prepping for everyday occurrences like winter weather, loss of jobs etc. is defiantly a valid discussion. With modern day advances in food storage it is very simple to stock up to last months if one chooses or needs to. Everything to do this is available at your local grocery store. If one buys and rotates through the most basic of necessities it is simple. Most people doing normal shopping probably have a cupboard full of dry goods they could survive on for a couple of weeks already.
There is no need to go to the trouble of growing and processing unless one is personally so inclined.
If on the other hand you are discussing the collapse of the infrastructure of society that is defiantly going to be a hot button topic that will bring out the........:1106:

Best to stay well clear of that area of discussion.

Ingersoll444 · Jan 7, 2016

PineRidge said:
There is no need to go to the trouble of growing and processing unless one is personally so inclined.
If on the other hand you are discussing the collapse of the infrastructure of society that is defiantly going to be a hot button topic that will bring out the........:1106:

Best to stay well clear of that area of discussion.

Im not a "prepper" but the problem I see is that more and more are saying that there is no need.... no need to learn to supply their own food, and other needed things. yes you can buy them at the store today... but world wide things can, and do happen. Not talking the country's collapse, or UFO's taking over....... but things do happen everywere in the world, that would make you better off the more knowledge you have, and can use. 50 years ago we all knew these things, but now being prepared a dirty word... Whether im looked down on or not by the modern world Im still going to learn all I can. Not because Im some crazy paranoid. But because I like to be able to do all I can by my self, so I don't have to rely on others.

Whirly · Jan 7, 2016

dirtsaver said:
Since I opened this can of worms I won't take offense with that generalization. However if you have a garden and can or freeze the veggies for use in winter... YOU are a prepper. If you tuck back a little of your check each week against a rainy day.....You are a prepper.

Yeah, let's get it out in the open. The term prepper brings a lot of negative thoughts due to some "characters" hiding in the hills but prepping is really just common sense. Any of you that grew up on a farm or small town likely grew up with a filled pantry,spare gas in the garage,and anything else the family needed to survive a week of being snowed in or several days without power due to a storm. Those supplies may have included wood for a fireplace or a kerosene heater and fuel for it for several days.

I'll bet by the above definition there are more preppers on this forum than not.

So like I said in my original post, I had no intention of starting a political thread,only to get the group thinking outside the box in reguards to the functionality of our old tractors. If the Mods deem it time to lock this one down....so be it

Larry

OK... I'm a prepper.. we only have 3 fridges here.. all fully stocked full.. one is nothin but sodas & beer... lol.. a supply that'll last a month if we're snow bound for a month... lol

KWDAILYD · Jan 7, 2016

I think I could say i'm a prepper long before the term became popular. I try to be self reliant as possible. Part of that mind set came from military training. The rest is just common sense. Doesn't come from paranoia, just the reality that things can go wrong.

victor3ranger · Jan 7, 2016

KWDAILYD said:
I think I could say i'm a prepper long before the term became popular. I try to be self reliant as possible. Part of that mind set came from military training. The rest is just common sense. Doesn't come from paranoia, just the reality that things can go wrong.

I am in the same boat. I want to have things as squared away as possible JUST in case something goes wrong, whether it be a bad ice storm, power outages, or natural disasters that would keep everyday things either messed up for a while or at a complete stand still for a time.

Nouveau Redneck · Jan 7, 2016

My father grew up in the depression and he always felt that if you could do something yourself that would save you the cost of paying someone else to do it for you. So whenever he had something come up around the house that needed fixing that he didn't already know how to do he would head to the library and do some research and teach himself how to do whatever it was and then he knew how to do that particular task from then on if it ever needed doing again. I've done basically the same thing over my lifetime, except that after the internet came about I no longer have to go to the library to do my research. I do all of my own plumbing, electrical, carpentry, drywall, etc. I do most of my own maintenance on my tractors and motorcycles, and I used to do all maintenance and repairs on my cars as well, but I do take my cars in for oil changes and inspections and any major repairs nowadays, not because I can't do those things on my own, but because I have limited time, and as they say time is money.

Antique Garden Tractors as Preppers Tools?

dirtsaver

RoyM

Tractor-Holic

PineRidge

dirtsaver

PineRidge

Steevo

tracktortag

MountainBuzzMan

Whirly

dirtsaver

Whirly

dirtsaver

tiretrx

PineRidge

Ingersoll444

Whirly

KWDAILYD

victor3ranger

Nouveau Redneck

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