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4,532 foot challenge

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/05/2006 : 14:27:22

After much thought, worry, planning...I decided to take the most direct route in bringing my 1981 SR/SK closer to home.
I live in Calgary Alberta, but have had LaBarca moored on Vancouver Island and at Shuswap lake in British Columbia's interior. This translates into me having to get myself and my crew from Calgary, over the Rocky Mountains, anytime I want to spend any time with LaBarca.
The process of figuring out how to get LaBarca over or around the Rocky Mountains was, in the end, the only difficult part. I could either drive an additional six hours north, where the Rockys flatten out to foothills, or I could drive south an extra 8 hours where the grades are longer but not as steep.
I finally decided to take the steepest, but shortest route.
I had my surge actuated brakes checked, I greased up the axles, battened down the hatches and drove through Rogers Pass where the road has a peak of 4,532 feet.
I'm here today, to say that it was a piece of cake. I've stated before on this forum that I'd tow this boat anywhere, so now I believe that I've conqured, with ease, what I believe to be the biggest towing obstacle there is.
Perhaps the crazy part is, what I'm really excited about is the opportunity to work on the boat. The allure of tackling my project list has the same appeal as actually sailing. Something I really couldn't do while LaBarca was on the other side of those Rockies.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 14:47:30

That is excellent news. I'm glad everyone and everything ended the trip safely.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 16:18:10

What are you using as a tow vehicle? As sailors, lots of us do not pay adequate attention to what we are using to lug these things around. Obviously your vehicle could handle the job and was more than up to the task.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 19:05:44

My Land Tug is a GMC 2500, Long box.
This is a picture of LaBarca on the Victoria to Vancouver Ferry.

Its not the getting up the mountain that I was concerned about, it was the going down the mountain with 6,000 + LBS attached to my bumper, that I was concerned about.
I had considered adding a second set of brake drums to my second axle and had thought about electric brakes, but now consider that a properly tuned set of brakes traveling at a safe speed was adequete for my needs.
You can see a key member of my crew in the passenger seat.

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1336 Posts

Response Posted - 04/05/2006 : 22:51:44

Stampeder: Great picture and nice equipment... How much did the BC ferry trip cost you? You must have traveled through Langley BC on the way home. Too bad I missed seeing you passing through town, I would have stopped you, cajoled you into lunch, discussed equipment and shoot the breeze. Perhaps the next time.

What do you suggest is a safe speed going up, coming down long steep slopes and on level streches. Did you feel you slowed down normal mountain traffic? Did you travel during the night Do you gear shift and use the engine for both up and down.

What brand of truck would you recommend and what engine size, diesel or gas. What is you r approx. fuel consumption pulling the trailer. Did you notice any wear and tear and friction damage on the boats bottom, mast, equipment or inventory?
Henk

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 01:26:09

Ferry cost $125 - would have been about $85 on non-peak hour.

My boat is about 2,000 LBs heavier than yours, and I would guess that my trailer is probably 500 LBs heavier.

