What is the longest distance you towed your boat...

[loudelectronics]

That is another thing we mess everyone up on. My car will do 200, what? Or I can get 27 mpg with my truck on highway (imperial gallons).

[jwanck11]

WOW, I did not expect so many posts in less then day, thanks for all the input and keep it coming. I just want to be sure I can be as prepared as possible for the trip.

To answer a few questions - New boat and trailer October 2009. This past year I purchased a spare tire, tie down straps, home made version of rock tamers and boat came with road a cover. I bought a 4-way lug wrench also to make sure I have a lug wrench that fits the trailer since my truck lug-wrench did not fit. The trailer hubs are sealed and has no grease fittings. Anyone know how reliable these hubs are. I have spent many years greasing and repacking wheel bearings but I am unfamiliar with these new style hubs.

DUMB question-can I syphon most of the gas out of the gas tank to have less weight? Or maybe just run it almost dry before my trip.

Location=Pennsylvania from Texas. We are originally from PA, relocated to Houston about 6 years ago, and are thinking of going to PA with the boat to vacation with friends and family up there or maybe meet half way at some lake, but I was looking at longest distance scenario. I am familir with the waterway we would be going to in PA as I grew up on those waters.

If you are coming close to Philly, leave the boat at home and hit me up when you're in the area.

[Ewok]

"K" is standard shorthand for "kilo", meaning "thousand" or 10^3.

Standard shorthand for kilometers is "km". The "k" by itself means a dimensionless number.

BTW, my response was meant to be a joke, hence the {grin} at the end.

Mine too

[Ewok]

If you are coming close to Philly, leave the boat at home and hit me up when you're in the area.

I was thinking something similar, members are friendly here, or you could rent a demo boat or something.

Tige owners ROCK

[IDBoating]

Or I can get 27 mpg with my truck on highway (imperial gallons).

I 27+ MPG in my truck, using STANDARD gallons. I get 24-25 MPG in mixed mode driving every day.

Ahh, the wonders of a Cummins turbodiesel engine!

[jsz]

Boy Scout moto: Always be prepared!! I always carry a greese gun, big breaker bar, and a low profile jack for long trips!

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but in addition to the above I also carry a tire patch kit, a potable air compressor, and a 20 ton bottle jack in case I'm in a spot where the floor jack wont help. I also carry an extra bottle of brake fluid.

[Ewok]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but in addition to the above I also carry a tire patch kit, a potable air compressor, and a 20 ton bottle jack in case I'm in a spot where the floor jack wont help. I also carry an extra bottle of brake fluid.

Thanks, i haven't thought about brake fluid, ill throw that in my kit today

[Joeprunc]

I'll be towing my boat about 2500-2600 miles when I move from Del Rio, TX to Spokane, WA. This last week I've been looking at all the nuts and bolts and welds on the trailer. I had some extra support pieces welded to the trailer. I just measured my tongue weight yesterday, which was 525 lbs. I've had my 4runner inspected again by the dealer, checking the torque on all the bolts on the frame and suspension. I've assembled a towing tool kit with a Jack, Jack stands, grease gun, air compressor, extra wheel bearings and I think I'll throw in a hub as well.

I've already driven the boat from Fort Worth to Del Rio, then to Altus, OK, then back to Fort Worth, then back to OK, then back to Del Rio, TX. About 1800 miles so far. The only problem I've had is one of the tire treads became separated and threw the tire out of round. There was a serious vibration and when I pulled over all the tires were inflated properly and I couldn't see anything wrong, I guess I stopped on the bumpy part of the bad tire. I limped home the last 60 miles finding the speed with the least vibration, I was thinking it was just the crappy roads down here. When I took the trailer to get work done they didn't notice the bad tire either. Luckily I wanted them to balance all the tires and that's when they saw the bad tire. The tires were pretty new so the tread didn't split, it just got very much out of shape, it was hard to see but I know what to look for now.

I don't time to read through everything, but to add to you list, I would also recommend a spare spindle. A scored spindle will eat bearings just as quickly as a hub and are near impossible to find on the side of the road. Also I'd check to make sure your tires were manufactured (not installed) within 6 years, if not you may think about bringing along a second spare tire too. If your tongue is a swing away type check the bolts and welds...don't ask me how I know . Oh and wheel blocks too, there aren't always rocks big enough on the side of the road.

