Is the trailer really hooked up???

[JB]

This is really painful to talk about. Shortly after I had finished the functional restoration of Sunshine III I bought a tow vehicle I couldn't afford (unless I keep her for at least five years). <br /><br />I had a crew of odd-job men working on my ranch and needed to move Sunshine III so they could dig holes to put in some specimen fruit trees. I explained to "little Bob" how to hook up the trailer hitch and backed my bran new Mercedes up to the trailer. When he said it was all ready, he and his helper moved to the back of the boat and I started to pull away. <br /><br />As the pressure on the hitch occurred, it jumped off the ball and the front of the trailer rose about six inches. When the chains tightened the trailer lurched foreward and punched a neat, 3" deep dent in my liftgate. ($1000). He hadn't done the last step: latching the hitch onto the ball.<br /><br />I wept. "Little Bob" went in search of other employment. I weep in remembering.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[12Footer]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

ooo, that smarts, JB!!

 

[Raghauler]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

Ouch! That goes into the "Glad that wasn't me" catagory. Here's another one:<br /><br />I heard a new one this past Labor Day... Seems a mate wasn't paying attention until he pumped six gallons of gasoline into the...<br /><br />Rodholder!<br /><br />The boat was quarantined away from the fuel dock and the bilge was pumped. We're not sure whether the cause was due to cocktails or stupidity...

 

[JeffM]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

J.B. is there any comfort in the fact that he at least hooked the chains up? Its quite possible the force of the front of the trailer hitting the ground may of popped the boat right off the trailer. Intsead your liftgate acted as a nice "cusion" for the trailer arm.<br /><br />I always like to look for a silver lining!

 

[12Footer]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

So true,so true, Orange cruch! Look for that silver lining. Also, see post "Boat ride down driveway".<br />Luckily, the only damage was a pair of underware.

 

[fone_man]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

Always goes to to say... "I you wanted it done right... DO it yourself"!!!<br /><br />Now why did you run "Lil Bob" off... it was an accident... that what you have insurance for plus why do you have such a fancy tow vehicle that it costs $1K to fix paint... get you a "puller/tow vehicle" cheap & paint (primer) only costs 3-4 bucks & can get it any hardware store... LOL<br /><br />I can see you are going to get a litlle grief over this one JB... might as well sit back & enjoy it... we are... LMAO, LOL!!!<br /><br /><br />

 

[JB]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

Hey, fone_man. Try to get a 3" deep crater removed from any UV tailgate you choose. Do you carry zero deductible insurance? Then try towing 2500 miles in your beater tow truck, through the Imperial Valley in August, with two passengers aboard.<br /><br />Li'l Bob cost me several $K with his propensity for "accidents". He was an accident looking for a place to happen, and The Hideout was where he did it, and did it, and did it.<br /><br />I didn't run him off, his co-workers did. . . as a safety measure.<br /><br />As for grief? You are right. I wish I hadn't mentioned it. Bringing it up was another stupid human trick.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[fone_man]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

Hey JB...<br /><br />I guess that was "Lil Bob's" last straw or in other words, his OK Corral, huh!!!! LOL<br /><br />My beater truck is going on 21 years old & picked it up for a grand last June... called the owner and asked when last time AC worked & he said "What AC"!!! Vacuumed & charged it up & rebuilt just about everything on it & would not hesitate to take from TN to CA & back & on the way through TN keep on going to NC!!! LOL<br /><br />As for stupid human boating trick... now you know why I haven't posted mine yet... letting you test the water!!!<br /><br />If you can't stand the heat... need to get out of TX... just a little good natured ribbing is all... and sticking up for "Lil Bob" but we "didn't know the rest of the story"!!! Keep em' coming, JB!!! <br /><br />

 

[JB]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

I think I will limit my future stories to my own clumsiness or inattention to what I am doing. I can usually laugh at that. As I said at the beginning, this one hurt.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[fone_man]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

JB:<br /><br />Sorry... didn't mean to rub it in. The salt in old wound thing. I am done. Sorry it hurt but that is why they make repair shops. I enjoy your posts & knowledge... so I will lay off.<br /><br />Have a great weekend as I know you will hook it up the RIGHT way!!!<br /><br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

We got us one of them "Little Bob"s where I werk....They won't get rid of him, because he is slippery, and they can't catch him in the act. He allways parks the wreckage back on the line, and says, "It was like that when I had it". <br />I won't let him within 50 feet of the equipment i am in charge of. His boss doesn't like that, but then, he doesn't have to answer for my department

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

Amen, 12 footer...them LIL BOBS are trouble...dont matter what you give em, it'll surely turn up broken....

 

[budman]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

Hell, this may be a rare slip up when fueling at the gas dock. However is is not that uncommon by those trailering the boat to gas stations.<br />Cause: Standing beside the craft and lifting the nozzle upward from the pump to the gunwhale they mistaken the first piece of chrome they see as the fuel fill.<br />More explanation: When the standing in the craft fueling at dockside 1.) They are prompted to the correct orifice by the label facing(we hope they can read, especially observing the difference between GAS - DIESEL and yeah WATER.<br />2. Or just prior to jamming the nozzle home they actually look down and see 1.)reflected daylight 2.)The rod butt locking pins or 3.) Maybe even the tip of their deck shoes in the cross hairs of the butt locking pins.

 

[Jarhead]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

Hey Admiral my favorite movies of all times.Thats why my last 3 boats were called JAWS!

 

[daddysdream]

Re: Is the trailer really hooked up???

i must use caution on the fuel filling episodes. my boat came home sunday and is on it's first tank still. (holds 85 gallons). they were kind enough to fill it for me at the marina. admiral-the "deck shoes in the cross hairs..." had me LMAO. i have done the "what drain plug" routine more than once and various other "stupid human tricks..." but my only hope is my fuel filler is black and rod holders are chrome. anyone ever hit the start button when someone was trying to disconnect the battery? got my brother one day and my dad the next. both times were unintentional, they don't think so.