New Videos

Most people shopping for a heavy-duty truck ask one question: "How much can it tow?" I think there's a better question... How much do you actually tow? After owning diesel trucks, including a Ford Power Stroke, and now towing our 12,500-pound fifth-wheel camper with a 2020 Ford F350 7.3L Godzilla gas, I wanted to take an honest, data-driven look at whether a diesel is really the best choice for most ¾-ton and 1-ton truck owners. This isn't a diesel vs. gas "fanboy" video. Modern diesel trucks are incredible machines, and for many people they're absolutely the right tool. But if you're buying based on total ownership cost, how often you actually tow, and how you really use your truck, the answer may surprise you. In this video we look at: • Gas vs. diesel purchase price • Real-world towing capability • Fuel economy vs. ownership costs • DEF, maintenance, and repair expenses • When a diesel truly makes sense • Why we chose the 7.3L Godzilla gas engine instead of the Power Stroke diesel Whether you're shopping for a Ford Super Duty, Ram HD, Chevrolet Silverado HD, or GMC Sierra HD, the most important decision isn't buying the truck with the biggest numbers—it's buying the truck that fits the way you actually use it. If you've owned both gas and diesel heavy-duty trucks, I'd love to hear what you've learned over the years. There are a lot of different use cases, and real-world experience is always valuable. Thanks for watching Purple Collar Life! #Ford #F350 #SuperDuty #Godzilla73 #PowerStroke #Diesel #GasVsDiesel #TruckTowing #FifthWheel #RV #HeavyDutyTrucks #PurpleCollarLife ------------------------------- Please subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PurpleCollarLife?sub_confirmation=1 Our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Purple-Collar-Life-107918060952197 Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/purplecollarlife/?hl=en Our website: www.purplecollarlife.com Partners and Sponsors Toro: https://www.toro.com/en Artillian: https://www.artillian.com/ Curtis Industries: https://curtisindustries.net/ Good Works Tractors: http://www.goodworkstractors.com/ref/12/ Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ Strapinno: https://strapinno.com/ We live in Northwestern PA and have around 70 Acres of Land, in the middle of family homestead land from more than 4 generations back. We have one daughter, one rescued Great Dane, and one cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We enjoy tractors, chainsaws, splitting firewood, rural living, and all purple collar life projects. Our day jobs are primarily white collar job, but our rural life is full of blue collar and purple collar activity. #purplecollarlife YouTube Community guidelines: https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks The content of this video is intended for entertainment purposes only. Clicking on the affiliate links does not cost you any more, but does give us credit for sending you to Amazon. *We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for your support. Email: purplecollarlife@gmail.com #purplecollarlife Published July 26, 2026 Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 108,842 Purple Collar Life is a privately owned channel and part of Education Situation Specialists. Sponsors: Toro, Artillian, Curtis Industries, Earthway, Andersen, B&W Hitches Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ Chapters 0:00 - One of the most common questions we get 0:41 - We tow a 5th wheel RV 1:11 - Who needs a diesel? 1:52 - How much can it tow? 2:11 - Capability vs reality 2:44 - Thousands of miles "empty" 3:47 - Diesel trucks are amazing 4:14 - Ownership cost comparison - gas vs diesel truck 6:26 - Is it really cheaper to keep an old vehicle? 7:34 - Towing a heavy camper 7:49 - 100,000 mile cost comparison gas vs diesel 1-ton truck 9:13 - 7.3 liter V8 gas engine Godzilla 11:22 - Which works better for YOUR use? Only you can answer that question.

