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navyeod · 03-21-2009, 09:46 PM

Steve, Thanks! Makes me lean more with that inner voice. david

navyeod · 03-27-2009, 05:51 AM

On my way after lunch to see if I get the Overlander to Auburn, Alabama from Panama City, Florida to begin the restoration. You guys pray for me! Going to hook up the temporary lights, put some more lug nuts on the wheels, pull the toilet and stove, and replace some broken retaining bands on the springs that gave it up when the weight went on the wheels last weekend. All this will probably be in the rain. (help cool those hubs ;^) ) The springs are standing tall, will put some pb blaster on them to see if they will loosen up a bit. This frame and axle just needs to hold together for one more trip. Hope to be back in auburn around 8pm. If any of you are on US 231/431 from Fla to Ala today you might be able to get a great deal on an overlander. I am trying to wedge this trip in between severe weather patterns. Will try to get some pics for you guys this time. BTW the old 83 ford truck automatic transmission was fixed with some more fluid, and the battery even holds a charge.

Silverhobby · 03-27-2009, 07:02 AM

Sounds like the trailer recovery gurus are lining up in your favor. Best of luck with getting that trailer home safe and sound. It seems you are kind of getting attached to it already.

drag'nwagon · 03-27-2009, 06:03 PM

May the Force Be With You Man!!!

3Ms75Argosy · 03-27-2009, 06:22 PM

Let's see.... it's about 8:00 on th east coast.......

navyeod · 03-27-2009, 09:27 PM

Before I tell you about this day, I would like all you to consider the choices today. Airstream that has sentimental value, but you cannot get the dust caps off to check the bearings which have been sitting for at least 20 years; All the exposed frame parts show serious structural rust. Coupler even when freed is not reliable. Tornado warnings for all weekend, but when you wake up, looks like an 10 hour window between severe weather systems but you would have to do a turn around during high traffic times on major highways. What would you do????

3Ms75Argosy · 03-27-2009, 09:32 PM

I'd do it! But I'd have my lucky underwear on!! So... how'd it go?

Marc

pbearsailor · 03-27-2009, 09:42 PM

I'd still do it too.

C'mon, David, no more suspense.

cheers,
steve

navyeod · 03-27-2009, 09:43 PM

The night before you are going to leave one of your favorite people, a man who is from Guatamala and has done work for you, a man who when you are around him makes you want to be a better person; comes over and offers to come with you to bring the trailer back if you decide to go. A man that you know can really help you if you get into a jam. He is weathered out from working elsewhere. Just out of the blue he shows up.

navyeod · 03-27-2009, 09:50 PM

you know that the bearings have not been touched for AT LEAST 20 years. And with the history of two alcoholics before that, and the trailer not being moved more that 10 miles in 40 years little chance that they had done anything to the bearings.

navyeod · 03-27-2009, 09:56 PM

The special lugnuts you ordered to fit your new aluminum rims are not in yet for sure, as the pep boys store in Panama City has not called you. But oh you want to get this daggum trailer off your mind, wondering if it will make it, and bring her back if you can, just to get it off your mind.

pbearsailor · 03-27-2009, 09:58 PM

You cannot give up on a trailer with a name.

3Ms75Argosy · 03-28-2009, 12:19 AM

You know... I moved a 50's trailer that hadn't moved in 20+ years (+ a '63 that hadn't moved in 30 years)... and with both trailer's, the bearings weren't repacked. All three axles had cool bearings after the move (the '57 moved 50 miles on the freeway... on old bias steel tires with split rims!).

