So who is headed to or at the big boom towns of N.D.

I

Idaho Guy

Joined
May 22, 2011
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And to make it legal, what Becker knife did you bring. I hear truck drivers are making 85,000 a year the guys working the oilfields are making bank too. there is not enough housing for all the guys and alot live in "man camps" or sleep in there cars. they're working big hours but there making big checks too. 3% unemployment in the whole state!! I'm kicking it around myself...
 
Nobody huh? well I guess if you are there you dont have time to even get on the interwebz. I encourage any young single guys to check it out just about any trade is there I hear. sounds like an adventure to me. Google North Dakota Oil Boom. And dont forget to take a Becker BK14...the worlds most useful knife ;)
 
I live in ND like a three hour drive from where the oil fields are. Theres some guys making some really good money out there and I know a few of them. They are definitely working the guys out there pretty hard. I don't think I would want to drive a truck out there unless it was my own. A lot of the companies out there are really pushing drivers to ignore the hours of service and put their license and livelihoods on the line. Winter can be pretty harsh with temps as low as -40 possible at night and highs in the teens below zero a lot of days. I've worked outdoors a lot in this weather and it can be pretty rough. If a guy is ok with that tho, there is a pretty good opportunity to put a good amount of money away.

We recently put my grandmothers home up for sale because are local lake keeps getting closer and closer to it and there were companies from out in the oil fields willing to buy it and move it all the way to the other side of the state, just to create some more housing. I've heard there is a lot of this happening. Lots of trailer homes and campers being sold and taken that direction too.
 
Roughnecking isn't the easiest of work, that is for sure. One of my high school friends died doing it though, so that has always made me think twice about ever trying it out. Still, for the right amount of money...
 
Did it for a summer out in Alberta because a buddy was going. Hardest work I've ever done, but true, the most money I've ever made. Don't think I can do it again. Another good way is to plant trees. It's what I do in the summer time and I'm going to graduate debt free. Hard work, but fun, good people too.
 
I have considered it as well. I've worked in the commercial fishing industry my entire adult life, so I think I might do well there. I'm not afraid of working a 24 hour shift in the middle of winter. My wife likes the idea since were looking for a place to call home at the moment. She Doesn't like the idea of 40 below though.
 
I started "roughnecking" in 79, I have worked in the oil patch my whole life. I have had both good times and lean times. The only bad thing is it is either feast or famine; you either have lots of money or you are broke. The biggest issue is missing out on the lives of your family. I was gone from home a great deal until just the last 3 or 4 years so I missed a lot of things as the kids grew up.
 
I'm from Fargo, but all my family lives in the Minot area.
Lots of money to be made, but if you don't work in oil you are screwed.
Rent and homes have doudled and tripled.
How are locals going to buy a house on a small town income. Unless you work in oil.
Granted many small towns might have dried up with out the oil money.
 
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trailbum said:
I'm from Fargo
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Hey thats cool to know. I'm in Devils Lake and I haul mail from here to Fargo and back every night. I've heard stories of renters in Minot getting a notice that their rent would be doubling or even tripling since the flood and loss of the large amount of homes this spring.
 
DerekH said:
Roughnecking isn't the easiest of work, that is for sure. One of my high school friends died doing it though, so that has always made me think twice about ever trying it out. Still, for the right amount of money...
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No amount of money could make me do that type of work. Quality of life is more important to me. Working long hard hours in the middle of no where to earn money to buy S I don't need. No thanks. I'll take my easy job that pays little.
 
I spent three years going to sea in the research fleet.
But the licensed guys could make pretty good money.
It's alright if you're young and untethered, or if you hate your family.
It's an adventure, no question.

-Daizee
 
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