STeveZ
08-11-2015, 11:14 AM
I felt like it was a "big ask" to expect my '03 XC70 to haul our 17' center console 1300 miles round trip to Folly Beach, SC. Especially since it had been totaled by the insurance company a few months ago. But my wife loves cruising the rivers and creeks, looking at the homes and boats and dolphins and assorted wildlife, so I set about making it happen.
The totaled car received a new door, a bit of molding and about $1200 of unexpected suspension repairs. But was eventually re-titled, licensed and pronounced roadworthy. That is until it blew a power steering line two days before vacation requiring one last expensive repair. The trailer was prepped with new wheels & tires and races & bearings. I estimate the boat, motor and trailers weight around 1600 lbs, with minimal tongue weight. The XC got fresh oil and transmission fluid.
It was with some trepidation that I headed south with 159,000 miles on the odometer, unsure it would ever turn 160. I traveled between 60-65 mph the whole way making for a longer than usual trip. I was careful not to engage overdrive per my mechanic's instruction. They had forgotten to re-install the skid plate when repairing the power steering and I reasoned that this might help to cool the engine and more importantly the transmission.
After a week of twice daily boat rides, here's the rig ready for the trip back north. While long, the trip was uneventful mechanically. Average mpg was a respectable 17.6. After making this trip two years in a row I'll only ask this old girl to perform occasional put-in and haul-out duty from now on!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DFrza433tD9DAJVEC-Za5MLwtfsEJQYPDLHgUJQduw=w1920-h734-no
The totaled car received a new door, a bit of molding and about $1200 of unexpected suspension repairs. But was eventually re-titled, licensed and pronounced roadworthy. That is until it blew a power steering line two days before vacation requiring one last expensive repair. The trailer was prepped with new wheels & tires and races & bearings. I estimate the boat, motor and trailers weight around 1600 lbs, with minimal tongue weight. The XC got fresh oil and transmission fluid.
It was with some trepidation that I headed south with 159,000 miles on the odometer, unsure it would ever turn 160. I traveled between 60-65 mph the whole way making for a longer than usual trip. I was careful not to engage overdrive per my mechanic's instruction. They had forgotten to re-install the skid plate when repairing the power steering and I reasoned that this might help to cool the engine and more importantly the transmission.
After a week of twice daily boat rides, here's the rig ready for the trip back north. While long, the trip was uneventful mechanically. Average mpg was a respectable 17.6. After making this trip two years in a row I'll only ask this old girl to perform occasional put-in and haul-out duty from now on!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DFrza433tD9DAJVEC-Za5MLwtfsEJQYPDLHgUJQduw=w1920-h734-no