I travelled at 90KPH through the mountains, and 105KPH on the twinned section from Lake Louise to Calgary. I passed most semis going up and got passed by the same semis going down. Going up the really steep grades I drove 60-80KPH, I could have gone faster but I had just pumped $125 worth of gas. My truck has a 6.6 Litre Vortec, which I understand to be the biggest of the GM gas engines. Its a long wheel base/longbox which I bought to tow this boat...If I didn't need to tow this heavy boat, I would have gotten a standard box with a shorter wheel base. The longer wheel base was to prevent the tail from wagging the dog.
I drove about 70 KPH on downgrades and that was really the only time I had a line-up behind me.
Overall gas mileage suprised me with how good it was. I can get 1,000 KM on a tank of gas (132 Litres)highway driving with no load, I am guessing that I got 750 KMs on a tank towing.
My truck has a 'tow-haul' feature, auto transmission. On the steepest downgrade, I shifted the transmission into 3rd with the tow-haul feature engaged and I could feel the transmission slowing the vehicle.
I have towed the boat at night, but not on this trip. I would put clearance lights on the rail of the boat, and make sure there were running lights on the front of the trailer fenders if I were to tow it on a busy road at night.
I've towed this boat over the Coquihalla twice. I've launched and retrieved it about 8 times over the course of one and a half years of ownership. I lashed down the mast the same each time, with stout bungy cords with high density foam pipe wrappers cushioning the mast on the rails (the pipe wraps conform to the pulpit and pushpit rails) and just behind the mast step. I bungy the shrouds to the closest stanchions. When I need to climb inside for a nap enroute, the bungies give me just enough wiggle room to get down the companionway. I haven't yet, but I intend on using the boat as a camper/trailer when I make a long journey that requires over-nighting. We've slept on our boat many times and think of it as a trailer/camping experience.
If I was going to sleep in it often, on the trailer, I'd simply unhook the bungies and move the mast aside.
I have not noticed any travel wear and tear on the boat. The only damage has come as a result of my seamanship.
Good to see you are planning an adventure - we are thinking of a similar trip in 2008.
You can sell your 250 easily in Ontario.
If you haven't already purchased a land-tug...you may want to tow your boat and all your gear to a weigh station to find out the 'real' weight of what you have to tow. Before I bought my truck and boat,I spoke to several very helpful weigh-station guys in BC who had lots of information on the legalities and realities of towing. From what I understand, BC has the toughtest towing laws in Canada.
When you roar through Calgary, make sure you give me some notice and I'll take you to my new hangout, Ghost Lake and take you for a spin on LaBarca. At the very least, stop in so I can feed you...I'm the best cook I ever met.

Edited by - on

At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 15:07:54

If you do not have one already, a weight distribution hitch would give you a bit more security and stability. Then you could slide the boat a bit forward on the trailer and spread the extra tongue weight over the 2500.

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Waterboy
Navigator

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USA
204 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 15:42:00

I don't think you can use a weight distributing hitch with surge brakes.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/06/2006 : 22:38:57

This is a unit I made ten years ago from advice of an RV repair shop and success he had with trailers. I have made several trips of 7 and 8 hundred miles one way and used the load levelers, sway preventers and still had the surge brake system. Made the trips much easier and safer. The trailer was 15 years old and the warrenty wasn't an issue. I pull with a 91 Ford 250 extented cab and it does a great job.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6da27b3127cce882d38fa7bc800000016100AZs2jZkzbMWKA

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 01:07:24

Hey Jim, do you have any more pictures of your trailer? I am planning on painting and generally improving my trailer. Any info you have on specs or just photos would be greatly appreciated - I'm interested in the anti-sway features as well as how you have your tongue extension set up. My tongue extension is a major pain and I see that you have a U-Bolt type that I had thought about switching to.

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sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 05:04:12

Have to work on the pictures but the unit works well and at least once a trip I have had to test the braking because of a situation. The painting I did with spray cans of the better grade paint when the boat was in the lake and it has lasted for 2 seasons. The trailer is an EZ Loader and the extension came with the trailer. A roller trailer for the 79 SK which I did improve by changing the size of bolts, 1/2 to 5/8's and plates with more bolts at the center piece connection. After the first trip on very rough roads I felt the need to really improve as the rating was 5,000 lbs and the boat has been actually weighed and is 6,000 lbs plus (before fuel, food and all the cruise cargo). I sail the Gulf Islands every other season and have towed to San Diego for a month. I first heard the term storage trailer after my first trip which also made for checking all the specs, the axles are the minimum which demand checking and regrease every other season. Put a grease fitting on the hub between the bearings (makes wheel changing interesting) and check the Buddy Bearings before launching. New trailers come with this feature. Will try to get the pictures posted.

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zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1336 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2006 : 21:22:03

Hey Mike, thanks for so candidly answering my questions... very helpful. And yes we'll stop in for sure to try out "I'm the best cook I ever met" man. That's a great saying. The next time you roar through Langley, BC, I'll gladly invite you for lunch too... I'll invite... you pay. I'm Dutch you know!! (just kidding)
Henk

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.