jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 5:46:17 GMT -5
Returning home after a 300 mile trip and a car in front slams on brakes to turn left. So I went around him on the soft shoulder at ~45 MPH only to clip the trailer wheel on a tree. Truck made the turn, heavy trailer was not so cooperative. Somehow the 5500 pounds of steel stayed on the trailer. Somehow the fender did not cut into the tire. Somehow I was able to go the last 5 miles to home. The whole load did shift to the front of the trailer making the rear of my truck way too tongue heavy. I took a slower speed short cut thru adjacent 'rich' community only to have their Barney stop me and give me a warning ticket for no running lights. Not 500 yards from my driveway lol.(I certainly deserved a ticket). Said 'rich' community tried to annex me in their new community and I fought it and won. If I turn right out of my driveway I am safe. If left, I have to drive thru that little overly policed 'rich' community that hassles us locals. Said community established a unique high end city for (mostly)urbanites from Atlanta to build weekend backwoods retreats for the most part. As soon as they incorporated they hired police. One in particular policeman started enforcing the rules and rumor has it harassed people. Ticketing agricultural practices like driving tractors on the street and moving cattle from pasture to pasture without licensed trailers, etc. The locals were not to happy about it. They(one of them) took action(certainly not appropriate): My bent axle:   Offending tree  Path of truck and trailer  Solution to fix trailer, one 3500 pound axle @ $200 and some labor. www.ebay.com/itm/3500-3-5K-IDLER-AXLE-TRAILER-CARGO-DUMP-UTILITY-Rockwell-American-Dexter-/151996154733?hash=item2363ad436d:m:mQMh1V1xHNcb_6y7NJ43C-g&vxp=mtrCould have been a whole lot worse. The young policeman was kind and respectful. Not sure what was going thru his mind. I knew that unlicensed trailers was one of the reasons the locals got upset with that policeman that got shot. He was not overly cautious. Confident and fair. Could not help but wonder what was going thru his mind. Was glad to be home. |
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Mar 12, 2017 6:38:00 GMT -5
That could have ended much worse, James! Glad all you need is replacing that axle.
There's no axles at the scrap yard or surplus yard you frequent?
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Mar 12, 2017 7:58:37 GMT -5
Good heavens!!! THAT could have been REALLY bad! Glad you are safe ... and your haul.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Mar 12, 2017 8:05:27 GMT -5
As for trailer accidents go, you did fine. No blood; tree will survive; and you didn't spill the load. You probably deserved what you got from Barney (a nudge to do right, and no real abuse). You had a good day my friend.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 8:22:21 GMT -5
That could have ended much worse, James! Glad all you need is replacing that axle. There's no axles at the scrap yard or surplus yard you frequent? I think another inch into the tree would have changed the outcome NDK. $200 brand new axle with no rusted bolts, I'm in. Georgia humidity has a way with fasteners. Will torch the old one off, quick and easy removal. |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 8:26:35 GMT -5
Good heavens!!! THAT could have been REALLY bad! Glad you are safe ... and your haul. Well, the haul was worth 4-5 times the trailer Tela. I knew I did not want to kiss the butt of that expensive SUV and have the load visit the interior of my truck. Easy but painful decision. Nerves just be getting tender in old age. Nausea set in, not used to such excitement. |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 8:30:18 GMT -5
As for trailer accidents go, you did fine. No blood; tree will survive; and you didn't spill the load. You probably deserved what you got from Barney (a nudge to do right, and no real abuse). You had a good day my friend. No problem w/Barney. Well deserved lashing. He could tell that I had been abused enough. Appreciate his leniancy. Gonna start limiting loads to 3500 pounds, a better and safer approach. |
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Mar 12, 2017 8:56:01 GMT -5
Does that trailer have brakes? Makes a world of difference!
My parents run a 38' 5th wheel behind a 2wd 1 ton dually Silverado. Drum brakes on the trailer, works adequate. Dad's investing in an electrical activated hydraulic disc brake kit to install. Read an article where someone on the interstate lost the truck brakes as they barreled around a corner into a traffic jam. Trailer disc brakes stopped the whole rig without incident.
