Towing feedback after 6500 miles
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:18 am
In the last year and a half I have towed LaVida about 6500 miles during four trips. The first trip was about 450 miles from Marina del Rey in Los Angeles to Sacramento, CA. This was my first trip when I bought her in May 2009. The second big trip was from Sacramento to Anacortes, WA for a two week trip in the San Juan Islands. The third trip was from Sacramento to Loreto in Baja California, Mexico. The forth trip was again to Anacortes and the San Juan Islands. Each trip had a different configuration of towing vehicle and/or boat trailer. I thought it might be useful to relate my experiences and impressions.
I will start with the first trip. My wife and I drove to Los Angeles to see the 2009 M26 that we were interested in purchasing from a fellow that had only owned her for about 6 months and needed to sell. We met him at Marina del Rey for an inspection and sea trials. We loved the boat and hooked her up behind our 2003 Ford Explorer for the trip back. The Explorer was a six cylinder model 4X4 with factory towing package. The trailer was the stock aluminum Mac model. On the second day back about 60 miles from home we blew out a tire on the freeway. I got it over to the side of the road OK but the rim was bent and we were stranded. The previous owner did not have a spare mounted and I had erroneously thought that since the tires were so new I should be able to make it home and then I would get a spare. I just didn't have or make time in LA to get one. It was a real hassle to get the boat off the freeway and somewhere safe until I could make arrangements to get her the rest of the way home.
First lesson: Carry a good spare. I now carry two. Have the tools and practice changing your trailer tires.
The second trip was to the San Juan Islands and about 1500 miles round trip. The Explorer pulled the boat and trailer OK. It had sufficient power for the mountains but it worked the motor hard and shifted a lot. I got about 13-14 miles to the gallon on regular gas. The rig was twitchy when going over bumps or imperfections in the roadway. It was high concentration driving and I definitely knew the boat was back there and was pushing the Explorer around.
My third trip was to Baja California about 2600 miles round trip . Based on my experiences to the San Juans and the fact that the roads in Mexico were going to be very challenging, I added a second axle to the trailer. I figured this would give me two extra tires to distribute the load, in case of a flat the trailer would not go down to the rim and the trailer would track better. There was a significant improvement in the overall behavior of the rig. It definitely was less twitchy and more relaxing to drive. Even with the extra axle I feel the Explorer was at the limits of its capability for towing a loaded Mac. It still got pushed around in windy conditions and reacted when going over undulations or big bumps in the road. Even in Mexico the worst gas mileage towing was about 13 mpg.
Second lesson: If you plan on pulling your Mac a lot of miles and/or taking her on challenging roads ie., Mexico, then add a second axle for insurance against blow outs and better handling.
My fourth trip was again to the San Juan Islands. I just go back two weeks ago. My wife and I are planning on more extended traveling around the country starting early next year and decided we needed more storage space for hauling gear than was available in the Explorer. Also after pulling the Mac for many miles, I felt that a larger tow vehicle might be more prudent. So I sold the Explorer and bought a 2004 Ford 4X4 Super Duty 250 diesel pickup. This is what I used to pull LaVida on my last trip. I am going to tell you folks that there is a big difference in the driving experience towing with my truck vs. the Explorer. I know the trailer is back there behind the truck but it is very well behaved. I can drive with one hand on the wheel if I want to which is something I would not do with the Explorer with the single axle trailer and was very careful doing even with the double axle. There is plenty of power and tons of room for hauling stuff as I have a long bed with a camper shell and super cab. The downside is that the truck does not turn as sharp and is much harder to park due to its length. Also diesel is more expensive than regular gas where I live. I am getting about the same fuel consumption as the Explorer at about 13-14 mpg in the mountains and and 14.5 -15 mpg on the flat.
Third lesson: Bigger is better when it comes to towing a fully loaded Mac.
I hope some of this helps. I love my Mac and have spent about 9 weeks living aboard her this year on my trips. My wife and I have had a blast. I will try to put some of my pictures and trip information in the future. We are a little busy right now as we have sold our house and are making arrangements to store stuff and get ready to travel pretty much full time starting February.
