Ney Grant lives somewhere out in your neck of the woods and flies his T210 all over the west, often with a ton of gear swapped in place of seats. Dirt strips are part of the rotation. He has a cool blog that details a bunch of his trips. Go through it and you'll se how much crap can be loaded in a 210.

https://westcoastflyingadventures.com

Of course, an A36TC would do the job as well.

But you have to slide over to get in your seat.

I own a 172 RG. It's a great little plane. About 135 knots on 9 gals of fuel. Has about 1000 pounds useful. Landing gear kinda goofy.

Spent 4.8 hrs in a 182RG NA today. True'd out at 145-150 kts at 8500 ft. Nice aircraft, hard to beat a 182 for a good all around machine.

Looks like their prices have gone up.. $9500 now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-R182-TR1 ... 7675.l2557

I'm in annual now, and going up on the jacks today. Praying for no end play when we dangle the gear legs. That's an expensive repair, but I've heard he claims it is a permanent fix to the occasional problem. Every model has it's quirks. Reading these pages, I'm glad I don't have to worry about Continental cylinders. Those guys are probably glad they don't have to worry about gear pivots, banging their foredead on diamond-sharp ailerons, or being the slowest getting to breakfast.


Edit: I/A jacked the plane today. Did the gear retraction checks. The extra caveat every 182RG needs, which is not in any books, is checking end play in the main gear legs which indicates cracked pivots. You can't see it, only feel it. With the main gear hanging straight down, wrestle the gear leg for end-play. There should be none.

Today, my girl had no gear play.