Most annoying thing while towing a boat?

Fishin' Dave · Post by **Fishin' Dave** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:28 pm

I have had some crazy things happen towing my boat.

The best is always in a parking lot. One time I parked out front of a Togos to pick up some sandwiches for the next day. I came out and this guy had parked right behind the boat taking up 2 spots and boxing me in (well, I could have went over the curb). I waited and when he came out he said it was unfair I took so many spots. I laughed, he was too dumb to get angry.

I love those tailgaters too!

Whats your story?

fishhook · Post by **fishhook** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:47 pm

i live in live oak, iwas coming east on 20 from clear lake one day and had some ladie on my a@# for about 10 miles finnaly backed off when i locked them up and watched her swerve back and forth hahaha, figured shes drivin a benz she can buy me a new merc if she hits it

shifterpilot2001 · Post by **shifterpilot2001** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:55 pm

lol..... that is funny...... reminds me of my favorite thing to do when someone is gaittin me...... I watch them closely.... and when they turn their head and look down or to the side, I immediately ride my brakes lightly..... when they look up, all they see is brake lights...... always good for a panic brake.... lol.... and they usually dont tailgate no more......but I do like the idea of someone buying me a new 225 merc....

Mike Conser

CharlieS. · Post by **CharlieS.** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:23 pm

Well,several years ago.. the wife and I were headed towards the freeway towing the boat with our rv...while coming to a stop light, the Ford Aerostar didnt see the light,nor the chrome prop on the 225 merc. About time the his block broke the engine bracket , passing thru his radiator ,the troll motor went thru the back of our then soon to be traded MiniWini class C. Nice! Charlie

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:38 pm

Last week turning from Delta Rd south onto Byron Hwy -- I was a product of bad timing as someone came up to the stop sign traveling north while I was making the turn. I had to turn extra hard - and there is just a culvert on that corner. I watched my rear wheel fall off the road from the mirror and come back on. Took out the ground wire for the lights on that side and bent this trailor part. --Now I gotta locate this piece and replce it.

Thinking WestMarine may carry it?

MrSkeeter · Post by **MrSkeeter** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:38 pm

fishhook wrote:i live in live oak, iwas coming east on 20 from clear lake one day and had some ladie on my a@# for about 10 miles finnaly backed off when i locked them up and watched her swerve back and forth hahaha, figured shes drivin a benz she can buy me a new merc if she hits it

Well, I was on the way home this past weekend after a long day of nothing ... looked back behind my boat from my truck's rear view mirror and saw the CHP red lights! I thought, what did I do? I was doing 58 on my GPS and on the right lane on cruise control ... just as my heart started racing, I saw this other set of headlights between my boat and the CHP ... Guess he was following so close that I could not even see him with my mirrors ...

If you're traveling Hwy101 south of Salines be extremely careful ... I counted EIGHT CHP cruisers during this trip!

Fishin' Dave · Post by **Fishin' Dave** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:41 pm

Also watch out coming down Hwy 4 from Angels Camp if you fish Melones, they sit at O'Byrnes and 4, sometimes 5-6. On a good day they put the plane in the air, but other days they run a spotter.

snapitoff2002 · Post by **snapitoff2002** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:05 am

DeltaDan wrote:Last week turning from Delta Rd south onto Byron Hwy -- I was a product of bad timing as someone came up to the stop sign traveling north while I was making the turn. I had to turn extra hard - and there is just a culvert on that corner. I watched my rear wheel fall off the road from the mirror and come back on. Took out the ground wire for the lights on that side and bent this trailor part. --Now I gotta locate this piece and replce it.

Thinking WestMarine may carry it?

Get yourself a large crescent wrench, and a 4-6 ft cheater bar on it and pull! Put some heat on it if it doesn't want to comply

It's steel man, bend it back straight, and good as new.

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:38 am

The thing I hate most when I'm trailering is idiot who are in the onramp, merging. Most of the time, they don't even look, or accelerate, and expect me to speed up or slow down to let them in. It's especially gratifying when they're talking on a cellphone while they try to merge.
As to tailgaters, I hate them, but don't play the brake light game with them after I saw how bad things can go from that. I was in the fast lane (no trailer), behind a guy in a Toyota pickup, and he was tailgating an old lady. Well, she locked them up, and so did he. He started to skid, turned sideways, and slid into the next lane, where he was T-boned. I managed to pass him, and swerve around her. There was no one in front of her, and she just drove off, leaving this mess.
It's not a game to me anymore, and I don't want to be the cause of a wreck, no matter how annoying tailgaters are.
I just try to imagine they're in a hurry because their kid is sick, and do my best not to have to break suddenly, until they either exit, or go around.

Andy Giannini · Post by **Andy Giannini** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:38 am

Tailgators are number one. Second most annoying thing, the tailgator that that is waving a fist or finger because I slowed down to cross some RR tracks or other obstacle. As if I am am going to jump them towing my rig, like the Dukes of Hazzard.

