Towing out to LOTO first time..

[Warparty36]

There’s also a Cigarette run on Grand lake August 30th.

 

[Badchoices03]

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!

That reminds me of a trip out to Havasu years ago....going through Rice Rd late at night, a desert fox jumped out in front of me right under the front tire of the truck and I felt it bump under the back drivers side tire....got to Black Meadows about 230am and the boat was a bloody mess, way more blood then I thought any small animal should have....spent an hour or so after getting there washing everything off...

 

[OkHallett270]

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.

I actually really like the Bixby area. I lived there as a small child and we have some extended family that lived there for years, they retired and moved out in the country to the south of town though. It has grown like crazy in the past decade or so. Yes, the weather here is sometimes extreme. If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma just wait 5 min! I’ll give her the spider thing too, I hate spiders and brown recluses are top of my list. They have been bad in my shop this year and I mess around in there in flip flops a lot. That really sucks that she lost her toe. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about those little bastards.

 

[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.

Sorry, you meant boat rental didn’t you….

Ozark Boat Rentals

Ozark Boat Rentals, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, USA

Ozark Boat Rentals - Boating Made Easy - No hassle boat rental in The Lake of The Ozarks area.

www.ozarkboatrentals.com

 

[Tank]

Sorry, you meant boat rental didn’t you….

Ozark Boat Rentals

Ozark Boat Rentals, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, USA

Ozark Boat Rentals - Boating Made Easy - No hassle boat rental in The Lake of The Ozarks area.

www.ozarkboatrentals.com

Just proceed with caution!!!
I have PTSD.

 

[Tank]

And for the record. You guys are over thinking this whole thing I think. Take the trailer to adrenaline or another trailer shop, check all hubs and brakes, grease as needed. New tires and run it! Bring a jack a star a spare. There’s places all across the country you can limp it to for hub replacement if you lost one or even axle replacement. It’s a 3 axle trailer so you can strap the down hub up and get to a repair shop. Pain in the ass to deal with but not a huge deal.

And shrink wrap and all that is overkill in my opinion. I shrink wrapped our last top gun when it came from Florida. Wrap ripped halfway and had to be taken off anyway. Oh, and there’s the issue with finding a place that shrink wraps and the cost is around $1500. For a 3rd that you can get it detailed when you get there. For none of that you can wash it yourself when you get there.

Current boat @lake p.a.l. Rob brought back from Loto for us in Feb through thunder storms. Since the trailer had basically been unused for like 8 years I Had new brakes put on, all
Hubs checked and 7 new tires, cover and some tape. It was fine. Left clean and detailed. Arrived needing a good bath.

He’s done that haul back and forth a bunch. He’s a good reference for advice.

He put a message on the blue tape for his layover in New Mexico. From what I understand you want to get through NM as quickly as possible. It’s the devils butthole.

Bottom line, new ties, check trailer and fuckin run it!! That’s how I’d roll!

Pic of boat before left. Ready to go (notice snow) and arrival at Barrett’s, dirty but good to go. Shined up like a new penny with a good detail by Ryan’s detailing.

 

[ToMorrow44]

And for the record. You guys are over thinking this whole thing I think. Take the trailer to adrenaline or another trailer shop, check all hubs and brakes, grease as needed. New tires and run it! Bring a jack a star a spare. There’s places all across the country you can limp it to for job replacement if you lost one or even axle replacement. It’s a 3 axle trailer so you can strap the down job up and get to a repair shop. Pain in the ass to deal with but not a huge deal.

And shrink wrap and all that is overkill in m opinion. I shrink wrapped our last top gun when it came from Florida. Wrap ripped halfway and had to be taken off anyway.

Current boat @lake p.a.l. Rob brought back from Loto for us in Feb through thunder storms. Had new brakes put on, all
Hubs checked and 7 new tires, cover and some tape. It was fine. Left clean and detailed. Arrived needing a good bath.

He’s done that haul back and forth a bunch. He’s a good reference for advice.

He put a message on the blue tape for his layover in New Mexico. From what I understand you want to get through NM as quickly as possible. It’s the devils butthole.

