Potholes, Frost Heaves and Craters (Portland, Augusta: leases, construction, living)

[beltrams]

Originally Posted by roadrat

We are doing the best we can but Maines roads are in really bad shape and there is just not enough $$$ to fix them all.
bill

I think you guys are doing a better job than some other northern states I've been in lately.

Seriously.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by beltrams

I think you guys are doing a better job than some other northern states I've been in lately.

Seriously.

I have a road that might change your mind. Hodsdon road between Yarmouth and Pownal. It's 30 mph on that road now if you're lucky. I bottomed out my shocks three times on that road in two and a half miles. I drive a Tundra with the off road suspension package. I'm sure that road had destroyed the suspension of more than one passenger car this year already.

[roadrat]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I have a road that might change your mind. Hodsdon road between Yarmouth and Pownal. It's 30 mph on that road now if you're lucky. I bottomed out my shocks three times on that road in two and a half miles. I drive a Tundra with the off road suspension package. I'm sure that road had destroyed the suspension of more than one passenger car this year already.

Some people don't agree, But I think some towns should go back to gravel on there lesser used roads, One pass with a Road Grader and your road is smooth again, now as for the dust in the summer



bill

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by roadrat

Some people don't agree, But I think some towns should go back to gravel on there lesser used roads, One pass with a Road Grader and your road is smooth again, now as for the dust in the summer



bill

I agree to a point. In the winter they don't grade and the dirt roads get real washboard like. The dust is a problem as you say too. They used to oil them but that's out now for a number of reasons. I also think they put calcium chloride on them as that sucks moisture from the air and wets the dust down. Of course you have the corrosion issue from the salt. Dirt roads wouldn't bother me. If I were driving a little light car with bad suspension I might feel differently. They may have to go with concrete again soon as asphalt is getting too expensive. Salt eats concrete so the viscious circle continues.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

The DOT hangs small orange signs that say;

B
U
M
P

There is a much better indication of the severity of the hazard you are approaching. When you see shock absorbers, hub caps and five gallon plastic buckets strewn around in the road ahead, hit the brakes! These objects have been thrown off of vehicles that preceded you. If you slow down you may avoid losing such objects from your own vehicle.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

... There is a much better indication of the severity of the hazard you are approaching. When you see shock absorbers, hub caps and five gallon plastic buckets strewn around in the road ahead, hit the brakes! These objects have been thrown off of vehicles that preceded you. If you slow down you may avoid losing such objects from your own vehicle.

When a vehicle spits a shock absorber off to the side of the road that would be a good indication of a significant 'bump'.

I had never thought that a bump could punch a shock absorber up through the frame and into the interior of the vehicle. We recently learned that such is possible.

I also learned that doing this makes a really loud racket.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

When a vehicle spits a shock absorber off to the side of the road that would be a good indication of a significant 'bump'.

I had never thought that a bump could punch a shock absorber up through the frame and into the interior of the vehicle. We recently learned that such is possible.

I also learned that doing this makes a really loud racket.

I had an old Datsun that put both front shocks up through the hood one spring! I shoved them back down by jacking up the car, jammed a 2x4 in there to keep them apart and got 5000 more miles out of it before junking it!

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Maineah

I had an old Datsun that put both front shocks up through the hood one spring! I shoved them back down by jacking up the car, jammed a 2x4 in there to keep them apart and got 5000 more miles out of it before junking it!

That was an old car.

This vehicle is at it's third anniversary from it's manufacture date.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I know a guy who had a wood stove in his van for heat. He ran some PVC pipe to the windshield for a defroster. He had the wood stove chained down to allow for frost heaves and evasive maneuvers. The stove pipe was directional and on a swivel in case of a tail wind at an intersection.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

I know a guy who had a wood stove in his van for heat. He ran some PVC pipe to the windshield for a defroster. He had the wood stove chained down to allow for frost heaves and evasive maneuvers. The stove pipe was directional and on a swivel in case of a tail wind at an intersection.

A bit extreme if you ask me....and risky.