For years, I used traditional ratchet straps every time I hauled equipment. They worked—but they also came with a lot of frustrations: tangled straps, loose ends, difficult adjustments, hooks that could slip off, and ratchet mechanisms that seemed to bind up at the worst possible time. Four years ago, **Strapinno** sent me a few of their self-retracting ratchet straps to try. I didn't immediately switch. I kept using the ratchet straps I had always used because that's what I was accustomed to. But over time, I found myself reaching for the Strapinno ratchet straps more and more. Today, they're the only ratchet straps I use to secure equipment in my trailer. In this video, I compare traditional ratchet straps with Strapinno's self-retracting design while loading and securing our Toro TimeCutter zero-turn mower inside our 6x12 enclosed trailer. If you've ever wondered whether premium ratchet straps are actually worth the money, I'll show you the advantages I've discovered after four years of real-world use hauling equipment for our property and our small lawn care business. **Products Featured in This Video** ▶ Strapinno Self-Retracting Ratchet Straps 2 pack of 2-inch straps (Amazon): https://amzn.to/4yy0KRm ▶ Strapinno 4-Pack of 1 inch straps (Amazon): https://amzn.to/4wZT353 ▶ Other Strapinno Products: https://amzn.to/3T27kj3 (*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.*) **This video is sponsored by Strapinno.** As always, all opinions are my own based on my real-world experience using these straps over the past four years. https://strapinno.com/ Thanks for watching Purple Collar Life! We create videos about rural living, DIY projects, tractors, trailers, equipment, tools, firewood, vehicle ownership, lawn care, camping, and practical solutions that make work easier. If you enjoy honest product testing, equipment reviews, property maintenance, and real-world comparisons, be sure to subscribe and join us for future videos. #RatchetStraps #Trailer #TrailerSafety #EquipmentTrailer #ZeroTurnMower #Toro #LawnCare #DIY #Tools #UtilityTrailer #TieDownStraps #HaulingEquipment #PurpleCollarLife ------------------------------- Please subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PurpleCollarLife?sub_confirmation=1 Our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Purple-Collar-Life-107918060952197 Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/purplecollarlife/?hl=en Our website: www.purplecollarlife.com Partners and Sponsors Toro: https://www.toro.com/en Artillian: https://www.artillian.com/ Curtis Industries: https://curtisindustries.net/ Good Works Tractors: http://www.goodworkstractors.com/ref/12/ Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ Strapinno: https://strapinno.com/ We live in Northwestern PA and have around 70 Acres of Land, in the middle of family homestead land from more than 4 generations back. We have one daughter, one rescued Great Dane, and one cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We enjoy tractors, chainsaws, splitting firewood, rural living, and all purple collar life projects. Our day jobs are primarily white collar job, but our rural life is full of blue collar and purple collar activity. #purplecollarlife YouTube Community guidelines: https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks The content of this video is intended for entertainment purposes only. Clicking on the affiliate links does not cost you any more, but does give us credit for sending you to Amazon. *We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for your support. Email: purplecollarlife@gmail.com #purplecollarlife Published July 26, 2026 Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 108,761 Purple Collar Life is a privately owned channel and part of Education Situation Specialists. Sponsors: Toro, Artillian, Curtis Industries, Earthway, Andersen, B&W Hitches, Strapinno Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ Chapters

How to check the gear oil in a Woods M5 Dixie Cutter brush hog. How to open the fill plug and inspection port. What do look for. What to do if there is milky white fluid or not enough fluid to cover the gears. How to fill. How much to fill (2 quarts if empty - up to 1/2 full in the gear box). What gear oil to use (80-90 weight GL-5 rated). How to use a brush hog with a Ford 8N tractor - https://youtu.be/lac1uZp258c?si=S2YPmzrSGY4kXUII How to level and adjust Woods M5 Dixie Cutter - https://youtu.be/CbSgmSxLLfk?si=Y5HKwLIPzaYlehIo

Ford Workmater 601 Series (641) with the Woods M5 DixieCutter brush hog cutting a field. How to use a brush hog with a Ford 8N tractor - https://youtu.be/lac1uZp258c?si=S2YPmzrSGY4kXUII How to adjust Woods M5 Dixie Cutter - https://youtu.be/CbSgmSxLLfk?si=Y5HKwLIPzaYlehIo