Drum roll please!
Marc

navyeod · 03-28-2009, 04:46 AM

The rest of the story. I told Angel (my friend from Guatamala) Thursday night I would call him Friday morning after I looked at the radar and weather and decide. I saw Friday morning the 10-12 hour window in the tornado warnings and told him we would leave at 11:30 after I got off work. I loaded all the tools I could think of Thursday night in case we made a run for it. We left at 11:29 in the rain for the 350-400 mile round trip. Angel and I held hands and said a prayer as we were leaving. By the time we got about a half hour from the house the rain stopped and stayed that way until around 30 miles out of Panama City where it began raining pretty good again. Got to the trailer with our rain gear and tried to put the spring retainer clips I had robbed from a another set of springs but they didnt fit. There were more clips still on the springs than I remembered so we thought we would just give it a try. the springs had settled some after sitting for a week, and none were broken. I put some pb blaster (best nut loosening stuff I have ever used) on both sides of the springs to help them slide a bit better. I left Angel hooking up the lights and taking out the toilet which was in the rear. I wanted to get rid of as much aft weight as possible not knowing if the frame would fail in the rear as rusted as it was. I also had not brought the right extender harness for the lights and we didnt have enough wire. I took off to pep boys to get some more wire and get my lug nuts. The nuts had not come in yet, but they had some wire and butt connectors. The lug nuts I had would work, but would dig up the bullet shapped holes in the rim so just lived with that. Got the lights working. Ground was made on the disconnected gas lines. Took all the drawers out and put them forward and put the spare tire forward to get some weight on the tongue. I also chained the trailer really well to my truck so if the coupler failed the truck would wrestle the trailer to a stop and not go down the road injuring someone else. And we headed off at 4:34 with the trailer in a lot of traffic. It was raining and with the traffic moving slow we were able to run without holding anyone up. After about 8 miles pulled over to gas up, check the hubs, and retighten the lug nuts. Hubs were plain cold. Made it to HWY 231 and amazingly traffic was not bad and moving slow due to the rain. At 45 we were with the flow of traffic and I made a real effort to make as little use of my brakes as possible even though the trailer stopped very well with just my 2002 toyota tundra. After twenty miles pulled over and everything looked fine, springs were holding their own, hubs COLD, and now the rain is getting less. Got to Dothan and by this time was going 55 mph with no problems. Pulled over, hubs not even warm everything checked out. Hit Dothan, Alabama around 6:30 missing the bad traffic but now able to keep up with the traffic flow and being on a 4 lane Hwy most of the way was not holding anyone up. By this time I was going 65 at times with the trailer tracking great, no sway. Winds had calmed down from the 10-25 mph that they were to 10-15. As I was going down the Highway, getting more confident in making it, I thought to myself "if anyone had told me the week before that I would be going down the highway with this trailer on its own two wheels at 65mph, I would have laughed at them". At 8:30 last night we pulled into a friends place who is going to help me with the frame. Only mishap on the way had been the door came open enroute and had bent the lower hinge a bit but we were able to straigten it enought to get the door closed. I pulled off the fellows driveway into a pasture beside his house and immediately knew I had messed up. the pasture was soaked and after around 30 yards the truck (2wd) wouldnt pull the trailer forward anymore. We disconnected the trailer, left the tonque on blocks and was able to drive the truck out of the pasture, barely. I will take a pic today of it sitting in the middle of that pasture. I came home, had a great drink of scotch, and thought about these last two weeks. Aluminum Wheels and tires $425, temporary lights $55, 5 cans pb blaster $22, having Eugene in Auburn, PRICELESS.

pics to follow.

navyeod · 03-28-2009, 04:52 AM

Woke up this morning to lightning and severe thunderstorms. The first pic is the former resting place of Eugene. 2nd is the hole I cut out to move it back, and the third pic is the 2nd hole I cut to get it out to the road. Last pic is as we are leaving in the rain. Sure slept well last night and finally didnt wake up going over the what ifs on bringing Eugene to Auburn.

slvrlng · 03-28-2009, 07:08 AM

I know that feeling of finally pulling your treasure down the road! When I pulled mine out of the woods last year I kept looking back in the mirror to see nothing but aluminum, WHAT A SIGHT! Congratulations on getting him home. Now the fun begins! Just make sure to take lots of pics for reference and your pleasure in the future. Make sure to get several different angles of the same thing, really close and farther back. This might seem redundant but once you remove something those will be your only resource. I thought I had taken enough but now I wish I had more. You probably already know this but don't throw anything away! Seemingly useless parts can always be used as a pattern in the future.Once again congratulations and I know we all look forward to seeing much more of your project in the future!

navyeod · 03-28-2009, 07:18 AM

Lewis, I looked up your blog. That 55 FC is one cool trailer. I just the last few days looked up what a whaletail airstream was. I think those are the coolest I have seen. I look forward to seeing your progress. david

navyeod · 03-28-2009, 08:44 AM

Pics of where it laid to rest last night. Will be a few days before I can move it with that pasture so wet.

pbearsailor · 03-28-2009, 08:48 AM

Way to go, David, Angel, and Eugene!!

Isn't it a great feeling?

He's going to be one fine trailer.

cheers,
steve

navyeod · 03-28-2009, 09:18 AM

Steve I kept thinking about your history pulling your two trailers. You never know till you try it though, do you. thanks for your reassurance it was quite helpful to me.