[Stinson Driver]

I got a chance to buy a nifty airplane at a very fair price but one condition of the transaction was that the plane not fly out of the airport it was located at. With the help of some talented friends and a very nice borrowed trailer behind my 2016 V6, Mission Accomplished!

Now all I need to do is reassemble and inspect it and find out if it flies as fun as it looks Here is what it looked like before it was de-winged.

 

[valvecovergasket]

Did about 250 miles with this combo at a bit below the limit of the diesel, heaviest setup I've towed with the Colorado though (2200 trailer + 4900 Touareg)

Managed 16-18mpg at around 65mph, was fine once at speed but definitely not the fastest off the line especially in stop and go traffic on the highway on any kind of grade 😁

 

[Stinson Driver]

The Colorado and I ended up with a repeat engagement on the airplane moving thing. My neighbor found this 1946 Ercoupe in upper cental Maine, about a four hour drive from here. We flew up last week in my plane to look it over and he ended up buying it. This weekend we drove up with an empty trailer, spent a few hours pulling the wings off and drove home with my neighbor's "new" plane. The previoius owner died several years ago The plane has good bones, is basically in good shape, but has sat long enough to no longer be airworthy. Now that it has traveled here by road it will be flying again fairly soon, we hope.

The Colorado is a nice two rig. Comfortable enough to make an eight hour round trip drive in one day pleasant, strong enough to get the towing done, economical enough to get 15 or so miles per gallon doing it.

 

[Stinson Driver]

The Colorado and I ended up with a repeat engagement on the airplane moving thing. My neighbor found this 1946 Ercoupe in upper cental Maine, about a four hour drive from here. We flew up last week in my plane to look it over and he ended up buying it. This weekend we drove up with an empty trailer, spent a few hours pulling the wings off and drove home with my neighbor's "new" plane. The previoius owner died several years ago The plane has good bones, is basically in good shape, but has sat long enough to no longer be airworthy. Now that it has traveled here by road it will be flying again fairly soon, we hope.

The Colorado is a nice two rig. Comfortable enough to make an eight hour round trip drive in one day pleasant, strong enough to get the towing done, economical enough to get 15 or so miles per gallon doing it.

I forgot to attach a couple of pictures.

 

[Pro Stock John]

Is a 2" level a bad idea if I'm once in a while towing a car on an open trailer? Figure 5K total load.

 

[Stinson Driver]

I am not an expert but in my opinion the factory knew what they were doing when they designed this rig. It is a pretty well sorted out all around pick-um-up truck. The extra "up" to the rear suspension allows for the "down" of a loaded bed and/or weight on the hitch.

It all depends on what look you want - I am level and cool when unloaded (which gives you I am squatted down in the back when loaded, I am not a real truck and can't carry any weight without pointing my nose up) - or the stock look of I have my butt up in the air a bit some of the time when unloaded but look at me all level and composed when loaded.

I think the factory compromise is a good choice but if you prefer the level when unloaded look you just need to be prepared for the nose up in the air look when loaded. To each their own.

 

[Pro Stock John]

That's exactly my concern. Guess I'll hold off on leveling it.