Most drivers out there don't have a clue regarding towing. I am talking about the weight, room needed for braking, the physics of hitting a good sized bump, etc.

Had a guy pass me while towing at night on hwy 12 heading for Comanche. We had a little convoy of club members towing up there. The idiot passed me into oncoming traffic, the other oncoming vehicle had to be across the rumble strip on the other shoulder. I wanted to beat him senseless, lucky for me he speed away.

A.G.

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:41 am

You really need to replace that part as soon as possible.
If you can straighten it out with a wrench, that's a good temporary fix until you can replace it.
If you heat it with a torch hot enough to make it easy to bend, you will severely weaken the steel.
Cold rolled or formed steel loses strength when it's bent, twisted, and especially when it's heated.

Rod Martin · Post by **Rod Martin** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:10 am

Mark I like your attitude. I tell all my drivers , treat the people around you as if it was your own mother. When drivers playing a game [tapping the brakes ] kill someone then its not a game anymore. And if another driver reports it , it may be manslaughter.

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:37 am

By the time I bought a 6' cheater bar- I could of paid for this part hopefully. I just gotta find a local place that caries it so I can replace it and the C-bolt.

Ricky-S · Post by **Ricky-S** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:51 am

I travel a lot between Northern and Southern CA and I drive fairly fast. The thing that I hate is when I pass a car and they realize that I passed them towing a boat so that they want to pass me and then slow back down.

This happens everytime that I to long distances. It can go on for several hundred miles.

This really makes me mad....

Lugnut · Post by **Lugnut** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:14 am

Lets see, would it be when someone yahoo is riding your a$$ and then when you give them room to pass they DONT, then they continue to ride your a$$. Or would it be when someone pulls out in front of you, or cuts you off. I guess people think that you are going to be able to stop as quick as when your not towing a trailer. Then again I have witnessed some pretty stupid things by folks towing boats / trailers (of course never by any of us Nutcases.......

).

JT-Madera · Post by **JT-Madera** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:28 am

Well Ricky if you didn't have such a nice rig I wouldn't keep passing you so I could see you pass by again...

Those trips to So-Cal are breaking me..

Just kidding

JT

Clark · Post by **Clark** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:30 am

Agree about some of the people merging onto the freeway. Sometimes it seems like they want to merge between my Explorer and the Triton. They don't seem to understand that the 2 are connected until they're right next to them!

chf8500 · Post by **chf8500** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:49 am

stop by your local welding shop, they can straighten it or make you a new one

sTony · Post by **sTony** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:12 am

Something that always gets me worked up and seems to happen EVERY time I'm towing my boat is when some idiot jumps in front of you cutting you off and immediately hits the brakes and slows down. I treat tailgaters a completely different way nowadays. I simply slow down. I'm usually in the right hand or next to right hand lane when they're are multiple lanes so they always have the option to pass on the left side. IF they won't do that and they ride me to close I just slow it down and that seems to frustrate them enough to either pass or get off my back.

sTony

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:16 pm

Once I pulled off at a rest stop, and after parking made my usual walk around the trailer to inspect tires and bearings. All was fine there, but I noticed smoke coming from between the seats! After climbing in the boat I found the source, and it was a cigar butt that some fool flicked out his window (no, not me).

Probably 10 years later, I again found a lit cigarette inside my boat. I have learned that an open boat sucks everything into it that is available, from rocks to butts.

Now I always tow with a cover.

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:41 pm

I got one. Today I say some guy take a boat through McDonalds drive thru. Not kidding. The good news it was a ski boat and not a Bass boat.

L

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:50 pm

My biggest pet peave is when Im towing my boat in bumper to bumper traffic, which happens frequently in the Sac zone. When I know I have to get over for my exit, I always put my blinker on at least 2 miles before the exit. It amazes me how many people WILL NOT let me over, as if their trip time will be extended to an unacceptable level should I get in front of them (come on, we are in bumper to bumper traffic!!). So, I wait for the nicest vehicle I can find coming up then give them a slight warning swerve letting them know "Hey, Im coming into that lane so you better let me in". The slight warning swerve works everytime, they back off so I can get into the exit lane.

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:15 pm

driving to the delta for a tourney about 2 years ago, and got rear ended by a miata. it busted up the prop plus the trailer. it turned an hour plus drive into about 5 hours. the boat got shoved about 2 feet up the trailer so we had to go put it in the water just to get it back to were it was. when people tailgate me these days i just slow down, and when they speed up to go around i speed up too.

god you shoulda seen the miata, it was destroyed.

MPOLLARD · Post by **MPOLLARD** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:34 pm

What makes me made when pulling a trailer is actually at the boat ramp.I hate it when a boat(ski boat most of the time)drives down to the ramp and starts to load up the boat with coolers,life jackets,ski's,then untie the boat and then 10 people get out of the truck and take there time to get in the boat, then to top it off he has the wife back it in the rest of the way and she messes that up.A 3 min launch turns into 20 min.

