Bad trailering weekend!

[MikeR]

I really need to buy my own box trailer... .



Friday afternoon I rented a small 8ft U-Haul enclosed trailer. I got on the freeway and about 4 miles away from the U-Haul place when all of a sudden I felt a tug and clunk. I looked in the mirror to see the trailer flailing around as I was doing 60mph! I thought it was going to lay on its side the way it was tipping on one wheel. Luckily there was no one behind or beside me, I was able to pull off the road.



Obviously the kid at the trailer place didn't lock down the tongue right. My tailgate got destroyed from the tongue smacking it and it tore plastic chunks off of both bumber step pads and ruined the ball. I am pi*sed, but it could have been much worse... at least the tailgate and pads are easily replaceable. I immediately went back and showed what they did, and they said of course their insurance will replace it all.



-Mike

 

[Scollins]

Mike, that stinks! I'm glad to hear that they didn't quibble over their liability. They could have said "It is your problem. " Still sucks to have your truck beat up, no matter who is paying the bill. And of course, noboby was hurt! That is the most important part.



It sounds like you rent a trailer quite frequently. What do you do with it? Is it for your band, and the equipment? I can't imagine that you couldn't find a decent used one for a decent price. One problem with owning your own trailer is storing it.

 

[Karl2500]

This happened to my father in law he was pulling the 12'X6'. He unhooked it, Called uhaul and told them to come and get it. He was lucky only a few scratches to his truck.

 

[BIG BOB]

Mike,



Sorry to hear about the trailer problems! I can appreciate them fixing your truck, however if it was mine, I would always remember the damage and always feel that it was damaged, regardless if the fixed it or not. Just the way my mind works. It would never be perfect again.

 

[Shovelhead]

Mike,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

I'm glad they're owning up to their responsibility to fix your truck.



I rent U-Haul transporters for hauling my daughter's car back and forth to college, and I always hook it up myself while their "Lot Jockey" watches. That way I know it's right. After all, It's MY truck that has to pull it and I don't need any of those kind of surprizes. :--)

Just like a pilot does a walkaround before take off, even though the crew chief has signed off.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Sorry to hear about the trailer, I know how you feel. My trailer came loose at 60 mph 2 miles from the grand canyon. I watched it go off the road and continue to cartwheel on all four corners before it came to rest, snapping a spindle off and bending the tongue badly. Had to have it towed 150 miles on a flatbed into Flagstaff. You might want to check out Haulmark Trailers they make allot of different models and sizes.



Haulmark Trailers

 

[Barry]

In a hurry and short on fuel I landed at an airport in south La. one night. Gave the line boy a quick fuel order and ran inside the terminal to go to the bathroom. Paid my fuel bill and ran back out to the plane and jumped in. Fired off the engines and headed down the taxiway. Got to the active runway and shoved the throttles all the way forward. Rotated airborne and reached over to bring the gear up when I looked out the right window to see my right fuel cap gone and fuel pouring out the right wing. Just stayed in the pattern and landed. Taxied back to the terminal and I was HOT. I wanted a new fuel cap and replace the fuel I had lost because of their dumb lineman. They phoned the owner of the FBO and put me and him on the phone. He taught me a valuable lesson. He said he would replace the fuel but not the fuel cap. " The ultimate responsibility for the airworthiness of the aircraft is the responsibility of the pilot". It was my responsibility(a Commercial, Instrumented Rated, Multi Engine, Rotor Craft Pilot with 6,000 hours PIC) not a $5. 00 an hour line boy. I have never forgotten that lesson.

 

[dremelts]

Mike,



Glad to hear that there were no human casualties as a result of this incident.



I think Shovelhead is right - you just can't trust ANYone when it comes to trailering.



When we went to buy my truck we drove our car 370 miles to get it then rented a vehicle tow dolly (U-Haul) to pull the car back home with the truck. I also had to buy a 2" ball hitch to fit the receiver on the back of the truck. When I got home the nut holding the ball to the hitch had backed off until the only thing preventing it from coming off was the cotter pin!!!



I'll never trust 'em again.

 

[John]

Whoa!

First of all Mike, I'm really glad you and everyone else that could have been involved are ok! Man, that could have went bad in a real big way!



It's easy to armchair quarterback (especially in hindsight) however, I have heard of many such occurances regarding trailers not properly hitched and subsequent accidents due to same. You were lucky! Although I don't tow that often, I always hitch the trailer or I'm standing right beside the person doing it. If not, I unlatch same and restart the hitching process. I look at it this way, In God I Trust, and if he didn't hitch it, I'm not trusting the connection! That same logic has saved my backside many times when it comes to hydraulic connections at work too.



BTW, that must have happened not long after we spoke near Rob's.

 

[MikeR]

Yeah John. After I saw you guys in Enumclaw I went straight to the trailer place. I usually get the trailer at the place here next to me, but they were out so I had to get this one in Burien. At the place next to me the guys know me so I just drive in back, hitch it myself and pull up to the door, they don't even charge a deposit anymore. At this other place, I was standing there while the kid hooked it up, but then this drunk bum came up and started talking to me so I didn't watch much of the hook up.



Yes Scott, it is for hauling our band equipment, but I have no place to keep one.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Dang Mike that must have been downright scary to have that happen. It seems like your luck hasn't been the best when it comes to attracting vehicular damage



I'm glad those guys will get you fixed back up. Is there any damage other than to the tailgate, bumper and reciever? It would be nice if the job can be completed by replacing parts vs. trying to repair the tailgate and possible unsatisfactory bodywork.



Vaughn

 

[Bob Wagner]

Hey Mike keep your chin up

Just make sure the repairs are done right and you keep the 5. 9/RT decal .



See ya Saturday and I am pulling for ya

 

[Mad Bomber]

sorry to hear about truck

Mike, glad to hear no body hurt,A good repair shop to go see for est. Callahans Auto Rebuild 1319 E Madison st Seattle 206-322-904. Keven does it right the 1st time.