First Road Trip

[Lummisailor]

On October 15, 2018, we left Bellingham, bound for San Pedro, Cal.(Los Angeles Harbor), towing Synergy, our Ranger 25 Classic on her tandem trailer with our Ram 2500 5.7 Hemi. We were able to pull the three 4,000 ft summits Ashland, the Siskiyous, and the Grapevine at 50 mph in 3rd gear turning 3500 rpm. Driving Interstate 5 all the way, we were welcomed in the three RV parks where we stopped, and had some interesting conversations with folks about our unusual RV.
The trip was thankfully uneventful with the exception of the poor condition of I-5 in California, It was so rough it shook the set screws loose on the solar panel rack which we discovered when we stopped at a State rest stop.
On arrival in San Pedro, we launched at the Cabrillo Beach launch ramp, which has nicely sloping lanes with a 200 ft float. The launch fee is eight dollars including 24 hour parking. The only thing lacking is a fresh water washdown faucet for your trailer. We are members of the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club which is close to the ramp, so we could use the club's dry storage yard to wash down the trailer and park the trailer there.
We have a slip at CBYC and are enjoying the boating in and around Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors, all of which are within the eight mile long breakwater. We are currently home on Lummi Island for the holidays and will return to Synergy in January and watch for a weather window to cruise to Catalina Island. The weather in the winter in SoCal is usually benign, but you have to watch for the Santa Ana Winds that blow out of the east and impact the North/East side of the island where Avalon is located.

 

[Lummisailor]

Anybody know how to add a photo to a posting

 

[S@LTD]

When the time comes to head back North you might try taking Hwy 99 north from where it splits off just south of Bakersfield. Historically 99 never used to be as good as I5 but it is much nicer today. As you mentioned I5 will rattle your teeth out. We just got home from Az via Tahatchapi and and white the exception of a few miles south of Visalia it is pretty nice. Dynamic Duo will be heading down to Havasu via that route in a couple of weeks.

 

[Bruce Moore]

Anybody know how to add a photo to a posting

Getting a User Photo Album for your Ranger Tug is easy but it requires submitting a request from within the site structure.

1. Sign on to the site. You’re probably signed on if you’re reading this.

2. Select the User Control Panel link from the upper left corner of any page. Note: On the home page, this link is in your user menu in the upper right.

3. Click the Usergroups tab, then select the radio button next to the User Albums group.
Scroll down, choose "Join selected" in the drop-down menu, and click the Submit button.

Once you do this, an email is automatically sent to the administrator (me). That message will trigger my ability to approve your request, and you'll receive an email indicating your membership in the User Albums group has been activated.

I'll watch for the message, and look forward to seeing your pictures.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Lummisailor]

Synergy our Ranger 25 Classic is home on Lummi Island WA. We had her at our yacht club, Cabrillo Beach Y C in SanPedro Cal since October 2018. It was great fun returning to places we once called home in and about Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. For the trip home we took CA 99 instead of I 5 the road condition was far better and there were more interesting places to stop. As I may have mentioned before I have Diesel envy although the ram 2500 with the 5.7 hemi gas did handled the three 3000 ft. plus passes running at 3800 rpm in 4th gear,it guzzled gas at a rate of 7.4 gal per mile. The only mechanical failure on the whole trip was a puncture in one of the trailer tires. I would like to compliment the tow truck company in Williams CA who contract with Boat US for there prompt service in changing out tires. At 9800 lbs I did not want to use my jack to lift the trailer. looking forward to cruising our home waters this summer, hope to see other Tug Nuts out there.
Pura Vida, Larry and Joanie

 

[Brian B]

Trailer flats will happen, I've had my share. I carry a tire changing ramp like this one, http://www.rusticranchtack.com/catalog/ ... 115802.htm and an impact gun for the lug nuts that I bought from Harbor Freight, https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-max-l ... 64195.html
From start to finish I'm back on the road in about 15 minutes.

 

[NorthernFocus]

...I have Diesel envy although the ram 2500 with the 5.7 hemi gas did handled the three 3000 ft. plus passes running at 3800 rpm in 4th gear,it guzzled gas at a rate of 7.4 gal per mile...

Every time we tow I also have a bout of diesel envy. And every time I do the math I come up with the same answer and keep driving the gas rig.

... At 9800 lbs I did not want to use my jack to lift the trailer...

We carry a small hydraulic jack that can handle the load with minimal effort and takes up little space. Also a few bits of plywood to spread the load as needed.

 

[Lummisailor]

Brian, thanks for the info on the tire ramp. I will check it out at Harbor Freight. Does the ramp have a tendency to slide when you drive up on it?

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

They also sell them at Tractor Supply, where I bought mine.

Jim