[flash]

lol - that's what i figured - i'm doing the same kind of math - so geeky - too funny



1500 lbs? wow - yeah, i was thinking more like 10,000 - i burned up a 3500 trying to get it up the ramp - hmmmm



have fun - shiny side up

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[Anchorman]

Like everything else, the devil is in the details...



Once we get the trailer, we'll really know what it has, and needs. Starting to make the list, though.

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[biotechee]

I am all giddy with excitement for you Jim!



Enjoy it to the fullest!



And this goes without saying- pictures are manditory.

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[flash]

lol - i was all excited too when i first talked to him about this - i was also VERY jealous to be able to have something that large - that was the hardest decision when we went into this - choosing the tow vehicle was entirely dependent on the trailer, and visa versa - we don't have the luxury of space here like he does



did i mention i was VERY jealous?

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[Anchorman]

You guys may be jealous - but I'm a bit nervous. This is no trivial undertaking, and there are still some pieces to fall into place - and this is one LARGE trailer.



Anyway - we're scheduled to pick up the tow vehicle tomorrow morning. I'm working on finalizing the trailer deal today, then I'll probably take a couple of days next week to drive the tow vehicle to Portland, Maine to pick up the trailer.



Then it'll be dealing with all of the "don't you think we need this", and "don't you think we need that" stuff. At an overall length of 45', there's no doubt that the trailer will be big enough forever (mark my words - I really mean "FOREVER"), so it'll just become a question of what we need to put into it in addition to the cars. Initially, probably not much, so the first time at the track could be interesting - we'll pull up in this pretty seriously looking rig, and have nothing but a couple of cars.



In case I haven't said it - the first event is at VIR on December 6-7 - all are invited. We'll drive down on the 5th, back on the 8th.



I have to say - having the trailer and my son's company is opening up thoughts of events that I wouldn't have thought about at all - such as the VIR, and maybe mid-Ohio, and...



Maybe my wife is right to worry that we might be going down some sort of slope.

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[Duckman]

Now that you'll have a trailer, I'll send info on and directions to Carolina Motorsports Park: http://www.carolinamotorsportspark.com/



The track is 42 miles from my house, which is certainly convenient. They have a lot of events there, including PCA races and DEs. As you can see from the website, there are lots of other non-Porsche specific events, too.



COME ON DOWN!

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[Anchorman]

Now that's EXACTLY what my wife is afraid will happen. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Anchorman]

OK - the truck is now in our possession. 2003 F350 Superduty 6L turbodiesel Lariat dually crew cab. Looks to be in very nice condition. On Monday it will get a new head unit with XM and navigation. Then, a full go-over at a Ford dealer to update maintenance. Then new rear tires, a spray-on bed liner and the gooseneck hitch. If all goes well, this will all get done during the coming week, and the following week I'll drive to Maine to pick up the trailer that's been purchased. It's an almost new 45' gooseneck unit, E-track on the walls, I don't know for sure what else. Based on recommendations, one of the first things to get installed will be a winch (recommendations? rating?), some cabinets, and the stuff needed to hold the cars in place.



Starting to get exciting.

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[flash]

nav - good call - important when towing to be able to see the gas stations in advance



that reminds me that i need to list the Avic that i have sitting around here

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[Anchorman]

Gas stations - or, in the case of this diesel, "fuel stops" will be much more frequent than we're used to. I can see the possibility of adding a tank - but we'll see how the first trip goes.

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[garylimey]

Hey Jim, congrats on the big step your taking you wont regret it.



I see your also going to VIR with Chin, it will be a blast.



See you then,



Gary

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[Anchorman]

This is an exciting, with a little nervousness thrown in, step. I'll have to spend some time with you at VIR, looking forward to it.

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[Anchorman]

To make trailer loading/balancing a bit easier and more accurate, I've purchased a Sherline 5000 lb tongue weight scale. Not badly priced - $114 shipped to my house for a new unit. I thought I'd be able to find used ones, but no luck.



It's starting to look like the truck/trailer combo, once loaded with cars and stuff, will get pretty close to 20,000 lbs, so I don't want to make any stupid loading mistakes.



In New Jersey, if the Gross Combination Weight Rating of the truck and trailer exceed 26,000 lbs., a commercial drivers license is required - I'm hoping we don't get to that level, but I don't know what the GWCR is (and it appears that this is the total of the Ratings, not the actual weights).

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[gryphon]

I wonder how many states, besides California, will make you drive 55 MPH?



Tom

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[flash]

there are quite a few

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[Anchorman]

That's something I haven't seen. I assume that if there's a different speed limit for trailers, it's posted along with the standard speed limit signs. Whatever, I'll certainly be planning to not be picked up for speeding, not with this monster rig.



Today my son had nav, XM, Bluetooth, and remote start installed. Wednesday-Friday it gets a spray-in bed liner and the bed hitch. Next Tuesday, it gets serviced and new rear tires. Then, the following day I drive the truck to Maine to get the trailer, returning on Thursday - I have no intention of rushing this first tow.

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[Duckman]

This is getting exciting. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Anchorman]

I have to admit - IT IS!!! I was in a parking lot today, on hold with my mobile phone, so I paced 20 paces along the lines, figuring that the truck/trailer rig will be about that (60' or so, maybe a little longer). When I looked back...GULP!!! It's going go take some real care, attention, and practice to get comfortable driving this rig - and I'm definitely going to spend some time in an empty parking lot practicing backing up. I don't want to wreck someone's else's rig at VIR - to say the least, that would be embarrassing.



One thing this will give me - it's a garage in which I can park my 968 during the bad winter months!

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[flash]

i'll find the link to the cool clamp on mirror extensions i have - AMAZING improvement in backing up - cheap too - a rear camera wouldn't hurt either - i installed one of those on the denali - now i just have to jack in another one on the trailer - that's the nice thing about the AVIC units - very easy to do

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[Anchorman]

The truck has side mirrors that manually extend - it's possible they'll be enough, but if not the clamp-on mirror extensions will be the next step. Rear cameras might be interesting. Given that the hitch is in the bed of the truck, a camera there would probably be pretty boring, but one in the rear of the trailer could be helpful. Let's see how I feel after the first tow.

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