The furthest I've towed was 400 miles when I picked my boat up. But now its 60 miles round trip to the water.

[IDBoating]

I'll share this (short version of this) story:

When we purchased our first boat, the first owner lived near Denver CO. We agreed to meet halfway in Billings MT for the sale. On the way back, just outside of Missoula, it suddenly became very hard to steer my Pathfinder. I managed to get to the side of the freeway and got out to inspect things.

What I found was that the trailer had collapsed on the driver's side. The stern of the hull was just inches from the pavement. The tire on that side was essentially gone, and the axle was canted back at a very strong angle. I was driving on the rim on the driver's side, and the entire axle was "turning left" which was why it was so hard to steer.

What happened? One or more of the U-bolts that hold the axle to the frame on the driver's side had failed. This permitted the axle to shift rearward on that side until the tire started grinding into the frame. At 70+ MPH that didn't last long, of course, and once the tire exploded the trailer fell onto the rim and the axle started trying to pull me into the median.

I've read the lists of tools and supplies everyone has listed here, but so far no one would have been prepared for this! I don't know anyone that carries spare U-bolts when they tow.

Moral of the story: It isn't just tires, or wheels, or bearings that can fail on a trailer. Check your U-bolts. Things go bad at light speed if the trailer itself starts coming apart.

[Ewok]

I'll share this (short version of this) story:

What happened? One or more of the U-bolts that hold the axle to the frame on the driver's side had failed. This permitted the axle to shift rearward on that side until the tire started grinding into the frame. At 70+ MPH that didn't last long, of course, and once the tire exploded the trailer fell onto the rim and the axle started trying to pull me into the median.

I've read the lists of tools and supplies everyone has listed here, but so far no one would have been prepared for this! I don't know anyone that carries spare U-bolts when they tow.

Moral of the story: It isn't just tires, or wheels, or bearings that can fail on a trailer. Check your U-bolts. Things go bad at light speed if the trailer itself starts coming apart.

Did the nut come off the u-bolt or did the actual metal on the bolt fail and break? I've checked all the bolts on the trailer but ill think about a spare bolt or two as well.

[IDBoating]

Did the nut come off the u-bolt or did the actual metal on the bolt fail and break? I've checked all the bolts on the trailer but ill think about a spare bolt or two as well.

We never knew, because the bolt(s) disappeared on the freeway. Once the axle started moving around, the spacing would have "sprung" the U-bolt(s) beyond their normal rectangular shape so regardless of the initial failure mechanism, they wouldn't have held on.

I've thought about adding a couple of extra U-bolts under there as insurance. Wouldn't hurt anything, and U-bolts are cheap. If you're going to have extras anyway, the best place to "store" them might be installed on the trailer!

[G-MONEY]

LA to Lake Powell
13 hours to get there, and 16 to get home. (Took to different roots.)
Never again!
Powell was nice and extremely larger than I thought, but 13 hours in my expedition with 6 teenagers.
Ahhh NO

I am going to stick with Mojave; it is only a 5 hour drive.

X2 ^^^^^^

[canuck]

We are planning on an epic journey next year. Vancouver, BC to Lake Powell and back. 2,188km each way.

[Tault145]

Wichita KS to Tucson AZ... 18 hours(ish) highest elevation approx 7800msl... With two motorcycles in the bed of my 'O5 Z71 1500, sitting somewhere around 12,500lbs total GVW. FML shoudla gone diesel... And now the lake is three hours away. haha WTF was I thinking. As for Lake Powell Next year tho, lets make it a TIGE TAKEOVER! What dates u lookin at my fine Canadian friend?

[empty_boat]

Helena Mt. to Bullfrog Lake Powell

Went to Powell the year before last, took a Z1 behind the Duramax, 766 miles, 12 hours (with a long stop at a Costco south of Salt Lake)

My suggestions are

1: Balance your trailer tires (you will be surprised how much weight it takes to balance them)

2: If you are not a "roadside mechanic" buy AAA its worth every penny, they will cover your tow vehicle and your towed vehicle. They will send out 2 tow trucks if necessary.