Swells.Breakdown.Toy Hauler

[Trawlercat]

Subject: Swells.Breakdown.Toy Hauler

As I hooked up the trailer for Sundays ride I said to me, “Looks like tomorrows ride may be my first cold weather ride of the year”. That’s also when I thought it’s all relative to where, when, and how often you ride when describing a cold ride. Last night it was 62 degree at 5:00 p.m. outside but earlier today it was up to 75 degrees.

And no, it really won’t be my first cold weather ride of the year because from (May – Jun 6th) for about three weeks this year I rode in Alaskan waters where the water dipped down to a low of 41 degrees (Old Harbor) from a high of 48 degrees (Anchorage). Read or visit the Wet Dog Race stories if you need to get caught up.

Thanksgiving Day 2009 has come and gone and this year even though two good riding friends called in advance and tempted me with an early workout ride - I opted to stay home with visiting relatives. Two x-wives earlier one once forgotten Thanksgiving Day many moons ago I missed Thanksgiving altogether.

Just a short overnight trip to St. Maries, Idaho for a little snowmobiling with my brother in law I said to my then spouse Nancy. And we’ll be back before noon said Mike. Little did I know that the skies would open up Wednesday night and dump about 4-5 feet of snow making for some fantastic riding but - also impossible for us to get out any earlier than the snow plows. Cell phone call you say - not back then.

Thanksgiving Day Ride - John and Lee met at about 0730 and by 1030 a.m. they were back at the dock rinsing off their ski’s. Their Sunday morning workout ride went something like this – Long Beach, CA to Avalon; Avalon to let’s go check out the back side of the island; backside and around Catalina Island; then right back to Long Beach. If this sounds more like a marathon to you than just a short foot race then you are still not familiar with our PWCOFFSHORE team.

11/22/2009 Ride - Last Sunday’s ride seven of us showed up from the Catalina Crew and PWCOFFSHORE team for a little fun ride down to Dana Point from Long Beach, CA. All I can remember from that ride is that for two days I had this ringing in my ear. Note to self. Never, ever forgot your helmet when you’ve got loud exhaust pipes.

Seven of us started out from Long Beach but less than a mile out one turned around due to a loose hose connection that was letting the ocean inside the boat. It was an unfortunate thing that no one saw that this rider was having trouble; stopped or stayed with this rider. Another 15 miles out and another ski goes down. Our ace mechanic Steve couldn’t have timed it any better.
No sooner did we stop and hover around the downed ski than Jim’s cell phone starts ringing. It was Steve and so while bobbing about three miles offshore Steve was asked what it meant to have a spinning starter but no engagement. Broken fly wheel bolt or words to that effect was the answer. Enter SeaTow to the rescue.

This area is now known to me as the Kim Triangle area. Approximately midpoint between Dana Point and Long Beach - vicinity of Huntington Pier and 3 mile buoy is a spot you want to watch out for. It took Kim down the previous week with a drained battery and now Tony was getting towed out about the same spot so that SeaTow could easily spot him. Yes, we did leave one more of our riders adrift to wait for SeaTow while the rest of us continued down to Dana Point.

Believe it or not the ride was supposed to be to a San Diego and back but since now there were four – we scaled the ride back for fear of any more mechanicals. Almost down to San Diego and we encounter Mark and Mike making their way up towards us. They continued on with their ride and we made it just far enough to say we were there. Then it was back home to Long Beach.

Sunday - 11/29/2009 - And now that you’re caught up I come to this Sundays ride. Three of us rode from Long Beach up to Marina Del Rey, CA. A distance of about 35 miles but with 10 foot swells out there. Today’s ride was a cross between dirt biking and snow skiing. The swells were awesome allowing a rider to launch up, up, up and over seeing how far and long you had air time.

At about the point of Point Vicente lighthouse we all stopped; not to admire the scenery but to peel down a layer. Seems the weather today was unusually warm with no wind and the full sun shining down on us. Fuel up at MDR or attempted to. They were out of 92 octane plus the temporary fuel dock is now across the channel. We then headed to Redondo for some 92 octane but the best we could find was 89 octane. Fueled up we started towards Avalon but about 10 miles out I suddenly felt the Ultra slow way down. Did not take long to spot a missing supercharger belt now leaving me with three options. Limp home at 7 mph; call Sea Tow or let my friends tow me in. We opted for the latter and here I am home and well rested.
We are now gearing up for an Ensenada (Baja Mexico) ride. Stay tuned.

Till next time, see you on the water.

Trawlercat

PS: I missed the last few weeks of the Trawlercat Chronicles because I am in the market for a Toy Hauler. I believe we’ve found her – in Oregon. This FRED (Front Engine Diesel) Freightliner will allow the wife and me to travel the country from atop a 5.9 L Cummins ISB 300 hp engine with 600 foot-pounds of mountain climbing torque. Fred is said to cradle the Cummins low in its framework so that the floor of the cab between the driver and passenger is flat and usable! Following the engine is this Allison 2100 MH automatic transmission with overdrive, pre-filled with Transynd (a 400% longer-life transmission fluid) for increased intervals between servicing.

The weight carrying and towing capacities for this RV we are in the stages of buying is a 26,000 pound Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) rating and 30,000 pound Gross Combined Weight (GCW). More to follow. The reason I want this Class A is for its garage. It wouldn’t be a hauler without a garage. This hauler has two queen beds that butt together and fit snugly together against the ceiling when not in use. This conveniently allows for 70 inches of clearance between the bottom of the lowest bed and the floor. Since you have the height, I might as well give you the length of the garage. There is 10 feet 5 inches of storage from the front wall of the garage to the inside of the rear gate.

This garage is suited for either a bedroom or a garage fairly equally. The flooring is a dark industrial grade material. There are plenty of heavy-duty in-floor tie downs to cinch down a PWC or T-REX. The lower walls are protected from tires and other objects with a diamond plate material, and there’s a 20” flat screen television on the inner wall that can easily be connected to a video game system.

At the rear of the garage is this hydraulic aluminum fold up lifting system sporting a capacity of 3,300 pounds. This hydraulic system is the door and the lift gate all in one package!

All you have to do is stand back and push the button, the lift does all of the work for you! More to follow!

[Sierra Alpha]

The Toyhauler sounds like a perfect fit for you!
That's great!