Bottom line, new ties, check trailer and fuckin run it!! That’s how I’d roll!

Pic of boat before left. Ready to go (notice snow) and arrival at Barrett’s, dirty but good to go. Shines up like a new penny with a good detail by Ryan’s detailing.

Same. I’ve towed from CA to FL/GA and back several times. Put the cockpit cover on and go. I’ve always carried spare bearings, jack, tools, etc and I’ve never needed any of them lol .

I was going to shrink wrap it the last time but couldn’t find anyone to do it in time. That would be worth it because it’s about the same cost as getting it detailed.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

Do you have a set of Rock Tamers rear mud flaps? If not try to get some we love them when towing.

Dave you can borrow my rock tamers

 

[NOTSOFAST]

I think Tank cleared the air on this!

 

[pixrthis]

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.

Maybe it depends where you are, we were in Oklahoma City and went to different lakes on the weekends. We found great restaurants, lakes and Harley rides. I don’t need much more.

 

[RiverDave]

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

Not sure what ya mean?

 

[renodaytona]

Not sure what ya mean?

I think he means the have @Outlaw Boat Transport or the like tow it out, you drive out unloaded, and then on the way home you tow it back.

 

[Badchoices03]

I think he means the have @Outlaw Boat Transport or the like tow it out, you drive out unloaded, and then on the way home you tow it back.

Yes exactly, if his thought is to get there as quick as possible, and only wants the boat to take the scenic way back to hit some other lakes, have it transported by someone out there and tow it home himself.

 

[Singleton]

Whatever you do, DO NOT stop in Albuquerque NM.
Either stop in Gallop NM, Texas or Oklahoma. While my in-laws live and my wife and own property in Clovis NM, we only overnight in Alb when we can carry everything into the hotel. Or we stay in the north east area, miles away from the 25 or 40. Hell, when I purchased my RV, dealer would not even install temp plate (they get stolen).

 

[Clank123]

And for the record. You guys are over thinking this whole thing I think. Take the trailer to adrenaline or another trailer shop, check all hubs and brakes, grease as needed. New tires and run it! Bring a jack a star a spare. There’s places all across the country you can limp it to for hub replacement if you lost one or even axle replacement. It’s a 3 axle trailer so you can strap the down hub up and get to a repair shop. Pain in the ass to deal with but not a huge deal.

And shrink wrap and all that is overkill in my opinion. I shrink wrapped our last top gun when it came from Florida. Wrap ripped halfway and had to be taken off anyway. Oh, and there’s the issue with finding a place that shrink wraps and the cost is around $1500. For a 3rd that you can get it detailed when you get there. For none of that you can wash it yourself when you get there.

Current boat @lake p.a.l. Rob brought back from Loto for us in Feb through thunder storms. Since the trailer had basically been unused for like 8 years I Had new brakes put on, all
Hubs checked and 7 new tires, cover and some tape. It was fine. Left clean and detailed. Arrived needing a good bath.

He’s done that haul back and forth a bunch. He’s a good reference for advice.

He put a message on the blue tape for his layover in New Mexico. From what I understand you want to get through NM as quickly as possible. It’s the devils butthole.

Bottom line, new ties, check trailer and fuckin run it!! That’s how I’d roll!

Pic of boat before left. Ready to go (notice snow) and arrival at Barrett’s, dirty but good to go. Shined up like a new penny with a good detail by Ryan’s detailing.

Great post Tank!
I’ve been following the thread just to see the usual RDP Mind F-ing that goes on with every topic like this.
Only thing I would add is to install a rock guard for the Dually.
I assume Dave already has one.
They really work well.

 

[BHC Vic]

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

And for the record. You guys are over thinking this whole thing I think. Take the trailer to adrenaline or another trailer shop, check all hubs and brakes, grease as needed. New tires and run it! Bring a jack a star a spare. There’s places all across the country you can limp it to for hub replacement if you lost one or even axle replacement. It’s a 3 axle trailer so you can strap the down hub up and get to a repair shop. Pain in the ass to deal with but not a huge deal.

