Too answer one question from mech. Yes lights are good, but could have swore that if you can see the p/u lights from behind the towed object you dont need lights, maybe Im wrong. The idea of getting magnetic lights is a good, but one step ahead. Using
microwave magnets hot glued to the bottom of old trailer lights wired into the hitch wiring plug. Only problem is no time to make and then when I get slow, forget to finish them. Then get busy no time. To answer Kzbell, it's not the ole fast method. Within 5 miles I stop. Grab the bearings with my hand and check for heat indicating problem with bearing. The last crimper didn't show no signs of failure when I stopped. I always check my loads after 5-10 miles of driving. This is what I was taught in school and by my dad who was a 25 year otr driver.
Did get a major catastrophe today though. Hauled the third and last crimper up on a old boat trailer. The tires were good...no dryrot and holding air when I got there. Did a check after 5 miles and all good. Made it another 5 miles...bearing blew apart without warning. Tie shot across the road. Dragged it off the road. Luckily my buddy owns a small salvage yard and a scrapper himself. Called him up and he came out with truck/trailer. Winched it and he handed me a 100 for it. Lost maybe 100-150, but he saved my ass. Unexpected failure..oh well..happens.
Also remeber one thing who said I should watch the old equipment. Not only was a otr driver, but also a ase mech for many, many years. Gave it up due to my body not allowing me to do it anymore. Can do heavy labor for about 4-5 hours before it shut down. Back and knees is shot.
So any of this old equipment is checked and rechecked. Wheel bearing failure on both the crimper and boat trailer showed no signs of failure till it failed. The crimper didnt matter. The steel wrapped around and kept it in plaqce. The boat trailer had no way to keep the wheel on once the bearing went bad.
I have seen tractor trailers fully loaded...80 gross...lose wheel bearings that were pm recently. **** happen.....:>
To Pistone. My insurance has me listed as general hauling and clean up handyman. Only thing they are not aware is of towing, but may give a call to see if they cover towed objects. Or if I can add. :>
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