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11-21-2022, 06:34 PM | #1 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Central CT
Posts: 94
| Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
We all dream of living in Moab or Sedona but I don’t. I live in the oak leaf capital of the world in New England. For those who aren’t familiar, oak leaves are a very special breed of leaf. They’re very durable, they don’t break, they collect in deep pockets around all the best rock gardens. 10th scale 8lb rigs can get lost and float in the piles. Luckily 25lb+, sixth scale can usually move them out of the way in all but the deepest piles if you sit there spinning your wheels for few seconds until tire finally touches rock. I think of it as driving a full scale truck through a 4 foot pile of 6’ x 6’ tarps. it just ain’t fun. I have a crappy Ryobi battery operated leaf blower. I just use to keep them out of my garage, but have more substantial equipment to clear the yard. Usually, I strap a 10th scale crawler to my backpack and drive the six scale beast along the hiking trail. Was thinking about strapping that leaf blower to my backpack instead. I’m sure I would get lots of looks from the hikers, but curious if anyone has ever done anything ridiculous like that. Such a bummer that it really really kills the crawling this time of year. Most of the leaves are down now, so hopefully in a few weeks, the trails will pack out a little bit, but the most fun, slightly off trail, rocky areas just get collected leaves and sticks piled up in them. I’m glad to have some great terrain nearby though - can’t knock that. Just sad to see the season get impacted so early. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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11-21-2022, 06:46 PM | #2 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: california under the rock im crawling on
Posts: 4,285
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
never on public property but ive raked and shovaled to clear and cut trails through the woods on property i lived on
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11-21-2022, 07:31 PM | #3 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Humboldt county
Posts: 4,482
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
I've considered bringing along a small hand broom/whisk broom for clearing sand off of rocks at the beach. Maybe bring some gloves and clear it by hand. |
11-21-2022, 08:26 PM | #4 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 1,615
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
Seriously, Oak leaves are a pain because of exactly what you describe. But even feeling your frustration, I wouldn't if it's public. You've got people that would either complain about the noise ( no matter how quiet) or complain about disturbing natural habitat. And you've got to lug it around. I can see it being more of a hassle than an asset overall. I just don't think I would despite that I completely understand your mindset.
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11-21-2022, 09:06 PM | #5 | |
Rock Stacker Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Central CT
Posts: 94
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing? Quote:
I was actually wondering if they made helical transmission gears to quiet it down. A leaf blower would be a bit in the other direction! I have a small rock pile nearby that's on the edge of a parking area - really just keeping people from driving onto a soccer field... I think I can swing it there, but not hiking trails - as convenient as it seems to carry the little battery leaf blower. | |
11-21-2022, 09:10 PM | #6 |
Rock Stacker Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Central CT
Posts: 94
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing? That's true - my cousin had a mini-rake to 'move' dog poop when her dogs chose the driveway. I could carry that easily and clear out the most fun lines when I stopped to play. I'm in no rush and they are moving slow and not covering a ton of ground - glad to have something encouraging me to get off my ass one way or their other..
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11-22-2022, 07:48 AM | #7 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: california under the rock im crawling on
Posts: 4,285
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
i have made a few trails in the park i live in and a few tracks on public land but its encuraged out here its a open riding area the only real restrictions are no nails dont mess with the turtles and dont shoot long guns outside of that its free and open one of my neighbors built a full out mx track on public land behind his property and blm is like ok cool enjoy lol i think its a differnt story when making trails inside a designated ohv park than on a hiking trail Last edited by ferp420; 11-22-2022 at 07:51 AM. |
11-22-2022, 09:24 AM | #8 | |
RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Austin Texas
Posts: 1,615
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing? Quote:
I used to shut down my nitro rigs if there were people around or if anyone seemed annoyed. And although I haven't run nitro in many years, I was at the local park recently and shut down the audio on my slash because I felt self-conscious how loud it was. Seems like most the kids love it and some of the men but women.. nope. They want their peace and quiet.. understandable. | |
11-22-2022, 09:52 AM | #9 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central IL
Posts: 282
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
Most of our local trails are maintained by a mountain bike club. Some are leaf blown and others aren't - that decision is made by the land managers of that particular property. Some of our parks are owned by the local park district, others are on Army Corps of Engineers ground, and some are privately owned. That's to say that whether leaves are beneficial to the sustainability of the trail is very much location dependent and still a bit controversial (in our area anyways). If you want to go about things proper, I'd see who maintains the trails and what their thoughts are on clearing leaves. If they want it done, they'll be stoked that you're motivated to help them. If they DON'T want them cleared, they'll be quick to give you a hard no. |
11-26-2022, 02:23 AM | #10 | |
Newbie Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: The KBC Void
Posts: 22
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing? Quote:
Herringbone gears are probably a better fit - it's a double-helical gear variant that doesn't require a thrust bearing because it doesn't generate an axial thrust that also requires additional thrust bearings, and a stronger transmission case. Even then - helical gears, while quieter, aren't as efficient. More expensive, and less efficient isn't a great combination. I'd certainly love a nearly silent crawler, but some realities aren't easily overcome... at least not without a many-axis CNC... Reminds me of a comic of two of man's greatest fantasies: A smoking hot spouse smiling as the 12-axis CNC mill churns out perfection in the garage. Last edited by Pariah Zero; 11-27-2022 at 12:04 AM. | |
11-29-2022, 09:18 PM | #11 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: May 2019 Location: Knoxville
Posts: 466
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
I bring a gas-powered blower with me since the area I crawl is wooded. I typically use up a whole tank of fuel and it takes me about an hour to get most of it cleared out. Between the rocks, stumps and exposed roots I feel like it's also a safety function of having the trail clean.
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11-30-2022, 06:27 PM | #12 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 2,319
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
I live in CA, so no, I don't dare bring something like that with me on a trail. I'd probably receive a longer prison sentence than a thief or sexual predator.
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11-30-2022, 07:02 PM | #13 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Santa Barbara
Posts: 659
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
Yeah, but just to help dry out my swamp nuts when I get back to the truck.
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11-30-2022, 07:49 PM | #14 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 1,562
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing? |
11-30-2022, 07:52 PM | #15 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Santa Barbara
Posts: 659
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
That's actually pretty damn funny... |
12-01-2022, 09:38 PM | #16 |
Newbie Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: The KBC Void
Posts: 22
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing? |
12-01-2022, 10:01 PM | #17 | |
Newbie Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: The KBC Void
Posts: 22
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing? Quote:
The rest of the folks at the field appreciated it, though. | |
02-02-2023, 07:40 AM | #18 |
Newbie Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Kennet Square PA
Posts: 44
| Re: Anybody bring a leaf blower with them trailing?
Dewalt and most other manufacturers have small 20v battery leaf blowers that can strap to a backpack or simply carry. They would be ideal for clearing a small course or trail. I carry one in my truck every day, use it a ton. Thanks Ross |
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