Towing out to LOTO first time..

[4Waters]

Try to hit some lakes on the way home

 

[Gelcoater]

First off...B-line that shit and get there ASAP I'd say.
Second, if you do do the 40 to the 44 you'll pass close to GLOC (Grand Lake of the Cherokees) that's Bubba's @Warparty36 stomping ground and Table Rock Lake. Also, either there or back, you'll be about 4 hours north (on the 40) of Possum Kingdome Lake in Texas. That'd be worth a stop.

Man, you're mannin' up for the haul. 1700 miles one way. People always trying to get us to tow out to LOTO. I mean, its gonna happen, but when it does, I'm leaving the boat there for the whole summer!!

Table Rock, GLOC, Possum Kingdom

View attachment 1416346 View attachment 1416347 View attachment 1416348 View attachment 1416349 View attachment 1416350
View attachment 1416345

Bear me to it
RD, I’d be checking out Grand Lake O’ on this trip. Some great boating in Oklahoma.
You could make a month of exploring and not see all there is to see.

 

[Tireman]

Drive down to absolute to check the tire codes..

Would ya gamble? This thing has been sitting in a climate controlled garage for most of its life.. lol

Absolutely not

 

[River Dirt 2]

Sounds like several folks are leaving from Havasu area to LOTO towing boats.
Might be a good idea for you all to exchange phone numbers, routes and stop overs in case help is needed along the way. It’s a long tow if everything goes well, if issues arise it’s always nice to have some friendly assistance.

We did the run last year:
6 new trailer tires, 2 new spare‘s as well
New tires on the truck
Floor jack, ratchet straps, tools
We got plenty of rain in both directions, Definitely want to cover it in some fashion. We did the shrink wrap both ways.
We took a spare XR drive

 

[Dunerking]

You will get rained on. I’m 4 for 4 hitting rain on cross country drives the last 4 summers.

I would cover and tape. Nothing worse than 300 miles of rainwater spray all over your interior!!

I’d say this to be 100% true,but I just drove home from Atlanta to SLC to Agua Dulce/Santa Clarita and the only rain I hit was on the 58 almost to Mojave. 34 hours of straight driving except for a 20 minute nap between Cheyenne and Laraime Wyoming. I was so sure it was going to rain wrapped the stuff in the bed of the truck in 50 gal trash bags.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

@lake p.a.l.

Rob

Sounds like several folks are leaving from Havasu area to LOTO towing boats.
Might be a good idea for you all to exchange phone numbers, routes and stop overs in case help is needed along the way. It’s a long tow if everything goes well, if issues arise it’s always nice to have some friendly assistance.

We did the run last year:
6 new trailer tires, 2 new spare‘s as well
New tires on the truck
Floor jack, ratchet straps, tools
We got plenty of rain in both directions, Definitely want to cover it in some fashion. We did the shrink wrap both ways.
We took a spare XR drive

@lake p.a.l.

Rob, are you willing to be the emergency coordinator? We can all PM you our phone numbers and if anyone has an issue we can call you, let you know where we are and what we need?

 

[Racey]

Only 5 more hours to see a lot more stuff? Any lakes along that way?

RD

I-70 is one of the most scenic interstates in the entire country, done it a few times.

You do have some pretty big climbs on it though, i think the Eisenhower tunnel is at 9,000 feet or something? Scratch that, 11,000 feet

 

[napanutt]

Cows and farms in Nebraska...not much else. Still very cool, but not real exciting. Any route you choose, look at the weather forecast.

Weather was the biggest factor for us taking 40 instead of 80 from N.Cal to NH. We left CA in March. I think it was 300/350ish miles farther but being early spring at best I wanted to dodge as much snow as I could. We only got a little bit in NM. No issues though.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

70 through western Colorado might be the most beautiful road in the country. Not sure I would enjoy it towing though.

 

[River Dirt 2]

70 through western Colorado might be the most beautiful road in the country. Not sure I would enjoy it towing though.

Agreed, I’ve done that route several times when our daughter was at school in Boulder. Absolutely stunning. No way I would tow a boat thru there.
That route is a stop and smell the roses and sight seeing trip.

 

[Romans9]

70 through western Colorado might be the most beautiful road in the country. Not sure I would enjoy it towing though.

