Build-Off 2021?

I love using the forum. I hate Facebook for other reasons than losing your build post in a few days (even though that is one of them), but those reasons are irrelevant to the forum. I've went back and just read through the Lawn Tractor Repair and MM thread just for the heck of it. I love being able to document my builds. But that's all irrelevant to the BO.

I agree with @diddie. One thing for me with the MM last year was the money. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I thought it would be easy until I saw the builds like the scrap yard murray and Patriot, the MKII... I didn't really have a chance with my budget and tractor. That's the point where you wonder why you entered and if you should drop out. Somehow I found a way to make enough money and get enough time to keep the MM up to par.

Group rides are great. But they only happen in PA, IN, and MI. I've yet to hear of one anywhere else. So no as of the moment, unless some of us start hosting group rides in other areas, I don't see them being a big help. Of course, if group rides in other areas become a thing (I personally would be alright with hosting one out at Rockcrusher Farm in North GA), I could see some traffic pick up here on the forum.

I think Studebaker was down in GA recently with Keizer. There’s a vid on his channel, though I have not watched it yet

Oh yeah he was. I forgot about that. Honestly if I knew about it and/or was invited beforehand I might have went.

I agree that time is hard on making the deadline. Heck it took me 3 almost 4 years to get my wheel horse done. But that's what makes build offs fun is having that time crunch. Classes would be interesting but I dont think "money classes" are a good idea. Like for instance, If I have alot of junk laying around  like metal, bolts, engines, that I can build things with and other folks dont have anything like that laying around then what would happen is someone like me would have less money in my build because I used what I had while someone else would have more money in their build because they would have to buy things that I already had.

Build offs are like Archery tournaments they are ment to be fun. I dont go out and shoot tournaments to win, I go to hang out with my friends and to have a good time. I suck at archery but I love to shoot because it's fun, but my sister is really good at archery and won a bunch of scholarships which is now helping her pay for college. She also just went to have fun, and yeah winning is great but winning isnt everything. You can be competitive and have fun....its the people who only go to win and dont have a good time because they are so focused on winning that they become hard on themselves and then fall apart at a tournament due to stress and anxiety. I know archery is a bit more complicated than a build off because archery is not only physical but also mental. But when your involved in something for 9 years you see how it affects people.

One thing I've learned from my parents being involved with rules and changing rules is that your not going to make everyone happy and that's ok, Even your own ideas aren't going to be exactly like you want. But 9 times out of 10 if all the state coordinators agree on something and work it out the people will also like the idea and change. Your always going to find issues and problems but that's part of it.

If the Administrators say that a break from having a build off is a good idea they are probably right. That's all part of making changes and making things better/trying new ideas. That's why we have administers. Maybe not having a build off every year wouldnt be so bad. Everyone needs an off season every once in awhile.

Also I by no means think my ideas are the best option because they are definitely not. ( That's why I'm a screwdriver   )Also I know I always say negative things and I dont want anyone thinking I'm bashing their ideas and the forum itself, In my mind I try to look at different opinions and options and pointing out the bad things always helps me choose the best option. I think it's really easy to overlook something if it weren't for someone else to point out a possible issue.

Murray mountain, I’ve posted up at least 5 group rides in Ohio and we just had one of the biggest tractor rides yet had close to 30 tractors. I quit posting on here because nobody ever showed any Interest. We get a big turnout if I post it on Facebook, even though I personally prefer forums. That’s also a big part of why I quit updating Rustys thread on here, I’d take time to go through all the trouble of uploading the pics, then writing up a big post to with the pictures, and then I’d maybe have one comment, or none. And I’d do it again to the same result. I got tired of putting all this effort in and no one seemed to care. Not that’s anyone’s fault but it is what it is. I can post up a couple pics in 3 seconds on Facebook And have 6 people comment on it and I can have a discussion about what I’m doing with the tractor. To me the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze. I really truly loved this forum at one point but it’s just the progression of things I’ve had 3 of my other favorite offroad forums basically die over the past five years, hell even pirate4x4 has dropped to less than half of the activity it used to have. I honestly don’t see that changing in the future either. I truly hope I’m wrong because I like forums so much better but i feel the forum dieing is inevitable. It’s just not how the vast majority of people communicate anymore.

