Long distance towing

[davidtx]

We are about to start our next great adventure and move (back) 2,000 miles from Texas to New Hampshire. We'll be towing the TX-18 behind a 25' Penske truck. We plan to make stops every 500 miles, resulting in three overnight stays. We are looking at pet friendly places with truck parking. I'm looking for general advice and specific advice on securing the boat.

I'll get the obvious advice out of the way - "Don't do it!"
Next...

[Uncle D]

Hi David, sorry to hear your moving away from us. I'd for sure get a good trailer hitch lock. Master lock has a good one I like a lot. It is armored all the way around except for the single shackle that goes through the hole on the latch. This way it is locked to the truck. With this lock you can't get bolt cutters on it. Torch or sledge hammer maybe. Also you might pull the prop off. They tend to be the first things to go.

Good luck with the move.
Don

[davidtx]

Hi David, sorry to hear your moving away from us. I'd for sure get a good trailer hitch lock. Master lock has a good one I like a lot. It is armored all the way around except for the single shackle that goes through the hole on the latch. This way it is locked to the truck. With this lock you can't get bolt cutters on it. Torch or sledge hammer maybe. Also you might pull the prop off. They tend to be the first things to go.

Good luck with the move.
Don

Thanks! I'll leave the prop off. I was thinking about removing the batteries as well. The fish finder/GPS and VHF radio are both mounted IN the console, I'm not sure if I need to worry about them.

[ericsil]

Sorry to hear you are leaving us, particularly with a handle like DavidTx. I have towed the drive from Austin to Maine or the reverse 10 different times with no serious problems. Had a dog with me much of the time as well. (Also ran it 20 more times without a trailer.) Lock the trailer to the truck, cover everything so they can't see if there is anything valuable, and stay at decent motels. The other thing to watch out for is the parking. Eyeball every restaurant, gas station and motel before you pull in to be sure you don't get in an impossibly tight lot. And whatever you do, leave enough turn radius when you are passing or cornering. It is damn easy after 500 miles to forget you are 50 feet long. (This is where SWMBO can be a big help.) Also, watch out for those "no trucks" routes as you get near NYC.

All in all it is a pretty dull drive if there are no vehicle issues and you stay on the Interstates.

[wadestep]

The biggest thing aside from locking it to the truck with a good lock that I'd do is be very selective about where I stay the night. I prefer smaller hotel/motels with open, well-lit parking lots where the doors to the rooms all look out over teh parking lots. A grungy, dark parking lot in a bad area of town where no hotel rooms overlook is a recipe for disaster.
wade

[Steven]

Check and grease the wheel bearings and pack a spare hub. Their cheap and easy to replace.

[ericsil]

I have to say we have come to a sad state of affairs in this country when your biggest concern about towing 2000 miles is getting ripped off while you are stopped.

[Mad Dog]

Check and grease the wheel bearings and pack a spare hub. Their cheap and easy to replace.

X2 - Each stop you make whether for the night, food, fuel, or bio-break, check the temp on those hubs. If everything is fine they should only be warm to the touch. If too warm then begin by checking the bearing buddies, you may need a shot or two of grease.

David, sorry to see you leaving out Great State! Good luck on your travels.

MD

[Matt Gent]

The entire La Quinta chain is dog friendly, relatively clean, and has waffles. I've never had trouble parking the boat in one of their lots. Back the rig into a corner and leave it attached to the truck.

Do you have a full boat cover? Out of sight, out of mind, if you can cover it each night.

[davidtx]

Sorry to hear you are leaving us, particularly with a handle like DavidTx. I have towed the drive from Austin to Maine or the reverse 10 different times with no serious problems. Had a dog with me much of the time as well. (Also ran it 20 more times without a trailer.) Lock the trailer to the truck, cover everything so they can't see if there is anything valuable, and stay at decent motels. The other thing to watch out for is the parking. Eyeball every restaurant, gas station and motel before you pull in to be sure you don't get in an impossibly tight lot. And whatever you do, leave enough turn radius when you are passing or cornering. It is damn easy after 500 miles to forget you are 50 feet long. (This is where SWMBO can be a big help.) Also, watch out for those "no trucks" routes as you get near NYC.

All in all it is a pretty dull drive if there are no vehicle issues and you stay on the Interstates.

Eric - we've driven the trip quite a few times as well, though we avoid NYC by going through Scranton. We used to have a motor home and tow a Grand Cherokee, so I've dealt with the length issues. You only have to get in a place where you have to unhitch the toad in order to back out once to learn that lesson. BUT - you can never, ever remind yourself enough about the length and with the TX-18, the width. An earlier plan had my wife and I each driving a truck, but I finally came to my senses and developed a plan where I'd have my copilot and navigator. My baby sister lives almost exactly half-way, so I think we are going to just do the trip in two segments and take a couple of days to visit with her family and recoup.