And shrink wrap and all that is overkill in my opinion. I shrink wrapped our last top gun when it came from Florida. Wrap ripped halfway and had to be taken off anyway. Oh, and there’s the issue with finding a place that shrink wraps and the cost is around $1500. For a 3rd that you can get it detailed when you get there. For none of that you can wash it yourself when you get there.

Current boat @lake p.a.l. Rob brought back from Loto for us in Feb through thunder storms. Since the trailer had basically been unused for like 8 years I Had new brakes put on, all
Hubs checked and 7 new tires, cover and some tape. It was fine. Left clean and detailed. Arrived needing a good bath.

He’s done that haul back and forth a bunch. He’s a good reference for advice.

He put a message on the blue tape for his layover in New Mexico. From what I understand you want to get through NM as quickly as possible. It’s the devils butthole.

Bottom line, new ties, check trailer and fuckin run it!! That’s how I’d roll!

Pic of boat before left. Ready to go (notice snow) and arrival at Barrett’s, dirty but good to go. Shined up like a new penny with a good detail by Ryan’s detailing.

Can you explain strapping the hub? I’ve heard it said and maybe even seen pictures but I still don’t know what we are talking about. I feel like it’s something I need to know though

 

[Badchoices03]

Can you explain strapping the hub? I’ve heard it said and maybe even seen pictures but I still don’t know what we are talking about. I feel like it’s something I need to know though

Essentially you are doing exactly what it sounds like, you are strapping the broken hub up to the trailer so that you can tow it somewhere to fix correctly, it works great on triple axles, I drove our HTM from Indio back to Whittier with the center axle completely strapped up to the trailer frame...

It just holding the axle up similar to this:

 

[renodaytona]

Great post Tank!
I’ve been following the thread just to see the usual RDP Mind F-ing that goes on with every topic like this.
Only thing I would add is to install a rock guard for the Dually.
I assume Dave already has one.
They really work well. View attachment 1417059

I agree with a set of Rock Tamers especially going through Texas. I couldn't believe the amount of debris on the roads out there.

 

[RiverDave]

I gotta find a set of rock tamers in havasu today or tomorrow

 

[gqchris]

If I had RiverDave money, I would have the boat towed out by a transporter, and fly out.

Towing 25 hours is a NO BUENO for me. Hell No. I'm just not that adventurous.

All the ballers have that game down, they have peasants doing all the heavy work. lol

 

[Singleton]

I gotta find a set of rock tamers in havasu today or tomorrow

I have a set, for a 2” receiver.
Sold the F350, so they could be yours for $100

They are setup with a screen between the flaps to reduce rocks as well

 

[RiverDave]

If I had RiverDave money, I would have the boat towed out by a transporter, and fly out.

Towing 25 hours is a NO BUENO for me. Hell No. I'm just not that adventurous.

All the ballers have that game down, they have peasants doing all the heavy work. lol

Well currently the rdp jet is getting its annual so I’m gonna see how the other half live.

RD

 

[River Dirt 2]

Whatever you do, DO NOT stop in Albuquerque NM.
Either stop in Gallop NM, Texas or Oklahoma. While my in-laws live and my wife and own property in Clovis NM, we only overnight in Alb when we can carry everything into the hotel. Or we stay in the north east area, miles away from the 25 or 40. Hell, when I purchased my RV, dealer would not even install temp plate (they get stolen).

We stayed at a Marriott in Albuquerque going both ways, security had us park the rig right in front so they could keep an eye on it, and our room looked right down on it. That place is a sh*thole!!

 

[hallett21]

If I had RiverDave money, I would have the boat towed out by a transporter, and fly out.

Towing 25 hours is a NO BUENO for me. Hell No. I'm just not that adventurous.

All the ballers have that game down, they have peasants doing all the heavy work. lol

You gotta embrace the journey and not the destination lol.

Trying to long haul truck it does not sound fun. I assume he’s in the RV so when they stop they stop.

 

[Runs2rch]

You gotta embrace the journey and not the destination lol.