BTW I understand the new vs used axle argument, everything rusts up here in Wisconsin from the road salt used in winter. Good point, hadn't thought of that.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 10:25:10 GMT -5
Does that trailer have brakes? Makes a world of difference! My parents run a 38' 5th wheel behind a 2wd 1 ton dually Silverado. Drum brakes on the trailer, works adequate. Dad's investing in an electrical activated hydraulic disc brake kit to install. Read an article where someone on the interstate lost the truck brakes as they barreled around a corner into a traffic jam. Trailer disc brakes stopped the whole rig without incident. BTW I understand the new vs used axle argument, everything rusts up here in Wisconsin from the road salt used in winter. Good point, hadn't thought of that. Well, I would not trust a single part on the damaged axle. Guessing it bent at the spindle. The axle tube may be straight. Could possibly be shortened and a new spindle welded in to make a shorter assembly. At $200 new sounds good. $200 for 95/80, 89/74, 73/58, 61/46, 49/34. Gonna weld up a 16' x 54" wide X 5' tall box trailer. Need two 61/46's. May consider salvaging from bent one. More trouble to weld a spindle in, add springs etc. Your parents's rig ? No doubt needs brakes. Why travel nervous, and probably covering a lot of territory. I only make this trip 2-3 times a year. No brakes finally got me. Wow, your parents used the trailer brakes to stop. Sounds like a nightmare. |
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Mar 12, 2017 10:40:09 GMT -5
Just get one of these for the truck and it's full speed ahead. May even want to speed up before impact!  Glad you are okay and the load stayed on the trailer. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2017 12:04:27 GMT -5
Thankful for your health and lack of expensive damages/repairs.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 12:27:30 GMT -5
Just get one of these for the truck and it's full speed ahead. May even want to speed up before impact! Glad you are okay and the load stayed on the trailer. Can you make one like that but a vertical chisel that would have cut 'Mr. No Turn Signal' in half ? I knew that trailer would continue into the trees. Turned the ole Tundra sideways to maximize turning trailer away from trees, a minimum. Tundra is a fine machine. Handles well. Thinking about your friend. Upsetting. Couldn't take my mind off him. The situation saving the parasail occupant. Mate had no-win decision to make. Feel real bad for mate. I used to stay in Mexico Beach 2 months out of year and take center console out in Gulf. Always had visitors on weekends for safer trips. Went 20-30 miles during week (or rougher seas) by myself to avoid risking other's safety. 500 hours in 3 years. The one thing that gave me bad dreams was falling out of running boat when alone. Should have worn an auto-inflate jacket. Like when trolling or setting over a reef. Bump your head or faint...easier to do than one would think. I am sure you guys had a lot of fun doing such a job. |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 12:30:15 GMT -5
Thankful for your health and lack of expensive damages/repairs. Escaped Scott. Could have been a real bad day. No fun being forced into such decisions. |
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
|
Post by Fossilman on Mar 12, 2017 12:50:14 GMT -5
Glad it wasn't much worse!! There are some idiot drivers out there,no matter where we all live!!!! Hopefully its an easy fix and another safe haul!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Mar 12, 2017 12:59:04 GMT -5
Thinking about your friend. Upsetting. Couldn't take my mind off him. The situation saving the parasail occupant. Mate had no-win decision to make. Feel real bad for mate. Yes, a lot going through my head as well all at once when I heard. Friend, customer's safety, mate. Mate did the unheard of. Has never pulled a parasail ride, much less landed one. Landing hardest part. We make it look easy, but each ride fraught with potential harm to customers. Mate above and beyond. Many friends giving him kudos and trying to help through most difficult time. Gonna be a tough time for mate to move past this. A couple other friends, on another parasail boat at nearby motel location, were right there trying to help. Talked with lots of people last night, many quite messed up. Time heals. Report is that my friend was probably gone by the time he hit the water. Not to be insensitive, but not a bad way to go if it is time. Parasailing career is an whimsical life choice. More grasshopper than ant. Wall to wall potential for good times, yet serious responsibility. Very close friend, will be missed. Dwelling on the good times. Life goes on! |
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Mar 12, 2017 13:14:09 GMT -5
