Side question. I'm maybe helping my sister move this year. Does anyone know how much a 53' van would cost to rent for 2 weeks? I'm trying to give my sister a ball park figure of the total cost.

 

Ok, thanks there Captain Jack. I know what my truck and trailer weighs empty now and what the gauge reads so I'll start keeping track and writing down from now on. Maybe it's just a one shot deal and I only have to weigh once with this load then come up with an equation based on my know empty reading and todays?

 

Steve, it is difficult to find a good mechanic. There is no mechanic who will look after your truck as you would. It isn't their money on the line. I would keep looking. I would also not limit myself to someone close to home. You could find someone near you, but I have found good mechanics at different locations across the country. I make notes and get business cards of those whom I feel have done a good job and treated me fairly. There is a mechanic who has a shop near Ft. Smith, AR that has done work for me and I would look him up if I needed a mechanic while in that area. Another is in Dallas. I found a good mechanic in Fontana, CA. The guy in California works for about half of what the major dealers charge and does a good job. I also like to do business with small business people. I think we need to support each other. I don't do business with people simply because they are a small business. I expect them to do a good job or I will go elsewhere.

 

What HE said....
Our primary dispatch here shares the building with a good (AND cheap) class 8 garage. Everyone gets all their work done and we are even allowed to park our trucks there as well. Their top mechanic is a typical old timer-he gripes and complains like a woman with her curse...crusty for sure..but he'll accomodate your foibles if you jusr gripe back at him!

Stick to the small time out of the way independent garages whenever possible. I used to keep a ;ist of every place I found in certain areas that I had used before or heard about...just in case. If you are ever in an area and need to find a good one strike up a conversation with an O/O at a truck stop or on sesame street (if you can get a word in edgewise between the trash)...you might just get some good info.

Personally...I passed a guy on my way home...another old timer...he had run himself too low on fuel and ran out going up one of our big hills. He called a "road service" company..they wanted $400 for a service call. So I gave him "our" garages number...he called and the old guy ran out there with some fuel and ether and got him going for $50!! (and lots of griping too I'm sure!) But he got going and even bought me a cup of coffe for my trouble!

 

Steve wrote:
Pretty amazing technology that's available to us "civilians" these days. I put in my address and could see my brown Jeep sitting in the driveway!!!

Steve you went right by my hometown...South Bend IN...let me guess: grey skies, spitting snow, and cold...right? I used to deliver motorhomes nationwide out of Elkhart during summer and winter breaks in college.

Drive safe!

 

Steve, that is something that I have never understood. I can't go to bed without taking a shower. Even when I am just hanging around the house. I can understand, 20 years ago, but man, now days, as many big truck stops that are out there, with barber shops, showers, and pert near anything you need, there's no reason why a man can't get a shower, and a hair cut. I guess, some folks choose to be that way.

Now, that is a hot load. :lol: :P

Ten Foh! :P

Glad to hear that you are feeling better, and running better. Always good to hear from your journey.

 

Steve,

I was quoted from Ryder a cost of $30 per day and .03 cpm. It probably varies by region. At the time they also had a 15% discount if you book it online.

BTW...if you have room for a car in the box I might be able to share some space with you.

 

Well, I might be able to shed some light on getting a good mechanic to work on your truck.
I was a foreign car tech for 24 years. Wore my right shoulder out turning wrenches.

First off, whatever shop you want to have work on your truck, make friends with the service writer.
He's the one who can pull strings for you and will oversee the work being done and------------>who's doing it. On a hot day bring in a ice cold Coke or a dozen doughnuts in the AM. Something, anything so he knows/feels appreciated.

Once you have a working relationship with the service writer, you can ask of him that the best mechanic for the job work on your truck.
When I was turning wrenches, it meant a lot if the vehicles owner stopped to see me and tell me how much they appreciated my working on the car for them. I used to have customers with higher end cars give me a few bucks as a tip. Gotta say, I did a whole lot better job overall when I worked on their stuff. Had a customer for years that always complained to me about a rattle in the trunk....that was his code for, open the trunk and remove the 12 pack of Labatt's!!!!

I would think with the dollar's being spent and the need to have the work done correctly the first time a $20.00 tip to the mechanic would be cheap.


Another thing to do, write a simple thank you note to the owner of the business and mention "your" service writer and mechanic. Believe me, when the owner calls the service writer and mechanic into his office and shows them the note, you will be well taken care of in the future!!!

Hope this helps...
Be good, Jim

 

Off and running after spending about 4 hours tarping the load, what a pain. I caught my foot on a strap laying on the ground and hit the floor right into a big puddle of water. This was inside a huge lumber mill so it was all the water from my truck that had melted off. I remember when I was 10 years old it was only like 4 feet to the ground and I think I use to bounce....Not any more! I'm real sore from tarping. Does it take you guys that long to tarp a load? I have 2 tarps that are 8' drops.

Every time I tarp a load it fills up with air and the sides billow out. I don't see other flatbeds doing this and my guess is it's the 4 1/4" channels on the bed that let air come up from underneath. I have a Great Dane and these channels are for some sliding tie down. I you think that would cause it I'll close them up some how.

I SUCK AT TARPING

So I get on the road and it's snowing even harder. I make it to Rt 80 out of Elkhart IN and we are all doing about 45. There are cars off the road everywhere and a jackknife truck up the road about 75 miles. I make it about 50 miles and pull in the service center. Been here before. Fast food Italian. I do the same thing, sit and wait then pull up, repeat. I'm in the front row now. What a geek.

I was so hungry I couldn't wait to eat now that my stomach is settled. I'm heading inside to buy all the water I can carry just in case. I have 3/4 tank of fuel but I'll fill up in the morning. I'm staying here for the night. It's pretty much a whiteout with maybe 100' visibility although I really like this kind of driving. Good traction with a heavy load. My air weight gauge reads about 55 pounds so I know I'm not even close to max.

My Cryptonite lock that held my ladder was frozen solid and needed it today. I tried heating it up with a lighter, spraying with WD40 but no luck. I figured I would try my hacksaw and it took 20 seconds to cut it off. Cryptonite my butt.

It's a nice feeling sitting here on my bed writing, all nice and warm, truck fully stocked and watching a blizzard outside. I feel like Jeremiah Johnson. I may go walk outside for 15 seconds or less so I can experience what mountain men really went through in the old days. Oh wait, never mind, Mr. Coffee just finished. I'll stick my head out the window instead.

I think maybe when I get home I'll head to the local truck part store and ask a few people about some mechanics. I am happy with the Freightliner dealer. I was just hoping for someone that would go the extra 9 yards until I get the hang of it.

I think the snow and adverse conditions have an effect on the bad people. When the roads turn to crap it seems that everyone on the CB is talking really nice. I think those people that normally talk trash are just as scared as the rest of us and need some normalcy to calm them down. Kind of cool how we were all in a line spaced neatly apart and just chatting and chillin out.

I'm only less than 900 miles from home but I have a feeling it's going to take me the rest of the week to get there. I understand I'll be following the storm all the way home.

Well, time to put my mad bomber hat on and snow gear and tighten down the load. Ellen should be on soon. ( I want to convert her)
8)

 

Tarping SUCKS for me but Bo LOVES it.....sometimes I think he has issues!! Anyway, do you have lots of bungies?? Bo uses LOTS of them and gets the tarp REAL tight all the way around. They are so tight I cant get half of em off when I am helping to untarp.

4 hours is a little long but it will go quicker the more you practice. I never even took notice of your trailer when we saw you so I have no clue what you are talking about there....I'll ask Bo when he comes in from orientation.

Glad you are safe, warm and dry.

Tootie