As many of you know I moved back to Florida last week. My uncle and I spent all weekend getting this homemade trailer ready for my trip down, I sat 5 hours at DMV having it inspected and getting tags.

Well on the way down everything was going smoothly, I had a desk, my computer and my stereo in there as it should be drier than my truck bed. We're cruising down the New Jersey Turnpike when all of a sudden we see the trailer cruise into the guard rail and hop right over it.

I pull over and stop to see the tongue still attached to my truck. It had snapped clean off! We go to assess the damage and the thing landed up against some trees on the side of a steep hill, some of my stuff had flown out but most was still intact.

We call the police and they come down. He tells me to collect what I want and take the tag and VIN number off the trailer and get outta there, otherwise my insurance would be tagged for every scratch on the road and guard rail.

(my uncle didn't build the frame, it was an older trailer he had sitting around and he added to the frame a little, there was no way of knowing that the tongue was weak as it wasn't showing any signs)

Needless to say we gathered as much as we could and threw it in the back of the truck, drove slowly to the nearest exit as nothing was strapped down and went to Home Depot to buy garbage bags and another tarp. We threw everything in garbage bags and then put a tarp over it and got on with the trip. (It was only a short 3 hour interlude)

I thought it was funny the cop didn't even look at the trailer, I guess then he has to do paper work lol. Must of been quttin' time.

The rest of the trip went really smoothly, drove straight through (I drove 2/3 of the trip, my partner in crime the other 1/3) and my old truck ran galliantly for 24 straight hours, although a universal joint started going around the Florida line but it made it through the rest of weekend without letting go (about another 800 miles) until I got a chance to get it replaced. But amazingly my computer and monitor although banged up still work!

I'm just thankful it went right, rather than left into New Jersey Turnpike rush hour traffic. I think the Semi behind us locked up his brakes as I heard a loud screaching but it may have just been the trailer.

 

That sucks. I'm glad that it turned out for the best. As for the computer. I would make sure that all your important data is backed up as hard drives don't like being slammed around. Again, I' glad that it all turned out well.

 

Price of trailer $500.00., Gas to go from New Jersey to Florida: $100.00, price of bribe to get through inspection station: $1000.00. Look on face when trailer sails over guard rail: Priceless!

Just messing with you. Sorry for your misfortune.

 

That reminds me of a story my brother told me awhile back. He works for a Sheriffs Dept. whose county is split by I-75. Apparently a family left Atlanta, headed south, in a motor home pulling a small car. When they got to Jacksonville, Fl. some 6 hours later, the guy got out to un-hook the car and you guessed it...no car. He had no clue where it came off. The local authorities started calling all the counties up and down the interstate to see if anyone had found it or worse to see if any accidents had been created by it.

That would ruin your vacation for sure.

 

Lol the funny part is there was no bribe and he spent quite some time looking it over. Even rated it for up to 3000 lbs. GVRW and the trailer weighed in at about 1500. I think the problem came from the fact it was suspensionless so the bobbing put too much strain on the tounge which is unfortunate because we could have easily welded some more metal to reinforce it. (sp?)