Another towing tail

[Uncle Jim]

Towed the boat down to NC on Friday to get the new trailer. We got off to a late start, pulling out of Mayo, MD around 2:30. A quick stop at West Marine for a grease gun and a few little odds and ends and we were on our way. Just in time to hit I95 at 4pm. Richmond, VA at 6pm, gas and dinner and back on the road again.

Thirty minutes later the boat began to shake violently, would you believe we were the only one on the road!

At first I thought the axel or a wheel bearing had gone. When I got to the back of the beast, the trailer was up under the bumper; the brake cable was hanging down on the ground with the hook bent all to hull. The brake release lever was up under the muffler and was also all bent up, the wiring was pulled out of the connector plug and to top it off it was starting to rain. But no one was hurt, Sea Dreamer ( Clarissa) was shaken up badly and it took a while to calm her down but once I gave her a task she was right on top of it.

First order of business, get the jack out and separate the trailer and the muffler. Then reconnect the wiring (thanks Rich and all who answered Sea Dreamers call for the wiring diagrams). Huston we have a problem here. Seems the screws on the wiring connector were rusted out. (Note to self, get a spare and put on routine checklist to disassembly and check inside of connector)

Sea Dreamer to the rescue! Got on the GPS and located an auto parts store 15 minutes away and off she goes. An hour later we’re rolling again.

Thirty minutes later we’re heading up the bridge over the James River when off it goes again. Back into the rain, rewire the connector again, only this time the lights will only work in flasher mode. Don’t know why it wants to jump off the ball. When I lock it down I checked up under the ball and the fork is up in the ball. Pin, shaft something must be worn badly. Drove the rest of the way at 40mph max and let the trailer slow the truck by releasing the accelerator when it looked like we were about to hit a bump in the road or a bridge joint.

Planned on arriving between 9 and 10 and getting a nice dinner and a good nights sleep. As it worked out arrived around 5am and sleep in the truck for 2½ hours until the marina opened.

The owner of Wesco Trailers wants to do some adjusting of the trailer to the boat so we’ll pick it up on the way to or the way back from FL at Christmas.

Looking back it appears that the underlying cause maybe that the bow was too far back from the roller. With our bottom paint there is no doing the bump. I generally roll it up then release the winch and retighten until it is close.


Jim

[Chinook]

I'm glad the trip ended up safely. From your comment about the hitch jumping off the ball, I can't help but wonder if maybe the ball on your hitch was one size too small.

[c130king]

Looking back it appears that the underlying cause maybe that the bow was too far back from the roller. With our bottom paint there is no doing the bump. I generally roll it up then release the winch and retighten until it is close.

Does this mean then that you didn't have enough tongue weight and when braking the trailer front end would attempt to rise and then pop off the hitch ball?

Yikes...I knew I shouldn't have read this thread. Now I won't sleep for a week as I have nightmares about my upcoming trip.

Jim

T-Minus 8 days until I am back in the U.S. and towing my boat to Mississippi.

[K9Kampers]

Yikes...I knew I shouldn't have read this thread. Now I won't sleep for a week as I have nightmares about my upcoming trip.

Jim

T-Minus 8 days until I am back in the U.S. and towing my boat to Mississippi.

Jim-
Regarding these "towing horror stories", it's your choice to be paralyzed by fear of what might happen, or use these shared experiences to be better prepared for a safe trip!

Have a safe & enjoyable trip!

[c130king]

I am being somewhat "cheeky" (British word...I have no idea what it really means) about being "scared". But my concern is that I arrive in Florida at 8:00 on Saturday night and I drive away 6:00 Sunday morning. But I have been attempting to take care of my trailer...so I am as prepared as I can be.

Cheers,
Jim

[Rick Westlake]

Well, Uncle Jim, you got further than I did - and less damage, from the sound of it.

Hooking up the trailer is superficially simple ... making sure it is hooked up right requires care. One of my projects, while Bossa Nova is at her winter home, is to familiarize myself very carefully with the trailer hitch, and figure out a good routine to be sure I've got it properly secured before I move the tow.

I recommend the same consideration, the same care, the same "figuring out a good routine," to everyone else here.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Two things to add Uncle Jim

1 There is no way, even with the boat too far back on the trailer, that you should be able to pop the hitch off the ball if it is locking correctly.
Im guessing you have either worn parts or the wrong ball on the trailer - 1 7/8 inch is the next size down and it doesnt look too different. ! 7/8 probably wont be rated for the Mac load btw, so you need to double check this. My test is, before trailering,

2 More likely, I think, is that your hitch lock is out of adjustment. Drop the hitch onto the ball, but before you lock the handle down, tighten the nut on the hitch lock until you feel the 'claw' hit the ball (or you run out of thread, which ever comes first) Now you wont be able to lock the handle down. Now back off the nut 6 turns. If the hitch closes easily, open it and tighten the nut 2 turns. Repeat ad infinitum...the point being when you get the nut in the position where you can just close the hitch, but a little tighter nut means you cant close the hitch, you have it right. Dont forget to grease the ball.

