Ryan23
08-09-2006, 09:51 PM
Took the boat out tonight for our first "solo" outing. Made it to the slip OK, about 20 miles from home. Of course, unbeknownst to me, they lock the gates at sunset. The "gate keepers" were kind enough to let us know that if we launched it, we would probably be locked in. So we got directions to another curfew-less slip...
On the way there we had to go through a two lane residential neighborhood (Thank God!!) and made a left turn. I was going maybe 15mph. I look in the drivers mirror and see a horrible sight. The rear wheel caves in from the bottom and SNAP! It took the taillight bar with it too. I immediately come to a stop whereas some redneck lets me know, "Hey Buddy! Looks like ya lost a wheel." "Really? No sh**?!" :rolleyes:
So I put the hazards on and inspected. The forward tire (Double axle Quickload) is doing OK, albeit a little extra loaded. We're not going very far at all but we have to get off this two lane road. Toss the wheel and light bar in the back of the truck. A buddy and my girlfriend walk behind the trailer as we creep along at idle. Had to cut two lefts and one right. It's groaning but I manage to make it off the road and stash it behind a well lit building. Talk to the owners of the establishment and they tell me it's cool to leave it there overnight. I then ran out to a conveniance store and picked up a padlock for the hitch. I also attached a note to the hitch prophesizing all kinds of ill doom & gloom if anyone attemts to move this boat.
Not sure what happened. All four wheel bearings were recently replaced by the previous owner. The castle nut/cotter pin was still on the axle. The axle itself *looks* OK but I'll have to wipe it down with some solvent to be sure. I hope to hell I can locate a set of (FOUR!) bearings (and whatever else I need) tomorrow to get her back mobile. What a frigging night...
Ryan
On the brightside, at least it didn't happen on the freeway @ 60mph! :eek:
On the way there we had to go through a two lane residential neighborhood (Thank God!!) and made a left turn. I was going maybe 15mph. I look in the drivers mirror and see a horrible sight. The rear wheel caves in from the bottom and SNAP! It took the taillight bar with it too. I immediately come to a stop whereas some redneck lets me know, "Hey Buddy! Looks like ya lost a wheel." "Really? No sh**?!" :rolleyes:
So I put the hazards on and inspected. The forward tire (Double axle Quickload) is doing OK, albeit a little extra loaded. We're not going very far at all but we have to get off this two lane road. Toss the wheel and light bar in the back of the truck. A buddy and my girlfriend walk behind the trailer as we creep along at idle. Had to cut two lefts and one right. It's groaning but I manage to make it off the road and stash it behind a well lit building. Talk to the owners of the establishment and they tell me it's cool to leave it there overnight. I then ran out to a conveniance store and picked up a padlock for the hitch. I also attached a note to the hitch prophesizing all kinds of ill doom & gloom if anyone attemts to move this boat.
Not sure what happened. All four wheel bearings were recently replaced by the previous owner. The castle nut/cotter pin was still on the axle. The axle itself *looks* OK but I'll have to wipe it down with some solvent to be sure. I hope to hell I can locate a set of (FOUR!) bearings (and whatever else I need) tomorrow to get her back mobile. What a frigging night...
Ryan
On the brightside, at least it didn't happen on the freeway @ 60mph! :eek: