It rides fantastic though. The truck sits nice too.

​​​​​​I know it was bumping on the old stock shocks, but I can't feel it on the new shocks.

 

Thats an awesome pic. From the first pic it looked like it would be sagging a ton but it looks like its handling it just fine. Disregard me and my nonsnese

 

Did the boat fall off, or is it just staged like that to look cool in the photo?

--Ian

 

It's in tilt because it's too wide to tow down the road flat.

 

Now that's a tow rig!

 

4 Cylinder Turbo (Diesel) towing a 4 cylinder turbo.

 

Just wanted to post a real-world follow up on the oversize fuel tank I posted about and installed recently.

We just returned from FM's Summer Camp in Grand Junction, CO, an 1100 mile round trip for us. In the past, the round trip had included 7 fuel stops. This probably sounds ridiculous to many of you considering the total mileage, but due to the fuel mileage over the splits (grades), and the distribution of reliable fuel over the trip, that's what it took to make sure I always had a comfortable reserve with a 9.5 mpg average and a relatively small tank.

The new tank allowed me to eliminate 3 of those fuel stops, and the bonus that I no longer immediately needed fuel on arriving home. Even though we still made a couple of those stops for quick bathroom breaks we saved an hour total on the round trip.

Eventually, it'll save me some money on fuel, but my primary goal was convenience. Goal achieved.

 

Forgive me for asking, but how does a fuel tank save you money on fuel? Are you talking about the fuel use of getting to and from the pump? I wonder how much it is offset by carrying around additional fuel (weight)...

 

With the larger capacity, you have more flexibility when/where you buy fuel and you can shop for better prices.

 

Ah, that makes sense. I never put much thought into where I get fuel anymore since I drive so few miles.

 

Considering trying out my hand in the truck/trailer world. My buddy has offered me his 2000ish Navigator w/tow package. I think the rating is somewhere south of 8k? He tows his C4 with no problems. He wants $1500 for it - might be a good investment for me. I would probably buy a trailer new, but from what I understand they don't really lose value. If it does not work out - I can always resell the trailer I suppose.

I have zero experience towing - hopefully someone here can talk me out of it.

 

Looking for advice on first open trailer for an NA.
Never towed before and so likely need to find some instruction or read and research it. What does one look in a trailer before purchasing - breakaway, brakes, hubs, etc..?

 

The used market for trailers is pretty insane. Not sure I could justify buying (most) open trailers used. Aluminum trailers hold their value exceptionally well.

What are you going to be towing with? Towing with a Ridgeline or similar, pretty much makes an aluminum trailer a requirement.

 

The math doesn't add up on aluminum trailers, IMHO. As long as you have a place to park it, it's cheaper to buy a used Suburban and a steel trailer than to buy a fancy aluminum trailer and try to use a minivan you already have (Ridgeline is basically an Odyssey with AWD).

Here in CA, cheap open trailers don't depreciate much, and in many cases it's cheaper to buy a new trailer than to buy a used one and then service it. That may well be different in places where rust is a thing.

--Ian

 

Yeah, that was pretty much the point I was trying to make.

I live where rust is a thing. You should see some of the garbage people try to sell within a hundred dollars of new. Saw an open deck steel trailer the other day that needed new wheels/tires/bearings. Hadn't moved in 10 years. People were clamoring all over it at $1800. I paid $2900 out the door for my closed deck (wood) steel.

 

I noticed a lot of guys towing with Cayennes so I looked into it. Great for towing moderate (7700lbs) weight rigs and super comfortable . Also dont need a separate tow vehicle anymore which is great with the limited parking available in my part of LA. I got a Trailex trailer and you are right they arent cheap but they last forever and are so light- mine is 850lbs and I dont even feel it when I tow Its been a great experience with super easy set up

 

While it's not turbocharged or completely massive like some of the sweet tow rigs here, I picked up a new tow rig I'm pretty dang excited about. It should be just the ticket for my single-car trailer. Vehicle is a 2007 Lexus LX470 that was impeccably maintained with full Lexus records. 2007 was the last year of the 100 Series so it has the 275hp VVT-i 4.7L V8 and 5-speed auto. Hydraulic suspension, full leather opulence, and it already has a trailer brake controller installed. It represents a massive upgrade over my previous tow rig, a 1994 GMC Suburban with an anemic 5.7L TBI making 190hp on the day it was new. This vehicle will also replace my Forester as camping/dog vehicle and I got some knobby tires for offroading. I bought it in CA and drove it 1200 miles home to CO. Would have spent way more if I bought one locally.

Tips for new trailer buyers: get a dovetail rear on the trailer, helps a lot when loading low cars like Miatas. Trailer brakes should be a no-brainer and probably legally required if your state is like mine. Otherwise it's just a trailer. I got a wooden deck but after 10 years or so it's starting to fall apart and I will need to replace the wood soon.

 

Thought I'd try out the Cayenne on my trailer this spring just encase the truck was tied up, handled my 24' steel enclosed fairly well, would be a great option for a deck trailer.

 

My buddy is going to be selling his ramp truck.

Modern tow truck chassis with 350 chevy and manual transmission is beneath.

 

That is positively gorgeous. Can make that red Miata really feel like a Ferrari huh?