I agree. Glad y'all found these guys. They are the real deal. 1000%
Towing/ Camping /Trailers
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I can't say enough about the guys at ALPHA found here: (P.S. I'm not great at the linking ) Home | Load Trail Trailers For sale | Utility and Flatbed Trailers in Pearl, MS Quick PSA to all: ALWAYS check your lug nuts at each stop when running loaded. Easy thing to take for granted, but one of the things that could cause you alot of grief otherwise.
WARNING: I got a little long winded...
So we were rolling along on 49 and JT calls and tells me he is about to peel off and head home. I thank him for all his help (up to this point) I offer to buy him lunch as we had planned to meet some folks at Lou's, he declines, but mentions that I should probably stop and check out the trailer as he had noticed some noise coming from it. I thank him and he peels off. I roll down the window and can hear some thumping coming from the trailer. Almost sounds like rattling. I think could be something loose bouncing, but noticed that one of the wheels looks to have a little wobble to it, so I hit the flashers and pull over. BAD IDEA... 49 is not a road to try to pull over on, so I wait for an opening and then ease back out and pull into the next drive. We get out and I find that apparently somewhere between our stop to re-strap the top and here the lug nuts on the front DS wheel started working loose... resulting in this little jewel.
So to this point, lets recap, had the A/C not gone out on JT's 80, he would not have rolled down his windows and heard the noise and been able to tell me so I stop before I completely loose the tire in the middle of 49.
So I look over my situation and as JT seemed closest I called back and told him what was up and his response "Sit tight, I'm on my way" now I knew you guys were top notch, but let me just say when your broke down in unfamiliar territory and you hear those words, it means more than words can describe. So within a few minutes he rolls in and by this time I have some blocks of wood out and I am backing the trailer onto so we can get the tire off.
Easy enough as the lugs were finger tight and hanging on the ends of the studs, but at that point the holes were wallered so much you could have removed the wheel with them still on the studs. See...
So wheel off the first thought was drive out the studs, find new ones, install, mount spare and get to a tire shop to have the good tire put on the spare rim and roll.
First stop, O'Reilly, why, because it is almost directly across the street. The poor kid in there would have been more help if he was taking a dump in the parking lot... So on to NAPA, sidebar here, but if any of you need parts-store stuff, NAPA off Old 49 in Richland, go here!! The guy at the counter, Dana, I think, was determined to get us taken care of. He hunted thru their offerings and when nothing in the book would work he started making calls. He knew the guys at ALPHA and was calling while JT was also calling. Guy named Brian answered and said "Charlie is eating lunch just south of us, sit tight, he's on his way to you. Charlie rolls in and we follow him back to the shop. A couple of guys had been working in the back on some fun toys See (14-bolt steering axle noted previously) and gave us a quick tour of the shop. I tried to make it worth the effort for them but really it was the best for me as well, and got a hub, spare studs a wheel and tire so we could just swap bearings, mount tire and go. (It should also be noted here that they did not have any 16" six-lug tires mounted so Charlie actually went back and mounted the tire up for me) After look the drift trike over and declining a ride we were on our way with everything needed to get back on the road.
We roll in and immediately go to work, swap inner bearings, install new seal, throw on hub and go to install outer bearings and.... Houston we have a problem. It was just at this EXACT moment that who should pull in to check on us, Charlie, headed home and felt he should stop by and see how things are going. Walks up and says, well you guys are about done and we pull the hub and start to investigate. Hmmm, oh, the race is different, we will just drive the one out of your old hub and put it in the new hub, bang, bang, bang.... Hmmm your old hub is different than this new one.... All the casting numbers were the same, everything is identical except the new hub is machined different at the outer bearing race. He hops in his truck and digs thru the tool box and then says, "give me the new race, I'm going to go get the right bearing, go get you a drink and I'll be back" and with that he was off.
At this point it is after 3 we haven't eaten since around 8 so we take the opportunity to run grab a cold drink and burger. When we get back @Bodean and @jrob joined the party while we waited for Charlie. He comes wheeling and hops out with another hub and seal in hand and walks over and says "If anybody ever asks, you have a True 6,000# axle. Come here and let me show you" we walk around the trailer as he explains (he had apparently made a call on his trip) Dexter's norm is 5,200 and 7,000. I have 7,000# spindles on a carrier that has a slightly thinner wall than a typical 7k unit resulting in a 6k axle. This meant that I needed a 7k hub with a different outer bearing. Alrighty, swap bearings again, new seal in, outer bearing slides home and we bolt everything back together, new wheel and tire on and down she comes off the blocks. Double check ALL the lug nuts and we are ready to roll. Chit chat for a bit get pointers on route, get a few more numbers "just in-case" and with a very humbled heart say thank yous and we are back on the road and headed home.
