Running from Irma with bent trailer!

[Amar Nanduri]

Everything in Key West shutting down early and people boarding up for the hurricane. Advanced my plans to get out tonight itself rather than wait for tomorrow

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Launched the boat midnight to take it to ramp and load up the trailer. Found out that someone hit the trailer in the parking lot and bent the whole front end at the join where the trailer splits from tongue to a V by around 10-15 degrees. Normally I would get my trailer repaired before I even attempt to trailer the boat. No choice now but to evacuate the keys as a mandatory evacuation order was given. Towed the boat carefully with a bent trailer and just reached Miami. It is quite a challenge as the trailer is pulling a lot on the right side. Will try to get it repaired in Virginia. Plan to get the hell out of Miami in the next 2 hours. I can already see gas pumps empty of gas or queued up with cars and the rains just started.

 

[Bruce]

@Amar Nanduri, your tires may be wearing at an accelerated rate. Please keep an eye on them. If you need tires you can likely walk into a Tractor Supply or other farm store and buy mounted tires with the wheel.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

@Amar Nanduri, your tires may be wearing at an accelerated rate. Please keep an eye on them. If you need tires you can likely walk into a Tractor Supply or other farm store and buy mounted tires with the wheel.

Thanks @Bruce We will keep an eye on the tires. I have 2 spares right now

 

[Betik]

are you out of Miami yet? Did you find fuel?

 

[Amar Nanduri]

are you out of Miami yet? Did you find fuel?

Yes Betik. I am out of Miami and at Port St Lucie in a rest area. Here also the fuel is being rationed and there are long lines. It looks like we will be doing some hard riding today to put as much distance between us and Irma

 

[Bruce]

@Amar Nanduri, how much fuel do you have in the boat?

 

[Amar Nanduri]

@Bruce good catch on the tires. One is almost ready to tear apart. It's a good thing it was a radial tire. I am going to check if there is a shop nearby so that I can buy atleast 2 more spares. It is a Carlisle Sport Trail radial ST215/75D14

 

[Amar Nanduri]

@Amar Nanduri, how much fuel do you have in the boat?

I have close to a quarter tank of gas in the boat.

 

[Betik]

Dam... is that grease normal for that wheel? Maybe your bearing is wearing out too.

A couple of thoughts.....

• If you cannot find tires, you might need to rotate the worn down ones. It looks like they last about 100 miles. With 2 spares, you are looking at 400 to 500 more miles.
• I am not sure how damaged the trailer is, but I am worry that it might have lost strength the way it is bent.
• if push comes to shave, you should be able to make it to Orlando. That will give you a couple more days to sort things out.

 

[Bruce]

I have close to a quarter tank of gas in the boat.

If you need to you could pull a fuel hose and let the boats fuel pump pump that ~13 gallons into a fuel can. It would be a slow process. If you had two fuel cans you could disconnect both engines fuel hoses and use both fuel pumps. I believe fuel would start flowing as soon as you turn the key to the on position. The hose is likely pressurized so removing it will be messy.

 

[Bruce]

@Amar Nanduri, there is no need to get the same brand of tire. My guess is that you will go through a tire every few hundred miles.

 

[Bruce]

@Betik is absolutely right that the trailer is compromised. I assume that @Amar Nanduri recognizes that and has decided it is best to try to tow the boat instead of leaving her for Irma.

I would not try to tow farther than necessary and would watch for cracks in the bent metal.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Here is a closer view of the damage. Replaced the tire. Will try to buy new tires in a Orlando.
One question...is the part that is bent replaceable ? Or we need a new trailer ? Thanks

 

[Betik]

Tractor supply in FORT PIERCE
4888 OKEECHOBE RDFORT PIERCE, FL 34947
772-468-4972

if you are still in the area it might be worth driving by and checking for the tongue.
I spoke with John and he said that he needs to see, but they have different parts of trailer tongue.

 

[Betik]

@Amar Nanduri here is another tractor supply south of Orlando and just east of the trunpike.
SAINT CLOUD
4267 13TH ST SAINT CLOUD, FL 34769
407-498-0775

 

[Betik]

@Amar Nanduri here is place that they feel fairly confident that they can fix your trailer. Without looking at the damage, they said they can fix it in a day or 2.

B & B Trailers and Accessories
Address: 2875 US-1, St. Augustine, FL 32086
Hours: 8am to 6pm ( closed sunday)
Phone: (904) 829-6855

If I were in your shoes, I would

1. stop by tractor supply to see if it an easy fix or if they tell you that your trailer is completely gone.
   1. if easy then fix it
2. if fixable for more than trackor suply can handle, then I should head for St. Augustine at the trailer repair place
   1. it is less than 250 from where you are so you should have enough tires to rotate and make it to St. Augustine. In terms of fuel, you probably need one more refuleing to make it there

If you were thinking about just buying a new trailer while you are in the area, you might want to forget about it. I spoke with 4 different places around Orlando and they all are out. Apparently a lot of people are buying trailers to get their boats out of the water.

Worse case scenario if you drive another 200 miles, you probably have until Friday evening before you need to worry. Orlando is only 16 hours from here, so we can always do a Glen type operation.

 

[Bruce]

One question...is the part that is bent replaceable

The tongue certainly is replaceable. It appears that it may be bolted into place with a single bolt securing it.

It is not something that you would find sitting on a shelf to swap out. A welder could make a new one or Shorlandr may be able to provide a replacement.

When you are far enough north to feel comfortable you might see if you can trade your trailer toward a nice aluminum I-Beam trailer.

 

[McMark]

You could cut the tongue, remove the piece in the channel, then slide the tongue into the channel, drill, and bolt.

 

[Bruce]

stop by tractor supply to see if it an easy fix

Tractor Supply should have tires with wheels installed on the shelf but they would not be able to make any repairs.

On the farm we would use a tree, straps and whatever tools were available to straighten the tongue. But that might crack it. So I would not try it in your situation.