I went to a big farm consignment auction Saturday and saw the windmill about which I'd written on here earlier. The sale was about 100 miles away and I took my 10 mpg Tahoe and pulled a 26' trailer over there while burning $1.459/gallon gas. The best thing I can say is my trailer pulled very nicely and it was a lovely day for a drive. ;o)

The windmill was down and partially disassembled and I had no way of knowing the functioning condition. The framing was 3/4" angle iron with 3/4" flat stock for cross bracing. The cross braces on the bottom were buckled slightly and I could move them fairly readily by hand. The combination of those things and the general condition caused me to pass on bidding for it. The winning bid was $750.

Had it been a little heavier or looked a little sturdier or been known to be functional I'd have gladly paid more for it. I guess I'd rather pay more for better. I'd have been afraid to climb that one to tie it off for winter. I think I'd have been a little afraid to even lean a good ladder on it to climb to the top.

I think maybe I'll be happier if I pay more for better (and safer). In any event, I wanted to update you on my Quixotic quest (pun intended). ;o)

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 07, 2002

Answers

I was drooling over one sitting in a field not four miles from my house just yesterday! Our neighbors down the street have a working windmill hooked to a well that they use to water their garden with. I haven't convinced Lance that I should try to find out who owns the land this apparently unused one is sitting on!(and don't really have the money just yet, anyway!)

Anyway, it's a shame you wasted that expensive gas and came home without a windmill - but did you get a box blade? Or did the trailer come home empty?

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), April 07, 2002.

Christine, as I told a couple guys last night when they asked if I bought anything there, "I didn't even buy lunch there." The brush hogs there were really rough and not knowing how to tell how good they are unless they're hooked up to a PTO, I passed on them. They brought $200-$300. I did meet an implement dealer there who offered me a new 5' Howse for $450 or a new 5' King Kutter for $550. Each have stump jumpers and shear pins. Neither have chain guards or a slip clutch. I think that might be a better way for me to go.

As to the spent time and burned gas, I'll look at it as a nice way to see how well my new trailer pulls on the road (I actually forgot I was pulling it a couple times it was so nice). ;o) It was a great day for a drive, too. I guess it boils down to perspective, but, given the time and the gas are gone I may as well look at the positives.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), April 07, 2002.