Meet "J-Bird"
 

I brought her home (from Hartford, CT to Beverly, MA) today. She's a 1984 V20 with an '89 Black Max 150 Merc. Sits on a '99 Venture tandem trailer. Came with some decade-old electronics (GPS, Fishfinder)...

I'm pretty psyched. She needs to be cleaned up and some topside paint (maybe next year) would be nice, but she's clean.

Very psyched. Also - I don't know if it's tacky to mention... but I got a really, really good deal.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1495/...690b0544_z.jpg

Looks great!
Congrats!

'84 cuddy is the BEST V20.....

Thanks guys. Can't wait to get out there.

You towed that with that poor little SUV?!?!
What were you thinking?!?!

LOL... J/K..... Looks good....time to get on the water :-D

Looking good Jeb. Seems the Ford Explorer had no problems towing her. She looks like she belongs on the back of your truck. Nice combo. May you have nothing but sweet rides with them both. :beer:

Haha... I was white-knuckling it for a while, but after a 40-mile check, I realized we were doing pretty well. Freshly greased bearing buddies were cool as a cucumber. That said, my paranoid a$$ never topped 55 mph the whole way - ha ha!

I look forward to learning a lot from those gracious enough to share with me on this forum.

Always go by the Ford manual and turn off O/D when you are towing, take it easy, coast to stops and save your brakes. Your Explorer will be fine. You should't get over 55, you have a precious baby in tow....

Yup 55 ain't paranoid it's SMART.... When traffic slams to a stop you'll be really happy you aren't trying to scrub off an additional 20 mph!

You need to paint a blue stripe on the lowers of the 'sploder to match ur new V!

I DO NOT TURN OFF OVERDRIVE when towing with my Ford Explorer !!!!
Reason.......................it over heated when I did.
Ford Dealer says..........they don't know why, but correct, leave OD on !!!


I know, mechanical logic would suggest OD off so engine spins more freely and won't lug / over work the drive train. Reality is, I've been towing maybe 10 years now with 2004 Ford Explorer, approx. 120,000 miles on it, and still tows my 100 miles round trip for fishing trips fine.

My rig is 1996 Wellcraft V21, curtains frequently up, 525lb Etec 200 HO, dual axle trailer, full fuel in Explorer and boat.......so quite a decent load.

Maybe the new model Explorer works differently, but thought I'd share.