Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

[waterinthefuel]

My father and I headed off to take our 4 wheelers out for a pleasant all day ride in a huge old military camp, with almost 90 miles of trails. We managed to get about 1/2 mile from the house when the trailer we were pulling (with my 4-wheeler in it!) detaches from the truck, breaking the safety chain and starts sliding down the road and into a ditch. Some guys behind us with a large bass boat took off one of their straps they used to tie their boat down and strapped it to the trailer allowing us to pull it out of the ditch. All this with me standing in the middle of the road directing traffic. <br /><br />It's a sickening sound to hear your trailer sliding behind your truck.<br /><br />Not how I wanted our Saturday morning to start out. This happened 3-11-06.<br /><br />Lesson: Make sure it's fully grabbing the ball when you latch and lock it. It may look attached, but it may not be. Had it decided to take a left into oncoming traffic...I don't even want to think about it.

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

Time for some heftier safety chains too

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

Yep, we've since installed very large safety chains, probably overkill, but I can promise it won't come off again.

 

[brother chris]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

Glad everything worked out for ya. <br />If there is no damage, you got off lucky.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

count your blessing and chalk it down as an experience.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

What saved us was we installed a tounge wheel thingy (forgot it's technical term, it usually has a crank, this one pulls a pin and rotates from horizontal to vertical) a few weeks earlier. When the tounge hit the ground, it hit the mounting bracket for the wheel thingy, protecting the tounge of the trailer. It melted the bracket though.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

A lesson learned with no personal harm and minimal property damage is a blessing in disguise.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

I can relate, WITF, it's like launching an unguided missle - all you can do is watch in horror. Couple years ago mine separated from the tow vehicle on a city street, missed a couple brick mailboxes, parked car or two, even missed the curb - entered a front yard via a driveway and came to rest on the turf. When it first touched down on the street on the wheel thingy it introduced a slight twist to the tongue, throwing the bow stop over at an angle - I had to shim it to get it back on center. I can honestly say I've never forgotten to connect the safety chains since.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

Yep, an unguided missle that you are completely responsible for but have no control over. The bracket gave the trailer guidance though, more resistance on the right side meant it went right when it fell off. Thank god!

 

[timmathis]

Re: Not really boat related but still a lesson learned...

Not a good sight, All you can do is pray...