Running from Irma with bent trailer!

[Betik]

Canadians are wimps !!! Don't look at @MrMoose , his " cojones" grew gigantically while in Texas.

Tires are looking good. Hope the tongue holds the same way like the tires. Please keep us updated when you take rests.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

I agree, you changing tires and hoping the tongue is not gonna break is way slower than getting it fixed and driving 65 and being safe.

Or just getting fixed. All the tire replacement stops are going to equal or be more than the repair. I bet with someone that knows what they are doing you are looking at 2 hours max

Amar,

I can tell you this. Being in the transportation industry most of my career (23 years). On my trucks if they are not perfect as far as safety goes they do not move. I understand you have Irma and a timeline. Situations like this can turn out really bad. Like the boat coming loose and hitting you and wrecking you, or hitting wrecking someone else.
(safety manager hat off)

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Thank you for your warnings. If it was up to me I would just leave the boat and trailer here in Florida and pick it up next week or month. It is my friends boat and his decision to have it repaired in Virginia before he trailers it back to Canada. I am doing my best to ensure that we arrive safe.

 

[Ronnie]

Hats off to everyone trying to help in this situation and especially to @Amar Nanduri who is still dealing with it.

If it were me, I'd drop it off at the nearest/safest boat barn and deal with it later. I've had my boat and trailer detach from my tow vehicle on the freeway before, the chains and surge brakes did their job but chains would be useless if the part of the tongue they are attached to is no longer attached to trailer. Then your only hope is that the safety chain engages the surge brakes which may be under additional stress already.

 

[Scottintexas]

I would also suggest dropping it at the first safe place, tire or trailer shop or storage lot to pick up later, it's just not worth would could happen if it broke at 55mph,
as Ronnie said your safety chains and stop cable won't do much good if they are still with the truck when it breaks

If you do keep going maybe stop and at least buy some chain to make an extra couple of loops around the trailer up to the truck in case it does break.

 

[MrMoose]

@Amar Nanduri, so sorry to read about your situation. Oh my, when it rains, it pours for you, but somehow you always find a way through, and you always see a silver lining.
Good luck my friend.
By the way, when I saw the pic of the damage, although I'm sitting alone, I couldn't stop myself from shouting "Holy F***!"
One day, you'll write a book about all of these things.

@Betik, thanks for tagging me, as I was unaware of Amar's situation.

Godspeed Amar!

 

[Amar Nanduri]

I would also suggest dropping it at the first safe place, tire or trailer shop or storage lot to pick up later, it's just not worth would could happen if it broke at 55mph,
as Ronnie said your safety chains and stop cable won't do much good if they are still with the truck when it breaks

If you do keep going maybe stop and at least buy some chain to make an extra couple of loops around the trailer up to the truck in case it does break.

Thanks for the idea @Scottintexas
Went to Lowes and bought a tow chain (was only about to get a 2000 lb limit that fits the truck) and installed it after wrapping it around the tongue also. Also changed 3 tires to new ones just to be sure the tires can withstand the stress. Will be leaving Orlando soon and be on our way.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

@Amar Nanduri, so sorry to read about your situation. Oh my, when it rains, it pours for you, but somehow you always find a way through, and you always see a silver lining.
Good luck my friend.
By the way, when I saw the pic of the damage, although I'm sitting alone, I couldn't stop myself from shouting "Holy F***!"
One day, you'll write a book about all of these things.

@Betik, thanks for tagging me, as I was unaware of Amar's situation.

Godspeed Amar!

Thank you @MrMoose you are too kind. I am optimistic that we will be able to reach Virginia safely. It was a challenging trip snorkeling in the keys. The water depth is so unpredictable that I had to rely on the Garmin GPS for depth both in day and night times and still got warning indicators of 1-2 foot depth Then Irma came along and we had to hasten our departure plans and this issue with trailer happened.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

You could get that pretty straight using a good chain anchored to two points away from the bend and a bottle jack located at the bend pushing the chains and straightening the bent part also use the chains to secure the trailer to the tongue just to be safe so you can get it to a place to fix it correctly.

 

[Addicted]

I respect your situation and dedication to your friends wishes. However, there is no way I would drive that far with that trailer in it's current condition. That is a bad day waiting to happen at any minute. A welder, a couple pieces of steel and 20 minutes of time and that could be made plenty safe to continue on your way without incident. Any random fab shop, or even exhaust shop could get you safe in no time. Risk versus reward my friend!

Easy for us to give advise from the safety of our desks though. Sometimes when your in the moment, you have to do what you have to do. Good luck to you!

 

[Amar Nanduri]

You are right my friends. The crack is getting bigger. Attached is the picture. Any chance of finding a welder close by at this time? I am not going to allow any further travel without fixing this. I am close to St Augustine Florida.

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

Look on Craigslist for a mobile welder, your best chance right now.

 

[McMark]

Mac Gregor in palm coast.

 

[McMark]

I don't know them. But I'd get them on the phone.

 

[McMark]

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Thanks @McMark called him and left a voice mail. We found one who is willing to work on the trailer tomorrow morning if we can bring it to Jacksonville Fl. Driving there slowly with hazards.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

The storm is at least 3 days out from St. Augustine.... stay there for a few hours tomorrow and get it fixed.

 

[OCMD]

Get it fixed in Jacksonville. Looks like you will be ready for the remainder of the long haul to VA. Otherwise, make sure you have a nice umbrella policy to cover damages and the catastrophic injuries to the occupants of the following vehicles, which will occur if that thing comes apart at 60 mph. Be smart. Enough said. Coming from a liability attorney.

 

[djetok]

I spoke to chris , he is boarding up but if you get to him in time he can fix it. Call him if your going that direction
He might be able to work on it after.
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@Amar Nanduri

I spoke to chris , he is boarding up but if you get to him in time he can fix it. Call him

If not to just straighten it and weld some supports on it.

did you call chris @Amar Nanduri

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Hi @djetok we spoke to him. We also spoke to a couple more people and decided that the best course of action is to get the trailer repaired properly even if it takes time rather than go the welding route (which you all have been saying all along). Going to Jacksonville now to a trailer shop that promised to fix it properly by tomorrow evening. Thank you for your support and help.

 

[bronze_10]

@Amar Nanduri .. I been following this... U had me worried!