I might be nuts

[GeeSag]

We assume someone is sitting in the passenger seat on a long drive today.

We all look forward to being young again, and so many of us are really deep down jealous.

Please some updates!

[Iansk]

I’m starting to feel like a parent whose kid hasn’t checked in...

[John&Vicki]

Originally Posted by Sitesee

I hope I am not in the minority by not understanding why some posters boast that they put others in danger by transporting unsafe trailers. Innocent people could get hurt or killed. What about the potential for property damage.? I have seen the damage road debris can cause.
What is about some people that have no regard for pain , suffering, death, and property damage to others?
The moderaters should remove those posts.

I used to a little, err, happy go lucky about this kind of thing. That attitude ended during my time as a California SP Ranger. I worked at the beach parks North (actually West) of Santa Barbara and when I was on at night it was common for a CHIPs trooper to stop in for coffee and a break. This was a long time ago when things weren’t anywhere near as bad as they are now. Both they were always wound tight.

They mostly patrolled 101 and there was plenty to do. They would share some stories, probably to get them off their chest, that were sobering. The worse we’re about pulling mangled children's bodies out of wrecks. That changed my attitude about driving, an attitude that stays with me to this day.

Drive slow, stay safe - and keep others safe.

John

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by chasecrider

Well we leave tonight around 11 Pacific time tonight and get into pitsburgh to get the truck tomorrow, but we talked to the seller this morning and the title has not come in yet and it was supposed to be, so trips off to a great start. Hopefully it shows up by the time we get there tomorrow

How's it going?

Peter

[chasecrider]

Well what a trip it has been. We got here Tuesday and checked out the truck but the tittle wasn't in so we took out sweet Ford Fiesta down to the trailer. As we pulled on to the dirt road where the trailer was, it started to DOWN POUR. We finally found the trailer in the pouring rain, it was like I was in a jungle. We didn't poke around too much because everything was wet and the grass was knee deep and apparently its been an exceptional snake year out here. Also we started to fin out that the registration/ title are a total mess. We went to our lovely quality in and slept. Next day we went down to the DMV and State police to try to track down some information on the VIN or license plate. Found out the plate wasn't even registered to the trailer. At this point, still with no title to the truck and now no legal way to move the trailer on the road we decided to retreat to Pittsburgh and try to get our truck and get back to Cali. We thought about loading the trailer onto another trailer, but it turns out its a sovereign not an ambassador and we couldn't find any trailers that would accommodate the extra 3 feet for a reasonable price. We finally got the title for the truck today and am heading back to California with no trailer. Maybe next summer we'll try again

photos to come when my computer decides to recognize that they are in fact JPG's

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by chasecrider

. . .
. . . heading back to California with no trailer.
. . .

Thanks for the update . . . sorry it did not work out.

Peter

[GeeSag]

Now you have something to look forward to for a year.

Hunting down someone with a bush hog would go a long ways to making the weed problem go away. There might be someone on this forum close to West Virgina willing to drag a bush hog over to volunteer and be part of the fun of the start of this project to get this trailer on its way to restoration next year.

And with a dually and no trailer, you have the making of a great road trip across the country.

Please entertain us with some of your adventures on the way back to Calif.

We look forward to next year.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by GeeSag

. . .
Please entertain us with some of your adventures on the way back to Calif.
. . .

. . . as well as your thoughts about what you might do differently the next time please.



There is plenty to learn here, especially for newcomers IMO.

Thanks,

Peter

[TouringDan]

I am thinking that there might be a neighbor with a bush hog willing to help out.

I am in Lynchburg, Virginia about 100 miles from the West Virginia line. Where in West Virginia is the trailer? What year is it?

Once you get the title and make it towable, I would just put any trailer tag on it and tow it. Once you are out of West Virginia it seems to me the tag is a non issue.

Dan

[Sitesee]

Fate was with you and the traveling public. Hopefully in the future you will only transport a road worthy trailer.

