Re: Why we need brakes!
A little twist on "needing" brakes.<br />A couple weeks ago I was heading for my favorite lake towing my 2003 Tracker Avalanche with galvanized trailer. I have to cross a single railroad track about 3 miles from home. As I crossed the track slowing down for the traffic light ahead I heard a loud, metallic BANG! All hell broke loose. Looking in the rear-view mirror, I saw the boat and trailer leave the ground on the right side and hop about 2 feet in the air. I was only going around 15 MPH and could have coasted to the light but instinctively I slammed on the brakes. Wrong. <br /><br />After I got it stopped and off the road I immediately went back to see what had happened. All three leaves on the right side broke in half up through the center bolt. When the main leaf broke, (the one that is attached by hangers), the forward portion of the rear half pivoted down, dug in the asphalt and pole vaulted the rig in the air about two feet then came back down, (the second bang). When I slammed on the brakes my very functional disk, surge brakes on the trailer did their thing and stopped the trailer wheel from turning. Since the right side of the axle was no longer attached by anything other than the hydraulic brake line, the right side of the axle and wheel ended up about one foot further rearward from where it was, (the third bang). Get this. I had just installed two new, good quality 6-ply radials two weeks prior and decided against the road hazard warranty. It gets better/worse. The tire rammed into the fender as the axle went rearward and tried to take the fender with it. The crumpled fender cut a big gash across the tread (fatal). The tire, wheel and fender ended up where the front portion of the rear step/running board was and the top of the fender was resting solidly against the hull. I had towing insurance, called 3 towing services, all had roll-backs but none with truck beds over 8' wide. My trailer is almost 10'wide. <br /><br />Three & one-half hours have now passed. Called home, wife must have gone shopping. I unhooked the trailer and went home, got two chains, floor jack, load binder and hand tools. I came back, removed the fender and saw an impression in the boat where the top of fender was resting, started feeling sick. I jacked up the trailer, installed the spare and easily rolled the tire, moving the axle back into position. I chained the axle forward to the frame and rearward with the load-binder then limped home. <br /><br />The Ins. adjuster came out the next day. Afterwards I temporarily beat out the fender and running board, fixed the brake line and installed new springs on both sides, etc. After 3 days of messing with this thing I headed out again. Got to the lake with no problems, thank God. Turned on my 2-year old Lowrance LCX 15-MT, which seemed slow starting up. After the splash screen I get "GPS module not responding". I didn't thank God.<br /><br />Everything's fixed except the dent in my boat (waiting for an appointment). Erie INS. gave me a fair settlement and Lowrance was wonderful. They cross-shipped a replacement head unit and receiver out the same day I called, at a very reasonable exchange price.<br />Hope you don't mind the lengthy post. Thought some of you could relate and/or maybe see some humor in my ordeal. <br />JD
