Farm trucks – aka “Utes” in New Zealand – are very expensive. Aside from having four wheel drive, I can’t think of anything an expensive, grunty ute can do that my $1,000 Subaru Legacy can’t. With a tow ball and trailer I can collect 700 kgs of kibbled maize. With a roof rack I can carry 6 metre lengths of fence rail.

Recently I had to transport materials for a shelter from the top of our property to the bottom. It’s about half a kilometre and a couple hundred metre drop in elevation. I loaded the Suby.

Getting the large, heavy window on top was a challenge by myself. (More on that later.)

But definitely doable.

The shelter will have an amazing view of this native bush, along with a re-established wetland. It will measure 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 2.4 m.

Getting the window off was moderately easier than getting the window on, but basically the same process but in reverse.

This ply is actually a part of the sleep out, but doubles here as a ramp.

Easy does it.

And stored off the ground until next Sunday when we have a working bee to erect the structure.

On the way back up I collected firewood.

I cut these lengths about 2 months ago. It’s still heavy.

Job done. Surf’s up!

Chur, Estwing