Running from Irma with bent trailer!

[McMark]

If you get as far north as Daytona Beach, go to Special Forces Automotive. They are great at just getting in there and getting things fixed.

 

[Bruce]

You could cut the tongue, remove the piece in the channel, then slide the tongue into the channel, drill, and bolt.

I bet that if he found a machine shop capable of doing that today, that they could cut the tongue, insert a smaller piece of tubing inside and extending out, add a new piece of tubing to extend the cut section, weld it all together and either bolt or weld it back into the trailer.

Cutting the tongue and reinstalling it may not allow for the bow stop to fit and may create a risk of collision between the bow of the boat and the tow vehicle.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Spoke to both @Betik first one doesn't do repair and second one is not available for a week. I am going to go straight to Virginia and get it done by my guy. It might take a couple of worn tires but I think it is convenient. I have guests in my caravan from outside the county and I need to ensure they reach home safely.

 

[McMark]

I bet that if he found a machine shop capable of doing that today, that they could cut the tongue, insert a smaller piece of tubing inside and extending out, add a new piece of tubing to extend the cut section, weld it all together and either bolt or weld it back into the trailer.

Cutting the tongue and reinstalling it may not allow for the bow stop to fit and may create a risk of collision between the bow of the boat and the tow vehicle.

The bow stop could easily be moved unless it's welded. Definitely would have to be careful on sharp turns for sure. But it could be done with a quick stop at a Walmart to buy a cheap sawzall and drill. Amar would have to assess if it could be feasibly done with regard to clearance.

 

[Julian]

I split this out of the Bimini 2018 thread into its own discussion. @Betik @Bruce @McMark @Amar Nanduri

I agree that you might be able to easily cut the bent part off...slide the bow stop back and eliminate the bend entirely. This would increase your tongue weight some...but that would be way less stress than dragging the trailer sideways!

 

[Betik]

Nothing says "fun" like running away from a hurricane with oversea folks. They get stressed out very easily. I had people calling from Greece left and right when Harvey made landfall.

It sounds like you have a plan. Please let us know how we can help/distract for the remaining 900+ miles


PS. you might want to get prepared for more than a couple of tires. if what you showed on the picture is from Miami to Port Lucie, I am afraid to 5+ tires

 

[djetok]

whoever hit that is a real prick and hit it good. I assume they hit the back of the trailer and slid it over. I definitely would get clear and make calls to shops to fix it so that you could fix it asap. At what point does the tongue just snap and your boat is a runaway.

 

[Betik]

Running from Irma with bent trailer!

@Julian the title is awesome.

 

[Betik]

whoever hit that is a real prick and hit it good. I assume they hit the back of the trailer and slid it over. I definitely would get clear and make calls to shops to fix it so that you could fix it asap. At what point does the tongue just snap and your boat is a runaway.

You are right and I already see a crack on the bend. Hopefuly @Amar Nanduri is inspecting the crack every time he stops for fuel. Hopefully, his caravan is keeping a safe distance. Let me whisper something to your ear..... Amar has been thinking about a new boat, this might just be the ticket.

 

[Julian]

Yeah...if that puppy breaks, the chains will not help....I'd be hunting to fix that vs driving all the way to Virginia on it!

 

[djetok]

@Amar Nanduri if you give your current location and route maybe some can google and call places ahead of you. I certainly would make calls.

 

[djetok]

Spoke to both @Betik first one doesn't do repair and second one is not available for a week. I am going to go straight to Virginia and get it done by my guy. It might take a couple of worn tires but I think it is convenient. I have guests in my caravan from outside the county and I need to ensure they reach home safely.

I would certainly understand wanting it done by your guy, but I don't think the trailer is going to make it. I would have my high mark in Georgia, but I would certainly be on a watchful eye , googling my but off, for a fix now.

 

[Betik]

@djetok he left Port St. Lucie a 1 hour or 2 ago.
He was originally planing to go through orlando, but it looks like he heading straight for Virginia. So he will most likely stick with I-95.

Note that the boat might the least of his worries. I have hosted people from overseas and they get really panic with hurricanes.

 

[zipper]

@Amar Nanduri The picture you posted with the worn tire was the rear braking axle, with the tongue bent that badly is it causing the brakes to engage, It just looks so much more worn than the front. I hope it holds together. That release of grease is caused by excess heat in the hub, possibly from a dragging brake.

 

[djetok]

I spoke to chris , he is boarding up but if you get to him in time he can fix it. Call him if your going that direction
He might be able to work on it after.
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@Amar Nanduri

I spoke to chris , he is boarding up but if you get to him in time he can fix it. Call him

If not to just straighten it and weld some supports on it.

 

[Coheeba]

Find a marina with a boat barn and pay for 1 month and leave it get it on the return. 1 month about $3-400.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Thank you everyone for your help and kind suggestions. I truly truly appreciate it. This is my friends boat @Betik (the guy from toronto who came to Bimini with us). We were spending time in Miami and Florida keys hosting a few corporate folks from Argentina and showing them around when Irma and the trailer happened. We changed their tickets from Miami to Washington DC for Friday morning. So we have no option but to reach Virginia as they are not at all familiar with USA. So I cannot stop anywhere to get the trailer repaired at all as all of them need to fly out of the country on Friday. My best bet is to go slow and steady wearing out a few tires along the way and drop them off safely to their respective country flights then I can tackle the trailer.

I just now reached Orlando and examined the tire I replaced. It seems to be holding fine after 140 miles. The grease on the old tire rim was from a previous outing and it's bearing was replaced. Hope the tongue holds till Virginia. I am examining it every 100 miles to make sure it is okay.

 

[Julian]

View attachment 63701 View attachment 63702 Thank you everyone for your help and kind suggestions. I truly truly appreciate it. This is my friends boat @Betik (the guy from toronto who came to Bimini with us). We were spending time in Miami and Florida keys hosting a few corporate folks from Argentina and showing them around when Irma and the trailer happened. We changed their tickets from Miami to Washington DC for Friday morning. So we have no option but to reach Virginia as they are not at all familiar with USA. So I cannot stop anywhere to get the trailer repaired at all as all of them need to fly out of the country on Friday. My best bet is to go slow and steady wearing out a few tires along the way and drop them off safely to their respective country flights then I can tackle the trailer.

I just now reached Orlando and examined the tire I replaced. It seems to be holding fine after 140 miles. The grease on the old tire rim was from a previous outing and it's bearing was replaced. Hope the tongue holds till Virginia. I am examining it every 100 miles to make sure it is okay.

I'd stop in Orlando and get them on a flight to DC...and repair the trailer in Orlando....

 

[djetok]

I'd stop in Orlando and get them on a flight to DC...and repair the trailer in Orlando....

I agree, you changing tires and hoping the tongue is not gonna break is way slower than getting it fixed and driving 65 and being safe.

Or just getting fixed. All the tire replacement stops are going to equal or be more than the repair. I bet with someone that knows what they are doing you are looking at 2 hours max

Amar,

I can tell you this. Being in the transportation industry most of my career (23 years). On my trucks if they are not perfect as far as safety goes they do not move. I understand you have Irma and a timeline. Situations like this can turn out really bad. Like the boat coming loose and hitting you and wrecking you, or hitting wrecking someone else.
(safety manager hat off)

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

@Amar Nanduri The picture you posted with the worn tire was the rear braking axle, with the tongue bent that badly is it causing the brakes to engage, It just looks so much more worn than the front. I hope it holds together. That release of grease is caused by excess heat in the hub, possibly from a dragging brake.

Agreed. This happened on a previous outing and the brake axle was changed. The grease still remained on this tire.