What'd you do to your Four Winns today?

kmack · **Posted:** Fri Aug 02, 2019 1:41 pm

Had a great fishing trip this past week, but did have to perform some unplanned, roadside maintenance.

25 miles into our 270 mile return trip home, I decide to check the temperature of my trailer axle hubs while getting gas. 60* difference between each side so I know something is wrong. Look underneath the driver side wheel and I can see that the hub is coming off the axle. Jack it up and I pulled the entire wheel/hub assembly off, over the axle nut and cotter pin! The outer bearing had cratered and disintegrated! Another 25 miles (one way) to the nearest town that had a trailer shop for new bearings and we were soon enough on our way home, although 3+ hours later than expected. We were very lucky I caught it before we got back on the road. No damage to the axle shaft or the hub itself, just the bearings.

I now have an extra set of bearings to carry with me, but those 6-lug, 12" drums are heavy and take up a lot of space. Unfortunately, I don't have the room to carry that much of a spare. Yet...

kmack · **Posted:** Tue Aug 06, 2019 11:51 am

Small video of us flushing the saltwater out of the motor from our trip. I love the bark of a 2-stroke!!!

https://youtu.be/8DSKeEgTSHw

Misterfu02 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:05 am

I put mine through the ringer the last couple of weeks.

Just returned from a 5 day camping trip. Kept the boat moored in front of the site the entire time. The only time it rained was one overnight, and it POURED. Glad I covered it before I went to bed each night.

Boat ran great, used way less gas than I thought I would. The interior is filthy now. Between fishing, tubing, beaching, and everything in between, I have a lot of scrubbing to do when time allows. Thank god for snap out carpets.

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:40 am

kmack wrote:

Small video of us flushing the saltwater out of the motor from our trip. I love the bark of a 2-stroke!!!

https://youtu.be/8DSKeEgTSHw

love it...
my 4.3 sounds like almost a V8....

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ysj65t93un6dy ... 0.MOV?dl=0

Misterfu02 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:50 am

kmack that outboard sounds like a snowmobile :lol:

kmack · **Posted:** Wed Aug 07, 2019 5:07 pm

Misterfu02 wrote:

kmack that outboard sounds like a snowmobile :lol:

Almost, but not quite as "tinny"! I used to have an old Yamaha RD350 motorcycle that was highly modified (2-stroke twin). That thing screamed and sounded like wasps farting in a tin can! It would almost hurt your ears. But I cut my teeth long ago on old 2-stroke motorcycles. The smell of the old castor oil they used to use is like heaven to me!

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I'm behind schedule this year due to work and other life events. I swapped impeller, oil service on motor and drive and fuel filter replacement.....pulled her out to run on muffs after charging battery and nothing but clicking. Can't complain as that was original 2008 interstate 2 year bttry that lasted for 11 years.

Got new one installed and fired right up....until the dreaded high pitch fuel pump whine started.....damn... I've been here birdie 5 years ago and now have to order and swap that cheap part!!!

chevymaher · **Joined:** Sun Feb 03, 2019 2:32 pm **Posts:** 103

Yea they dredged the landing. The boy and i went out this morning and cruised to Coney Island.

So the landing is all clear till next spring now. Then the floods and mud start the spring cycle over again.

kmack · **Posted:** Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:43 am

Spent this past Labor Day weekend at Canyon Lake with the boat. Had to replace one of the side marker lights on the trailer.

Oh, I also had to chase down my boat on Sunday afternoon. Yes, I had to swim out to the boat as it was leaving the cove without me due to some (bleepin') idiot that decided he was in too much of a hurry to keep to a "no wake" zone near the boat ramp. We were beached and had an anchor off the stern. The wake picked it off the shore and then the wind took over. I've come to realize I'm not in as good of shape as I think I am!

But I still have my boat!

Misterfu02 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 03, 2019 12:48 pm

kmack, I retired from holiday boating for that very reason. Also known as amateur hour. :lol:

I got the budget chartplotter rigged up. It's nice having the chart in line with the rest of your gauges.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=23463

chevymaher · **Joined:** Sun Feb 03, 2019 2:32 pm **Posts:** 103

I avoided weekends and holidays for the same reasons. I was going early in the mornings on weekdays. River is glassy smooth no loud idiots to deal with. That is until school started.

Now my son can't go unless it is on the weekends. So if weather permits we will venture out tomorrow at the crack of dawn. 74 is supposed to be the high.

Well I been as always doing alot of boat related stuff. I am retired and pick and choose when and what work I do now.

On the towmater It had rust under the fender flairs. So I bought painted and installed new fenders. I like the durango towmater better than the tahoe. It is same color scheme reddish. Tahoe is silver. I know petty.

I got a new Prop a 4 blade job. I don't hot rod and it liked the power 2 prop 21 pitch. So I got a solid 21 pitch 4 blade better cruise rpm at the speeds I do.

I got a Sunbrella cover custom made for it. Specifically for my boat which is old as dirt.

And in preparation for winter I am replacing the tent carport with a bigger 20x21 metal cartport. They coming tues to put that up. Now Towmater can stay out of rust/weathers way with the boat.

Couple shots of me and the boys last outing.

LouC · **Posted:** Fri Sep 06, 2019 5:41 pm

Nice set up you got there! I like Mopars as well. Still have my '07 Hemi Grand Cherokee. Pulls like the Super Chief and with Quadradrive II constant traction all the time. I actually like it better than the newer ones. 330 hp and 375 ft lbs of torque.

Misterfu02 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 07, 2019 6:49 am

There’s something about those old Dakotas and Durangos. I really hope Ram offers the Hemi in the new Dakota they’re supposedly releasing next year.

Nice setup btw. Very clean boat and tow rig. You’re going to love having everything inside. I keep all of my stuff indoors as well. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I have a 2013 Ram Hemi 4x4 and took in for oil service few weeks back as I have lifetime 15 dollar oil service deal via dealership. Notice 2 guys there with the 3/4 ton Rams with BIG HEMI there and got ti talking....their reported mpg is about same as mine. I asked why gas instead of cummins.....they got lifetime bumper to bumper on that model with big hemi.

Tempting for sure....but I only have 665k on mine but if that deal is going when time comes i going for it. Dont need 3/4 ton but do need that kind of warranty since i will be ride the next one off into retirement.

Misterfu02 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 07, 2019 10:09 am

TX H210SS wrote:

I have a 2013 Ram Hemi 4x4 and took in for oil service few weeks back as I have lifetime 15 dollar oil service deal via dealership. Notice 2 guys there with the 3/4 ton Rams with BIG HEMI there and got ti talking....their reported mpg is about same as mine. I asked why gas instead of cummins.....they got lifetime bumper to bumper on that model with big hemi.

Tempting for sure....but I only have 665k on mine but if that deal is going when time comes i going for it. Dont need 3/4 ton but do need that kind of warranty since i will be ride the next one off into retirement.

Does the 2013 Ram with the Hemi have the 8-speed?

Let me know if/when you trade that thing in. Everything around here is rusted out after 5 years if not oil sprayed, which 99% of people don't do. :roll:

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What'd you do to your Four Winns today?

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