[tallytwo1994]

Originally Posted by chasecrider

Well what a trip it has been. We got here Tuesday and checked out the truck but the tittle wasn't in so we took out sweet Ford Fiesta down to the trailer. As we pulled on to the dirt road where the trailer was, it started to DOWN POUR. We finally found the trailer in the pouring rain, it was like I was in a jungle. We didn't poke around too much because everything was wet and the grass was knee deep and apparently its been an exceptional snake year out here. Also we started to fin out that the registration/ title are a total mess. We went to our lovely quality in and slept. Next day we went down to the DMV and State police to try to track down some information on the VIN or license plate. Found out the plate wasn't even registered to the trailer. At this point, still with no title to the truck and now no legal way to move the trailer on the road we decided to retreat to Pittsburgh and try to get our truck and get back to Cali. We thought about loading the trailer onto another trailer, but it turns out its a sovereign not an ambassador and we couldn't find any trailers that would accommodate the extra 3 feet for a reasonable price. We finally got the title for the truck today and am heading back to California with no trailer. Maybe next summer we'll try again

photos to come when my computer decides to recognize that they are in fact JPG's

Sorry the plan didn’t come together this time. Sounds like the truck title was the time controlling issue. Hope you are able to return before long to rescue that trailer. It really looks like a very descent unit. My Vintage Kin is a 1955 Spartan Manor that had not moved in 30 years. Although it took a number of days to make it road worthy, it was totally worth every minute. I assure you and others here that although it was old, it was not unsafe going down the road. The nice thing about an aluminum framed trailer is that there is very little that can rot out. The plywood flooring had some holes from water damage and there were a couple cracked windows but everything was secure and contained inside the aluminum shell and belly pan before we left the site. Some of us are DIY people and some aren’t, so when we see potential we aren’t afraid to tackle a renovation. Don’t let people who might not have the same enthusiasm and skillset discourage you.

Carol

[Sitesee]

Would you get on a 40 year old carnival park ride that was just pull out of the weeds? Probably not, nor do I want to be behind it or a 40 year old un- inspected Airstream just pulled from the weeds.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Sitesee

Would you get on a 40 year old carnival park ride that was just pull out of the weeds? Probably not, nor do I want to be behind it or a 40 year old un- inspected Airstream just pulled from the weeds.

Hi

Let's face it, there is only so much you *can* do to check out a "gem" that has been sitting for a while. Doing a full shell off tear down while in the middle of a corn field is not what anybody actually is going to do. Doing much of anything without moving it to a better location is going to be pretty hard.

A "full state inspection" is a joke in any state I've ever lived in. You can do a better job yourself in less time than it takes to drive over and back. A good mechanic who knows what he's looking at (and is getting paid for his time ...) can do a better job than you or I. On an AS, finding a mechanic who actually knows what he's looking at ... not likely anywhere near that field / on that day.

So it's always going to be a bit of a compromise. There will be a bunch of things you simply will not know before you roll down the road. That's the way it is going to work. To me the short list includes working lights, brakes, and adequate tires. You *can* get that far.

Bob

[Mollysdad]

Maybe karma is sending a message to leave this one sit.
There's always another one.

[Iansk]

Originally Posted by Sitesee

Would you get on a 40 year old carnival park ride that was just pull out of the weeds? Probably not, nor do I want to be behind it or a 40 year old un- inspected Airstream just pulled from the weeds.

Your post, in my opinion, is both a strange analogy and a bit presumptuous.

Ian

[smithcreek]

Originally Posted by Iansk

Your post, in my opinion, is both a strange analogy and a bit presumptuous.

Ian

Exactly. The guy comes on here specifically to ask what problems he should look for and what he should do to prepare for the trip. He gets excellent advice, some from people that have done exactly what he is planning to do. He takes the advice and spells out how he will do what he needs to make a safe trip. Yet, somehow people still get their panties in a bunch and break out the doomsday predictions about killing innocent bystanders. Weird.

[mikextr]

^^Exactly^^

[TouringDan]

I sure wouldn’t pass on this one.

If he takes the precautions most have recommended he will probably be safer than most trailers being towed down the road. He also knows that it has been sitting in a field and though he would like it to be safer it is what it is, so he will adjust his driving and will be extra cautious.

Dan