It could have went bad!
What's the single worst thing that you did or didn't do that could have really went bad but didn't? Couple years ago first trip of the year. One of those spur of the moment trip-got in a hurry becaus...
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Years ago, coming home to Surrey BC from Grande Prairie Alberta, towing a small old Estavilla TT.
I got within about 200 miles of home, and did a usual mirror check. Hmmmmm..... something looks off kilter... Checked the rearview mirror, TT appears to be sitting on a weird angle. What the heck??
Checked the tires, nope, no flats. What the???? I was cruising along about 65-70 MPH, slowed it down a lot, checking the mirrors more as I did. Better pull over. No pullout available, only guardrail both sides. Drove about 40 for the next few miles until I saw a rest area. Pulled in, got it safely stopped.
I got out of my truck, did a scan of things, tires ok, but why is the nose nearly dragging on the ground?
And then I saw it! One side of the A frame front hitch on the TT was broken nearly right through just under the front of the trailer! Metal completely fractured, hanging on by a prayer and a song! :E:E Other side was bent under the stress too. The whole front of the TT was nose down, nearly on the pavement.
Holy friggin doodle! I literally broke out into a cold sweat from the knowledge of how this could have ended!
Fortunately for me, I was towing with my work truck full of cordless tools. I got out my recip, drills, bolts and some pieces of aluminum extrusions in the back of the truck, and a nearby angle steel sign post that somehow... well, sort of mysteriously... you know, just came out of the ground and fell over right by my truck.... Not sure how that happened! :E:E:h:h
Several hours later, got it all jacked up and fish plated together as a temporary fix to get it home. Made it back home, keeping under 50 and my eyes constantly in the mirrors. Took it to a professional steel fab shop and had it properly repaired.
Whew! That was scary!
Edit fix typos...
I got within about 200 miles of home, and did a usual mirror check. Hmmmmm..... something looks off kilter... Checked the rearview mirror, TT appears to be sitting on a weird angle. What the heck??
Checked the tires, nope, no flats. What the???? I was cruising along about 65-70 MPH, slowed it down a lot, checking the mirrors more as I did. Better pull over. No pullout available, only guardrail both sides. Drove about 40 for the next few miles until I saw a rest area. Pulled in, got it safely stopped.
I got out of my truck, did a scan of things, tires ok, but why is the nose nearly dragging on the ground?
And then I saw it! One side of the A frame front hitch on the TT was broken nearly right through just under the front of the trailer! Metal completely fractured, hanging on by a prayer and a song! :E:E Other side was bent under the stress too. The whole front of the TT was nose down, nearly on the pavement.
Holy friggin doodle! I literally broke out into a cold sweat from the knowledge of how this could have ended!
Fortunately for me, I was towing with my work truck full of cordless tools. I got out my recip, drills, bolts and some pieces of aluminum extrusions in the back of the truck, and a nearby angle steel sign post that somehow... well, sort of mysteriously... you know, just came out of the ground and fell over right by my truck.... Not sure how that happened! :E:E:h:h
Several hours later, got it all jacked up and fish plated together as a temporary fix to get it home. Made it back home, keeping under 50 and my eyes constantly in the mirrors. Took it to a professional steel fab shop and had it properly repaired.
Whew! That was scary!
Edit fix typos...