A boating buddy recently explained his big Ford Excursion this way: "95% of my driving needs could be met with a volkswagon beetle but I need something for the remaining 5%." I see so many otherwise ecologically-minded boaters driving big gas-guzzling SUVs or pick-up trucks to accomocate the boating lifestyle that I want to post my recent experience with an alternative setup. Here's a highway trip report of my first test-run with a recently acquired light-weight trailer and my Subaru station wagon.
Trip:
Denver to Ruby Ranch on the Green River south of Moab, float 3 days in Labyrinth Canyon, takeout at Mineral Bottom, Moab Daily run for splashy rapids, return to Denver. 950 miles total.
Equipment:
*Vehicle: 1994 Subaru Legacy Wagon, 2.2 Liter engine, 160K miles, 5-speed, rated towng capacity 1000 lbs w/o trailer brakes, 2000 w/ trailer brakes.
*Trailer: Converted aluminum 10' x 6'8" snowmobile trailer w/ 5/8" plywood decking & rollers across the back, approx 450 lbs unloaded, 8" wheels, 2400 lbs rated carriage capacity
*Boat & Gear: 13' SB raft w/ oar setup (inflated during transit), 2-person duckie (rolled during transit)
*Standard rafting gear - 120 qt cooler, camping gear, steel firepan, relatively spartan but more than adequate kitchen setup, Ecosafe groover setup, overpacked personal gear + contingency gear, overpacked food, boat was loaded level w/ gear while on trailer
*Thule roof box
*Personnel: 2 adults, 2 adolescent girls + small dog
The Subaru pulled the load beautifully, freeway speeds of generally 75 mph w/ no trouble, dropped to 55 - 60 mph (3rd gear) on major passes (Georgetown Hill, Vail Pass, Floyd Hill, etc.), could've done 70 easily if I'd wanted to tach it out. No trouble pulling load up the hairy road out of Mineral Bottom. Easily did 85 - 90 mph w/ gusty tailwinds coming east and noticed most significent drag w/ strong headwinds when I had to drop to 4th gear and drive about 65 - 70 mph (4000 rpm). No noticable engine temp difference from unloaded driving conditions. Usual milage for a similar trip w/out trailer and all the gear is about 25 mpg (mountain driving included), for this trip overall the milage was just over 20.5 mpg. Trailer was hitched the entire time.
We did 75% of our shopping & filled water jugs after going over the major mountain passes (City Market in Fruita). I think the Subaru could haul an inflated 16' boat w/ similar setup & load just as easily w/ out the roof box wind drag. With a boat rolled and gear on trailer, I expect to be able to haul an adequate load for a 1- 2 week river trip with the same car/trailer setup and a bigger boat.