Trailer Parking 101
 

I would like to nominate myself for a stella award, although I haven't sued anybody. JB and I spent the weekend last year at Seneca Lake at a poker run. We launched the boat Friday around 6:30 without a problem. My job was to take the truck and trailer to an open field about 3 miles away, unhook the trailer and take the truck to the hotel while he moored the boat. Seems like a simple task. I arrive at the field, determine the best route through the maze of trailers to make a large u-turn and set the trailer in just the perfect spot to easily re-hook up the trailer on Sunday. I arrive to my spot and notice someone got stuck, so I navigate the truck and trailer to a parking spot a truck width away, certain I must be fine here. I throw it in reverse for the perfect exit angle, and the driver side rear wheel spins. Ohh shoot! I attempt forward. Still spinning. I'm beginning do dig myself in and decide not to attempt anymore - I'll unhook the trailer and try again. I lower the bar thingy and start turning the handle and the trailer isn't going up, the foot rest thing is sinking in mud. Determined little cuss I am - I hop in the back of the truck and decide to throw out one of the wood palates we brought for a campfire. I search for a sledge hammer (in the contractor's truck I might add) and would you believe JB has no sledge hammer?! I find a hammer with a claw foot and begin beating the crap out of the palate for about 10 minutes, but only break off two little pieces about a foot long. Fine, whatever. I get the trailer off the truck and stick the other piece of wood under the wheel, flip the little switch for 4WD and give it a little gas. Spinning. WTF good is 4WD anyway?! Determined, I grab the garbage bag out of the truck and put a billion little rocks in it and put them in front of and in back of the wheel in an attempt to get more grip. Confident, I put it in gear and spin more. My independant little self has now been defeated. I sit in the truck and within minutes JB and 3 male friends come looking for me. Who were my nights and shining armor??? My heros John, Duane, Pete and Tyke. LOL There's a joke in here, but I'll be nice because they saved me. It seems I have been missing for half an hour by now and it doesn't take that long to complete the task at hand. They look at the tire and start laughing their butts off. I refuse to break out with the camera despite their pleads. JB, laughing walks over to the truck, locks the hubs in on the wheels, calmly sits in the truck and pulls forward with ease.

Wait a minute!!!!! I flipped the GD switch!!!! You mean to tell me I went trapsing through 4 inches of mudd in white pants, bare feet, got in a pissin match with a palate and still lost and all I had to do was turn 2 things!!! Sometimes it is soooo hard to be blonde. Thank God I have JB to save me from myself. LOL

:D :D :D

Great story.....:D :D

I admire your courage in relating to us that story a good one indeed. It is extremely important to be able to laugh at one's self. I certainly have more than a few dozen occasions.

:D :D :D :D

NOw thats a funny way to start the day. :) Thanks for posting.

Thanks for the story. Do you have a sister? :D

Doooh!! I would have taken a picture for sure:D:D and the new ford hubs are both manual and automatic locking so you would not have had to get out:)

It must have been a FORD! :D

LOL! Now, that is too funny...I can picture the whole thing!
I gotta give it to ya, for telling a story like that.
:D :D :D ;)

:) I have lots of stories. If you can't laugh at yourself, you're taking life WAYYYY to seriously. :p

Yup, it's a Ford. We won't even go there with the Fords and the hubs...I'm sure you already know ALL about it. ;)

I've come to decide it's the white pants that get me into trouble....every time I wear those d@mn things all h#ll breaks loose. LOL

I don't care who you are... that's funny right there :D :D

Only happened because your other girlfriends don't have to get out and lock the hubs, they just flip the switch like you did. Buy him a newer truck, Dodge.

Hmmm, I have a whole bunch of palates I need smashed up and thrown away. Are you busy later? :D:D:D

Roby

I was thinking the same thing. It is not your fault Bonnie

Roby

Nope...doesn't happen to my other girlfriends because they don't want to break a nail. The poor guy has to run around and do everything. I see it more as a team effort and have made it a point to learn how to back the truck and trailer up, hook and unhook the trailer, etc.

I tried to get him to buy a Dodge though...I like the looks of them. He owned one once and ended up with dents in it once a month. He won't own one now cuz he's pretty sure they're made of magnets. ;)

Oh Jeeezus...don't let him see that post!!!!! We just made it through our first October without buying a new truck!! Don't be giving him ideas now. Went with the V10 this time. It's a good truck...except the hubs. I've got it down now though, it won't happen like that again. Next time I'll be more independant.

And thanks Rob. :)

Could you use one of these?