Trying to long haul truck it does not sound fun. I assume he’s in the RV so when they stop they stop.

He's in his dually. RV isn't pulling that boat.

 

[DaveH]

Well currently the rdp jet is getting its annual so I’m gonna see how the other half live.

RD

since you are slumming it, if you head through ABQ and you like Cajun southern seafood, hit up Papadeaux. less then 10 minutes off the 40. awesome restaurant.

 

[CLdrinker]

Did we get the props snd RPM issue handled?

 

[hallett21]

He's in his dually. RV isn't pulling that boat.

Man I figured an RV could pull it. Does it really weight more than 10k?

Well after fuel considerations, hotels etc. I’d say have it towed out and bring it home yourself (enjoy the lakes on the way back).

 

[renodaytona]

What ???? Doesn't the shoot out start tomorrow

Main stuff is next week.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I gotta find a set of rock tamers in havasu today or tomorrow

Come get mine to use if you don’t find them in town.

 

[Nordie]

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.

Keep the FLIR in the boat box, when I went to pick the boat up in Cali I stopped several times and took Temps.

 

[prorider]

Essentially you are doing exactly what it sounds like, you are strapping the broken hub up to the trailer so that you can tow it somewhere to fix correctly, it works great on triple axles, I drove our HTM from Indio back to Whittier with the center axle completely strapped up to the trailer frame...

It just holding the axle up similar to this:

View attachment 1417061

That might be the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.

 

[cofooter]

That might be the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.

More stupider than sitting on the side of the road all night????

 

[Taboma]

That might be the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.

Back in the mid-70's jacking the axle up and chaining it allowed us to limp into 29 Palms on a single, rather than spend the night stranded out on 62 after losing a bearing.
Not stupid at all.

 

[OC Mike]

Whatever you do, DO NOT stop in Albuquerque NM.
Either stop in Gallop NM, Texas or Oklahoma. While my in-laws live and my wife and own property in Clovis NM, we only overnight in Alb when we can carry everything into the hotel. Or we stay in the north east area, miles away from the 25 or 40. Hell, when I purchased my RV, dealer would not even install temp plate (they get stolen).

We stayed at a Marriott in Albuquerque going both ways, security had us park the rig right in front so they could keep an eye on it, and our room looked right down on it. That place is a sh*thole!!

Been following this thread for fun because I really have nothing to add.
However, reading this Abluquerque, I'm thinking really???
So I looked it up...W0W

Albuquerque Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Albuquerque, NM. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Albuquerque is 1 in 72 and property crime is 1 in 20. Compare Albuquerque crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout.

www.neighborhoodscout.com

Crime index is a 1, out of a possible 100.
Is there a 0??

For Comparison.
Chicago is a 6.

Chicago Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Chicago, IL. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Chicago is 1 in 186 and property crime is 1 in 31. Compare Chicago crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout.

www.neighborhoodscout.com

Well, there is a 0.
Oakland

Oakland, CA Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Oakland, CA. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Oakland is 1 in 65 and property crime is 1 in 15. Compare Oakland crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout.

www.neighborhoodscout.com

Now we know.

 

[jeteater1]

I like 40 25 then 70 maybe come home a different way.

 

[NeverSatisfied]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn express in Tucumcari NM. Had tons of trailer parking and decent clean hotel. Nothing for food closes except a Pizza Hut or gas station food. Didn't worry about parking... could be a decent halt wayish spot.

 

[Tank]

That might be the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.

I don't understand your comment. What's stupid about it?

 

[Dr Rob]

That might be the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.

WTF?

 

[Ace in the Hole]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn express in Tucumcari NM. Had tons of trailer parking and decent clean hotel. Nothing for food closes except a Pizza Hut or gas station food. Didn't worry about parking... could be a decent halt wayish spot.

Gas station credit card skimming capital of NM….

 

[RiverDave]

I don't understand your comment. What's stupid about it?

It kinda looks like a torsion axle.. meaning the strap isn’t actually doing anything. That’s my guess anyways?

 

[NeverSatisfied]

Gas station credit card skimming capital of NM….