All-in-all JT and ALPHA saved my Ass on Saturday and I cannot say thank you enough to both. We headed north checking everything several times and at each gas stop along the way and rolled up the driveway at 2 AM Sunday morning.
Also, as an aside, I am pretty sure that this has cemented with the wife the want to attend Crawl. She starts a new job next week and was hesitant about asking for a day off so soon, but I think she is going to now so we can come. Between @Bodean and @jrob checking on us, @77TLCFJ40 checking in and following up with us, and @fountainhead staying with us and getting us back on the road, CLC showed their heart big time on Saturday and also made me very happy that I stumbled over into this clubhouse a year or so ago and kind of inserted myself into your world. Best move I've made in a good long while.
Thank you again to CLC, Alpha Trailer and especially to JTTMFT for taking care of me and mine while so far from home.
Now I gotta get a thread started on the 40 before @MScruiser has an aneurysm.
Oh and here are a couple more pictures as a bonus for reading to the end.
Studs
Round 1.
And how it sits currently
WARNING: I got a little long winded...
So we were rolling along on 49 and JT calls and tells me he is about to peel off and head home. I thank him for all his help (up to this point) I offer to buy him lunch as we had planned to meet some folks at Lou's, he declines, but mentions that I should probably stop and check out the trailer as he had noticed some noise coming from it. I thank him and he peels off. I roll down the window and can hear some thumping coming from the trailer. Almost sounds like rattling. I think could be something loose bouncing, but noticed that one of the wheels looks to have a little wobble to it, so I hit the flashers and pull over. BAD IDEA... 49 is not a road to try to pull over on, so I wait for an opening and then ease back out and pull into the next drive. We get out and I find that apparently somewhere between our stop to re-strap the top and here the lug nuts on the front DS wheel started working loose... resulting in this little jewel.
So to this point, lets recap, had the A/C not gone out on JT's 80, he would not have rolled down his windows and heard the noise and been able to tell me so I stop before I completely loose the tire in the middle of 49.
So I look over my situation and as JT seemed closest I called back and told him what was up and his response "Sit tight, I'm on my way" now I knew you guys were top notch, but let me just say when your broke down in unfamiliar territory and you hear those words, it means more than words can describe. So within a few minutes he rolls in and by this time I have some blocks of wood out and I am backing the trailer onto so we can get the tire off.
Easy enough as the lugs were finger tight and hanging on the ends of the studs, but at that point the holes were wallered so much you could have removed the wheel with them still on the studs. See...
So wheel off the first thought was drive out the studs, find new ones, install, mount spare and get to a tire shop to have the good tire put on the spare rim and roll.
First stop, O'Reilly, why, because it is almost directly across the street. The poor kid in there would have been more help if he was taking a dump in the parking lot... So on to NAPA, sidebar here, but if any of you need parts-store stuff, NAPA off Old 49 in Richland, go here!! The guy at the counter, Dana, I think, was determined to get us taken care of. He hunted thru their offerings and when nothing in the book would work he started making calls. He knew the guys at ALPHA and was calling while JT was also calling. Guy named Brian answered and said "Charlie is eating lunch just south of us, sit tight, he's on his way to you. Charlie rolls in and we follow him back to the shop. A couple of guys had been working in the back on some fun toys See (14-bolt steering axle noted previously) and gave us a quick tour of the shop. I tried to make it worth the effort for them but really it was the best for me as well, and got a hub, spare studs a wheel and tire so we could just swap bearings, mount tire and go. (It should also be noted here that they did not have any 16" six-lug tires mounted so Charlie actually went back and mounted the tire up for me) After look the drift trike over and declining a ride we were on our way with everything needed to get back on the road.
We roll in and immediately go to work, swap inner bearings, install new seal, throw on hub and go to install outer bearings and.... Houston we have a problem. It was just at this EXACT moment that who should pull in to check on us, Charlie, headed home and felt he should stop by and see how things are going. Walks up and says, well you guys are about done and we pull the hub and start to investigate. Hmmm, oh, the race is different, we will just drive the one out of your old hub and put it in the new hub, bang, bang, bang.... Hmmm your old hub is different than this new one.... All the casting numbers were the same, everything is identical except the new hub is machined different at the outer bearing race. He hops in his truck and digs thru the tool box and then says, "give me the new race, I'm going to go get the right bearing, go get you a drink and I'll be back" and with that he was off.
