Picked up a New Tow Vehicle N Trailer

[charmalu]

We are in the process of buying a new house on acreage with a large shop . The large shop is 40 X 50 and a smaller one 18 X 30 with a 1600+ ft house thrown in on 4.25 acres. Nearest neighbor is about 1/4 mile away, that`s nice so if I have too much stuff sitting in the yard, they really have to be nosey.

We are moving out of Calif to Nevada, a 260 mile move.
Now the problem to move all this stuff.

Three weeks ago I found a Car Trailer on CL, got it for $1900. It`s 18ft long and has a 10K GVWR Guy has been keeping it for me till I source a truck, something larger larger than my 82 Datsun PU to drag it home. I stopped by the U-Haul guy a few days ago to see how much he would charge for me to go about 150 miles each way just to bring it home. he said something like $150 to $175..
I then said I would need to make 10 or more loads to Nevada. Well that would be like $300 X the # of loads, NO Way that is happening.

I can have some brackets welded on the sides for stakes, and then screw on some ply-wood for sides. sounds easy enough, the we are our own U-Haul or as they say in the south, Yall-Haul. LOL.

Normally it is like a 6hr drive each way in the MB, and pulling a load plus loading, unloading, probably 2 days a load.

I decide to check what is on CL. I want a Diesel, manual gear box, no electronic engine, no 4 X 4, nothing jacked up with 4 shocks on ea corner, nothing pumped up, rolling coal, or chipped or need a ladder to climb into.. really thins the heard.

Early Dodge 12V Cummins or a Ford 6.9 or 7.3
Most stuff is 4X4, automatic trans, way over priced and been hacked etc...
Or the owner thinks it is Gold Plated. LOL.

I found a 93 Dodge 12V, 5 spd od, posi rear with air bags to level it, extra cab with all the bells and whistles, set up to tow a 5th wheel. only problem it`s 150+ miles away, needed upper BJ and Control arms. said the BJ are ready to pop out of the arms and has to be trailered. Priced at $6500

Then there is a 86 Ford F250 4-Spd 6.9 Diesel, 192K in Sacramento. 150 miles and 3 hrs from here. had it on my Desk Top in a folder with a bunch of other maybe`s. Kept going back to this one, probably because it is a Manual Trans. Finally call the guy, and set up a time yesterday, and get with him a 3:30pm. OK it looks good enough for what it is, offer $1800, and he takes it.

Had a thought, buy the Ford, go up to Folsom, buy and load the Dodge. Fix the Dodge, sell the Ford and we would be good to go. Sounded good, but looking at the CL listing, the Dodge is sold. OK, I know, dumb idea.


Now I need to get with the guy with the Trailer, that is another 75 miles away in Navato, north of SF, took about 3 hrs to get there. The ford was low on fuel, and the area I was in was sparce on Diesel stations, found one at $4.01 a gallon. Grab a burger and Shake and off we go for the Trailer.

It is Dusk when we get there, hurry and hitch up while we can still see. BS`d for a while and off we go back tracking for a ways to the town of Benica, stop at Denny`s for coffee, and then head back toward San Jose and Hwy 680, past all the Oil Refineries, over the Richmond Bridge. This is the free direction.

Not sure where we were, but my Wife is flashing the lights at me. Pull over, and she said, there are a bunch of sparks shooting from under the trailer. Iam thinking it probably is just a wire dragging. wish it was.
between the two axles where the front and rear springs attach, is a part that has a bolt it hangs on from the trailer, and the springs then attach to it. seem the bolt fell out of the center piece along with the bolt from the rear spring, and Iam dragging this thing. from the front spring.

All I can find in the trunk is a short Zip Tie, I usually have a package of long one`s that are gone. use the one Zip and tie it back to the forward leaf spring. then found a piece of wire to wind around to secure it.

5 miles later, she is flashing the lights again. damed thing is dragging again. Called AAA, thinking they would come to my rescue. I have the 200 iles tow. so no problem, right.

Explain to the woman what the problem is. want me to send the CHP? NO!!! well we can come and change your tire. WTF. explain again, I just need a bolt etc... well our guys don`t carry bolts on the truck, I can send the CHP. Yeah, send one and I use his gun to put the dang thing out of it`s misery.

OK, I have the 200 mile tow, maybe haul it home for me. OH we don`t do Trailers, you will have to call a tow CO, pay out of pocket, go commercial etc...etc... wtf do I have this member ship for? don`t hardly ever use it.

Lucked out, there was Hwy night work, and a guy gave me some 7/16" bolts 4" long, large washers and nuts, a roll of tie wire and rope.
Folded the shackle thing back, ran the bolt over the top leaf, and cranked down on the nut, and double nutted it. Double tie wrapped it, and off we go.

Made it home w/o any other problems, and rolled in the driveway this morning at 3:25am. what a night.
Trailer followed right along almost like it wasn`t there, almost was.

Ordered 4 new tires at Big-O this afternoon. 8 - 14.5 load range G 14 ply.
Then I`ll cut off the remaining bolts and replace with new grade 8 and lock nuts, both sides. We should be good to go.

OH, here is the PU we bought. Even came with one of those Tail Gates that is louvered and low in the middle for a 5-th wheel set up. Think I`ll put it back on, sure will make it easer backing it up when looking out the rear window.
The bed has the rubbery Rino lining.
For the number of miles, it does not leak any oil.
Picked up some new belts and fuel filter. has only one large spin-on filter as far as I can tell. Tine to start searching about the 6.9 Diesels and get up to speed.
Has two fuel tanks, but the guy only used the front tank the past 3 years. so wonder how much fuel or what is growing in it?

She is a beater, but a solid old truck.

86 FORD F250 - $2500 (north sacramento)


1986 Ford F250 odometer: 192000 fuel : diesel transmission : manual title status : clean

86 Ford F250 Pick Up Truck, 3/4 Ton Model, 2 Wheel Drive, Diesel 6.9 Engine, 4 Speed Manual, Air Condition, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Stereo, Dual Fuel Tanks, 18 MPG, 192,000 Miles, No Smog Needed, Starts and Runs Very Good, Good Work Truck, Dependable, Some Body Rust but still functions, Tires have lots of Tread left. $2000. Offer



Charlie