4wheelparts

[HenryJ]

Guess we finally made it on their map "locally".
The grand opening of the Meridian , ID 4wheelparts store was today. This will be the first national 4x4 parts chain in 100 miles or more.

Coupons for a free tow strap were mailed out a month ago. I saved mine and took it over first thing this morning for the "while supplies last" free Smittybuilt recovery strap.
Not a bad strap. Not as good as my NAPA strap, but still decent. I needed a second for the truck, and now I have one.

The new store is huge, but the inventory is very small. I inquired about a snatch block and was told a week to ten days. I can do better than that ordering online and not have to pay Idaho sales tax. They may be counting on installations and service being the bread and butter.

This store may put a pretty good financial hurt on the smaller local shops. I guess competition is good and more choices is nice. Some of the local shops thought they had a corner on the market and tended to be pretty snobby about it.

I rode the bike so I could fuel it for under $4 at the Nampa Costco. It is $0.15 cheaper there, compared to here. Plus I get 3% cash back using AMEX. Glad I did not take the truck. Not only was there no parking left, but it was a good place to be humbled. Any time you think your truck is kind of neat, meet some trucks that have a much bigger wallet.
I was on my own and still stiff from the long ride in forty degree weather. My head was spinning with all the trucks. I checked out a few buggies and a nice prerunner. Tons of early Broncos and a few Jeeps. Not really the place for a person who enjoys exploring more than crawling. The prerunner was cool. Lots of nice work on that beefy truck. The rest was not really my thing.

I am not much for the elbow to elbow carnival atmosphere. I tossed the goodie bag and strap in my backpack and hit the road.

I feel humbled, put back in my place. My truck is just a simple stocker. I am very small in the scope of things. Probably just as well.

[F9K9]

........ They may be counting on installations and service being the bread and butter.

Just remember that they no longer install SLs on S-10s. I never thought their prices were all that great compared to other sources.

This store may put a pretty good financial hurt on the smaller local shops. I guess competition is good and more choices is nice. Some of the local shops thought they had a corner on the market and tended to be pretty snobby about it.

I'd kill for any type of shop near by

I feel humbled, put back in my place. My truck is just a simple stocker. I am very small in the scope of things. Probably just as well.

Expedition is your forte and there you stand out. I bet 90% of what you saw was mall crawlers anyway

[HenryJ]

I bet 90% of what you saw was mall crawlers anyway

It is funny, I don't know what I expected. Mall crawlers might have been expected. There were half a dozen what appeared to me "imported rigs" . By that I mean they appeared to be brought in from another area to show. The Prerunner and a couple buggies fall into that category. They may have been local, since I know we have some of those rigs around here. Steve Appleton from Micron has a Baja competition vehicle and I know a couple others that run those competitions. Those were not there. The rigs were parked on the grass. No effort to display them really.

Two of the Jeeps were staged in the obligatory one tire up on the front of the other display. That pair looked like mall crawler stuff with the no dings no scratches highlift mounted with a brand new shovel and axe on the show bar.

One or two lifted diesel trucks. One was a Ford Superduty and the other I think a Dodge. Nothing too unusual. Mostly a set of tires and wheels. They did not have hoods open, so I am guessing there was nothing to see.

Then there was a huge gap to what looked like some guys found the largest worn out tires, scabbed a lift on the old Bronco and brought it down. Maybe I am the snob? I swear there was banjo music coming from some of those rigs. There were probably three dozen of these type rigs there. Maybe I am out of touch and should be impressed by a beat up early eighties Toyota with 30" traction tires.

I guess it is a chain store. I don't know what I expected. Maybe I didn't stay long enough to give it a chance.
They don't have to worry about me being a regular. I never frequented those places anyway. Actually now that I think about it, I might just fit in better with those hillbillies. "...people that ain't never seen a town before."

[WileyHunter]

A little off topic... But if you guys want some good tow ropes (with eyes) let me know. Could even put hooks if interested. I can get any length (within reason) of various diameters (most common we make/use is 5/8"). I can get them from work when we swap them out and we do that several times a year. The guys at work will put the eyes in for you (professional splice) and could probably put hooks and servings in them for a little $$ to cover costs. Of course shipping will have to be arranged.

PM me if there is an interest and I will see how quick we can turn around.

WH

[HenryJ]

Mule tape?

[WileyHunter]

Mule tape?

Sorry but ??? Not sure what you mean.

[HenryJ]

Could you describe the material and what it is normally used for?

"Mule tape" is commonly used for pulling cable through conduit. It is about 1/2" wide and has a break strength of 1500# PSI. I have pulled on it using a backhoe. I have part of a roll left from my telephone company installation days.
Very handy stuff.

[F9K9]

A little off topic... But if you guys want some good tow ropes (with eyes) let me know. Could even put hooks if interested. ........................................

Thanks for the offer but, all or my clubs prohibit mixing metal and straps. There are good points pro and con but, I respect my peer's wishes.

[WileyHunter]

Could you describe the material and what it is normally used for?

"Mule tape" is commonly used for pulling cable through conduit. It is about 1/2" wide and has a break strength of 1500# PSI. I have pulled on it using a backhoe. I have part of a roll left from my telephone company installation days.
Very handy stuff.

Oh, nope this is rope. Used for 'blimp' lines. After they are changed out we use them for the guys to practice making eyes so they won't mess up the operational splices Then they get 'disposed' of. Usually to LEO's or such.

WH

[HenryJ]

Ahh, I see. What type of rope is it?

[WileyHunter]

I wanna say Nystron but I'm real tired and not sure if brain is on.

I also don't know the 'real' break strength #'s but will say that you'd probably be hard pressed to snap it (until it ages).

[HenryJ]

http://www.cbknot.com/Nystron.htm

Looks like a double braid.

What kind of lengths might be available? Looks like 5/8" might be a little light for pulling. A minimum of 1 1/2 times the gross is tolerable, but double is better. All my straps are at least 30,000#

[WileyHunter]

I would say any length up to maybe 50 foot? We also occasionally have 3/4" line too! Hard to eye splice but great for pulling! I know the 5/8" can stand up to about 18,000 lbs for hours on end.