Now for something a bit different. The trailer/transportation saga. When I jumped into this project and forum I was full of beans. I bought the boat and then had to get it to CA. I thought no problem a few thousand will get it here then came the first sticker shock. Quotes came in approaching the purchase price of the boat. That got the big ole brain thinking I can do it myself. Most all of my mistakes as a newbie do-it yourselfer centered around this decision. So if you can buy a 37 Roamer Al Express Cruiser off E-Bay a trailer should be no big deal right. Yes after an intensive search SCORE in Atlanta, one quad axle AL I beam trailer. For about the price of a car trailer and an extra few bucks for delivery the saga enters chapter 2.
It will fit Newbie Roamer owner says it will fit. Know it all high end yard in Kenosha says no way it wont work. Newbie owner first lesson ( hould u trust the expurts). Owner says sure looks like it will work, lets see
Lets see for sure Lets lift the sucka and see. Owner says man that looks close, a few modifications and should be good. EXPURTS no way. Newbie says OK I guess I am the idiot. Ill try something else. Keep tuned (trusting expurts is costly)
Resourceful Newbie Owner Too dumb and stubborn to give up. Ill keep this one and get another oh and a rig to tow it with. Wanted used F450-550 but hey how about a Roamer Hauler with a on board Condo. Well no commercial lisc, hired a guy to get us halfway there. As Little John in Unforgiven said to the Duck of Death, "He!@#$% I thought I was dead myself until I realized I was just in Nebraska". 80 feet of heavy haulin
oh and yes I need another trailer SCORE in Hot Lanta again, Where all cheap trailers go to be found. Cheap, not as nice as #1 but should do the trick right.
OK need to get it to Wisconsin Missed opportunities to move in the first summer season. Yes thats snow on the ground in Hot Lanta Moved boat from EXPURTS in Kenosha to new EXPURTS up north for indoor storage. Now never really driven a semi over the road, plenty of farm trucks and mining equip but all off road. So got the commercial drivers lisc. and first trip from Atlanta to north of Milwaukee. No real problems even hit Chicago at rush hour.
OK new EXPURTS have opinon too OK New expurts professional haul boats and have a fleet of $100,000 hydraulic trailers. They (mostly the son who has inherited all his daddys work) dont like my trailer but after a few harsh words to me and a few right back to get rid of me (and taking more than a few bucks about equal to half the trailer the put the boat on the trailer). They do know a few things but seem to have forgotten they got their start with a few pieces of junk and some cajones at one time. Next I put on my big boy pants a commit, headed out of Grafton Wisconsin taking back roads because of all the construction. I43 and 94 all closed to wide loads. First off near Jackson a low railroad bridge just enough clearance, then a rain storm sent to put the fires of haddies out and we make to the Wis-Iowa border. Hey I can do this
I thought I was dead until I figured out I was just in Nebraska Smooth sailing until Omaha then POW split rim blowout. 4-5 hours before a replacement can be provided
Maybe those second expurts were right After a temp layover in western Nebraska its time for the second push. Outside Laramie WY axle bearing burns up. Simple fix in most places not in the middle of bum!@#$^ WY. Oh yea that trailer special spindles bearings not to be found by the cowboys. That old saying "Where men are men and sheep are... well you know 3 months later back on the road and boom blowout #2, but hey getting to be a pro at split rims this time fixed in a few hours. Ponied up for a couple spares this time. From there made it no trouble to Reno
OK more expurts Little nervous about driving over the sierras time to find and expurt. Hired a crew out of LA supposedly experienced, definitely the worst decision made in the roamer restoration project. Ill save that nasty story for a future time. After paying off the evil schister, I took back over and got the big girl to here new home. Sold the blue beast trailer for about 50% of cost including repairs, traded the big truck for a minivan. as the credit card company says "the experience was priceless"
So much for EXPURTS I am now ready to travel to any houseboat lake in the west, slide in and enjoy a summer and ease out at the end of the season and head for the coast. Ready for purchase of roamer number two after this project is done as well
Next Dream Toy I wanna Ford - The new top dog in terms of horsepower and torque, Ford is bragging that the 2015 F Series Super Duty lineup will have the highest towing capacity in the class with a max tow rating of 31,200 pounds…but there is a catch. This towing figure applies to the F450 while best in class towing ratings are typically based on the 1-ton (F350) trucks. Maybe some one else wants a dodge - The 2014 Ram 3500 with the High Output Cummins is capable of towing 30,000 pounds and that figure made the Ram the most capable consumer grade pickup on the market.
Roamer's "Truck-of-the-Year" Well, I do like the Ram, what with the cool new diesel, hemi option and all, and the Silverado's heart does beat for America, but here's the real reason why Ford is best: Aluminum. Naturally, you sub-consciously picked up on this, but here are the stats: "The next-generation F-150 is expected to be about 700 to 750 pounds lighter."Ford Plans New F-150 Pickup Truck With Aluminum Body - WSJ.com Fact is, Ford may have bought up so much of the stuff that the other pick-up manufacturers may not be physically able to catch up, or so say the guys on Autoline dot com. "While the move to aluminum was initially seen as a risk, Ford’s move has triggered a “stampede” on the material from its competitors" Ford?s Aluminum Gamble (Show #1809) on Autoline This Week Aluminum - when you really care, send the best. Cheers! -Eric