It is a pretty common mistake to drop the hitch onto the ball, and catch the 'claw' with the ball, pushing it up into the hitch receiver. Now you close the hitch pin (which will close easily) but nothing is under the ball, and it will pop out on the first bump. The check there is to get on your knees and look up at the hitch from below and ensure that you see the claw around the bottom of the ball when you are locked up.


-

[seahouse]

In my area, and in recent years, the claw that secures the ball into the socket has been fixed using only heavy spring tension, as opposed to the previous, older, setup which positively locked the ball in with maximum "release force", which in a catastrophe (ie rollover) resulted in the destruction of whichever was the weakest component. You can confirm if yours is like this by looking under to see the heavy-duty spring.

So it is possible, although with considerable force (ie. a huge bump with missbalanced trailer) to decouple the ball from the trailer, even if the claw clearance adjustment is correct. This would normally only happen in an emergency event, as Kelly has stated above!

I would be interested in finding out what that pressure is, and if you could jack the trailer tongue up with the vehicle hitched some distance without having it release. (Stand clear.)

My personal habit, with lighter trailers of course, is to lift up by hand on the tongue after it is hitched to make sure it is engaged and there is slight free play. But hard to do with a Mac-sized load!

- Brian.

[Uncle Jim]

The ball size is 2in. I'm thinking that everything is just too worn out. If I were keeping the trailer I would replaced the tounge assembly. I think Steve has nailed it with the hitch lock being too loose. I do, as a rule look or feel up under the hitch to be sure that the claw is not over the ball, or in one case was locked around the base of the ball.

The good news is that I was excepting to have problems with the axle or bearings. The wheel hubs didn't even get warm the entire trip

If anyone in the mid Atlantic wants a steel trailer for parts or to rebuild send me a PM I'll let it go for a REAL good pri¢e

I am being somewhat "cheeky" (British word...I have no idea what it really means) about being "scared". But my concern is that I arrive in Florida at 8:00 on Saturday night and I drive away 6:00 Sunday morning. But I have been attempting to take care of my trailer...so I am as prepared as I can be.

Jim, I wouldn't be to concerned - cautious, thorough, yes. be as cautious as a preflight. My trailer sat for a number of years before we bought the boat two years ago and we have not done much to care for it. The PO had passed away and the wife new nothing about how to care for it or how it was cared for. When we bought the boat a new trailer was on the top of the upgrade list. Follow all of the advice that has been presented by those who came before us and you should be fine.

We should be passing Jax some time on Saturday, we'll waive as we go by. With Sea Dreamer's schedule we had to cut the trip short by a week so we're not bringing the boat with us I guess it'll be BIL's stinkpot for on the water time.

another lesson: never start a jouney on a Friday (not that I'm superstitious but with my luck why push it )

Jim

[c130king]

Jim,

You should stop and sail in Jax sometime...its a great place. But I won't be on the road on Saturday.

If the weather and the flights cooperate I get in to Jax on Saturday night at 8:00. I will take a taxi to the Navy Base where my boat and truck are stored. I will spend about an hour "prepping" the boat/trailer for the trip:
- Remove Tire Covers
- Remove tie down ropes (4' augers drilled down into the ground)
- Remove the tarp cover from over the motor
- Reconnect the battery so I can raise the motor
- Move a few things inside towards the front (for weight distribution)
- Move tool bag to inside the truck
- Check tire pressure
- And ensure everything is all tied down and secure inside & out

Then I will drive to my hotel for the night with a quick stop to top up fuel and air in the truck.

Then Sunday morning (6:00 if everything goes well) I will drive back to the boat, hitch up, and drive away (with quick stop at the base gas station to top up the air in the trailer tires if necessary).

I have about 470 miles to go almost completely on I-10. I work my way up to 65 MPH if the trailer is behaving. Figure it will take about 10 hours with stops for gas and trailer/tire checks every 90 minutes or so. I have a spare trailer tire, a hydraulic jack...and most importantly I have BoatUS trailer/towing insurance.

Hopefully everything will go smoothly and I will arrive in Long Beach, Mississippi Sunday afternoon, drop off the boat at my Father-in-Laws second house, and drive the final 60 miles to their primary house. I will launch and start my 11 days of Christmas sailing on Monday the 21st...keeping the boat in a slip Long Beach Marina.

Then on 2 January I start the return journey to Jacksonville.

I will keep my fingers crossed, my lucky rabbits foot hanging from my rear view mirror, and I will wear my lucky sailing hat...everything will be fine, everything will be fine...say it with me...everything will be fine.