Well I paid cash for a 3 pack of tall cans so I hope I'm ok!

 

[Tank]

It kinda looks like a torsion axle.. meaning the strap isn’t actually doing anything. That’s my guess anyways?

Ah! Gotcha. I was kinda wondering that too but figured somehow it was holding it up

 

[Justfishing]

I would take I 40. 70 has very steep grades in Colorado thats going to stress your vehicle. I drove from omaha to glendwood springs co a few weeks ago. I wasn't pulling a trailer and i know the grades are challenging but fun. The drive from dillon to denver took about 2.5 hours to go 65 miles on a sunday. Stop and go

If you decide to take 70 there is no reason to take 80 into Nebraska. 70 will go through kc. From kc you can take 70 and drop down to sedalia. From sediala to the lake is 2 lane highways. Another route is to take 70 to columbia. From columbia it is 4 lane divided. I think it is hwy 65 to hwy 54.

 

[Ricks raft]

That might be the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.

On my tandem, Bent an axle somehow so wearing tire badly, put new tires on in havasu headed back to cali, only made it 30 miles had a blow out, strapped up axle for a few miles into needles found a OLD tire shop next to freeway open on a Sunday, got a used tire made it all the way back to central cal. Then had axles aligned. Not stupid it works.

 

[lakemadness]

It kinda looks like a torsion axle.. meaning the strap isn’t actually doing anything. That’s my guess anyways?

Thats what I was going to say. The strap is not doing anything...

 

[Taboma]

Ah! Gotcha. I was kinda wondering that too but figured somehow it was holding it up

I believe the "Similar too" was referring to the concept more than this particular "Why". In this case, I suspect the cause could be related to the visible gap between the torsion mounting plate and the trailer frame.

 

[Clank123]

That might be the stupidest thing I’ve seen in a while.

As Taboma stated that picture showed the “concept”.
Here’s a picture that shows it done with a leaf spring…

I’ve always carried a 3 foot piece of chain and bolts to do just that.
My experience has shown a ratchet strap will stretch.
I had to Chain up an axel on the way back from Burley one year with about 60 miles to go. Just for reference, round trip to Burley for me is around 25 hours about the same time to LOTO no?
I have had to use it 2 other times on trailers of guys traveling with me.
For me…it’s an essential piece of my emergency road kit.

 

[PaPaG]

Been following this thread for fun because I really have nothing to add.
However, reading this Abluquerque, I'm thinking really???
So I looked it up...W0W

Albuquerque Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Albuquerque, NM. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Albuquerque is 1 in 72 and property crime is 1 in 20. Compare Albuquerque crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout.

www.neighborhoodscout.com

Crime index is a 1, out of a possible 100.
Is there a 0??

For Comparison.
Chicago is a 6.

Chicago Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Chicago, IL. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Chicago is 1 in 186 and property crime is 1 in 31. Compare Chicago crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout.

www.neighborhoodscout.com

Well, there is a 0.
Oakland

Oakland, CA Crime Rates and Statistics - NeighborhoodScout

Most accurate 2021 crime rates for Oakland, CA. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Oakland is 1 in 65 and property crime is 1 in 15. Compare Oakland crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout.

www.neighborhoodscout.com

Now we know.

A really good friend of mine was a NM state trooper and his Dad was actually his SGT. When we were going to to go through NM on a trip to TX and possibly stay the night They both basically said SAY GOODBYE to anything of value in your car if you Hotel it almost anywhere in NM by the highways. He said if you absolutely have to sleep stay in Gallup, if not drive through to Amarillo.

 

[cofooter]

A really good friend of mine was a NM state trooper and his Dad was actually his SGT. When we were going to to go through NM on a trip to TX and possibly stay the night They both basically said SAY GOODBYE to anything of value in your car if you Hotel it almost anywhere in NM by the highways. He said if you absolutely have to sleep stay in Gallup, if not drive through to Amarillo.

I've stayed overnight at the various casinos west of the city and they had good security and seemed safe, I don't stop in Alb for any reason, not een gas. The whole city has that Breaking Bad vibe...