Pulled a 40’ long trailer with two X3’s and a JLRD Jeep through there several times from Central Missouri to Moab. Pretty good route. Lots of places to stop with suitable parking and easy to get fuel.

 

[fastenuff3]

Take 40 and 44 you are not going to go 300 miles out of the way.Stay at the lake and enjoy it after shoot out tons to do and see.I had my boat wraped when i bout it in havasu. Money well spent.Pull it with the motor home so you do not have to stop.New trailer tires for sure

 

[2Driver]

Floor jack. 2 spares. 2 complete bearings and tools to change out bearings.

Yeah if nothing else youll have the parts even if you pay someone to do it. On my smaller trailer I just carried a spidle assembly with bearings and races already installed and packed. Easier to exchange the assembly then trying to do races and bearings on the side of the highway.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Nobody's mentioned it, but instead of feeling the hubs and tires, I carry my cheapie thermal imaging doodad. On long trips towing, on piss or fuel breaks, I'd just "scan" the axles on a walk around. If one is way hotter, it shows real quick. A tire that is starting to de-laminate will also be hotter than it's counterparts, as will one with low pressure.

 

[Gramps]

Drive down to absolute to check the tire codes..

Would ya gamble? This thing has been sitting in a climate controlled garage for most of its life.. lol

no way

 

[Lumpy]

@RiverDave

PM sent.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I wouldn’t take the 70 with that boat. Almost immediately off the 15 is Fishlake wilderness. No cell service and steep ass uphill climb.

Then as was mentioned the Eisenhower tunnel as seen in the Ike Gauntlet towing videos.

Beautiful interstate though. Done it dozens of times to Denver.

 

[pixrthis]

I haven’t been here but I hear it’s nice and it’s right on your way. We spent 4 months in Oklahoma last year and really liked it.

Grand Lake O'The Cherokees

maps.apple.com

 

[CLdrinker]

In regards to those tires. If you think it’s expensive now. Wait until you are on the side of the road sweating and pissed off looking at the $2,000 in damage that $200 tire did. And you end up having to replacing them for top dollar as you don’t have time to shop around.

 

[Dog]

If you stop by Grand Lake have a beer at Mooney's Sunset bar and grill.

 

[EarpRider]

You could save yourself 3,000+ miles of driving and check out this Lake/River, I hear it's pretty cool.

 

[shintoooo]

Shotgun!!

 

[sonicss31]

Carry one of these to check tire and bearing temps at every stop.

 

[Racey]

Pulled a 40’ long trailer with two X3’s and a JLRD Jeep through there several times from Central Missouri to Moab. Pretty good route. Lots of places to stop with suitable parking and easy to get fuel.

I've done it in a Country Coach, on my Harley, and in a penske van, all of them were amazing

 

[NeverSatisfied]

Just got home from a trip in this direction pulling a 45' goose neck with 2 full size Chevys trucks taking my girls to college in Oklahoma then a wedding in Chicago for my nephew. Took 4o then jumped up to Missouri and took the 80 back home. West Iowa was rough as hell.. I honestly would just take southern route. Oklahoma has a few lakes I'd like to check out.

 

[lake p.a.l.]

@lake p.a.l.

Rob



@lake p.a.l.

Rob, are you willing to be the emergency coordinator? We can all PM you our phone numbers and if anyone has an issue we can call you, let you know where we are and what we need?

Happy to help anyway I can. I'd do cockpit & bow covers with lots of painters tape along with bunch of tape on trailer & bow of boat.
New Bucee's in Springfield is perfect for final fuel stop on way here. I prefer coming up 65 from Springfield if you don't have a wide cat, gets you off highway 44.
I've got a good detailer if anyone needs.
Plenty of parking @ our house if needed.
Rob
573-319 eight eight one zero

 

[lake p.a.l.]

Get the pikepass for Oklahoma. It will save u a ton of aggrevation, time & $$ on interstate 44.
Just about every overpass the entire trip is shitty. Do NOT go down the middle of the lane, put tires on outside line.

