THE BIG MOVE.. Now in the BIG MO.. Missouri

[March Hare]

Just got done with the BIG MOVE. packed up the pile of stuff I call mine and shuffled off to the Heartland. Mid-West they call it (as opposed to Mid-East). MISSOURI.. Springfield to be exact

The 1480 miles ALMOST killed my Grand Cherokee. It was pulling a 6x12 U-Haul twin axle with my snap-on roll boxes & chests, the scooter, air compressor, the 1970 Chrysler 340 engine and evrything else from the garage.

Somewhere in New Mexico it started spotting the trailer with AT fluid but I wasn't surprised because every mile from Las Vegas to there was ALL uphill. The fan clutch got tempermental and wouldn't engage untill about 220 (whew!).For a while I was running with all windows down & the heat on.

But it made it. No tow trucks, no flats. Had to run 91 octane with the trailer and the highest per gallon price I had to pay was $4.69 (also in New Mexico).

In Oklahoma they charge TOLLS to drive the interstate. Thats fuckin stupid I think because our federal taxes paid for the highways to be built.

No longer SIN CITY precinct...... Hows "OZARK MOUNTAIN MFP" sound?.... ha ha

[Bozz]

A lifetime ago I worked and lived in Branson for about 9 months. (it felt more like 5 years at the time)

Without a doubt it is beautiful country with nice folks, but I felt a tad isolated.

Good luck with the adjustment, MH, and that sound on the roof is real, honest-to-goodness RAIN that doesn't come from the sprinkler system!

And unless they have seriously improved Silver Dollar City in the past decade, don't waste your money...

Cheers,
-Bozz

[the armourer]

I feel you pain brother. I did the same thing last July, but only 683 miles. Rented a 21ft Budget Rent-a-Van(more like rent-a-wreck) and a twin axle car trailer for the Valiant. The van was a new '07, but it was a gutless wonder. It was geared too high and it felt like it had a high-stall converter. When we got here it wouldn't pull itself up the driveway. My brother had to hook his '89 Power Wagon up to it and pull it up. To be fair, there was a bit of a load between the gun safes, the 383 and 440 with trannys, my "library", and the rest of my junk, but that little 318 literally snatched it up the hill like there was a rocket pack attached. And that was with the Valiant and trailer still hooked up. Missouri is a beautiful state. And like it has already been stated, the rain is natural. Here in East Tennessee I have a great view of the Smoky Mountains from my front porch. The national park is just 30 minutes away. Everyone's real polite and friendly and the atmosphere is laid-back and relaxed. A far cry from rude, hurried, and violent Florida. You couldn't pay me enough to go back there.

[March Hare]

Last summer I used a 24 foot BUDGET diesel to tow the furniture & stuff from the house WITH a twin axle trailer for the Chevy Astro Van. It sounds like you might have forgot to DIS-Engage the overdrive. I realized the Budget guy that loaned me the truck FORGOT to mention the little switch on the dash that shut it off. If you don't kill the OD with a trailer on it will smoke the tranny.

..in Vegas, rain comes just a few times a year..... It's rained (seems like) every other day since I've been here..

I've taken already to planting... got 2 rows of corn started, salmonelia free 'maters, watermellon, pumpkins.. ~ *banjo music from deliverance*~ diggy ding ding ding ding ~ ding ding ding

[the armourer]

Oh we knew about the OD switch and yes they forgot to mention it. We had a choice of a gas or diesel engine and chose the gas. Prob should've gone diesel. The smell and rattle of a diesel drives me nuts.

[HUMVEE Driver]

Congrats on the move, and on your driving skills!

Two years in a row I've trailered a vehicle from Detroit to Atlanta and back, almost 1,400 miles exactly. If I ever get this Humungus vehicle going I'll be doing so again this year. Can't say I'm looking forward to paying all that $$$ for gas...

HUMVEE Driver

[the armourer]

Two years in a row I've trailered a vehicle from Detroit to Atlanta and back, almost 1,400 miles exactly. If I ever get this Humungus vehicle going I'll be doing so again this year. Can't say I'm looking forward to paying all that $$$ for gas... HUMVEE Driver

Screw the trailer. Just drive it dude. Hang some quick detachable headlight, tail lights, and turn signals on it and go for it. Who needs a windscreen? Just glue some clear plastic lenses into the hockey mask and, POW!,...instant goggles. C'mon,....where's your sense of adventure?

[Redd4]

You "Show Me" yours, I'll show you mine, Hare.
Your comments about the toll roads got me thinking; I know things like roads and bridges and stuff were paid for long ago, but I realize they have to be maintained, so we're charged taxes and tolls for the cost. We don't generally have toll roads here in California, we just pay a lot of taxes, so I was wondering in places like you are now, where you pay tolls, do you have a corresponding reduction in highway taxes?

[HUMVEE Driver]

armourer, I'll be the first one to say that I am sometimes a little... 'disassociated from reality'... but even I am not crazy enough to drive a fabricated Humungus replica 1,400 miles and expect to make it without any problems, legal or otherwise!

I like the way you think, though. I did consider it for a moment or two...

HUMVEE Driver

[the armourer]

armourer, I'll be the first one to say that I am sometimes a little... 'disassociated from reality'... but even I am not crazy enough to drive a fabricated Humungus replica 1,400 miles and expect to make it without any problems, legal or otherwise!

I like the way you think, though. I did consider it for a moment or two...

HUMVEE Driver

Sorry dude. I was having one of those "street-racer" flashbacks from my early days. I have been party to some cobbled together, dangerous builds and had lots of close calls. Sometimes I'm amazed I survived my 20's. Let me quote from the song "Hot Rod Lincoln", "Feel the tension,....MAN, WHAT A RIDE!!"