Re: [Paddlewise] Small car capability

Dave Kruger wrote:

> MadPoodle_at_aol.com wrote:
> >
> > michaeldaly_at_home.com wrote:
> >
> > >Two sea kayaks and a rack are about the same weight as one small person.
> > >The gear I carry for two on a long weekend's trip weighs about the same.
> > >Not what I'd consider an excessive load and well within the ratings for
> > >the car.
> >
> > Within the **weight** ratings, certainly. But what about factoring in the
> > additional wind resistance load (s) both just plain going down the road, and
> > also in crosswinds? [snip]
>

Point taken.  See below

>
> Anecdote in support:  Couple years ago, I loaded a big double and a large
> single atop my '87 Mazda PU and took off for Canada.  A hundred miles later,
> the strain of pushing that profile at freeway speeds revealed my radiator was
> shot.  (Fortunately, there was a good radiator shop at the exit where it
> cratered -- trip salvaged!)  My "normal" driving pattern did not push that
> light PU much.  Haulin' yaks in quantity *did.*
>

But I keep my car in good condition <g>.   I drove from Toronto to Nova Scotia
and PEI & return with those loads, in the heat of the summer and the car seemed
to enjoy it.  Give or take some scaling factors, there's probably a speed where
the aerodynamic behavior of a kayak is comparable to its behavior in water at
low speed.  If I was ambitious, I could probably figger out some guestimate of
the forces.  But I'm not.  My driving several years with one or two kayaks on
the Civic tells me the most significant effect I can sense is its braking distance.
And that's due only to the weight.  And its speed up hills - again weight.

I only use my car for weekend stuff - skiing, hiking, kayaking etc.  Almost all the
miles are high-speed highway or dirt roads in the middle of nowhere.  It has
so many miles with the kayaks on top that I have to believe it's surviving
well enough.  There may be some long term, extra wear and tear on the engine
etc, but it hasn't shown in 70,000 km.  If I eventually rebuild the engine and it
lasts another bunch of years and kilometers, that's fine with me.  YMMV.

>
> > Ultimately, buy what you need. Keep in mind, we all have different needs from
> > our vehicle. My full size diesel pickup is certainly not what most people
> > would buy to haul a 'yak or three. But since I tow heavy trailers daily, its
> > what I need, so I bought it. If your lifestyle is such that a moped with a
> > 'yak trailer works, please, buy it and get on with life....
>
> I like that, Scott ... errr ... Mr. Poodle.  You summarized perfectly my shot
> at this thread.
>
> A compact pickup with a low-profile canopy fits my needs perfectly, but maybe
> not anybody else's.

The only problem is that _most_ folks grossly overestimate their needs.  That's
why the SUVs are the top selling and fastest growing sector of the automobile
industry.  4WD and 5000 lb and most have never been off the pavement.

I'd better drop out of this thread.  I have nothing good to say about the auto
industry (think about it - all significant technological changes in cars in my
lifetime have come about as a result of legislation in the US Houses of
Congress - safety, pollution, fuel economy - all forced into existence by
government), and this is borderline on-topic for this mailing list.

In summary - I agree, buy the vehicle you _need_, not the one you think you
need.  Refer to my post on serviceability and subjectivity in buying kayaks.

Mike

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************