 

[17 10 Flat]

Colorado = mountains and grades....a lot
Nebraska = flat and boring.
Colorado would concern me, although I have pulled a 11K trailer right thru I70 but it was for work and had company.
The grades going down can work your brakes to the max. Have extra mounted tires you may be changing on the side of the road.
Going 70 mph+ and having some semi's come up behind you and passing is really exciting. You will get pushed around.
Safe travels

 

[renodaytona]

As said above:
I would avoid the grades and such in CO pulling anything.

 

[OLDRAAT]

I'm at Grand RD if anything comes up, don't hesitate to give me a shout. Won't make LOTO this year unfortunately. I haven't seen Bubba around lately since they travel alot, but he possibly will be at LOTO.
Have a safe journey.

 

[575cat]

I wouldn’t take the 70 with that boat. Almost immediately off the 15 is Fishlake wilderness. No cell service and steep ass uphill climb.

Then as was mentioned the Eisenhower tunnel as seen in the Ike Gauntlet towing videos.

Beautiful interstate though. Done it dozens of times to Denver.

A lot of smoke shows coming down from the Eisenhower .

 

[Jay Dub]

I hadn't planned on covering it, but I do have a snap cover or the bow and a cockpit cover.. Maybe I should just tape the shit out of it and cover it..

RD

use the snap-on bow and cockpit covers. Do not us the regular cover.

 

[Boat211]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but we typically travel with a completely loaded (with bearings and grease) spare hub and spare tires. Floor jack and impact make quick work of a pit stop.

 

[Ct5]

The 70 is scenic but it’s steep, and not worth it IMO. Towing I’d take the 40. We took the 40 all the way last year for the LOTO shootout and it rained after Albuquerque, all night for about 12 hours until we finally started heading up toward Missouri. All I could see is tail lights in front of me and semis blowing by at 80 MPH. The boat was hammered when we got there and the interior didn’t dry out all week. I loved LOTO but I’ll be traveling there by airplane next time and renting a boat.

 

[Taboma]

I haven’t been here but I hear it’s nice and it’s right on your way. We spent 4 months in Oklahoma last year and really liked it.

Grand Lake O'The Cherokees

maps.apple.com

Interesting you like Oklahoma, my daughter found herself in a life-situation and after more than one year of living there, truly believes she's been sent to Hell on Earth she hates it so much.

 

[Badchoices03]

Why don't you have it transported there and then tow it back?

 

[OLDRAAT]

If you stop by Grand Lake have a beer at Mooney's Sunset bar and grill.

Been going since it opened in the 80's

 

[River Dirt 2]

The 70 is scenic but it’s steep, and not worth it IMO. Towing I’d take the 40. We took the 40 all the way last year for the LOTO shootout and it rained after Albuquerque, all night for about 12 hours until we finally started heading up toward Missouri. All I could see is tail lights in front of me and semis blowing by at 80 MPH. The boat was hammered when we got there and the interior didn’t dry out all week. I loved LOTO but I’ll be traveling there by airplane next time and renting a boat.

Quitter!
Probably good advice, half of our group last year rented a pontoon with the biggest outboard they have, 300 maybe? They had a great time and were never too far behind us in the Conquest.

 

[renodaytona]

Quitter!
Probably good advice, half of our group last year rented a pontoon with the biggest outboard they have, 300 maybe? They had a great time and were never too far behind us in the Conquest. View attachment 1416609

This is what I want to do, I'd rather fly in to St. Louis and drive out. What rental company did they use? Trying to plan for next year now.

 

[Bobby V]

Shotgun!!

Ha! You will fly first class and stay at a 5 star hotel before making that drive.

 

[River Dirt 2]

This is what I want to do, I'd rather fly in to St. Louis and drive out. What rental company did they use? Trying to plan for next year now.

Everyone in our group flew into Springfield. My wife and kids rented a Turo. Worked out perfect.
They stopped at Costco on the way to the lake and stocked up on supply’s.
We had 18 people total

 

[Hoodoo]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but we typically travel with a completely loaded (with bearings and grease) spare hub and spare tires. Floor jack and impact make quick work of a pit stop.

^^^^
I’ve made a couple of long hauls from FL to Idaho. Take whatever you need to do nascar quick change outs. Rarely needed but anything less sucks.