MArk Pollard
www.teampollardfishing.com
Gone Fishin Marine
www.savephace.net
for central valley real estate check out Teampollard.net

fishhook · Post by **fishhook** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:26 pm

i went to pass someone on I-5 coming back from shasta, well the guy that tailgated me got to sit back there for about 5 miles, i just slowed down to the speed the guy i was passing was going, that guy looked pissed when i got out of his way,hahaha

lucas boden · Post by **lucas boden** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:52 pm

Its a toss up between cars behind me on I-5 @ 4 in the morning that i cannot see because they are trying to read what it says on the prop of my merc...

and the people that are on a cell phone, see my truck go by, dont look and start getting over not noticing i'm pulling a BOAT!!!

Rod Martin · Post by **Rod Martin** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:41 pm

Well there some McDonalds that a boat can go thru the drive thru. Coming back from Melones or Pedro thru Oakdale the McDonalds has a long straight lane with no curves, I take my 20' Champion thru all the time, if I pull in and no one is in line I go for it. If its busy I walk in.

EGBASS · Post by **EGBASS** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:05 pm

One of mine is when I have to make a left hand turn at an intersection with two turn lanes and I'm forced to use the inside lane because the next turn after is so close to the intersection.

The yahoos in the outer lane is always cutting well inside the painted lines on the ground not leaving me the room I need to make the wide turn needed when towing...

SHAFT · Post by **SHAFT** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:15 pm

Hanging a hard right hand turn , at about 45' long [ truck & trailer ]
I swing a little wide to make the turn and it never fails some idiot behind me squeezes between me and the curb in the right hand turn lane to also make a right . Its pretty G#D D#MN apparent with my signal on what I am trying to do !!!

Lance · Post by **Lance** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:23 pm

Rod,

This McDonalds has a sharp turn near the speaker (90 deg) and he did run his trailer up into the planter. I can see straight but this guy was an idiot

L

Fishin' Dave · Post by **Fishin' Dave** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:34 pm

Charter Way Mac Donalds in Stockton too.

We were in the drive through one morning at about 5:30 and this guy rides up and asks if we want to buy a bike. Funny stuff in the gehtto!

Tracy Blvd Mac Donalds works too.

Don't try Jack in the box by Big break; I got stuck there.

At Clear Lake Jack in the box, I pulled up, ordered, backed out, then backed up to the pick up window. It would have been perfect except someone else pulled in!

Scott D. · Post by **Scott D.** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:35 pm

Wow, am I the only one that finds the most annoying thing to be left land drivers? I can't stand getting stuck behind a left land driver that does about 1/2 mph faster than an 18-wheeler, and you have to camp out behind them and wait, then they don't get over and you now have about 20 cars behind you right on your ***. Second place would have to be the cars that are merging onto the freeway, don't look, and just take it for granted that you're going to move or slam on your brakes to let them in.

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:11 pm

Ok, I'll bite - whats "left land"??

ken · Post by **ken** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:14 pm

drivers that do not know how to merge with traffic. Give them a 300 hp vehicle and then enter the freeway at 25 mph.

basstamer · Post by **basstamer** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:23 pm

Ha you guys crack me up! Try driving something 65' long and 80,000lbs that takes 2 miles to get back up to speed everytime one of these crackers your describing does one of their little tricks. 500+ miles day of all this your describing and more....aint life grand! Tight lines,dont think them bears wont get ya for 58 either cuz they will!
Scott

Mike T · Post by **Mike T** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:30 pm

Left Land is that magical place where all the little pink faries live. It's a special place where people with names like Nancy, Barbara and Hilary will set a perfect world for all us to live in.

I won't go any farther, just couldn't resist

!

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:58 pm

on the right after the pin worked it's way out coming home from a T in San Diego. I had been on the freeway, up a steep and winding hill and went thru a dip t 25 when I look in the mirror and see it just runnin' on past. Lots of boat damage when the guide wire to a power pole hung on the cleat.

I thought I was a dumb arse and had left the clip out until I talked to two guys who had the keeper clip pulled from their rig at the same lake. Making me sick. I don't wanna talk about it anymore.

Terry

Yes I have a dog bone lock on the pin now.

Saechao · Post by **Saechao** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:56 pm

my most annoyin about towin a boat is. ppl think ur gunna be drivin like a grandma. i hate it when ppl pass u becuase ur towin a boat then they start drivin slow. for example drivin up the hill to CL. some lil honda pass me on the straight away but when we start going up hill and turnin hes drivin like 45 mph wtf go faster than me if ur gunna pass me up if ur car or boat cant pass 70 while up hill dont pass me.....im not a crazy driver cause i know all the storys but yep thats my most annoyin thing.

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