Ready for the trip to FL

[inaforty]

Well we have everything packed. Truck is ready and trailer is fully serviced. Extra hubs with bearings,3 spare tires, floor jack,blocks, 18 volt tools etc.
It's about 1650 miles one way.
Ready Set Go
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160421_185406_zpstgzs5ang.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160421_185406_zpstgzs5ang.jpg.html)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160421_185441_zpsinvztkik.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160421_185441_zpsinvztkik.jpg.html)

[bgreene]

Have you posted pics before ? That looks like a real clean rig and would like to see more.

[inaforty]

I think I posted pic when we bought it last summer.
It's not as nice as I thought it was when I bought it.
She has had some gunnel damage to one side. It was repair but it's not perfect.

However the old Mariner runs unbelieveable.
Overall it was a steal for an ebay purchase.

I got lucky because I missed some stuff but it all worked out.:sun:

[steplift20]

Where are you leaving from going yo Florida

[lumberslinger178]

Have a safe trip.

[smokeonthewater]

Where are you leaving from going yo Florida

Acushnet MA?

[inaforty]

Yep Acushent MA.
Going rt 81 to rt 84 to avoid NY and NJ pike and DC belt way etc. A few more miles but much easier non stressful ride.

I've done my share of trips on the Bronks thruway, Geo Wash, NJ TP. Every summer we would go to KY to see my Grandparents.

[bradford]

Safe travels, where in FL?

Beautiful rig BTW.

[inaforty]

We arrived in Port Charlotte around 1:30 pm Sunday. Took us over 30 hours to make the trip. Beautiful canal home we rented. No problems on the way down. Truck and trailer ran perfect. Wish the Tundra had a bigger gas tank. Now to relax and start vacation.

[cfelton]

Glad your trip was good! How does that Tundra handle the V20? I just bought a 2016 Crewmax 4x4 TRD 5.7 Tundra, haven't hooked it to the V yet. Cant wait to give it a pull. I know its gonna do well, except for the gas milage!

[macojoe]

Great new's!! Hope the rest of your trip is as Great!!

[inaforty]

Thanks Joe.

cfelton,
Our truck has the 4.6 and it did the tow without issue. However it did pull hard in the mountains. The 5.7 will tow the V with easy. You are correct about the gas mileage. We got about 9 mpg towing. We could only get 200 miles out of a tank before the fuel light would come on. Before I bought the truck I did some research on the toyota/lexus V8 and there are some reports of the engines going 750k before rebuild. I'm sure they were fleet vehicles and I can't prove anything I read online. Good luck with your new Tundra.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160425_165106_zpsf2lizdn3.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160425_165106_zpsf2lizdn3.jpg.html)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/20160426_160421_zps5jxophmt.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/20160426_160421_zps5jxophmt.jpg.html)

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160425_165245_zpssfajfffj.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160425_165245_zpssfajfffj.jpg.html)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160428_114837_zpsrww7vkdc.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160428_114837_zpsrww7vkdc.jpg.html)
Down near Cabbage key

[bradford]

Doc Ford country down there.

I'm thinking about an older tundra, 05 or 06, just like that body style, which I believe has the 4.6, just wondering how it would do on long haul tows, specifically to FL gulf coast and the Keys, all flat land, but would like to be able to travel at at least 65-70 mph. My old 92 chevy in third gear doesnt like to go past 55 before she starts warming up. plus gets horrible mileage.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Doc Ford country down there.

I'm thinking about an older tundra, 05 or 06, just like that body style, which I believe has the 4.6, just wondering how it would do on long haul tows, specifically to FL gulf coast and the Keys, all flat land, but would like to be able to travel at at least 65-70 mph. My old 92 chevy in third gear doesnt like to go past 55 before she starts warming up. plus gets horrible mileage.

Sounds like your chevy needs some love is all. I did a 350 for my uncle's 93, and thing hauls pretty much anything he wants. No promises on the trans though. Maybe you just need to get a good max cool radiator, or get the shrouds and mounts from a late 90's SUBURBAN, then you can get the same sized radiator I have in my diesel.

[bradford]

Sounds like your chevy needs some love is all. I did a 350 for my uncle's 93, and thing hauls pretty much anything he wants. No promises on the trans though. Maybe you just need to get a good max cool radiator, or get the shrouds and mounts from a late 90's SUBURBAN, then you can get the same sized radiator I have in my diesel.


Appreciate it Ferm, She's a good truck and I've thought about the radiator change out. Does great around town or on the highway in OD, just when pulling in 3rd on the highway. I still sometime would like to get something a little nicer and newer, I'll keep her for doing the dirty stuff, but right now the crabbers and shrimpers around here have nicer trucks than me.

[inaforty]

Back home! A little under 3700 miles round trip. It was fun and we plan on doing it again next year. Took us 3 days. We were on the road about 9 hours a day -/+. I will take less crap with me next year. I way over packed safety gear. Excuse the cheapo seat covers. I whipped up them out of blue tarp material with some junky binding however they did the job.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160423_185301_zpsins5caiz.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160423_185301_zpsins5caiz.jpg.html)
The motel we stayed at in SC.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160508_064527_zpsbfbgtlpm.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160508_064527_zpsbfbgtlpm.jpg.html)
Back home. Still no leaves on the trees here. Got home and had to start the woodstove. I'm going to be glad when we move south. My father was stationed in the Key West in 1950. I think he should have stayed there.

[wellcraftv20step]

That really is a nice rig!! Glad the trip went well

[Tunnaman88]

That is a beautiful Rig!!! Shes a looker!!!! I wouldn't think the tundra would have any issues. I see you do all your own sewing.. where did you learn? trial/error?? Do you use an industrial machine?? I think we should do a northeast meet. I would love to see other rigs .. get ideas and enjoy the beauty of the V's. This is my second year of owning a 86 V.. i have done a lot of work.. lots more to do..

[inaforty]

The Tundra did the trip without and issue. Our truck has the 4.6 so it doesn't have the torque the bigger 5.7 does. Think short stroke 283 c.i.

I'm self taught when it comes to canvas repair etc. I have a commercial machine. I use a V92 anti wicking debonded thread. I'm looking at getting a larger machine that will sew a V138 thread which is very heavy. I don't use a gore-tex thread because of cost and our UV rays here are not like down south.
A 1/2 lb of gore-tex thread is around $100.
My Dad did commercial pipe covering for a living. He was great at patterns and did a lot of commercial sewing making pads to cover pipes. Although he never got a chance to teach me I guess it's just passed down thru genes??

I did a set of rear drop panels for a Steigercraft a few weeks ago.

Here is a before and after.
http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u372/pingmarinecanvas/20160302_175625_zpsikjmlqfk.jpg (http://s1064.photobucket.com/user/pingmarinecanvas/media/20160302_175625_zpsikjmlqfk.jpg.html)

I do mostly small jobs. Next jobs is zippers on a 35' Viking. Looks like I'm going to do rear curtains on a 48' Ocean after the Viking. I work a regular fulltime job so I try to keep canvas repair under control.