The Big Tow From NC to Portland OR

[earthmover17]

Waynes world pretty much summed it up. Look like you know what you are doing and they more than likely won't bother you.
Make SURE all your lights are working. Both tow vehicle and TRAILER. Red flags at the outer most points of your boat and the Flashing beacon.
Good luck and be safe.

Jack

 

[AKBASSKING]

Waynes world pretty much summed it up. Look like you know what you are doing and they more than likely won't bother you.
Make SURE all your lights are working. Both tow vehicle and TRAILER. Red flags at the outer most points of your boat and the Flashing beacon.
Good luck and be safe.

Jack

Thanks Jack.

When I bought the boat in Jacksonville FL and towed it to NC, I stopped at all the weigh stations and everyone waved me through. In fact the NC station told me NOT to stop as it interferes with the commercial truck traffic. Not once was I asked to produce a permit during that trip.

 

[skibum]

You need to hire this guy for runnin' through Missouri. :grin:

View attachment 8545

 

[speakrdude]

Out of six weigh station pull throughs, we were stopped and asked to show approriate paper work at three of them. Glad I had it.

 

[midtown_towman]

Speakrdude-I'm with you (we seem to be the minority in this thread) Being in the towing/transport biz, we move a fair amount of oversize loads. It can sometimes be a pain in the a$$ dealing with some states permit reqirements, but it's really not that big of a deal, and most permits are pretty inexpensive. Like some of the other guys pointed out, the odds of you being stopped are pretty remote. But...in the unlikely event that you were stopped or had an accident-you'd be wishin' you would have had the correct permits. In my opinion, it doesn't seem worth the risk. Just my .02

 

[Summer Fun II]

He's going threw one state without a permit that's only 126 miles, :smt001
They wanted Tom to carry 750K insurance for those 126mi's that's just plain CRAZY !!. :smt021

 

[speakrdude]

I have to buy a permit for the state of TN. just to drive through Memphis. Approx 20 minutes worth. From MS, to ARK.

 

[Don Sr]

Tom,
Last fall my son and I drove from Knoxville to Phoenix 1900mi mostly on I40 and never once had an issue. I remember hooking the boat up to the truck for the first time, man did that thing look big. I would do what some suggested and check for construction. We came across bridge repairs where they had squeezed everyone down on to one side a of bridge there couldn't have been more than a couple inches between me and the oncomming semi traffic. Whew that was white nuckles. We ran into really bad storms from a cold front in OK and all night long I was driving into a 30 mph head wind my MPG dropped down to about 8, I don't think the old Powerstroke missed a truck stop after that.

Most folks sleep at night - here's us at 300am in New Mexico

 

[AKBASSKING]

This was an interesting trip. Started out with the threat of snow. We hit that in the mountains of WV. The new ford did a great job of pulling, but fuel mileage was bad, 5.6 MPG. As you can tell we stopped a lot. With I-40 closed going this route was the shortest to Missouri.

the bad thing was the tolls in WV! I spent $46 in tolls!!! The boat cost me an extra $10 at each of the 4 toll booths.

I almost got tossed in jail in Indiana. My thought was to stop here as fuel prices would be less than Illinois. I was dead wrong. It was a Pilot. On the sign it was advertise as $2.89 a gallon cash for diesel. When i got to the pump it was listed as $3.13. I thought this must be the credit price. I went in and withdrew cash from my account walked up to the counter and asked to pay the cash price. The lady stated that was the commercial truck price, i said that is not what it has on the sign outside. I am paying cash and $2.89 was all i was paying! They called the police on me. I guess I was not the only one that was pissed off that day. I ended up paying the higher price, but I got her name and the address to cooperate and I intend to file a complaint. Won't do any good, but I see it as false advertising. Ended up fuel was cheaper in Illinois!

We stopped for the night in Shelbyville KY. As was typical for the day, I picked the only "dry" town along the route. This sucked! I disconnected the boat and we drove a few miles down the road to a steak house that served beer. To make matters worse, when got back ther was a black cat on the bridge! Great what will tomorrow be like. When we woke up, there was about an inch of snow on the ground! damn cat!

The next day, near 10 AM we hit the Missouri line. I thought for sure there would be a line of police cars waiting in me like smoky and the bandit. But I just kept on going as the police passed me on my way to Jefferson City.

Not once did I stop at any weigh stations, nor did i get pulled over. I almost think the permits was a waste of $$ that could have been spent on fuel.

The trip back was good. 13 hours from St. Louis to NC. Snow in the mountains of WV. Bad thing is the tub is only 1/3 of the way to Portland! This is going to hurt!!!

 

[AKBASSKING]

This is a pictures of the Pilot sign, road salt all the way up to the bridge! Stopping at the Flying J in Missouri where fuel was $2.61!!!!!

 

[Summer Fun II]

Tom. I'm happy you had a SAFE trip home. :smt038
SEE !!. I told you that you wouldn't have any problems . :grin:
The Nay-Sayers on here that doesn't know jack-sh*t about trucking !!!.:smt021.
Congrats on the new toy she looks SWEET !!. :smt001
Give that dirty girl a bath !!!

 

[1956olds]

nice tow truck, mabey you oughta rinse that off .

 

[AKBASSKING]

Both my babies are nasty. Tub got a bath before I left and the tow diesel drinker today! :smt038

 

[AKBASSKING]

Tom. I'm happy you had a SAFE trip home. :smt038
SEE !!. I told you that you wouldn't have any problems . :grin:
The Nay-Sayers on here that doesn't know jack-sh*t about trucking !!!.:smt021.
Congrats on the new toy she looks SWEET !!. :smt001
Give that dirty girl a bath !!!

Thanks!!

Same opinion from Missouri to Portland???

 

[Summer Fun II]

Same opinion from Missouri to Portland???

Tom, Yes !! and for that leg of the trip. I'd get 2 decals and put them on your doors that said .
. Not For Hire .
You can get them at any hardware or auto parts store or here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NOT-FOR-HIRE-Ma..._Security_Fire_Protection?hash=item53dfe8440b.

This way it shows that you're a private hauling :smt001.
You don't have to follow the same rules/laws as a commercial trucker does.
You can blow by all the weight stations and DOT check points with no worries. :smt038.
Good luck & have another SAFE trip. Wayne

 

[AKBASSKING]

Tom, Yes !! and for that leg of the trip. I'd get 2 decals and put them on your doors that said .
. Not For Hire .
You can get them at any hardware or auto parts store or here.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NOT-FOR-HIRE-Ma..._Security_Fire_Protection?hash=item53dfe8440b.

This way it shows that you're a private hauling :smt001.
You don't have to follow the same rules/laws as a commercial trucker does.
You can blow by all the weight stations and DOT check points with no worries. :smt038.
Good luck & have another SAFE trip. Wayne

Good idea..................:thumbsup:

 

[Summer Fun II]

Tom,
Its all about knowing how to play with the rules/laws. :thumbsup:
I'll PM you with my phone # or you PM me with yours ??.
I have internet phone calling I can call any place for free . :smt001

 

[Spot]

... are you close now? The weather here is not as nice as last week, however no snow like the East, periods of sun later this week. Enjoy the tow. I just did 200 miles with some nasty weather, I can't imagine how you feel at the end of each day.

 

[Spot]

One other note... if you fish, we are expecting the BIGGEST run of Spring Chinook Salmon within the next month. If you can get the boat wet in time you will be able to anchor and toss out the line for some amazing times.

It is a secret so don't tell anybody about the fish

 

[Nehalennia]

Good deal Tom.
Keep the rubber on the road and the bearings greased up.