Should you replace your lead-acid battery with a lithium LiFePO4 battery? That's the question I'm answering in this video. I recently upgraded my Polaris Ranger UTV with a TYKOOL LiFePO4 lithium battery to find out if the advantages over a traditional lead-acid battery are worth the extra cost. From higher cold cranking amps (CCA) and lower self-discharge to lighter weight, built-in battery management, and an integrated digital voltage display, I'll show you what makes these batteries different and whether they're the right choice for your ATV, UTV, motorcycle, lawn tractor, zero turn, snowmobile, or other seasonal equipment. One feature immediately stood out to me: the built-in digital display. At the push of a button, you can check the battery voltage and state of charge without grabbing a multimeter. If you've ever turned the key and wondered whether your battery was dead or if the problem was actually a bad starter, solenoid, ignition switch, or charging system, you'll understand why I think this is one of the most useful features on this battery. In this video I'll cover: • Lead-acid vs. lithium (LiFePO4) batteries • Why lithium batteries are becoming more popular • Battery installation in my Polaris Ranger • Cold cranking performance and battery specifications • The pros and cons of switching to lithium • Charging system compatibility • Battery maintenance and winter storage • Whether a lithium battery is actually worth the money Whether you own a Polaris Ranger, ATV, side-by-side, motorcycle, snowmobile, riding mower, lawn tractor, or another piece of seasonal equipment, hopefully this video helps you decide if a lithium battery should be your next upgrade. Discount Code: PURPLECL15 (15% OFF on both the TYKOOL website and Amazon) Product Link: Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNDMVNL4?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback&th=1 TYKOOL Official Website: https://www.tykoolbattery.com/product/discount?coupon_code=PURPLECL15 Products shown in this video (Affiliate Links): 🔋 TYKOOL LFP14AHL-BS-PRO LiFePO4 Lithium Battery: https://amzn.to/4534IUB 🔌 Battery Charger for Lithium batteries or other battery types 12 volt) https://amzn.to/4w056iv (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.) Thanks for watching Purple Collar Life! If you enjoy honest reviews, DIY repairs, tractor projects, rural living, equipment maintenance, and helping answer real-world buying decisions, be sure to subscribe for more videos every week. ------------------------------- Please subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PurpleCollarLife?sub_confirmation=1 Our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Purple-Collar-Life-107918060952197 Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/purplecollarlife/?hl=en Our website: www.purplecollarlife.com Partners and Sponsors Toro: https://www.toro.com/en Artillian: https://www.artillian.com/ Curtis Industries: https://curtisindustries.net/ Good Works Tractors: http://www.goodworkstractors.com/ref/12/ Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ We live in Northwestern PA and have around 70 Acres of Land, in the middle of family homestead land from more than 4 generations back. We have one daughter, one rescued Great Dane, and one cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We enjoy tractors, chainsaws, splitting firewood, rural living, and all purple collar life projects. Our day jobs are primarily white collar job, but our rural life is full of blue collar and purple collar activity. #purplecollarlife YouTube Community guidelines: https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks The content of this video is intended for entertainment purposes only. Clicking on the affiliate links does not cost you any more, but does give us credit for sending you to Amazon. *We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for your support. Email: purplecollarlife@gmail.com #purplecollarlife Published July 19, 2026 Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 108,634 Purple Collar Life is a privately owned channel and part of Education Situation Specialists. Sponsors: Toro, Artillian, Curtis Industries, Earthway, Andersen, B&W Hitches Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/

