Life in North Dakota "Man Camps"?

folding shovel, kitty litter, & tire chains are a good idea for the car. Jumper cables, bottled water, cliff bars, blankets too.

I also 2nd the notion of buying everything before you get to ND -- prices are generally high in ND. One thing I didnt see mentioned was a good thermos for coffee, tea, or soup. For me personally, I'd focus more on wind-breaking clothing than super-duper insulation. -20 didnt feel all that cold until your standing on the top of a tank and the wind started blowing (and it blows a lot). Layers are the key... Add a pair or two of elbow-length waterproof & insulated gloves to the list if you'll be hauling water.

CB? Rarely heard much on ch19 where I worked -- it wouldn't be a priority for me.

As for the man camp -- expect it to be filthy. Mud tracked through everywhere, no one cleaning up after themselves, the stench of old beer and molding food coming from the overflowing trash & sink... I'd rather dry camp in the bed of a pickup/camper shell

 

Just an FYI. Quite often road hazard warranties are only good at the dealer you purchased the tires from.

 

People talk about high prices, but that's not necessarily the case. The Walmarts are the same prices as other places. Home of Economy is great for trucking and oilfield and their prices are fine, too: http://homeofeconomy.net/

Housing of course is expensive. Food at the many Cenex fuel stops is high. The Loves in Williston is no different than anyplace else, including CBs and GPSs.

I really wonder how many people carry tire chains for their cars. I haven't spent a winter up here but NOBODY uses them in Michigan.

Question about the snow tires, too. How many people are really changing their tires back and forth twice a year? Again, we don't do it Michigan.

 

I live in the Dakotas, and those blizzak tires are incredible. I put them on the 300C (rwd) and that car would go up slick slopes better that my 4WD pickup. Of course, the truck handled deep loose stuff better, but on any kind of hardpack snow or ice, they are awesome. I'd personally go without chains as long as I had Blizzaks on the car, and for someone from California, they will make the transition to winter driving a lot less stressful.

 

She's going to be driving a truck, I hope driving her car doesn't stress her too much. Seriously though, how many people chain their cars? Donner Pass in California, yes. North Dakota?

 

I have never seen a chained up car here. As long as you don't floor it in the snow packed parking lots you should be fine. The roads are usually get good a couple days after a snow. Oh wait it is snow packed and icy all year round better not come up here, JK.

 

About tire chains-I grew up in rural Alaska and always carried tire chains, even with a 4wd pickup. About the only times I used them was when there were bad snow drifts on the roads, or glare ice. With snow drifts chains won't help much if you have low ground clearance as most cars do. With glare ice you pretty much have to chain up all 4 or you can't steer. For ice the standard ice chains sold for light trucks seem to work OK. For deep snow I cut truck chains to length and added cross links so you have one every other side rail link instead of every 5th one-the same way you make up a steering axle chain for a large truck-it actually reduces the vibration and you always have iron on the ground. Having said all this my first choice was ALWAYS to wait out the weather if possible-it doesn't do any good to be all chained up if nobody else is!

 

I came up here almost two years ago. There are more services here than then. Many places to buy anything specific that you would need for the oil field (FRC's, winter gear.). I ran good all season, no-chain, tires and never had a problem and never had to chain up. I worked with guys that over did it before coming up and brought way to much stuff. It was -20 (wind chill -50) for a few days last winter and it wasn't as bad as it sounds. Always cover all exposed skin (I almost learned this the hard way). I am going to wear ski goggles for my eyes this next winter (lesson learned, froze my eyes shut briefly). Enjoy the process. You are coming up here with plenty of time to figure all the little things out once you are here. Have fun.