 

[OkHallett270]

Interesting you like Oklahoma, my daughter found herself in a life-situation and after more than one year of living there, truly believes she's been sent to Hell on Earth she hates it so much.

Where is she living? This is home to me so I’m biased. Hell on earth though? However, There are some shitty places in certain areas.

 

[OkHallett270]

I have towed a boat from eastern Oklahoma to Lake Havasu 3 times and from west Texas twice. All of those trips were totally worth it to me and my friends. However, everytime there’s a flat tire or blown bearing or a huge dirt storm that trashes the boat. One time with my old eliminator I put the snap on cockpit cover on it and hit a dirt storm in New Mexico. It filled all the space between the snaps with sand and scratched the shit out of my gelcoat. I also hit a jackrabbit in Arizona on that trip. I had to wash some really greasy blood and guts off my boat as soon as I got to town, before I went to my buddy’s moms place with a nasty mess everywhere.
One trip we took my buddy’s Malibu and he managed to run the Tahoe out of gas just across the NM line coming out of Texas. The wind was blowing 60mph and strait out of the north. It was cold! Him and one of my other friends hiked 5 miles to the next gas station. One of the employees gave them a ride back. It was after 2am and we had already fought off a flat tire that day. Good times!

 

[steamin rice]

One more thought - Double check to ensure that you have the right tools to change out a tire on the side of the road. Shortly after I bought my boat, I learned the hard way that my floor jack didn't have enough capacity to lift my boat and trailer to change a tire. I have since changed to bringing a 12 ton bottle jack with me which gets the job done well.

 

[renodaytona]

I have towed a boat from eastern Oklahoma to Lake Havasu 3 times and from west Texas twice. All of those trips were totally worth it to me and my friends. However, everytime there’s a flat tire or blown bearing or a huge dirt storm that trashes the boat. One time with my old eliminator I put the snap on cockpit cover on it and hit a dirt storm in New Mexico. It filled all the space between the snaps with sand and scratched the shit out of my gelcoat. I also hit a jackrabbit in Arizona on that trip. I had to wash some really greasy blood and guts off my boat as soon as I got to town, before I went to my buddy’s moms place with a nasty mess everywhere.
One trip we took my buddy’s Malibu and he managed to run the Tahoe out of gas just across the NM line coming out of Texas. The wind was blowing 60mph and strait out of the north. It was cold! Him and one of my other friends hiked 5 miles to the next gas station. One of the employees gave them a ride back. It was after 2am and we had already fought off a flat tire that day. Good times!

When I picked up my first Daytona in Dallas I hit a nasty storm coming back outside of San Antonio. Boat looked like I went through a mud bog.

 

[Taboma]

Where is she living? This is home to me so I’m biased. Hell on earth though? However, There are some shitty places in certain areas.

Bixby area. Without a doubt, although extremely intelligent, she's spent most of her 52 years in Ventura.
Being from there, I'm confident you're far more "Acclimated" with what she'd considers highly undesirable weather. Although I do recall her mentioning a few really nice fall and spring days she seemed to appreciate.
She didn't go there because she wanted to, and now she finds that despite having a decent job, she's "Economically" sentenced to remain there against her desires for the foreseeable future.
I also suppose almost recently losing her little toe to a Brown Recluse spider bite hasn't made it more enjoyable, so much for flip flops wearing it seems.
I have no opinions of the place, never been, closest I've been was a wonderful all expenses paid lengthy vacation at Fort Leonard Wood Mo.

 

[Warparty36]

I'm in Tulsa if you need anything. We have a place on Grand Lake if you want to check out the lake on the way home or meet up at Tablerock. I'm sure we can find you a Coors Light somewhere. I-70 is cool in a car but not worth the headache towing a trailer. Getting an Oklahoma Pikepass is a good idea, sign up online and they'll mail it to you. It saves time and money. It also works in Kansas and Texas. The laser thermometer is also a good idea for hubs and tires.

 

[Runs2rch]

Pay a boat transport and then fly there and back haha

 

[callbob]

Fuel is way cheaper in Texas and Oklahoma. For a baller like you Dave, no biggy. I’ll be going through Texas to Arkansas September and first 10 days or so in October. 34’ motorhome pulling Jeep gladiator. Gas lives matter.