Can an electric truck replace a generator? We decided to find out. During a 109° heat wave, we used our Ford F-150 Lightning's Pro Power Onboard to power an entire camper—including a 10,000 BTU air conditioner, laptops, Wi-Fi, battery chargers, lights, and more. Our test happened while camping off grid at a beautiful lakeside campsite with no electrical hookups, but the bigger question is whether an electric truck can realistically replace a portable generator in real-world use. We tracked everything throughout our stay, including overnight battery usage, air conditioner power consumption, estimated range loss, charging times, and overall energy use. We also compare the experience of using the Lightning's Pro Power Onboard with our Honda inverter generator, including the biggest difference we noticed after spending multiple days living and working at camp. For us, the biggest surprise wasn't just that the truck could run the camper—it was how much we appreciated the silence. No generator noise while working. No generator running during dinner. And no shutting everything down at 10:00 PM because of campground quiet hours. Sleeping in a cool camper while temperatures stayed in the 90s overnight completely changed our off-grid camping experience. Whether you own a Ford F-150 Lightning, another electric truck, an RV, travel trailer, A-frame camper, or you're simply curious about using an EV for backup power, emergency power, tailgating, job sites, or boondocking, this video shares our real-world experience and honest results. In this video: Camping off grid during a 109° heat wave Running a 10,000 BTU air conditioner from an F-150 Lightning Real Pro Power Onboard battery usage Overnight battery drain and range loss Charging at a 50-amp RV campsite Working remotely from an off-grid campsite Generator vs. electric truck comparison Pros and cons after multiple days of use Would we do it again? As always, this isn't about proving one technology is better than another. It's about sharing real numbers, real experiences, and helping you decide whether an electric truck could replace a generator in situations like this. If you enjoy honest reviews, practical experiments, camping, tractors, equipment, and rural living, we'd love to have you subscribe to Purple Collar Life! #FordLightning #ProPowerOnboard #DryCamping #OffGridCamping #ElectricTruck #RVLife #Camping #Generator #boondockinglife Amazon links: Nilight RV Generator Adapter Cord 30 Amp to 30Amp 4 Prong Pure Copper Heavy Duty Twist Lock Male Plug 10 Gauge Wire L14-30P to TT-30R 30M/30F for RVs Camper Caravan Van Trailer (from Lightning ProPower to RV plug) - https://amzn.to/4blWqe1 Camco PowerGrip 30 Amp 3-Prong Generator Adapter - Featuring a 30-amp Locking Male Plug (NEMAL5-30P) and a 30-amp Female Connector (NEMA TT-30R) - 55333 (for Honda EU3000is generator to RV plug) - https://amzn.to/4vUyW83 Camco Power Grip 25-Ft 30 Amp Camper RV Extension Cord - (NEMA TT-30P to TT-30R) - Features Heavy Duty 10-Gauge Copper Wire (55191) - https://amzn.to/4vZjI1y ------------------------------- Please subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PurpleCollarLife?sub_confirmation=1 Our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Purple-Collar-Life-107918060952197 Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/purplecollarlife/?hl=en Our website: www.purplecollarlife.com Partners and Sponsors Toro: https://www.toro.com/en Artillian: https://www.artillian.com/ Curtis Industries: https://curtisindustries.net/ Good Works Tractors: http://www.goodworkstractors.com/ref/12/ Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ We live in Northwestern PA and have around 70 Acres of Land, in the middle of family homestead land from more than 4 generations back. We have one daughter, one rescued Great Dane, and one cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We enjoy tractors, chainsaws, splitting firewood, rural living, and all purple collar life projects. Our day jobs are primarily white collar job, but our rural life is full of blue collar and purple collar activity. #purplecollarlife YouTube Community guidelines: https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks The content of this video is intended for entertainment purposes only. Clicking on the affiliate links does not cost you any more, but does give us credit for sending you to Amazon. *We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for your support. Email: purplecollarlife@gmail.com #purplecollarlife Published July 12, 2026 Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 108,567 Purple Collar Life is a privately owned channel and part of Education Situation Specialists. Sponsors: Toro, Artillian, Curtis Industries, Earthway, Andersen, B&W Hitches Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ Chapters

A few months ago, we asked a simple question: Is it REALLY cheaper to keep an old vehicle? Over 840,000 people watched that video, and thousands of you shared your own experiences, opinions, and advice. One of the most common comments? Many of you thought our brake repair costs seemed surprisingly low. Well...you were right. Just a few months later, our annual Pennsylvania state inspection revealed that all four brakes and rotors needed to be replaced, adding another $863.50 to our repair costs. So what does that do to the numbers? In this video, we're updating every cost, every mile, and every calculation to see if our 2009 Ford Expedition is STILL cheaper to own than replacing it with something newer. We'll also share: • Updated repair cost per mile • Total maintenance costs after nearly 103,000 miles of ownership • The latest update on the exhaust manifold ticking noise • A surprising breakdown during a trip to Washington D.C. in our 200,000-mile Chevy Volt • Why high-mileage vehicles can still make sense—even when things occasionally break • Our latest Blackstone oil analysis results on the Ford F-350 7.3L Godzilla engine We love sharing the real numbers—the good and the bad—so you can make informed decisions about your own vehicles. Question for you: How many miles are on your highest-mileage vehicle, and at what point would YOU stop repairing it instead of replacing it? Thanks for watching and being part of the Purple Collar Life community! #HighMileage #OldCars #CarOwnership #savemoney ------------------------------- Please subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PurpleCollarLife?sub_confirmation=1 Our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Purple-Collar-Life-107918060952197 Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/purplecollarlife/?hl=en Our website: www.purplecollarlife.com Partners and Sponsors Toro: https://www.toro.com/en Artillian: https://www.artillian.com/ Curtis Industries: https://curtisindustries.net/ Good Works Tractors: http://www.goodworkstractors.com/ref/12/ Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ We live in Northwestern PA and have around 70 Acres of Land, in the middle of family homestead land from more than 4 generations back. We have one daughter, one rescued Great Dane, and one cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We enjoy tractors, chainsaws, splitting firewood, rural living, and all purple collar life projects. Our day jobs are primarily white collar job, but our rural life is full of blue collar and purple collar activity. #purplecollarlife YouTube Community guidelines: https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks The content of this video is intended for entertainment purposes only. Clicking on the affiliate links does not cost you any more, but does give us credit for sending you to Amazon. *We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for your support. Email: purplecollarlife@gmail.com #purplecollarlife Published July 5, 2026 Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 108,139 Purple Collar Life is a privately owned channel and part of Education Situation Specialists. Sponsors: Toro, Artillian, Curtis Industries, Earthway, Andersen, B&W Hitches Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ Chapters 0:00 The Numbers Don't Add Up - Comments

