New December Journal

[TapME]

Same as the rest of New England snow( poor mans fertilizer). We have about 4'' on the ground and still coming. Cold 5 degrees

[TapME]

Dave,where's the team of horses? He did say caddy sack right.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Jim,

I believe I would put all the sap in the trailer and balance it out. Will be less wear on the truck in the long run pending the trailer will handle all of it. Key is to balance the trailer load perfectly where you are not pulling up on the truck or pushing down on it. Besides, a lot easier to get in and out of the trailer too. Your Honda Oddessy Van will tow 3500 lbs as it is the same as mine, just a year newer unless they increased the towing capacity on your van.

[Dennis H.]

Hey Theron, take out the back seat and put a tank in it's place. That will keep the weight more centered in the car so those front wheels keep digging in to get all that sap home!

Or you could sort of set up the car like those old southern boys dig when running moon shine. A small tank in each door, under the seat, oh heck pull all the seats out and just sit on the tank to drive.


When Theron took me over to see Richards place, all I could say for the longest time was wow. I mean he probably spilled more onto the floor in one day then I made all year. And his sap storage tanks, they are the size of a stinking swimming pool.

[PATheron]

The neat thing about Richard I think is that he started no different than any of the rest of us. He was a farmer and his folks did syrup to some extent out back and he just really liked doing it. That whole setup is his creation. I think originally there was just a small shed with a dirt floor. He built that up with ambition and a just a lot guts to try to do something at that level. I dont think there was ever any big money behind him or anything like that I think hes done that from nothing on his own. Theron

[Parker]

AAAHHHHHHAAAA!!!! THe Lincon SAPMOBIEL- front wheel peel to boot!!! It just does not get any better than that!!! Is that the same car you were in here??? LOVE IT!!!!
A foot of new fulffy white stuff outside with another foot on the way here! I havent walked any of my lines after the ice storm-been busy logging,,I am sure there are plenty down!!

[Gary R]

Theron, I think your best bet is to buy a used 4X4, 3/4 or 1 ton. They are cheap right now. Be careful with trailers. Most utility trailers come with a 3500 GVW axle. You would have to find a HD (dump type) that had heavier axles. In PA any trailer over 3000 GVW must have electric brakes. In the last couple years a few high profile accidents have occured. Inocent people have been killed due too utility trailers coming loose from the tow vehicle. I'm sure the police will not go easy on anyone caught overloaded.

It would be neat to see pictures of the lincoln pulling sap though

[Gary R]

Just placed an order with the Mapleguy's. A few extra's. Filter's, hydrometer. and a few huh... taps. Made 12lbs. of maple breakfast link sausage last night. Down to our last quart of syrup. Hope the season starts soon!

[802maple]

To answer the question about storage of barrels, by the end of sugaring we would crawl over barrels to get out of the sugar house. Of course most of them were 55"s so they didn't take up as much room.

And as far as a automatic drawoff, I had a nice Marchland but I hated the thing. I like being in control of the drawoff and not some machine, ofcourse there was a stream coming off all the time so maybe that is why. It always was telling me the truth at the drawoff but it wasn't telling what was going on back further in the pan so I had to be there anyway. Just my opinion.

[3% Solution]

Hi all,
Everyone in New England and NewYork ready for round 2??
Got about 9" here.
Tomorrow for us is supposed to be 10" - 16".
Guess I'll watch it snow and checkout the trader tomorrow!!
Stay safe out there, only drive if you have to!!!

Dave