Glad you made the right move. To know when to just stand on the brakes and when to make a 'move' is not something most people know how to do. When my daughters went through drivers training they were taught to try to miss a deer. It took a lot to train them that a deer is small and hitting it is better then rolling the car. Now a moose or a bear is a different story. Also had to teach them that the brake is not always the answer. When I pull a trailer I try to drive like I have bad brakes. That saved me more then once....................MrP
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 13:29:29 GMT -5
Glad you made the right move. To know when to just stand on the brakes and when to make a 'move' is not something most people know how to do. When my daughters went through drivers training they were taught to try to miss a deer. It took a lot to train them that a deer is small and hitting it is better then rolling the car. Now a moose or a bear is a different story. Also had to teach them that the brake is not always the answer. When I pull a trailer I try to drive like I have bad brakes. That saved me more then once....................MrP "as if you have bad brakes" Best possible advise. And at that moment I was following way too close. Simple as that Michael. Not a bad idea to let the kids on a wide dirt road and practice a bit of controlled maneuvers. Good call on smashing a small animal. Dodging stuff changes the game in a hurry. Dented bumper, not so bad. Never touched the brakes on that deal. That would have changed things. You guys driving on snow probably get lots of practice on slick surfaces. |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 13:32:23 GMT -5
Thinking about your friend. Upsetting. Couldn't take my mind off him. The situation saving the parasail occupant. Mate had no-win decision to make. Feel real bad for mate. Yes, a lot going through my head as well all at once when I heard. Friend, customer's safety, mate. Mate did the unheard of. Has never pulled a parasail ride, much less landed one. Landing hardest part. We make it look easy, but each ride fraught with potential harm to customers. Mate above and beyond. Many friends giving him kudos and trying to help through most difficult time. Gonna be a tough time for mate to move past this. A couple other friends, on another parasail boat at nearby motel location, were right there trying to help. Talked with lots of people last night, many quite messed up. Time heals. Report is that my friend was probably gone by the time he hit the water. Not to be insensitive, but not a bad way to go if it is time. Parasailing career is an whimsical life choice. More grasshopper than ant. Wall to wall potential for good times, yet serious responsibility. Very close friend, will be missed. Dwelling on the good times. Life goes on! Hang in there. Time will heal. A relief that he may have passed before the water got him. How old a man was he ? |
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
|
Post by jamesp on Mar 12, 2017 13:34:45 GMT -5
Glad it wasn't much worse!! There are some idiot drivers out there,no matter where we all live!!!! Hopefully its an easy fix and another safe haul!!! Had I been 200 feet further behind all would have been well. I blame myself 100%. There was a line of cars behind me dogging me, should not have let them push me either. |
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Mar 12, 2017 14:22:43 GMT -5
Glad you made the right move. To know when to just stand on the brakes and when to make a 'move' is not something most people know how to do. When my daughters went through drivers training they were taught to try to miss a deer. It took a lot to train them that a deer is small and hitting it is better then rolling the car. Now a moose or a bear is a different story. Also had to teach them that the brake is not always the answer. When I pull a trailer I try to drive like I have bad brakes. That saved me more then once....................MrP "as if you have bad brakes" Best possible advise. And at that moment I was following way too close. Simple as that Michael. Not a bad idea to let the kids on a wide dirt road and practice a bit of controlled maneuvers. Good call on smashing a small animal. Dodging stuff changes the game in a hurry. Dented bumper, not so bad. Never touched the brakes on that deal. That would have changed things. You guys driving on snow probably get lots of practice on slick surfaces. Took the girls to a large open parking lot that was snow covered and made them spin-out making corners. They had to keep at it until they could stay in control of a spin. My brothers and I always had an old hot-rod that we would take into a field to play around. Sure taught us how to control a vehicle. That was the only time Dad would not get mad if we were spinning the tires and making doughnuts. Guess he really wanted us to learn control................................MrP |
|