A quick #short of our 2006 SeaDoo GTX 4-Tec jet ski wake. Jennifer driving as I ride backwards. Some of my favorite views are the water patterns and wake behind the PWC at various speeds. This SeaDoo is 155 horsepower - and very maneuverable. Perfect for a nice ride on the water. We’ve also owned the 185 hp version, and the 215 hp version in the past. This naturally aspirated version is easier to maintain and winterize. The additional speed isn’t necessary as we get older. This one still will go 55 mph. The others we had would go over 70 mph. That’s pretty fast on rough water. Please click the like button and subscribe if you enjoyed this short video. #jetski #pwc #purplecollarlife #seadoo #seadoogtx

After more than 15 years of camping with our Coachmen fifth wheel bunkhouse, we're trying something completely different. We recently purchased a used 2014 Rockwood Premier A122 A-frame camper, and this summer we're putting it to the test. Can a small, lightweight camper really replace the comfort and space of our large fifth wheel? Or will we regret downsizing? In this video, we explain why we're considering a smaller camper, what we hope to gain, what we're giving up, and why we decided to give an A-frame camper a chance. This isn't a review—it's the beginning of a real-world experiment. Throughout the camping season, we'll share our honest experiences, the good and the bad, to find out whether downsizing is truly worth it. If you've ever thought about switching to a smaller camper, we'd love to hear from you in the comments. Have you downsized, or are you thinking about it? Or have you gone the other way - started small and worked your way up to a larger rig? Let us know your experience and thoughts. Thanks for watching! #Camping #Rockwood #AFRame #RVLife #PurpleCollarLife ------------------------------- Please subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PurpleCollarLife?sub_confirmation=1 Our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Purple-Collar-Life-107918060952197 Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/purplecollarlife/?hl=en Our website: www.purplecollarlife.com Partners and Sponsors Toro: https://www.toro.com/en Artillian: https://www.artillian.com/ Curtis Industries: https://curtisindustries.net/ Good Works Tractors: http://www.goodworkstractors.com/ref/12/ Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ We live in Northwestern PA and have around 70 Acres of Land, in the middle of family homestead land from more than 4 generations back. We have one daughter, one rescued Great Dane, and one cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We enjoy tractors, chainsaws, splitting firewood, rural living, and all purple collar life projects. Our day jobs are primarily white collar job, but our rural life is full of blue collar and purple collar activity. #purplecollarlife YouTube Community guidelines: https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks The content of this video is intended for entertainment purposes only. Clicking on the affiliate links does not cost you any more, but does give us credit for sending you to Amazon. *We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for your support. Email: purplecollarlife@gmail.com #purplecollarlife Published June 28, 2026 Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 108,075 Purple Collar Life is a privately owned channel and part of Education Situation Specialists. Sponsors: Toro, Artillian, Curtis Industries, Earthway, Andersen, B&W Hitches Clovis lubricants: http://www.clovislubricants.shopamsoil.com/ Chapters