Just got back from a trip to Florida to move my son back from Milton (Pensacola area). I took the 26' enclosed trailer I bought to haul the D mod Lotus replica in. Going down When I ran 65 with it I got 11 mpg. 70 is 10, any faster and it drops under ten. This is on the way down with it empty.

Coming back loaded to the gills with probably 12,000 gross on the trailer and the truck bed loaded with five bikes, some gas tanks, the yard grill and a folding ladder I got the same fuel economy.

While in Tennessee today we stopped for a pit stop at a station which had a hamburger joint attached to the station. I could not find a suitable spot to park the massive rig out front so headed for the rear of the lot.....it was built on the side of a small mountain as things are in Tennessee. I spotted a drive through that came across the back and wrapped around the building. I thought...cool, there will be a passing area so I can get through ok with the trailer....what a serious error in judgment!

I turned into it and it was up hill. When I got to the corner of the building the extent of my folly became clear. There was a tight 90 with curbs on both sides. The curbs were thankfully about 12" wide and tapered at a low angle. I drove the right front of the truck over the curb and into the grass but there was an Armco barrier there limiting my off driveway excursion to about 2 to 3' depending on where it fell. I drove forward until it looked like I was going to clip the building with the long trailer and stopped. I got out and surveyed the situation and decided to take the desperate measure of backing out.

I cautiously backed up using the same lock in the steering that got me in that far until the trailer was about to hit the building and stopped. I asked my grandson how close I was to the Armco and he said about this far indicating 4" with his hands. He's 8 so I got out and checked and sure enough he was right on the money...so I pondered how to get it all out and decided a tow truck would be no help in the tight quarters.

I got in and pulled the truck forward as close to the Armco as possible and then made the left turn. The trailer climbed the curb as it came around the corner perhaps helping the top of the trailer to clear the building. I swung it back into the building as I finished the turn to swing the trailer away from the curb hoping to avoid dropping the trailer body onto the curb.

Hooowwweee! it came through without any noticed damage to my trailer, truck or the building!

As I drove past the drive up window the clerk gave me an open mouthed look. I just smiled and waved nonchalantly.

Dodged a bullet with that one.

The only drawback with 12,000# (estimated) is that the trailer brakes were not pulling hard enough. I need to check my owners manual on the electric trailer braking device. I must not know how to adjust it for so much weight.

With the load there were many hills that I could not pull without dropping speed. Often even in fifth gear I could not stop from losing speed.

It was a load.

193,000 miles now.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.