Anything Rural Forum - Recent Topics

Care, maintenance, critters

Lisa Schrader — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:45:21 +0000

I do not have a specific question yet. There are so many things to deal with. We do seem to have a constant outfall, perhaps less than 10gph during the heavy summer months (100 degrees F) with no visible inlets. Winter sees 2 or 3 inlets and maybe 10gpm outfall. The weeds along the bank are a total hassle, there are two fresh intermittent water otters who destroy everything - i almost want to shoot them. Anyway, just looking for what you all do to keep yours functional. Oh, it is maybe 70' x 40' oval, max of 5' deep, rarely very clear. We do not want to dump funds into it.

1962 Ford 4000 Industrial Loader-Backhoe: Rebuilding the Main Boom Hydraulics

FixIt — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:33:22 +0000

If you want a masterclass in testing your patience, your vocabulary, and your lower back, try re-packing and replacing rusted-out hydraulic cylinder lines on a machine built back when Kennedy was in office.

Last weekend, I tackled the main lift and loader bucket cylinders on my '62 Ford 4000. Between sixty years of baked-on dirt, heavy fluid that smells ...bad, and pins that essentially became one with the housing, it was a battle.

The hardest part wasn't even fighting the stubborn gland nuts (though a massive pipe wrench and a 4-foot cheater bar definitely got a workout)—it was trying to hoist the heavy cast-iron cylinders back into place without a gantry crane while working solo in the gravel.

Everything is back together, torqued down, and remarkably holding pressure with zero leaks so far. But my shoulders are definitely going to feel this one for a week. Oh, this does not even include the headache for securing parts.

Ground Mount Solar 225 feet from home

High Voltage — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:07:49 +0000

We are on the other side of a private bridge with seven "neighbors". The concrete truck would not cross it. I had to hand mix 166 80# sacks of concrete for the four primary piers. Fifty sacks in each of the high piers/columns, 33 into each of the lower piers/columns. All four started 5 feet in the ground (no metal cage - I hope that was not a mistake). Then I installed all of the support pipe and crossmembers, all the panels, conduit, electrical. I did all of the drawings, secured all permits, and received permission to turn it on. It has run flawlessly for 8 years now, I wish I had done it with a battery or two.

Much Harder now that I am Older

rurals — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:17:12 +0000

We are considering moving, it has gotten much harder to maintain things. We dread the thought of suburbia, traffic, noise, neighbors outside the windows... anyone make the move lately?

Has anyone set up a dedicated off-grid solar and battery bank system specificall

Lisa Schrader — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:12:10 +0000

I'm planning to run a heavy electrical load on a 90-amp subpanel and am considering an array with 4 strings of 7 panels. I'm curious if anyone has had success running heavy shop machinery off a setup like this. Also, what kind of battery utilization floors are you comfortable with for a workshop? I prefer setting an aggressive cut-off around 7%. Any advice on reliable inverter setups—like EG4 or SunGold—for a detached building would be much appreciated!

Hydraulic vs. Mechanical Thumb for a Compact Backhoe – Worth the Upgrade?

luv tractors — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:10:24 +0000

"I'm looking at adding a thumb to my backhoe setup for clearing brush, rocks, and small stumps around the property.

For those of you who have used both, is a hydraulic thumb worth the extra plumbing and cost over a rigid/mechanical pin-on thumb? How much of a hassle is it to manually adjust a mechanical thumb when you're frequently switching between grabbing logs and standard digging?"

What are the key maintenance steps for a well pressure tank?

Gras Venier — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:15:03 +0000

I want to make sure our well system stays in good working order and avoid premature failure of the pressure tank or pump. What routine checks or maintenance steps should be done to prevent sediment buildup, check for waterlogging, or verify the air bladder pressure? Any warning signs that indicate the tank is starting to fail would also be great to know!

What are effective natural pest deterrents for tomato plants?

Sarah Miller — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:11:48 +0000

I’m looking for natural, organic ways to protect tomato plants from common garden pests like hornworms, aphids, and flea beetles. I want to avoid using harsh chemical pesticides that might harm pollinators like bees, contaminate the soil, or affect the safety of the fruit. What companion plants, homemade sprays, or beneficial insects have worked best in your garden to keep pests under control without damaging the plants or the surrounding ecosystem?

What can you safely flush (and not flush) into a septic system?

Layin Low — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:07:42 +0000

We all know that 'flushable' wipes are a huge negative for a septic tank, but what else is on the forbidden list? I've heard mixed things about coffee grounds, bleach, and using a garbage disposal. What are the rules in your house to keep your drain field healthy?

Why does my well water pressure drop suddenly and then come back?

Layin Low — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:59:08 +0000

We’ve been noticing a strange issue with our water pressure lately. When running the shower or the garden hose, the pressure will drop down to a trickle for a minute, and then suddenly kick back up to normal.

Could this be a sign that the pressure switch is failing, or is it more likely an issue with the pressure tank bladder losing its charge? Looking for some troubleshooting steps before calling out a well technician.