I Really Don’t Like Mine Toasted
by: Gary Sorenson
When I was a bit younger and my actions didn’t turn out the proper results, there were a few times, maybe more then a few times, that I felt there was no need that anyone should know. But after a while you’re dragging this big bag on undesirable memories around that you have no release for, and then you find out they weren’t as secretive as you thought anyway. So I have come to the conclusion that if it happened, tell it, and if it didn’t harm anyone, laugh about it. That’s fine, but it still takes me awhile to see humor in some acts that can be considered on the stupid side. But after the family has laughed about it for six weeks I figure its time to get it off my chest.
Home away from home. The R factor isn’t too good in this home but the view is great.
Sue and I had a great time on our year end archery hunt on the Salmon River the last week of December, but the weather did throw a curve at us as it was down right cold. We had pitched our tent down by the river so each morning we had to ride the 4 wheeler to where we were going to start our climb after elk. Some mornings that was only five or six miles and then there was the morning we went about 13 miles. My problem was the ATV did not like the cold weather anymore then we did and every morning it was a coax job just to get it going. The morning I walked out to the tree to check the thermometer and it read -4 I figured I had a problem to get the All Temperamental Vehicle going.
Not a bad view that met us each morning along the Salmon River.
Isn’t it true that problems are the foundations to great minds finding answers and remedies? I guess the missing puzzle piece here is the great mind. I went back in the tent and shared my wonderful idea with Sue and the answer I got wasn’t really totally negative, but it had enough question in it that I should have taken note.
Anyway I dug around in our supplies and found a couple gallon cans and filled them with briquets, dumped some fire starter on them and in no time had them putting out the heat. I then dumped them on an old cookie sheet and slid the whole thing under the front of the ATV cover.
When toast is done it pops up. There was no such mechanism on my little heater but when I checked after 15 minutes things looked to be working. I guess briquet’s keep getting hotter the longer they burn. To soon old and to late smart. After an hour I figure it should be ready to go but when I stepped out of the tent I had a hunch I had a problem. The smoke that had been drifting up from under the cover was white, but now it had a dark look to it. That was not good. When I pulled the briquet’s out and threw the cover back my hunch was right. These things are made out of plastic and all things melt able and burnable.
Not a pretty sight. I was too sick to take pictures of the damage.
I guess its still tough for me to understand that they make belly pans out of plastic, and once it melted that down there was nothing to protect the internal parts which included some sensors. This included the four wheel drive sensor which we hardly ever need any way, but it sure is nice to have when you need it. The fan that cools the motor, its plastic too. As cold as it was though we still could get to where we hunted so I didn’t have to face the mechanic till we got back.
Inspite of my mistakes we had a wonderful week and saw some great country, lots of game and hiked a bunch of miles and even a few vertical ones. I needed that to clear my lungs of the stench of melted plastic and the vision of $100 bills flying away.
Those are elk lying on the near ridge. This is the day that we nearly put 2000 vertical feet behind us to look down on this herd.
Tags: Archery, ATV, burning, Elk hunting, tent
4 Responses to “I Really Don’t Like Mine Toasted”
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Ahh, I guess we live and learn. And…..apparently……ATVs are good fire starters. Remind me not to throw one on the barbeque this year, though. Hehe!
It takes courage to admit ones mistakes and I have a suggestion for your ATV. How about a metal skid plate under the belly of the beast for next years bon fire?
Years ago we used to build fires under our vehicles to get them started. A product of our youth and we no longer do such. Fortunately we never lost one.
You know, you’re not insane to think that important things would be made of metal. I was similarly surprised last year when my radiator sprung a leak and I was informed I’d need a new one because radiators are made of plastic these days and you can’t repair them! For real.
Arthur – Maybe if I manned the Barbeque more often I would have understood the heat those little buggers put out. They do make a very expensive barbeque and lousy tasting I’m sure, if the smell is an indicator.
Terry, you know if I did put a metal belly pan under there it would also add weight to the front which would help with the other problem I’ve had with that thing. (Going over backwords) I’ve never built an open fire under a vehicle but I remember using a propane torch and a 8″ stove pipe with an elbow to warm up engines when logging in Minnesota one winter – ages ago. Did start the Edger on fire a couple times, to much sawdust around. Nothing like adding fire around gasoline.
Holly, I had to read that twice as that was more then I could handle first time through. Plastic radiators?? Someone is probably sitting in some back room right now trying to figure out how to make plastic wood stoves.