Really stupid move.

[Twidget]

I picked up my boat from the local boat shop today. It was about closing time, so everyone was scurrying about.<br /><br />I broke my first rule of hooking up and got rushed. I hooked everything up and headed home. I noticed there was some clanging from the hitch area, but attributed it to the highways I was driving on. <br /><br />When I got home and was undoing the trailer, I realized that I had somehow put the coupler on top of the ball and latched it down. It appeared to be on correctly, but was just sitting on top of the ball. Gravity was all that kept it on the hitch. I am so thankful that God looks out for children and idiots.

 

[brother chris]

Re: Really stupid move.

Good thing nothing happened. It would be a shame. Although, I think we have all done this at least once(not saying I have done this though )

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Really stupid move.

I went to East Texas t oretrieve a boat traier that I'd stored up there several years before. <br /><br />After a year or so of never needing it, I took my 1 7/8ths ball off the truck.<br /><br />Got up there in the weeds, and figured out pretty quick why I had the 1 7/8ths on there in the first place.....<br /><br />I hitched up the chains real well, set the hitch on top of the 2" ball, and drove about 40 miles to the nearest auto parts store to get another spare 1 7/8ths ball. <br /><br />I stopped every few hundred yards to look at it at first, but since it never hopped off, I figured if I took it easy, there was enough tongue weight to keep it on there.<br /><br />I wouldn't exactly recomend such a procedure, but I got away with it that time.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Really stupid move.

man winger.... what's where ya drive to go get it and THEN come back for the boat! glad to see it went ok. (not saying I wouldn't have possibly come to the same conclusion in your shoes though)<br /><br />..and similar situation 2 years ago, <br />stored 21' bowride at my aunts house, 8 miles from the ramp. Drove up there in the blazer, hauled the boat from their house to the ramp and back at the end of the night... The next day, taking the hitch off the blazer to realize I had done this all with a 1 7/8 ball instead of a 2"<br /><br />real quick got that gut wrenching fealing in my stomach as my wife and kid were in the car with me during all of this.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Really stupid move.

Originally posted by ndemge:<br /> ya drive to go get it and THEN come back for the boat

Normally, I would. But it was a clear Sunday afternoon, and almost no traffic on the farm roads I was having to use. <br /><br />Things don't always work out so well for me, but I gambeled and won that time. ---However; I do still have that 'only used once' 1 7/8s ball on the truck though.

 

[wajajaja]

Re: Really stupid move.

I paint my 2" balls/bars (cant think of the name) and hitches blue, and the 1 7/8 sets red so i don't mismatch.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Really stupid move.

Originally posted by wajajaja:<br /> so i don't mismatch.

That's clever.<br /><br />I used to have a pilot once back when I was with 1stMAW. Somebody painted his Flight Boots "Left" and 'right' for the same reason.

 

[NYMINUTE]

Re: Really stupid move.

Good news you didn't lose it. Bet it doesn't happen again.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Really stupid move.

Originally posted by wajajaja:<br /> I paint my 2" balls/bars (cant think of the name) and hitches blue, and the 1 7/8 sets red so i don't mismatch.

I just know there's an off-color joke in there somewhere, just can't quite put my finger on it...

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Really stupid move.

Quote:<br />I paint my 2" balls/bars (cant think of the name) and hitches blue, and the 1 7/8 sets red so i don't mismatch. end quote<br /><br />I don't know if ther is a down side to this but I changed all of my trailers to 2" balls so I wouldn't have a problem with this or not being able to change balls. The receiver on my van is rusty enough that a change is a monumental challenge.