MyUTV

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May 20, 2020 picked up a new Stealth Mustang 7'X12" enclosed cargo hauler
May 26 Tuesday - locked in purchase of a 2020 KAWASAKI MULE PRO-MX EPS (huge discount)

Thorson Pond

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The "Magical" Day on Thorson Pond- triple (Illinois limit) with a double banded goose.

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June 24 Wednesday - mid-70's, sunny, slight breeze Today was break-in day for the Kawasaki UTV. The plan was to train at the Harrison Property and no one was there. Having the entire place was a good thing and decided to run three in-line singles. Today was mostly about driving the UTV in and out of the trailer and positioning UTV tie-downs for quick hook-up intervals (just searching for the right way to do things). The new routines went smoothly. Pounce ran the setup first and Gigi was running soon after. After packing up the equipment and putting the UTV back in the trailer, It was a short drive to the Winnebago Co. DTA where Gigi continued her work on swim-by.

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My Kawasaki UTV -"The solution"

May 28 The last hurdle with the UTV was solved. The trailer is 6'6" tall inside which is enough to deal with Kawasacki UTV height. However, the door jam to the trailer drops down below the height of the UTV. It appeared this was going to be a terminal issue with a smaller UTV being necessary. The trailer salesman suggested all was not lost. The ramp drops the rear axle rotating the UTV temporarily dropping roof line of the UTV (so he said). The math analysis checked correctly. This morning, the physical experiment was a quick and simple success...in with room to spare. What a relief!!!
note: inside height of trailer = 78".....UTV = 74.4" (plenty of room once inside)
door way header = 4.5" reducing door height to 73.5" (opening)
the front of the rollover cage cleared beneath the header by about 2"

June 15 worked on getting the Kawasaki UTV ready for training. First was positioning it in the 7X12 ft, enclosed Stealth trailer. Driving in was easy and a tight fit. It will need to be right of center so exiting via the driver's door will be possible. Loosing thirty pounds will probably be helpful. Painted trailer floor white.
June 16 I am definitely not going to train today...58th wedding anniversary. In the next few days four D-Rings will be installed in the Stealth trailer. I need two more. The only place that has any in stock is an hour drive away. The six winger carrying setup on the Kawasaki UTV has been designed and it was inexpensive. The cargo bed provides a flat space to pile and bungee cord them to. Separation and protection will be done using spit pieces of foam pipe insulation. Total cost less than $20.
June 17 Wednesday The drive to Madison, Wisconsin was about an hour (two more D-rings)
June 19 Friday at 4 pm it is 88°F. In the afternoon, two D-Rings were installed in the UTV trailer and the other two will be tomorrow. Tie-down straps are to be delivered, too. Transporting six wingers will be easy using the cargo box platform. The trailer and UTV are almost ready for "bigger" training in the Madison Retriever Club properties.
June 22 Monday rain most of the day in the afternoon, my new Kawasaki UTV was unloaded from the Stealth trailer and driven into the garage. There, the wingers transport platform will be added (room for six in flat, carpeted sleeves).
June 23 Tuesday - day off from training. Today was for winger transport construction. The size and shape of the cargo box on a KAWASAKI MULE PRO-MX EPS FI is perfect. The first phase of the project was to construct a rigid base. Two pieces of foam pipe insulation were covered with black Gorilla Tape. This produced a more rugged surface and both were zip-tied to the square metal tubes on each side of the cargo box. Then two 1"X6" boards were multi-zipped tied to the left and right sides of the cargo box on top of the tube covered rails. The next step was to mount carpet runner sleeves (flat). Each winger was sandwiched in its own layer. Once all three wingers are placed on the platform, one tie down clamps them in placed on the rigid, tied down board. The wingers are not kept on the UTV. The trailer is too narrow to safely move up and down the ramp. So far, the setup is ready for three Gunners Up "Originals". After training a few times with three wingers (to observe how this design is working), the plan is to add three more levels for my "Son of A Gun" Wingers. The present structure is more than adequate.

Summer training (with the use of my Kawasaki UTV) was suddenly much easier (fast forward to goose hunting on a nearby pond). It is about a 600 yard hike to reach Thorson Pond. I am now 80 years old. Sometimes, I can drive my van right up to it. However, mud and/or snow makes it risky when hunting weather arrives. That is no longer an issue. Plus "getting out of Dodge" quickly tends to avoid educating late comers. This year was beans..next year will be corn. (Corn is better!)