Need to Vent...

[OKWAKEBDR]

What started out as a great morning has gone straight downhill...

In Denver, if you want smooth water, you have to be on the water at sunrise. So, me and a buddy of mine meet at the lake at 6 this morning. He gets a set in, and I'm barely into my set when the lake ranger shows up. Apparently, CO requires a driver and observer (the mirror is not enough). There was only 1 other boat on the whole lake, but I got a ticket. My own fault, I've lived here for a couple of months, and should have paid attention to the rules. The worst part is, I got up at 5 this morning and didn't really even get to ride much.

Unfortunately, the story gets better...

On my way to work (from the lake), I get a flat tire on the boat trailer. By the time I can get pulled off the highway, the tire is destroyed. I then learned that my wrench won't fit on the lug nuts because the nuts are recessed too far into the wheel. Again...my fault for not checking a long time ago.

I guess I should be thankful that I have a double axle trailer...otherwise I would have really been in trouble. I just towed it to the nearest tire shop and they were able to swap out my spare and order me a new tire.

BTW...how much should trailer tires cost? Because Tires Plus wanted $110 for a new Goodyear (the exact tire that was on the trailer).

Anyway...I feel much better now (not really). Thanks PN for letting me vent.

[skijones]

RE: Need to Vent...

Sounds about right on the tire. I just paid $133 for a Carlisle, including mount and balance.

[FatBoy]

Re: RE: Need to Vent...

Sounds about right on the tire. I just paid $133 for a Carlisle, including mount and balance.

Hope you have better luck with Carlisle tires than I did.

[Chexi]

RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

Ugh, sounds like a nightmare. I had all 5 bolts sheer off my trailer tire near Eldorado KS on the way to southern Iowa when carting my Tige around before I got my Nautique. Oh, and that was a single axle trailer, and it was a Sunday. Lucky for me that by the time the last one popped I was down to about 1 mph and to the side of the road. Even luckier for me, the tow truck guy was actually able to replace the thing on the axle that has the bolts and get me back on the road that same day. It took about 5-6 hours total. When I finally got to my destination, my boat ran for 15 minutes before the fuel pump died, which took me 3 days to diagnose and fix. Now that trip sucked. Still, it could have been a lot worse.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

On the way to our cabin in Idaho in late June, my kids and their friends were ahead of my wife and I in with our dually and a 1 year old enclosed motorcycle trailer that had 500 miles on it. We are in the middle of North Dakota. the ubolts that hold the axle to the leaf spring disappeared. Being a huge diesel truck and they are teenagers, they did not notice any drag. My wife wakes me up screaming "They're on FIRE!!!!!" We got them pulled over finally despite forgetting the walkie talkies, and not having mobile service. there were 3 foot flames coming off the wheel. We had started a ditch fire from the molten rubber flinging all over the place. Called the highway patrol... After a couple hours a good samaritan and I were able to fabricate a bracket using a block of wood, and piece of firewood, and wire we cut from a cattle fence. We limped 40 miles to his shop, and fabbed up a better one with measured 2x4's and hoseclamps. Bear in mind, this is the middle of nowhere in ND. And Saturday afternoon. There is no store along the I94 corridor that sells my style of rims, tires, axles, or leaf springs. We lost 6 hours time, and ended up hauling a$$ with the makeshift leafspring another 1000 miles out there and 1300 back as it seemed this held up better than stock. HH Trailer warranteed the parts despite being out of warranty. Apparently this was not the first time it had happened, and I could pretty much prove the lack of miles I had put on the trailer.
In MN you do not have to have a spotter. That is a lame ticket to get.

Stuff happens, glad it mostly worked out for you. It could definitely have been worse.

[Chexi]

RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

Wakeslayer, you just 1 upped my 1 up lol. We need a thread just for nightmare tales.

No spotter need in Texas either, but definitely need one in Wisconsin and at least on the private lake in Iowa I ride on occassionally.

[SNMike]

RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

Sorry man!! Glad things are ok. As for the price of the tire, it's spot on.

BTW, go check your gas filler cap, make sure it's tight, and there's propane in the tank for the barby!! Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[OKWAKEBDR]

RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

Wow!! I guess my story is not so bad after all.

I agree that the spotter ticket is stupid. On a Saturday afternoon, I wouldn't even get in the water because it is so crowded and scary, so I understand the rule...but at 6:30am with only a couple other people on the lake...it is the law though and I knew it.

I've never seen the ranger out that early in the morning either.

[dip]

RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

I primarily ski on the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsy. I think technically we're still required to fly an orange flag when we are pulling a skier! The rules are somewhat fuzzy, but I think if we have a boat operator's license, we don't need a spotter, otherwise you do. In North Carolina where I used to live, the mirror was enough. You have to love the "By The Book" Ranger though. Come on fella, show a little discretion and put your ticket book away.
Thank god I have no trailer stories to share, and I hope like **** I never do.

[MikeC]

RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

So that's when the rangers are out - at 6 in the morning when there are no boats on the water. I've always wondered why I don't see any rangers on a busy afternoon when people are running 20 through the no wake zones, cutting across my path when I'm pulling a boarder and doing things that are really dangerous - they got up early and got their work done before any boats got on the water.

And yes 110 for a Goodyear Marathon is about right.

[INVNO1]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

After a couple hours a good samaritan and I were able to fabricate a bracket using a block of wood, and piece of firewood, and wire we cut from a cattle fence. .

That's too cool.

We need a spotter in Maine also. If we can't shake the drunks out of bed early enough in the a.m. we use the blow-up doll. (no, it's not mine) . We figure if nothing else, we may get a laugh out of the warden.

Mike

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

People get caught here periodically in the carpool lane with blowup dolls. Usually makes a footnote in the news.

I blew the tire on my SAN trailer last year. First time I had towed it any distance since I bought it in 95. Tires in perfect condition, trailer stored in the shade or indoors. Had a semi tire repair company fix it on the side of the road. Tire plus road side service was $275. Took four hours.

[INVNO1]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

I have no tire stories. I did however manage to save my" buddy " a tow when the fuel pump on his 82 Toyota truck took a dirt nap. I siphoned some gas out of the tank, drained the washer fluid from the resevoir, ran the washer hose to the carb, got in and hit the windshield washer and bingo....running. You could drive it about a mile before you had to fill the bowl again by hitting the washer switch. We had to stop twice on the way home and siphon more gas to fill the resevoir ( it was a 40 mile trip home). The next day he called me and wanted me to buy him a new windshield washer resevoir because the gas ruined the plastic. I haven't spoken to him since.


Mike

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Need to Vent...

^^Great ingenuity there. What a thankful buddy.....

[WakeSlayer]

Here is our roadside repair job....