@Longbow wrote:

Again I am pretty new here, I'm not sure how the build offs are judged but maybe classes i.e. New builds, returning builds, build capabilities through sent in videos and vote on them.  I don't know,  Maybe a small entry fee that people can win at the end to keep people motivated.  I don't know, but you fellas are doing a great job and keep it up, there are those of us who still like this type of forum.  Thanks just my opinion, trying to help any way I can.  

Welcome!

We always consider input here on the forum in any aspect of how it operates, so dont be afraid to shy away from sharing something you think may improve something here.

One thing we will never do is charge admittance to participate. People are always more than welcome to put up or contribute to the prize pool but it will never be a requirement.

Mightyraze and I are in some form of discussion and throwing ideas at each other, but we wont have a consensus too quickly. Theres some things to go over. But if anyone has ideas, they are more than welcome to provide input. I see the vote is currently 7-4, it would be nice if those were our odds with finalists this year.

I can't stand the whole facebook thing myself. Not like I've been posting all that much about projects and stuff recently. I don't know why really. I guess the whole thing about stuff moving on down the list and then being gone, and every post is separated into it's own thing. For builds I liked having a record of it, lots of times I've looked back in my own thread to see what I did with something, or because I knew where certain pics of things were. For events like a group ride then facebook is a better platform I guess. I think there's more people that see it though too. ATLTF might be a tad busy with buttons and things but idk, it never bothered me too much.

I kinda feel like facebook has certain groups/cliques that people get in too and if your not in the crowd your kinda sorta excluded. That's probably just my perception of things tho.

And yes this entire post is off topic.... lol.

Looks like atltf's demise is all creepy crawlers fault...I knew it!

No, I think everything in this topic is on course. It's good that we have as many talk about it back and forth.

Lol it’s definitely my fault then, I’m glad we are all in Agreeance. Maybe I’ll dig up some pics of when I build the new motor for rusty and try to update that thread one day

Personally, I'm not that knowledgeable of all this. I just know what I have encountered, and have followed closely. There are LOTS of new guys with questions, that I wish I knew, but I know many of you guys know. One of my greatest wishes is for you smart guys that I see log in, to help out. There are a lot of simple questions that a simple google could answer, but maybe they do not know the right "words"? I dunno... I guess I am rambling.

I just stumbled along this community less than a week ago. I'm excited seeing how active it is. I have been asking a lot of questions but I do try to do a Google search beforehand. It is hard to know what kind of terminology to ask Google. I do appreciate you answering them. I'm looking forward to getting more involved as I start my build and time goes on.

@murphyslaw wrote:

It is hard to know what kind of terminology to ask Google.

That is exactly what I was saying!  That's where my hope is for the more knowledgeable to help teach that as well as having a good friendly community to discuss it.  I do know in the infancy of the site, it wasn't quite as forgiving.

@MightyRaze

It does seem like a good friendly community to discuss things. I appreciate that. You know, something that would be very helpful especially to newcomers is a FAQ section for general technical questions that you guys see being asked a lot. Things like what is the general tire size most builds add to make it better on off-road terrain, what different pulley sizes can be expected to have what results, maybe a few video links to a couple of really good forum recommended rear diff locks. What do you think? I know I definitely would read it over and it could help you guys not have to answer so many redundant questions.

We're a little off topic now, but https://www.atltf.com/f53-technical-forum is a good start for some information.  There isn't any one best way to do anything in this hobby.  Tech forums haven't been update in a while.  That is one of the things, I think the older members could contribute, as well as new ones.

-Added

That's where starting your own build thread, people can jump in and help where needed if we have the info.

My recommendations
Engine: Anything other than a Kohler Courage.
Transaxle, most geared, most common is MST and Peerless 820.  Roper 633a, Wheelhorse, and Peerless 2300 and 600's are good!  Some instances a Peerless 700 for a "Transmission" on a chain driven axle.

Everything else is pretty much up to you.