Retired and getting simpler (less $$): swapping nice T210 and Super Cub for a Straight tail 182 with backcountry mods and a Champ. Champ swap is done; now looking for 182. Would any 182 guys give me some woulda/coulda/shoulda tips on 182 backcountry mods. Going with straight tail for weight and cost plus it's a strong AC. Would like to buy 182 with mods: big engine and Sportsman would be preferable. Don't plan any IFR so bare avionics is fine. If anybody knows of one coming up; please keep me in mind. Ready anytime; but not in a hurry; current AC are doing fine-plus I still get to fly Super Cub most any time.

Thanks in advance
Jack
Erie, CO (27 NW of Denver)
[email protected] or PM

I used to have a 67 182K and sold it to buy my Bonanza 13 years ago. Almost 2 years ago a buddy and I bought a 58 182A. One thing to keep in mind is the early 182's have little useful load compared to the mid 60's birds. This is because the gross weight is low. My 182 has an 1821 pound empty weight, that's with 4 seats in. Putting 55 gallons in only leaves you 500 pounds of payload. To me this 182 is a one person airplane for flying the back country. We have put the big fork on the nose and are running 8.50's on the mains and an 8.00 on the nose so we are naturally pretty slow, about 120-125 MPH indicated. With the same load the 182 will get off the runway about 100 feet sooner than the Bonanza, both have VG's. After that the 182 gets left in the dust. The 182 is cheaper to operate over all. Insurance is about half, $715 for an $85K hull vs $1500 for a $125K hull on the Bonanza. Annuals about the same in that the flat rate for the Bo is about twice as much, $1400 vs about $800. We're always fixing something on the 182, they are not built nearly as well. We use a mix of mogas and 100LL in the 182, 100LL only in the Bo as it has a 550. The Bo will always use less gas on any given trip, it simply gives better gas mileage. The 182 is fun for thrashing around locally but I wouldn't want to take it very far.