Is this a stupid human trick?

[jtexas]

Saturday evening three weeks ago I was loading up to go home I noticed that my trailer frame had broke. The back end and one cross member had separated from one siderail. Only thing holding it together for about the last 6 or 7 feet was the axle (single axle). I'm by myself (not counting the dog) 100 miles from home. What would you do?<br /><br />I used a couple extra tie-down straps (the old transom ties, I just bought new ones) to strap it together, loaded the boat, and hooked the transom tie around the side onto the siderail. So now I had the boat, a strap, and the axle holding it together. Nighttime, so I couldn't really keep an eye on it - all I could do was keep watching the rearview for sparks. <br /><br />Took it to a welder yesterday, now it's good as new. Question is, how stupid was it to head out into the night with a broke trailer?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

American genius! Glad you got home safe.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

None at all. Improvise and overcome as a Marine would say. We rednecks would have just left the straps on it and called it fixed.

 

[Formula1974]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Ive got the mentality never leave equiptment behind. lol I have been broke down several times and always find a way to fix it. Out of 8 years of driving I have never had a brand new car and have been stranded maybe 20 times. Never once have I called a tow truck. One time the nut holding the bearings in my front wheel broke the cotter key and backed off. I jacked it up tightened it back on with a pair of channel locks and ran the loop off of my key chain into the cotter hole and drove home (very slowly).

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Necessity is the mother if invention. Well done.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Yep...an SHT woulda been to drive it home without strapping it up.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

I know your in Texas so why oh why did you not use the duct tape and/or bailing wire?

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

I know your in Texas so why oh why did you not use the duct tape and/or bailing wire?<br />

probably because it was already holding the steering linkage to the outboard

 

[rayjay]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Many years back my wife had a 14' Hobie cat that she pulled behind a Renault LeCar. She and a girl friend were going sailing and stopped to get gas where my wife forgets the relative widths of the car and boat resulting in a bollard putting a 6" gash on the inside of one bow. <br /><br />I get home late that evening and she is telling me what happened and I kindly say "I'm sorry you and Mary Ann didn't get to go sailing". She replies " Oh we went, there was some duct tape in the emergency kit ". They just slapped on a couple of layers of duct tape and went on their merry way I fiberglassed up the damage before the next trip.

 

[brother chris]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

You did fine jtexas. <br />Sometimes I just do not tell anyone how I fixed things, or how I got home. <br />I have many stories like yours.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Originally posted by jtexas:<br /> Question is, how stupid was it to head out into the night with a broke trailer?

Bro,<br />Like all of us, 'Ya play the cards you're dealt'.<br /><br />In this case, you made it home, and didn't get killed or caught,,,<br /><br />So,,<br />In my opinion----- you did fine, and I'm proud of ya for it.

 

[Straightup]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Cool!<br /><br />A bud was just telling me that he hit some bumpy road one time coming home from Canada. Said the one wheel on the boat trailer sheered off all but 2 of the lug nuts. Made it home tho'.

 

[Matt Smith]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

In the words of the immortal Red Green: "It's only temporary unless it works!"

 

[reddog349]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

ahhh - havent seen ole Red Green in a long time !

 

[90skichallenger]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Yup Red was my fav show when I was stationed in Tacoma, WA. It was on every night at 2200. That is the only thing I miss about that area. My fav quote "If the women dont find ya handsome, they should at least find ya handy"<br />I did get the Red Green movie on DVD. that was hilarious. If you are a Red Green fan I highly reccomend viewing it. <br />Later,

 

[gewf631]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

My cable company carries Milwaukee Public Television (I'm north of Chicago), and I watch Red Green with my 5 and 7 year old boys every Thursday night - I think they like it 'cause it's so ridiculous.<br /><br />'If it moves and it shouldn't... duct tape'<br />'If it doesn't move and it should... WD-40'

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Originally posted by Volunteer Fisherman:<br /> In the words of the immortal Red Green: "It's only temporary unless it works!"

He's my hero.<br /><br />Here in Dallas, he's on PBS every Friday nite.<br /><br />His best charcter ever that used to be on was Hap Hennessie. I used to watch the show just to see Hap. He'd done EVERYTHING !! better than anyone else. He was the original 'Know it all'.<br /><br />"Red, I didn't know you were interested in Ranching, you should have asked me,, I used to have a ranch in Africa". <br /><br />He'd pause and his eyes would wander off,,,<br /><br />"We didn't have cows though,, we raised Tigers".<br />(Tigers don't live in Africa) "Oh yeah,,,," he'd go on,,, "The round ups were pretty bad,, but the rodeos afterwards were a real mess"..........

 

[Straightup]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

Good one! My fav is Buzz the pilot. Seems to fall of the dock or the plane every time. I don't know how many times he's unhooked the plane (floatplane) and had it go away from him while he's still on the dock!!

 

[jtexas]

Re: Is this a stupid human trick?

I'm a man. But I can change. If I have to. I guess.