[garylimey]

Hey Jim,



I'm really glad to see that all is resolved, I've been reading this thread every so often and was beginning to wonder if I was going to be seeing you at VIR.



Enjoy your new set-up, take your time getting down there. I will be making a detour on the way down so I will probably be leaving at 4 am, so I'll see you Friday afternoon at the track.



BTW, I'm staying in one of the hospitality suites, I will definitely be able to spot you when you pull in <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> .



Happy Thanksgiving

Gary

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

Thanks for the good wishes, Jim, Gary, David - and everyone else.



Yes, this trailer is HUGE!!! We've given some thought to graphics, but we won't do anything until we've proven we can drive long distances safely.



Gary, we're staying at the event hotel - interesting idea to stay at the track, are the prices crazy or reasonable? How long a drive from northern NJ to VIR? Looking forward to seeing you - maybe you can instruct me.



The licensing requirement is one of the craziest things. You only need a CDL if the total weight of truck and trailer exceeds 26,000 pounds (or if there are passengers, or some other requirements). We're going to be (slightly!) under 26,000 so all you need is a regular driver's license. After having driven this a bit, there should be a tighter requirement, just anyone shouldn't be allowed on the roads with something like this (don't ask me how I know!).



I've found a commercial weigh station to check the weight of the rig once the cars are loaded, as well as to check the weight of the loaded trailer. As noted, the rig can't exceed 26,000 lbs, and the trailer can't exceed 15,000 lbs (that's the manufacturer's rating that comports with the axle ratings). I know that the empty rig was almost 17,000 lbs. so when we add in about 7,000 lbs. of cars, we don't have room for much more. I'm becoming weight paranoid - maybe it's time for a diet.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

lol - man, does this bring back memories



jom - ring me up - i need to talk to you about inclusion of this in a story i am writing for the magazine

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

I'll call you tomorrow.



HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!!!!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[garylimey]

Jim, I got a bit of a deal on the suite and garage. The suite ended up at $99 a night for 3 nights Fri/Sat/Sun and $90 a day for the garage which is only 2 days Sat/Sun. I decided to stay the extra night at the track as the 1st almost 100 miles back are mostly on unlite roads which have a slope that you probably wont recover from on either side if you get tired and drift of to the side off the road.

This is what I did a fews week ago and it was great, I did the whole event and did not drive home tired.



The drive there is about 8 hours plus stopping time at a towing speed. The drive back took longer as my kids kept wanting to stop to eat. Don't follow your navigation through Washington, go around!!! I made that mistake on the way back, but my kids did get to see the White House from a distance.



I'm not qualified as an instructor so I cannot go out with you but you are welcome to take a ride with me if you want <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> .



See you there

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

Forgive the quality, but here's a shot as we were test loading the trailer. Tongue weight was about 2,500 lbs, which is what I was aiming for. D-ring locations were picked - and my car, which goes in last, will not be on the beavertail. Lots of room to get between the cars, as well as in front and behind, to do the tiedowns.



   

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

Some of you that have been following this saga know that I've been concerned about weight - the total weight of the loaded truck and trailer, as well as the weight of the loaded trailer itself. I found a truck stop near where I live that has a scale that, for $9 a weigh, will tell me what I need to know. Interestingly, it's a multi-section scale, so you can position the rig in such a way as to get individual axle (or axle group) weights. Yesterday I weighed the truck with me, a full fuel tank, and some miscellaneous stuff - and got 8,340 lbs. Tomorrow I pick up the trailer, which has had wheel bearings repacked, brakes inspected, and D-rings installed. I'll load the two cars into it and then go to the scale again. I'd best not be over 23,340 lbs total, because if I am, that means that the trailer is over its 15,000 limit. Fingers crossed, because I think this is going to be a squeaker.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[RS Barn]

Jim,

Did you try the rear shock tie down rings we put on? They should work great from the picture of the trailer with your car

Pete

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

Yes, I tested one of the rear shock tiedown rings. It was very easy to hook up to. Tieing the rear will be a pleasure - helped by the fact that there's also lots of room on the beavertail behind the car. I wish there was something as easy for the front.



The one thing I did notice is that the tiedown strap from the driver's side ring will press against the exhaust system. There doesn't seem to be any way to prevent that, although I didn't spend a lot of time examining this. It appears that crossing the straps will be a little better in this regard than going straight back, so that's likely what I'll do.



I will be moving the car a bit towards the rear of the trailer compared to the test I did, and this will help to reduce (eliminate?) the contact with the exhaust.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

The trailer is now sitting in a parking lot, ready to be towed to VIR. The cars are in it and tied down (hopefully it'll get easier with more practice, but it wasn't too bad) and there's a nice amount of space in front of, between, and behind them. Tomorrow my son will install some storage items in the trailer so that we have a place for "stuff". The new hitch setup is wonderful - I was able to make turns today that were simply impossible earlier.



The truck seems quite capable of towing the loaded trailer, so I'm hoping we won't have any more issues. Fingers crossed!



Time ran out on me today, though, so I didn't have the chance to get the entire loaded rig weighed. At this point, that will have to wait until after the VIR expedition.



Gary, we're now staying at the Lodge - decided we'd have enough track time that we didn't need to stay in those units. See you Friday!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[pinball1008]

Good luck with the journey and your weekends fun.

A small photo diary of how things go would be great.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

Thanks for the wishes. I will start photos tomorrow - thanks for asking.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[biotechee]

Looking forward to seeing them Jim!



I am excited for you- and remember, keep the sunny side up!!!



My daughter and I were watching Disney Pixar's "Cars" last night and it made me think about you and your son going racing...



Jim

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[banditsc]

[quote name='Anchorman' post='63807' date='Dec 4 2008, 03:38 PM']Thanks for the wishes. I will start photos tomorrow - thanks for asking.[/quote]



Create yourself a Blog on the forum here, that would be a good place to document your whole experience...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

That's an idea! and I'd learn something new at the same time.



Flash, help me out, please.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

lol - i will - but, before we spoil the bigger story..........................

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

All in good time. Right now, the truck is ready, the trailer is ready (the generator works - how nice), and I'm packing my clothes and some sustenance for the 10-hr. drive. Tomorrow morning I pick my son up at 6:00am and off we go.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

good luck - drive slow - check your load, and the lug nut torques after 50 miles, and again after another 200 or so - then check the load at each gas stop

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

Good points, thanks. Hopefully, tomorrow night I'll be able to post a "successful arrival" message - the VIR Lodge has courtesy wireless service that I'll take advantage of.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

SUCCESSFUL ARRIVAL!!!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.