Page 12 - Farm & Ranch

When it comes to laying out the perfect (safe) field for your livestock or animals, there is an easy way (eyeball it and guess) and there is better way. In this article we will give you the tools you need to make an informed buying decision when looking to set up a wire fence around your property. Let's start with unit of measurements when it comes to "talking fence," when you go into your local farm and ranch store. What is a "Rod" Measurement in Fencing? On the American prairie where fences were constructed of posts and wire, farmers would place fence posts a "rod" (16.5 feet) apart. In addition to being about the right distance to support a wire fence, this helped early farmers and ranchers quickly estimate the number of posts needed (80 rods is a quarter mile). Using a "rod" layout and unit of measurement was also useful when plowing... Read more

After you've figured out the towing capacity of your trailer, you will need to select the right tires for your trailer. Tires are critical for any type of trailer. Whether you are hauling cattle, horses, cars or boats, you need to be sure your tires are up to the job if you want to get the most out of your haul. With the right tires, you and your cargo will be safer on the road. There are many accessories you need when you start thinking tires, and you can find a selection of those items here. If you overload your tires, your trailer becomes a dangerous liability. At any point, the tires could blow out, or the load could sway so much that it actually flips over. It is paramount that you select the appropriate tires for your trailer. 1. Key Terms when Looking at Trailer Tires Let's get started with a few definitions you'll need to become ... Read more

Being able to determine the grade of bolts you purchase can be the difference between a solid, durable joining of two materials, or the failure of that bolt. Below we will help you to first identify the difference in bolt grades on visual inspection. After this article, you'll be able to walk in to your local hardware store, pick up a bolt (as long as it is one of these common types), and be able to tell what type it is, and the basic working loads you can expect from each bolt. How to Visually Determine Bolt Grades Bolt grades are easy to determine and important to recognize for the right application. This is a list and description of the most common bolt grades. Grade 2 Bolts Grade 2 bolts are the most common grade of bolts and are also the least expensive. Grade 2 bolts are found mostly in household fasteners like carriage bolts, and ... Read more

When choosing t-posts for your fencing application you need to consider animals and t-post strength. ANIMALS AND T-POST STRENGTH To begin, ask yourself, what animals are going to be fenced? Elk need a different fence than cattle or horses. Buffalo need a different fence than Black Angus cattle. Once you have our animals designated, the next thing you need to consider is WHERE are those animals going to be- why does it matter where they are? Because a good fence needs to be able to bear the pressure generated on it be the livestock you are trying to protect/contain. Here is our selection of t-posts to give you an idea of cost. For example: If you are building a fence for loading or branding cattle- a barb wire fence isn't going to cut it. When you have that many animals in a confined space and you are pushing them in certain directions or... Read more

Hoof Jack Equine Innovations & Bellota Finish Rasp I've been finishing horses for my brother for probably about 8 years now. Every summer since my freshman year in college. We work out of Great Falls, Montana so I've worked on rodeo stock, draft horses, pack mules, reiners, cutting horses every kind of horse really. Two things you know you need when you finish horses: a stand and a file (you also need a clinch block, nail clippers, a gouge, a finish hammer, maybe a hot rasp for reiners/ropers, plus miscellaneous shoeing equipment but this is a spotlight on the Hoof Jack and the Bellota Finish Rasp). If you're looking for a clench block, clench cutter, or any of the other tools I mentioned above, they are online here. You can see the utility of the Hoof Jack right away those magnets on the side are heavy-duty and can hold stacked nip... Read more

The efficacy of the Carhartt Pyramex Billings safety glasses, the functionality, the fit- and most importantly the price our store is able to get them to you that's the subject of this blog. These glasses are available at our stores right now at a price of under 5 dollars. You can't beat that. Carhartt Pyramex teamed up to get you these glasses at a ridiculous price. The glasses my brother is using in this video are the Carhartt + Pyramex Billings model- price? $4.99 yeah... $4.99 in USD. Shop for your Carhartt Pyramex Billings safety glasses here. And, well- I've used my brother once again for a tester of our products. He is a farrier out of Great Falls, Montana that only uses handmade, bar stock shoes on the horses. The argument for handmade horseshoes versus keg shoes- that isn't the subject for this blog. If you have your own though... Read more

Great question, and we've got a video that answers it with step-by-step instructions at the bottom of this blog. I learned how to do this just for this post. And, let me further assure you that the extent of my truck-bed know how opens out about as far as the tailgate on a truck-bed... which means: not far. So, if you're thinking, "I can't do this," don't be so quick to judge. Check out the selection of Better Built truck boxes we have online here. I was able to open the Better Built Truck Bed box, read the directions and install in under 45 minutes. Someone with the automotive (or even basic hand tool knowledge which I also lack) could probably get this truck box install done in 10 minutes. Why would you need a truck box? The reasons are numerous, but we can start here: a safe, accessible spot to lock your everyday tools, gear and ot... Read more

Just let me preface this "Gone Logging, Montana" blog post: Sam owes Jake and me dinner. And not a Tombstone pizza from the gas station either. I mean a real dinner or a Howard's pizza at the office. Here's how this whole project started. Monday afternoon, 4 pm, the Great Falls office: Sam walks in and says: "Jake, Cutter. I have an idea." I've only been working here for two months, but I believe these words will come to strike a note of trepidation, perhaps even full-blown anxiety into my heart if what follows them is anything like what happened after I heard these words first voiced. 90% of the time I am thinking about food (like the time we had to "field test" Wheat Montana cookies in the office), so my first thought was, "Are we leaving before or after lunch?" But no one could tell me a definite time, and Jake (who's worked here fo... Read more

This No Spill gas can is the ticket to spill-less dispensation of gas. You can use it on any size tank, whether you can see a fill-line or not (we discovered this neat little trick while logging in Monarch, Montana link to Gone Loggin' blog). Without further ado: Welcome to our own rendition of the 1980's favorite, "No Spill Jill, the Demo." Here is how it works: when you depress the fill button (it's literally a button, no more inserting Crazy Straws and securing threads and getting gas all over your hands circa 1990) you just tip and press. Tip. And. Press. When the gas in the tank reaches the nozzle, it trips the built-in vent and the little white button you see there will pop up and hit your finger. If you're interested in procuring your own No Spill Gas Can, click here to order yours today. You can see the value of this if you imagi... Read more

The Jaylow Yakima Kayak Rack is an automotive accessory you can use to haul your kayaks. It might seem intimidating to install some type of "rack" onto your car, but this Jaylow Yakima Kayak Rack is as easy as ordering pizza. Well almost. To demo this one, Jake and I went out with Denise (who agreed to demo this product as she owns it and uses it whenever she goes out around GF). In the pictures you will notice she's the one who did all the heavy lifting this go-round. She started kayaking recently and almost has me talked into taking the plunge (pun absolutely intended). This rack is ultra-reliable, heavy-duty and really easy to install. You can move it around your car's roof rack which means you can center it and take one kayak, or pair it up and take two. It comes with everything you need to secure your rig including bow and stern ti... Read more