Jon Roche Web Blog: July 2013

Towing with the GMC over the years

This was the first trip with the GMC. St. Cloud, to Danbury Wisconsin and back for some off road fun. I flat towed the 4 seater, while my friend towed my buggy on the trailer behind his wrangler.

I have not towed the boat too much. Just a couple weekends just an hour or so away from the house. It tows nice, but I have not tried to land it with the gmc. So far there is always someone else there with a truck.

I installed a towbar on my friends Jeep wrangler. It towed decent. Problem was he took it apart and spent two years upgrading to a v-8 in the jeep. so now it is a little heavier, and he is still working out the bugs on the swap. so not sure when i can borrow it again.

My Dad's 4 wheeler and trailer for hunting. His trailer is heavy for it's size.

This is how I used to tow my buggy. tows really easy. Just goofy loading buggy on that trailer. I have towed this a few places. I think this was out to appleton for the first big GMC trip after I actaully fixed alot of things that were wrong with it when i brought it home.

I towed this way a couple times. First was a longer haul up to the iron range, in MN. The trailer has electric brakes. It tows nice, but I think I seen a real drop in mileage. I also was running hot this trip, but I think that was due to radiator problems.

I think the ranger is about 400+ pounds heavier then my dad's 4 wheeler. I towed this down near Ellesworth wisconin and back. It struggled on the hills. but it did not over heat. this was a week after I changed the radiator, and was over 90 degrees on the trip out. I took less hilly route home, and it was cooler.

This is how I haul my dune buggy now. tows really easy.

Busy start to summer

Ok, it has been a busy summer now that it finally arrived.

Started out after working on the GMC April and May, we left for our first camping trip about 40 minutes away.

It rained some, but we had a nice time. GMC did good, no real issues. We went to the zoo, but ended up driving home saturday in the car, and going back out to the campground for a fire and smores Saturday night.

After the GMC made its first trip, it was time for the buggy. Frantic to get the front end working right. different steering box, and a few other small items.

Ready to go, just before the GMC started to leak antifreeze.

Did not let the antifreeze leak stop me on the trip out, but I had to leave it, and return a week later to swap out the radiator. Keith met us out there for some buggy action with his GMC.

had a few issues getting stuck on the logs. and one broken clutch cable. but we got it back together and out of there. was a great day.

Sunday, Jeff and I picked up another buggy out in Alexandria, then went down to anoka to pick up this nice old willies pickup. I had to drive the buggy home.

after I frantically got the radiator swapped, we headed to Northfield to meet up with some other GMCer's for a work rally. good people and super place to be. we could only stay one night there. GMC ran great.

Up on the lift to get checked out.

my dodge rims made the front too wide for the alingment. but we tried to adjust the ride height. Mine is sitting too high, but we lowered it as much as we could, without changing porkchops. had great help from Dave Lenzi.

Kids were entertained. for some reason they did not care much for the work going on.

Jens family from England came to visit. had a nice bon fire. enjoyed their company for a few days. Tried to give a buggy ride, but after the buggy weekend, I must have jarred some things and it was not running right.

family

Finally got the awning on. ended up buying a used awning, was missing one piece. and I had to have Jeff pick that piece up in Chicago for me. finally a month later, it is on the coach ready for use.