I’m glad you’re alright. Can replace trailers but good friends are harder to replace.
Last Saturday I was headed home from a guide trip. I had one more trip before the break I’d scheduled for Vicki’s surgery. As I approached a narrow bridge in Ky Hwy 408, an SUV swerved into my lane just as I got to the bridge. I swerved right to keep from side swiping her and took on the concrete bridge abutment. The bridge won easily!
Both right side trailer tires exploded. I never came to a complete stop as I limped ahead over 1/4 mile to get off the raised levee. I pulled over as I got the the first wide spot. The remains of my tires, wheels, and both axles told me I had a bunch of work to do to limp my rig home 3 miles. I only had my spare for the trailer but I did have my new aluminum Harbor Freight jack that I’d hoped I’d never need. Boy did I.
I called Vicki to come help but her efforts were more to try to calm me down. The SUV never stopped since we didn’t touch but a guy who was behind me and saw it all, pulled in to help. He said it was a miracle my boat didn’t wipe out the SUV after I hit the bridge. I declined his help as well as that from 4 others who stopped.
Being it was now almost 3 on Saturday afternoon, there was zero chance of getting one or more tires. I took the smoking remains off, put the spare on the front axle with brakes, and limped home.
Monday I started the insurance process that turned out to be a nightmare thanks to a female adjuster in some far-away place. I realize she has a job to do but she didn’t quite understand the fact that I will be making my living using that trailer for several months. Her only concern was me providing documentation that the trailer is beyond repair. The fact that it now tracks a foot more towards the shoulder of the road than it did means nothing. She was not even interested in sending somebody out to personally look at it or pull it. I turned it over to my insurance agent that I pay large amounts to per year.
Since there didn’t appear to be a prompt solution, I went looking for a replacement trailer. Since axles and such are now in short supply, I feared there wouldn’t be any Storm Cat 230 trailers available. A call to the owner of Excel Boats got the ball rolling. Since the boat industry is currently backed up terribly waiting on all sorts of parts like engines, electronics, etc, he had a steel trailer that wasn’t to be used for weeks. He let me buy it at a greatly reduced price.
I now own two trailers until there is an insurance resolution. The trailer repair shop that did the estimates on my aluminum trailer made it clear that without x-raying welds, they wouldn’t recommend the trailer be repaired and be considered totaled. I know there has to be negotiations and such but we aren’t dealing with a $60k truck here. It’s a $6K trailer!!
Long story short, I now have the Storm Cat on a trailer that is safe to go down the highway. Vicki is home and recovering well, and I fish every day until the 5th of June.
Be careful what you wish for. You might get it.
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I’m glad you’re alright. Can replace trailers but good friends are harder to replace.
Great u r okay
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Haulin Ash Pro StaffM R Dux LIKED above post
Glad to hear that it wasn’t worse, we all know about Murphy and his law. Bad situation but you’re able to take care of the customers and pay the bills. Good driving mister. You don’t dodge a bullet like that without skills, and they don’t come easy. Glad to hear miss Vicki is home and recovering, my prayers continue.
Creativity is just intelligence fooling aroundM R Dux LIKED above post
SUV driver never knew anything happened. Glad to hear no one was injured
The love for fishing is one of the best gifts you can pass alongM R Dux LIKED above post
Sorry to hear of your woe's M R Dux. Glad it was only the trailer and not personal body injuries as well. Insurance companies can really be a royal pain in the keyster for sure. Had a run in with one and the bank my loan was through on a 18 wheeler that got totaled...niether one would give an inch, nor call the other. Bank had the tittle, insurance had the pay-off check. went on for 45 days. one conference call ended the stalemate. Heck of a mess. Wish you luck with yours and glad you found another trailer. Prayers for the Mrs, and you.
Proud to have served with and supported the Units I was in: 1st IDF, 9th INF, 558th USAAG (Greece), 7th Transportation Brigade, 6th MEDSOM (Korea), III Corp, 8th IDF, 3rd Armor Div.
1980 Ebbtide Dyna-Trak 160 Evinrude 65 TriumphM R Dux LIKED above post
I’ve been wanting a new trailer.
However not like that!
I’m am really glad your okay, as Chaunc said stuff can be replaced.
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Proud Member of Team Geezer!M R Dux LIKED above post
Hate you’re having to go through a mess with the insurance company. Glad you’re ok and hope you get
it all resolved
M R Dux LIKED above post
If the truth is known it was some nimrod trying to text while driving or some other such distraction while driving that caused the whole thing.
Hopefully, all will end well with the insurance company... and (maybe) turn out to be as simple and easy as they claim it is when they're selling the policy.
Like some of the brethren have said: Although it was certainly bad enough... it could have (easily) been much worse and far more tragic than it was.
Godspeed in finding your way through all of the hassles and inconveniences... and there will be some of that. Please keep us posted.
"Just Like Iron Sharpens Iron... So it is that One Man Sharpens Another Man." Proverbs 27:17M R Dux LIKED above post
You just have to understand the she was probably looking at a text from her friend in which she had turned on the cat filter or a tik tok clip of somebody flipping a water bottle and it standing on the little end.
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If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can generally count on Paul's vote.M R Dux LIKED above post