Mark- Isn't it surprising how quickly that 1,200 lb mass of cast iron and steel cools down in <20 deg F temps? Mine runs whenever stopped for a few in winter, too.

glc- You're dead on with the trans and model years. My 02 is the last year with the finicky, unreliable R4100 auto trans. I can't believe it's still delivering torque at 176,000 mi. That said, I do baby the trans to an extreme degree. In fact, tomorrow's the annual full trans flush/fill/filter change in the driveway. I'd have done as Sailor did and bought a used manual trans truck if they weren't rarer than hen's teeth back East.

Sailor- There is a device which is part of a pyrometer setup and wires into the ignition switch. It monitors EGTs and when the EGT has fallen to a specified, safe level, it shuts your truck down. I don't know how that squares with a manual trans, however. Me, I'd chock the wheels and use it anyway. And wow, at 30' and + 8.5' beam, that IS a light blowboat. I still say you'll know it's back there, but you're < half the weight I was guessing first off. You'll surely experience the wonder I did when first towing my 8,500# boat: when the need arises, you can ACCELERATE uphill. Astounding! I don't know if you're returning to familiar waters in MD, but having spent many an enjoyable hour on the Severn R, the Magothy, the Patapsco, the open Bay, and especially over at Kent Narrows (Harris' Crab House + Red Eyes Dock Bar Summer Sundays are the TICKET), I have to say you're in for some fun when you get that racer up there. I once served as "navigator" on an Annapolis buddie's go-fast on a speed run from Round Bay on the Severn to Lynnhaven Inlet down by the mouth of the bay. We did it in 2 hrs, 50 minutes, with two short stops for Mother Nature. Cruising down the Bay with two big-blocks singing (502 ci/525hp), averaging 58 mph, was wonderful. Glad I didn't have to pay for the fuel, though.

Howard- Thanks for the profiles. I'd LOVE to see a "same vertical scale", side by side profile from, say, the junction of I-215 & I-80 to the junction of I-84 and I-80 at Echo Canyon, using I-80 one way and I-215/15/84 the other. Using "same horizontal scale" would graphically depict the distance difference, too, which I think is nominal. It's got to be a striking difference in profile. It still surprises me to see so many tractor-trailers crawling up Parley's headed E on I-80, especially in January when I normally visit UT.

Looking forward to reading your Trip Report, Sailors and Fools.

Foy