Tobin's daily breakdown thread

[Tobin S.]

The trucking gods took it easy on me today. I only had to buy a new headlight which was $20 at a truck stop. While changing it I thought I was in for another trip to the shop. The headlight has a three pronged connector that hooks up to a wiring harness. While I was taking out the old headlight, one of the connectors broke off in the receptacle for the wiring harness :mad:. But I did a little surgery with my pocket knife and fixed things up before I kicked a hole in my hood and busted out all of my windows.

I'm looking at trailers now, believe it or not. Right now I have a rental that I'm responsible for all of the maintenance on and it's a 5 year old trailer. I can get a new trailer for the same price that I'm renting. So if I buy a late model used trailer it will actually be cheaper than what I'm doing now. The reason I didn't buy a trailer from the get-go is because I wanted to make sure this was going to work out. If you lease your truck to most companies, they do not require a trailer. You just use their's. So I didn't want to be stuck with a trailer I couldn't use or be limited to only leasing to companies that lease trailers as well as tractors- there aren't near as many of them.

I'm unloading in Indianapolis tomorrow morning and hopefully I'll be done in time to make it to a doctor's appointment. I'll take the truck down to the terminal in Cincinnati after I'm done here and head toward Dayton in my personal vehicle. I'm hoping that they'll be able to load me back out to the west coast tomorrow night.

[elleng]

1. Thanks for writing; been wondering where you are!

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Tobin...

I must admit that my heart sank when I read your thread title. Oh no, I thought.

You were kidding about the windows, right?:scared:

Sounds like a good idea about the trailer.

I do hope your timing works out tomorrow!

Stay safe, and keep those stories coming...

:hi:

[Tobin S.]

5. Yeah, I was just kidding about the hood and windows

I'd actually slash all of my tires before I did that. :P :hi:

[xchrom]

3. Checking in - for the ride & the drama. Nt

[Tobin S.]

7. Stay tuned, xchrom

This is an adventure and I think it's the way life should be- at least it should be that way for me. Despite all of the trouble so far, I actually feel better now than when I was doing my little local company gig. I'm alive....I'M ALIVE! Bwahahahahaha!

[xchrom]

14. LOL! -- awesome. nt

[rurallib]

4. Be sure those warehouse personnel don't bust up your trailer

I used to be one of those guys. We always got leaned on hard to get 'em loaded and on the road.

[Tobin S.]

6. The main thing you have to watch out for in that regard is the roof

It's really easy to damage a trailer roof with a forklift. I've had it happen a few times. I'm going to try to get a plastic lined trailer instead of plywood. I think that will be a more durable.

[MicaelS]

21. I work in a Distribution Center...

And I have seen plenty of trailers both in and outbound with plywood interiors that look like shit. Porn stapled to the plywood, taggers writing on the wood, holes in the wood from knives, screwdrivers, forklifts, etc. The fiberglass / plastic interiors hold up much much better.

Couple of pointers from my perspective...

Find out EXACTLY what your trailer interior is composed of, and what kind of cleaners you can use on the interior without degrading the material. By this I mean you want to know what is recommended for removing permanent marker writing and paint.

The plastic interior also allows you the option of more flexible cargo net locations which can also help prevent damage to your rig and your cargo, from load shifting. Not to mentions safety.

The weakest point I've have ever seen on a trailer is the roof. That's especially bad when you have a hole in the roof, and inclement weather. It sucks to have to pull 20k pounds of fluid loaded (non-palletized) product off a trailer, because you find out when it starts pouring rain the roof is leaking.

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. It seems like you hit this road full-tilt-boogie.

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Reading your posts is vicariously exciting -- you don't seem to
take half-measures at all.
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I didn't know what to expect from your posts.
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I'm not only pleasantly surprised -- I'm enjoying the hell out of
your adventures!!!
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Thanks and keep 'em coming.
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[Tobin S.]

16. Thanks, MFM

I'm glad you are enjoying my posts. One of the things that I really enjoy about being out on the road is these posts and stories I send to you guys about my experiences out here. I have people to share my adventures with. It's better than cable TV! :)

Regarding hitting the road full tilt and to the extreme, that's just the kind of person I am. I have an illness that involves wide mood swings; I've always been and extreme person. While that illness is under control, I still have that extreme attitude. When I decide I want to do something, I throw myself into it completely- with wreckless abandon, to use a clique. It makes for an interesting and sometimes painful life, but I don't think I'll have it any other way again after trying to play it safe for the last 3.5 years and nearly dying of boredom.

[likesmountains 52]

9. I was thinking about you when I read about the AZ escaped convicts kidnapping

a driver from a truck stop. Glad you're safely on the road in the midwest!

[david13]

10. Keep on truckin'. Who said that, Abraham Lincoln? Anyway

I too enjoy reading these reports from the road.
We went out last week to Riverside and got the last payment on the White Freightliner.
The trailer we are offering is 40', 1995 Utility 65k, spring ride. The price basically is free, we just need to get rid of it. It's in good condition, but small.
The guy who bought the Freightliner said he had one converted to air ride, with full cert and all, for $4,000.
Anyway, good luck to you and remember about buying, new is best, and newer is better.
dc

[HipChick]

11. I think you should find some sage grass and smudge your truck!

[Tobin S.]

17. Are you talking about marijuana?

:D

[knowbody0]

12. I truly love the way you deal with shit

you busted the windows and kicked a hole with your mind didn't ya? I get visions of my fantacy destructions all the time. almost gratifying.

we're all on board with you in our minds thanks to your gift for writing.

expect a bit of grey cloud and high temps over here on the left coast.

[struggle4progress]

13. Just think of it as a chance to hone yer cussin skills

Everbody could be better at cussin

:)

[Inchworm]

15. Careful in that go cart on the way home

:rofl:

I remember being more scared riding home with dad in the car than I was the weeks in the big truck leading up to that.

:hi:

[Ikonoklast]

18. I'll miss you by one day, Tobin.

Picking up the new (to me, at least) ride Tuesday AM at Arrow in Cincy.


I have an H6054 halogen lamp, brand new, I'd give you as I have no use for it now...the next guy will get a free spare with the purchase of this 'ol Cornbinder.

Tractor and dry box trailer are both going up on Ebay as soon as I get pics taken, but I need to get the new ride lettered, IRP switched, and schlep everything out of here and into the Volvo.

Then I can clean the old girl up and make the Binder presentable for sale.




Oh, and the three-prong headlamp connectors on the 9200/9400 series always corroded something fierce due to not being protected very well from the elements.

Use lots of di-electric grease on the connectors.


Ask me how I know this. Here's a hint, Driver:


You can ask *FOUR* times.

[Tobin S.]

19. Hahahaha. Well, I'll see about that grease or maybe some tape

I just talked to the manager at the terminal and I'll be going right back where I came from. Hopefully, things will go better this time. Enoy the new ride. Why didn't you trade in your old truck? I here you about the switch over pain. It's a similar headache getting one on the road for the first time. It's a stressfull experience.

[Ikonoklast]

20. Current ride, too old a model year ('99). waaaay too many miles

for Arrow to want it in trade.

I have a couple of tentative bites before she hits public sale, both buyers know that I am a fanatic on maintenance, and there is still lots of useful life in her, but local stuff, low mileage, out-and-back same-day type of stuff.

Another O/O that rents parking space where I do thinks a buddy of his might be interested, and a local warehousing and city P&D place just down the street wants to take a look at her; they expressed some interest to the shop manager where I park and get maintenance done.