A month ago, the sand bass were schooling like crazy on the lake I live near and would normally call my dad afterwards and tell him about all the fun I was having catching them. He finally got some free time and we went fishing one evening. I pull up at the ramp and start taking the straps off getting it ready to launch. He asked if I wanted him to back the truck down the ramp. I said no, it's ok - I'll do it. So I back it on down and turn the truck off.
I have a Dodge Ram 1500 with the v8 and a 5-speed tranny. Dad used to have a Prelude with a 5 speed and as far as I knew, could handle a manual no problem. As I'm in the boat getting ready to back it off the trailer, dad asks if I want him to park the truck. Sure, I say, no problem.
I back off the trailer and dad hops in the truck. I watch the brake lights flash on and off a couple times and he then exits the truck to yell, "where in the hell is the brake release"? I make an underhanded pulling motion with my left hand, he turns and looks down, spots it, and gets back in the truck. The next thing I know, there is a CLUNK and my truck rolls backwards into the water! I start screaming things I can't even remember and am about to race my boat at the trailer in an effort to stop it from completely going under before he finally stops it. Water is almost to the top of the tailgate and the trailer is not even visible. He starts trying to drive up the ramp, but the tires are simply frothing water and it looks like it is sliding even further back. Before I can make it to the truck, he really stands on it and it slowly creeps up the ramp. When the spinning tires hit dry pavement, the truck and trailer lunge upwards with a huge blast of water. I was still yelling outloud at him to stop and managed to offer some serious entertainment to a guy who just tied up at the dock. He was laughing himself into a hernia. Dad did the walk of shame down the 50ft wooden walkway to the dock. He said he confused the clutch with the brake or vice versa. I finally laughed about it when when he mentioned he was scared my truck would end up on the internet, like all the pics of the sunken trucks I've sent him.
The other guy talked to us a little before we left. He told us that had to be about the funniest thing he'd ever seen, but was very happy there was a good outcome. Pop & I had a good laugh about it too!
I have a Dodge Ram 1500 with the v8 and a 5-speed tranny. Dad used to have a Prelude with a 5 speed and as far as I knew, could handle a manual no problem. As I'm in the boat getting ready to back it off the trailer, dad asks if I want him to park the truck. Sure, I say, no problem.
I back off the trailer and dad hops in the truck. I watch the brake lights flash on and off a couple times and he then exits the truck to yell, "where in the hell is the brake release"? I make an underhanded pulling motion with my left hand, he turns and looks down, spots it, and gets back in the truck. The next thing I know, there is a CLUNK and my truck rolls backwards into the water! I start screaming things I can't even remember and am about to race my boat at the trailer in an effort to stop it from completely going under before he finally stops it. Water is almost to the top of the tailgate and the trailer is not even visible. He starts trying to drive up the ramp, but the tires are simply frothing water and it looks like it is sliding even further back. Before I can make it to the truck, he really stands on it and it slowly creeps up the ramp. When the spinning tires hit dry pavement, the truck and trailer lunge upwards with a huge blast of water. I was still yelling outloud at him to stop and managed to offer some serious entertainment to a guy who just tied up at the dock. He was laughing himself into a hernia. Dad did the walk of shame down the 50ft wooden walkway to the dock. He said he confused the clutch with the brake or vice versa. I finally laughed about it when when he mentioned he was scared my truck would end up on the internet, like all the pics of the sunken trucks I've sent him.
The other guy talked to us a little before we left. He told us that had to be about the funniest thing he'd ever seen, but was very happy there was a good outcome. Pop & I had a good laugh about it too!