At this point it is after 3 we haven't eaten since around 8 so we take the opportunity to run grab a cold drink and burger. When we get back @Bodean and @jrob joined the party while we waited for Charlie. He comes wheeling and hops out with another hub and seal in hand and walks over and says "If anybody ever asks, you have a True 6,000# axle. Come here and let me show you" we walk around the trailer as he explains (he had apparently made a call on his trip) Dexter's norm is 5,200 and 7,000. I have 7,000# spindles on a carrier that has a slightly thinner wall than a typical 7k unit resulting in a 6k axle. This meant that I needed a 7k hub with a different outer bearing. Alrighty, swap bearings again, new seal in, outer bearing slides home and we bolt everything back together, new wheel and tire on and down she comes off the blocks. Double check ALL the lug nuts and we are ready to roll. Chit chat for a bit get pointers on route, get a few more numbers "just in-case" and with a very humbled heart say thank yous and we are back on the road and headed home.
All-in-all JT and ALPHA saved my Ass on Saturday and I cannot say thank you enough to both. We headed north checking everything several times and at each gas stop along the way and rolled up the driveway at 2 AM Sunday morning.
Also, as an aside, I am pretty sure that this has cemented with the wife the want to attend Crawl. She starts a new job next week and was hesitant about asking for a day off so soon, but I think she is going to now so we can come. Between @Bodean and @jrob checking on us, @77TLCFJ40 checking in and following up with us, and @fountainhead staying with us and getting us back on the road, CLC showed their heart big time on Saturday and also made me very happy that I stumbled over into this clubhouse a year or so ago and kind of inserted myself into your world. Best move I've made in a good long while.
Thank you again to CLC, Alpha Trailer and especially to JTTMFT for taking care of me and mine while so far from home.
Now I gotta get a thread started on the 40 before @MScruiser has an aneurysm.
Oh and here are a couple more pictures as a bonus for reading to the end.
Studs
Round 1.
And how it sits currently
Support the sport. Go local. Alpha Trailer. Yes.
Bomar
SILVER Star
damn that is crazy those wheels and studs hung on.
Great crew for sure.
Great crew for sure.
The 416 got the 2bucket treatment today. Bro in law called yesterday and told me their industrial size sandblaster was at their warehouse in town till Thursday. Said bring media and use it.
Went up there with 12 bags. Used that plus 8 of theirs but got it done. Heat would've been tough but their rig comes with an air conditioned helmet and hood.
It's ready for primer. New floor, axle service, paint and it's ready.
Went up there with 12 bags. Used that plus 8 of theirs but got it done. Heat would've been tough but their rig comes with an air conditioned helmet and hood.
It's ready for primer. New floor, axle service, paint and it's ready.
#allandyfab #eaf
Bodean
Hot Damn
The CLC trailer that will house all of the SCC set up stuff. Banners, tickets, PA system, raffle drum and raffle prizes. A much needed addition to our club. All of this stuff has been living in several of our garages for years.
The fridge is a nice touch.
That fridge ain't big enough.
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe there is a chest freezer we can't see on the long wall to the left.
Bodean
Hot Damn
The fridge is for water, soft drinks, coffee fixins and such. I'm sure there might be a beer or 12 in it at some point but our plan is to have a coffee bar in the trailer at the Crawl. The shelf above the fridge will be for coffee pots or whatever. Plug the trailer in and rock out!
My Google-foo is weak tonight I guess. I'm looking for a different king of strap to tie down the rig on my flatbed. I've seen them on tow trucks but no luck finding them yet. They hook to the rub rail on the side of the bed, a loop goes over and behind the tire, and then hook back to the rub rail again behind the tire. Suggestions?
be careful on the tire straps (different designs)....when dealing with large tires (35+) at lot of those straps are setup to just deal with normal truck and car tires. Make sure they will work with whatever tires you run. While I don't have any right now I like the straps used on the wheel lifts, but that would require a mod or two too your trailer most likely (these pull straight down from the front and rear of the tire (most trailers would not have attachment points to run something like that.
https://www.millerind.com/parts/pdfs/acc_catalog.pdf
check out the basket straps.... we used these on the wheel lifts back in day.
Miller is a big player in the wrecker biz....
https://www.millerind.com/parts/pdfs/acc_catalog.pdf
check out the basket straps.... we used these on the wheel lifts back in day.
Miller is a big player in the wrecker biz....
Thanks guys. I am aware of the large tire issue and it's why I am looking for this specific design. Wheel "baskets" designs will not work as I have never been able to find one designed to work on 39"-42" tires. The one JttMFT posted is close to what I am looking for. There is also one in Ricks post that I have been considering but it only attaches to the rub rail in one place per tire rather than front and rear. I may give these a shot as they sure will make the process easier for an old fart like me.