stoney

That’s a diesel - talking about gassers in the HD series and their wonderful fuel mileage. I’m not complaining, just the way it is.

Ya, my 6.4 in the dodge ain’t winning no fuel mileage competitions, but what is in a 3/4 ton truck. It’s pretty crazy the difference between a 1/2 truck and a HD truck.

Usually you hear the bad on the interwebs, people rarely come online to post the good and just carry on with their day. Just like the bias towards the other manufactures, case in point, people still think Chrysler has tranny issues…never had one issue yet. I know I have a bias towards GM, but I had a rented truck the other month and thought it was a great truck, albeit a newer one. I think all three have their strengths and weakness’, pick your poison and hope for the best. As for not fixing a problem that is well known, IDK about that, does it happen, sure, but it gets blown out of proportion IMO when some folks have a bad experience that perhaps was not handled well by a dealer or competent mechanic. If you can, try and talk to people you see on the road that has the truck or product you are interested in, most are happy to share their thoughts that you won’t see online.

I wonder if they designed the vehicle based on hybrid model so non hybrid model has more spare space under the hood, body, etc…so people did not see the gain in possible space with non hybrid models….or the battery and electric motor really take up very little space. I think the batteries are wider and flatter so more easily hidden. regardless, good to hear you are happy with yours. Do you ever compare with your neighbors the differences in fuel savings?

What space is lost in the vehicle with both a battery, gasoline engine and I assume electric motor that must attach to the vehicle drive train?

on the above - did you happen to see permits on the sleds.....maybe some guilty parties........lol. I did not get out this year really, so I cannot comment, but in the past, encountering those types of folks was a rare thing, not the norm IMO or what generally make up the sledding demographic.

Been over a decade since I routinely went to car shows, the tracks, etc.....I can only imagine what that looks like these days - kind of like sledding I am sure....lol.

I know there were a few others that have mentioned their kids, you, @Blackstar and @oldslowsledder come to mind, I am sure there are more that I am missing.....I know there were a few other members that had smaller kids that came out with them or had kitty Cats, etc.....it just seemed the two members I mentioned, you hear more about it, more often.....life, priorities and other things change, that affect that. I take my kids out with me, will they take up the sport as they get older, who knows, time will tell.....but having some exposure at a younger age, I hope increases that chance later on. Point being of course, there is not much new blood, no one is surprised of course, and I think it is the older folks that are more likely to take it up or return to the sport, but that number I do not think will out weight the number that are leaving the sport - just the reality of things.

The only new riders that I’m aware of or heard of last few years are folks around 50 that have the funds and time to do so. I think on this site there are two members that have younger kids involved and likely in the sport for the long haul - @Spiderman and @ecarnell….maybe I’m missing someone, but I don’t think there are many.

Buddy looked at renting a sled for a long weekend? much cheaper than a new sled purchase to have some fun and test the waters, and if he can’t come to terms with that expense, I’d say he likes to talk about the idea of engaging in the sport, just not the reality of actually doing it.

"Day to day" work is expected, but some of these areas were hit so hard, you need heavy machinery to make light work of the daunting tasks. Emergency funds should be used or seeking funding from the province for it should be - I know many places did and I recall hearing on the radio recently about that being settled in some places for those that asked for it. Did the OFSC make a request for that from the storm like many municipalities did?

Ya, but the OFSC should be able to support the need for an increase with data on the costs of keeping the doors open so to speak - should not be a hard argument to make.

Yep, factors that can’t be controlled. The younger folks who likely have the time, don’t have the funds. The “older” crowd that now may have the funds, may not have the time or the passion to pursue it. I don’t know, but there has to be a matrix that tells the OFSC what it needs to be year after year that is pretty easy to identify what the cost needs to be. Just look at QC, they have the more consistent climate and the passionate ridership to support the sport and they increase it year after year - what does that tell you. I too live very close to Simcoe, this area used to be a great spot for day rides or even to start your ride to spend at a cottage in district 7, not anymore nor has been for a while, that will not change. I know the reality is the ridership is shrinking, but what I’m saying is that’s out of the OFSC hands, the factors for that are beyond them so set the price what is needed to support what can be supported, the permit price is not what attracts new riders, I think people are naive to still think that, there are too many other factors that are far more significant. People who are price sensitive to just the permit, IMO, are not going to be around for long or they truly do not comprehend what the permit price entails, or more importantly, what it does not include, like all the work done by people for FREE!!!

I was thinking the same thing about people having the opportunity to go on a lake, field, etc…to have a chance to be exposed, or best case friend or family that has spare sled to try it out. For me it was a family that let me try his sled, that turned into a weekend rental trip and then my own purchase. But that does not change the permit price or change who will come, IMO - if they decide at that point they enjoy it, thoughts turn to many of the other expenses in order to dive in, that will not become cheaper in this day and age that no one can influence. Set permit price at what it needs to be (the cheapest part of the sport) and enforce the use of the trails by the means required. For anyone using the permit as a reason not to stay in the sport, are already done with it or looking for reasons to be, and are just complaining about nothing. The permit I bought this year, I am not even sure made it into my sled, I know for sure I did not ride any OFSC trails…which I think makes that two years in a row for me…lol!

The OFSC has tried to make it appealing and affordable, I’m afraid it hasn’t worked for reasons they cannot control. The reality that most can agree on is the sport is expensive, permit being one of the cheapest today is the point, that’s not changing, so come to terms with that and move on. stop trying to pretend it should be an inclusive sport, it no longer is. sorry, but that’s the reality IMO.