2nd Gen Coast to Coast to Coast Tow Test **MISSION COMPLETE**

The time has finally come for our move back to the West Coast. We will be departing Fort Bragg, NC on 21 Dec and arriving in Eureka, CA on or around 10 Jan. We will be towing a 1,900lb twin axle car hauler loaded with an 870lb motorcycle and my wife’s 2,877lb car. With straps, E-track, trailer accessories and junk in the car I’ll be right around 6k lbs.

THE TRUCK:

2006 AC Sport / 4.0 6-Speed / Towing Package/ 35” Tires, 4.88 Gearing / 82,300 Miles

Front and rear bumpers, winch, bed cage, RTT, Awnings x2, roof rack, full skids (LCA, IFS, Tranny, X-case, gas tank, 3rd). So basically, it’s a rolling brick. I would have removed the RTT but we will be using it to save some dime.
Will have an 82 QT ARB refrigerator in the bed of the truck to keep snacks and road sodas cool.

Lube:

Engine, Amsoil Signature Series 5w-30
Tranny: OEM with 22k miles on it
X-case/3rd: Amsoil Severe Gear Lube in the appropriate weight with less than 4k miles on it.

Maintenance in last 1k miles:

New Idler pulleys and tensioner pully
New U-joints in the Tom Woods driveshaft
New Tie rod ends
Spark Plugs
Brake Pads
Engine Air Filter

Maintenance in last 5k miles:

New drive belt
Coolant replacement
Full brake system bleed
New Battery

THE TRAILER:

Make: Carry On 7x20 w/ 2ft dove tail, twin axle, treated wood deck
Brakes: Electric on each axle controlled with a Teknosha P2 Controller
2k lb. Top wind jack at the tongue, stabilizer jacks in the rear, LED lighting, spare tire, brake away system





The HITCH:

Husky 800-1,200 LB Weight Distribution Hitch with passive friction sway control.


THE ROUTE:

These are major stopping points to meet people or see/do things.

Fort Bragg, NC --> Marathon Key, FL --> New Orleans, LA --> Katy, TX --> Page, AZ
--> Sacramento, CA --> Eureka, CA

Total Distance: 4,600 miles

Stay tuned for daily reports on fuel economy, miles traveled, and if everything burned to the ground or not.

**I will update this post with pictures of the setup Thursday morning when I get everything hooked up, in the mean time here is a shot a couple months ago when I took it all for a test drive.

 

That is really ambitious. I hope it doesn't snow.

 

Me too. We have a lot of fudge room though... Our accomodation is booked through TX so hopefully we can stay on schedule for that portion witch is all flat and we won't be doing more than 400 miles a day. The first two days will be 400 miles then we "kick it" in the keys for 3 days. That will give us a good idea of how far we can go per day. We do have 3 down days planned in Northern AZ for camping/hiking plus we have an additional two days built in for "what if". That gives us a five day buffer to deal with any issues. If the going gets tough the car will get unloaded and she can drive

I'm hoping we can stay on schedule and use the two buffer days to camp some more.

The whole setup pulls nice and straight, no issues cruising at 60mph on flat ground.

 

Sounds like you have it well planned out. Enjoy the trip and drive safely

 

Very nice post. Sounds like you have thought this out and planned well. If you have any problems it’s not from lack of planning or foresight. I’m interested to see how your trip goes. Please keep us posted. God bless and have a safe trip.

 

You'll be alright. Drive safe and take plenty of breaks. Remember that slow is fast in this setup.

 

Day 1/21, Fort Bragg,NC to St. Augustine, FL

Total miles today: 448
Total Miles: 448
Running Ave MPG: 10.9



So.... day one complete. This frosty road soda tastes so good. Thanks ARB and @Ted Yoder


We drove a total of 448 miles today, pulled into our campsite at exactly 10 hours travel time.





The truck handled the load better than I anticipated. We had zero issues setting the cruise just over 60mph in 5th gear. At that speed we were running 2,950 RPM with an engine load between 56-65 on flat ground. On overpass inclines it popped up to 92 with no speed loss. The coolant temp stayed between 188-193.



Was able to set the cruise at 65 in 6th gear around 2,700 RPM and maintain it but the engine was working way to hard. To much drag at that speed.
Now I’m not saying it was easy, I’m just saying it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Dreading the climb from TX up to Alberquerque.

 

Enjoy as much as you can. Safe travels.

It would be cool if you could post where you camp and how each spot was.

 

I look forward to your updates. My adventures stay within 200 miles from my home in northeast Arkansas when pulling a 4000 pound travel trailer. I would love to take it with me to Moab, but the pull up and over the Rockies on I-70 concern me.

 

Day 2/21 St. Augustine, FL to Vaca Key, Marathon, FL

Miles Today: 409
Total miles: 857
Travel time: 9 hrs 15 min
Running Average MPG: 10.8



We stayed at Anastasia State Park last night. Really nice place. RV sites were 20-36 ft in depth and plenty wide to unhook your truck and park next to your rig or parallel park in front of it. They did a great job of selectively cutting trees to allow room for sites yet kept a canopy above each site. The foliage between sites was so dense even though you were 6 feet from your neighbor you couldn’t see them. We paid $38 after tax for a 36’ RV site without hookups.

Got a late start because we walked the beach this morning to watch the sun rise. Even though today’s travel time was shorter it was dark by the time camp was set up and burgers came off the grill. We’re at an RV Park on the North end of Marathon until the 26th. Time for some R&R.

No issues with the truck. Running strong.

Did I mention my dog loves the CVT?

 

Sounds like a well planned trip with time for R&R and sight seeing. I love northern Arizona/southern Utah, so much stuff to see and do.

Welcome back to this side of the country!

 

Surrounded by millions of dollars in RVs and everyone has to stop to say “cool rig man”

Looks like a Gypsy wagon to me

 

Awesome man glad it’s all working out well so far! Looking forward to more updates

 

Safe travels! Sub’d.

 

Merry Christmas TW!



The saga continues tomorrow.

 

MERRY GHRISTMAS Enjoy and safe travels.

 

Perfect sunset ride down to Key West to one of my favorite old haunts.... the Hogs Breath Saloon.

 

Hogs Breath is better than no breath at all!

My old shirt from there is about worn out...but still a favorite. No better reason than to go down to the keys and pick another one up.

Safe travels!

 

You are bringing back some old memories. Went to HB saloon 2 decades ago

 

Just to give you heads up, on 84 going into Lubbock is some construction. Also, when you get on other side of Lubbock headed for NM is some too.

When going through Lubbock, if you do at lunch/dinner stop at Orlando’s. It’s an Italian place with some queso called “mafia queso” I promise you will not be disappointed. The green Chile chicken pizza is so damn good.