Fair Winds Curtiss on LaVida
I will start with the first trip. My wife and I drove to Los Angeles to see the 2009 M26 that we were interested in purchasing from a fellow that had only owned her for about 6 months and needed to sell. We met him at Marina del Rey for an inspection and sea trials. We loved the boat and hooked her up behind our 2003 Ford Explorer for the trip back. The Explorer was a six cylinder model 4X4 with factory towing package. The trailer was the stock aluminum Mac model. On the second day back about 60 miles from home we blew out a tire on the freeway. I got it over to the side of the road OK but the rim was bent and we were stranded. The previous owner did not have a spare mounted and I had erroneously thought that since the tires were so new I should be able to make it home and then I would get a spare. I just didn't have or make time in LA to get one. It was a real hassle to get the boat off the freeway and somewhere safe until I could make arrangements to get her the rest of the way home.
First lesson: Carry a good spare. I now carry two. Have the tools and practice changing your trailer tires.
The second trip was to the San Juan Islands and about 1500 miles round trip. The Explorer pulled the boat and trailer OK. It had sufficient power for the mountains but it worked the motor hard and shifted a lot. I got about 13-14 miles to the gallon on regular gas. The rig was twitchy when going over bumps or imperfections in the roadway. It was high concentration driving and I definitely knew the boat was back there and was pushing the Explorer around.
My third trip was to Baja California about 2600 miles round trip . Based on my experiences to the San Juans and the fact that the roads in Mexico were going to be very challenging, I added a second axle to the trailer. I figured this would give me two extra tires to distribute the load, in case of a flat the trailer would not go down to the rim and the trailer would track better. There was a significant improvement in the overall behavior of the rig. It definitely was less twitchy and more relaxing to drive. Even with the extra axle I feel the Explorer was at the limits of its capability for towing a loaded Mac. It still got pushed around in windy conditions and reacted when going over undulations or big bumps in the road. Even in Mexico the worst gas mileage towing was about 13 mpg.
Second lesson: If you plan on pulling your Mac a lot of miles and/or taking her on challenging roads ie., Mexico, then add a second axle for insurance against blow outs and better handling.
My fourth trip was again to the San Juan Islands. I just go back two weeks ago. My wife and I are planning on more extended traveling around the country starting early next year and decided we needed more storage space for hauling gear than was available in the Explorer. Also after pulling the Mac for many miles, I felt that a larger tow vehicle might be more prudent. So I sold the Explorer and bought a 2004 Ford 4X4 Super Duty 250 diesel pickup. This is what I used to pull LaVida on my last trip. I am going to tell you folks that there is a big difference in the driving experience towing with my truck vs. the Explorer. I know the trailer is back there behind the truck but it is very well behaved. I can drive with one hand on the wheel if I want to which is something I would not do with the Explorer with the single axle trailer and was very careful doing even with the double axle. There is plenty of power and tons of room for hauling stuff as I have a long bed with a camper shell and super cab. The downside is that the truck does not turn as sharp and is much harder to park due to its length. Also diesel is more expensive than regular gas where I live. I am getting about the same fuel consumption as the Explorer at about 13-14 mpg in the mountains and and 14.5 -15 mpg on the flat.
Third lesson: Bigger is better when it comes to towing a fully loaded Mac.
I hope some of this helps. I love my Mac and have spent about 9 weeks living aboard her this year on my trips. My wife and I have had a blast. I will try to put some of my pictures and trip information in the future. We are a little busy right now as we have sold our house and are making arrangements to store stuff and get ready to travel pretty much full time starting February.
Fair Winds Curtiss on LaVida
very far yet but compared to the camper that I've towed all over the country it pulls real easy. (That reminds me, I need to return the dealer plates!) I've got an equalizer hitch on my camper. Has anyone felt a need to put one on their Mac trailer?
) Quad Cab 4x4 Pick Up truck. It Pulls the boat really well has Lots and Lots of room for "stuff" inside the rear cab and ....in the bed.. With the 4X4 Option......I have Zero issues with steep, wet, sandy or muddy ramps . I like that. 