Cheers,
Jim

[DaveB]

Jim, I don't like to be cruiseing down the road with White Knuckles gripping the wheel and wondering if I can make it over the next pot hole.
That I can do in my Boat over water.
New trailer is waiting for you and hope it's a Tandem with aluminum Frame and front Stainless disk surge brakes. It has a pin that goes thru to lock the ball in.
Dave

The ball size is 2in. I'm thinking that everything is just too worn out. If I were keeping the trailer I would replaced the tounge assembly. I think Steve has nailed it with the hitch lock being too loose. I do, as a rule look or feel up under the hitch to be sure that the claw is not over the ball, or in one case was locked around the base of the ball.

The good news is that I was excepting to have problems with the axle or bearings. The wheel hubs didn't even get warm the entire trip

If anyone in the mid Atlantic wants a steel trailer for parts or to rebuild send me a PM I'll let it go for a REAL good pri¢e

I am being somewhat "cheeky" (British word...I have no idea what it really means) about being "scared". But my concern is that I arrive in Florida at 8:00 on Saturday night and I drive away 6:00 Sunday morning. But I have been attempting to take care of my trailer...so I am as prepared as I can be.

Jim, I wouldn't be to concerned - cautious, thorough, yes. be as cautious as a preflight. My trailer sat for a number of years before we bought the boat two years ago and we have not done much to care for it. The PO had passed away and the wife new nothing about how to care for it or how it was cared for. When we bought the boat a new trailer was on the top of the upgrade list. Follow all of the advice that has been presented by those who came before us and you should be fine.

We should be passing Jax some time on Saturday, we'll waive as we go by. With Sea Dreamer's schedule we had to cut the trip short by a week so we're not bringing the boat with us I guess it'll be BIL's stinkpot for on the water time.

another lesson: never start a jouney on a Friday (not that I'm superstitious but with my luck why push it )

Jim

[Uncle Jim]

Jim,

You should stop and sail in Jax sometime...its a great place. But I won't be on the road on Saturday.

If the weather and the flights cooperate I get in to Jax on Saturday night at 8:00. I will take a taxi to the Navy Base where my boat and truck are stored. I will spend about an hour "prepping" the boat/trailer for the trip:
- Remove Tire Covers
- Remove tie down ropes (4' augers drilled down into the ground)
- Remove the tarp cover from over the motor
- Reconnect the battery so I can raise the motor
- Move a few things inside towards the front (for weight distribution)
- Move tool bag to inside the truck
- Check tire pressure
- And ensure everything is all tied down and secure inside & out

Jim,
One thing you forgot on the checklist is to grease the wheel bearings. I don't know about the but all of the s in the marinia we park at have a fitting on the end of the hub (Bearing Buddy). Just hit it with the grease gun every 150 to 200 miles and no worries.
Good luck and fair winds,

Jim, I don't like to be cruiseing down the road with White Knuckles gripping the wheel and wondering

I quite agree, what is even worse is the Admrials knuckles gripping my arm
The trailer is an aluminum tandem with SS fittings, SS disk breaks, torson axles and a #5900 load rating, LED lights and a manufactor who stands behind his product.

Jim

[c130king]

Jim,
One thing you forgot on the checklist is to grease the wheel bearings. I don't know about the but all of the s in the marinia we park at have a fitting on the end of the hub (Bearing Buddy). Just hit it with the grease gun every 150 to 200 miles and no worries.
Good luck and fair winds,
Jim

Jim,

Roger that. I have a grease gun and gave my bearing buddies a fill-up in September when I was back for the Jacksonville Macgregor Get Together. I found a "returned" compact grease gun with a tube of grease for $7 at Lowe's. My old one was compeletly corroded over after sitting unused in storage for nearly 2 years. I will give the bearings a top up halfway there and do the same on the retun.

One week to go.

I didn't have all this knowledge and advice when I took my last big trip in the Spring of 2007 when I did 650 miles each way from Jacksonville to Norfolk...but I had no issues with the trailering. Hopefully everything goes as smooth this time.

Cheers,
Jim

[Sea Dreamer]

OK - time for the Admiral's side: to begin with, I wasn't white knuckling Jim's arm (I've checked for bruises to be sure) - however there are probably nail gouges in the door handle and I probably squeezed the life out of the seatbelt. What I don't remember seeing Jim mention is the trailer was swaying so hard the first time it was pulling the back end of the tow beast too. That scared me more than anything. We were in the center lane, and I know someone upstairs was looking out for us since there was absolutely no one anywhere near us - they had all just passed us a couple of minutes before. I don't know how he got us pulled over to the side of the road, but I'll tell you what - he's one hull of a good driver! Between the 2 incidents I had a really bad feeling and asked him to please pull over and check the hitch. He did - said it was all secure, and it was 5 min later that it jumped off the 2nd time. Talk about an eerie moment! Maybe it's that woman's intuition thing... Anyway it happened, we survived and learned alot of lessons from this. And the estimate on the tow beast came in only around $750 - and that's mostly removing and repainting the bumper.

[Hamin' X]

I'm just glad that both of you are safe and no damage to the boat. I'm sure that all of us will be looking at our hitches more closely, before the next trip.

~Rich