Although I don't really consider Murphy to be a trailer queen (or king), I do trailer the car to long-distance shows. I attended the Memorial Day show in Albuquerque that the Rio Grande Mustang Club has held for 30 years now. My 22-foot-long enclosed trailer is parked in the new driveway next to the house and because of the angle of the driveway, position of the house, and large transformer box next to the driveway, it is almost impossible to pull the trailer out to the street with my truck. The one time I tried it, I tore the rain gutter off the house and dented the lower trim on the trailer. So, last year, I bought an electric trailer dolly.
I always prepare for a show a couple days early in case there's a problem. Well, good thing, because there was. As I was towing the trailer to the street, the chain came off the dolly motor. The trailer was only halfway to the street, on an incline. I chocked the wheels and tried to figure out what was happening with the dolly. Fortunately, a neighbor with a construction business came home just then and he helped tear the dolly down. Turned out the inner of the three tires was too low, and that caused the dolly to lean and lose the chain. We tried to air it back up, but the company hadn't provided a long enough extension valve to do so. I had to wait until the next day to get the valve so we could put the dolly back together.
While I was waiting for him the next day, I reassembled the tires but didn't know what to do with the axle. So, I thought I would try pulling the trailer out the rest of the way with the truck. As I tried to raise the tongue to get it on the hitch, I ran into a major problem--I was starting to raise the roof on the house. Oops..... He got home, finished reassembling the dolly, I aired it up, and struggled to get the trailer out. I was having to pull to assist the dolly as much as i could, and another neighbor came out and helped me pull. That was weird, because the time before it was relatively easy. I noticed that the chain was quite loose, so I'm guessing that's the problem. The motor is adjustable so I'll tighten that up tonight before trying to get the trailer back in place. At least it will be downhill this time.
I finally got Murphy loaded around 7 pm that night and headed up to Albuquerque 12 hours later. It was very high winds all the way and I had a couple of times when I almost went off the road after a semi passed me. But, I made it safely.
The best part was that my coupe won a Gold, the show was terrific, and I won the award for "Best Sob Story."
So, for the record, it's not easy having a "trailer queen."
I always prepare for a show a couple days early in case there's a problem. Well, good thing, because there was. As I was towing the trailer to the street, the chain came off the dolly motor. The trailer was only halfway to the street, on an incline. I chocked the wheels and tried to figure out what was happening with the dolly. Fortunately, a neighbor with a construction business came home just then and he helped tear the dolly down. Turned out the inner of the three tires was too low, and that caused the dolly to lean and lose the chain. We tried to air it back up, but the company hadn't provided a long enough extension valve to do so. I had to wait until the next day to get the valve so we could put the dolly back together.
While I was waiting for him the next day, I reassembled the tires but didn't know what to do with the axle. So, I thought I would try pulling the trailer out the rest of the way with the truck. As I tried to raise the tongue to get it on the hitch, I ran into a major problem--I was starting to raise the roof on the house. Oops..... He got home, finished reassembling the dolly, I aired it up, and struggled to get the trailer out. I was having to pull to assist the dolly as much as i could, and another neighbor came out and helped me pull. That was weird, because the time before it was relatively easy. I noticed that the chain was quite loose, so I'm guessing that's the problem. The motor is adjustable so I'll tighten that up tonight before trying to get the trailer back in place. At least it will be downhill this time.
I finally got Murphy loaded around 7 pm that night and headed up to Albuquerque 12 hours later. It was very high winds all the way and I had a couple of times when I almost went off the road after a semi passed me. But, I made it safely.
The best part was that my coupe won a Gold, the show was terrific, and I won the award for "Best Sob Story."
So, for the record, it's not easy having a "trailer queen."