Bonnie Outlaw,
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger...I did the same thing last year. One of the first times out last season with my new (to me) used F350 , it was low tide when coming in and the ramp was nice and slippery:( . No problem , right? Just flip the switch. Well after 10 minutes of rocking , spinning , slipping and sliding I finally got out. Damned automatic hubs:mad: . Well next day (Monday) I take one apart only to find it was a MANUAL hub:o :o :o . After close inspection I could make out where "lock" and "unlock" used to be. The truck was just old enough , that it had wore off. After years of having 4x4s this was the first one since my 77 Bronco that had manual hubs. Fords got a better idea:crazy: :crazy:

Ahh the good Old Days Manual Hubs :D :D

LOL Mo....I can relate. Except I learned once the hard way that I typically dig myself into a deeper hole being stubborn. Guess it's true with both life and trucks. LOL

Ooohhhh, is that Brendan??? Yes, I need that truck - but I want to modify it a little. Some sort of whipple charger, custom exhaust, manual transmission on the floor and an extended cab (I do have a practical side too). :D Does he come with the truck or would that be a seperate purchase?

OMG She knows Gaughan. I love NASCAR women that want to put superchargers on Viper engines. The world needs more like you Bonnie :D

Roby

I sloved the problem with manual locking hubs, I just never unlock them. that a way I never have to remember to lock them

:D :D :D :D

You won't forget about the hubs next time!

So...did I pass your test rob?? ;) My pics for this week are still being fine tuned. Typically it's either Earnhardt or Stewart. And you must admit, Wimmer and Kahne are totally kicking a$$ for their first year at Nextel.

diver - he won't leave them locked in. I've tried that idea. Especially in the winter towing the sleds. Makes me REAL nervous in the winter without 4wd. But...I'm paranoid - WTF do I know? LOL

I got Newman and Busch picked for the short track. Kahne is kicking a$$ but also he is driving the fastest car in Nextel. Whoever is building engines for Everham is the master of horsepower and will be getting a HUGE contract extension.

Roby

Troutly...I'm pretty sure it's an 02 but it might be an 03. We bought it in October of 02. It has 85,000 miles on it already (we bought it new) and other than the hubs that keep not getting fixed for free (they get fixed but always break again) we've only had normal wear and tear - tires, breaks, rotors.

Rob...you sure about Newman and Busch?? I'm thinking Gordon this week. He's won there 2 years in a row hasn't he? How'd you like the photo finish between Craven and Busch....I still get a chuckle out of that one. :D

I'm a big Dodge fan and I almost always take Newman Kahne, Elliott but Busch seems to have the short track thing down. You made a wise choice going with Stewart but I think the Gibbs team has too many disruptions this year. Gordon seems flat to me but then again I have a poor winning history at short tracks. I know they haven't won yet but I think Dodge is out-horsepowering everyone. Busch & Craven? What can you say? DARLINGTON

Roby

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Well, if I were you, I'd refrain from picking Elliott. I think you stand a much better chance of getting points with Kahne. LOL :p

Wasn't it Jeff Gordon's step dad that got Kahne into the Nextel cup....I'm sure ability had a lot to do with it, but knowing the right people never hurt.

Stewart seems to be getting the HP/RPM thing down this year. Last year they were pushing so hard he blew engines trying and ended up with a handful of DNF's. This year's going better.

Yea chasing the Dodges will do that to you. Did you like how Elliott pounced on the one lap wonder Labonte in the Texas race?

Roby

I'm sure that's why they made the manual/auto combo hub. In auto when the tire spins and slams into 4x4 the 3 little tabs that do the locking snap, i broke every auto set i had, the manuals are guaranteed for life but a pain in the a$$. So now if your not already stuck you can use auto and if you are you can get out and lock it in to save the hub. Far superior to any other manufacturers system. :D :D :D

Robbie honey....have you checked the points standings lately???? Ford, then Chevy, then Dodge...and I'll save you a little effort...Dodge doesn't have any wins yet this year.

Not saying they're junk by any stretch...but ya know how it is....I had to call you on it.
:bunny:

I have a serious probelm....Gordon and Kahne are both in the same tier for my picks....grrrr

I know, but that will be changing soon :cool:

Ohhhh, I see a friendly wager brewing. This could be fun....

wanna put your money where your mouth is??? Don't worry, I won't really collect, but if you lose....you'll never live it down. :eek:

Since this is a trailer thread, is this the right trailer for this boat?

Roby

This sounds good. Think I'm gonna pull up the easy chair and bust out a bag of popcorn while I wait to see who looses this one. :D ;) Bonnie, just wondering, who is leading the points driverwise. I havent really been keeping up so far this year.

BTW, that story was funny. I could see myself doing that too. Once you get too frustrated, all use of logic to solve things goes out the window. :)

It was Matt Kenseth, but now it's Kurt Busch. Was it the last race or two races ago when it changed. Matt was doing well up til Texas.

And no Rob, I don't think that's the right trailer. LMAO. Thank God those blocks are holding it up. :D A little quiet on the bet are we???

1 Kurt Busch1032
2 Matt Kenseth 1013
3 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 997
4 Tony Stewart 946
5 Elliott Sadler 942
6 Jimmie Johnson 923
7 Kasey Kahne 902
8 Kevin Harvick 897
9 Jeff Gordon 891
10 Ryan Newman 834

Okay what are we betting on exactly?

Roby