Boat accident

[Mrs Coop]

Got a call Tuesday evening from our driver that he was in an accident. Guess it had jut started to rain and the boat trailer starter fishtailing. Then the truck. It went from the north bound lane across to median across the southbound lanes and into the grass. The boat came off the trailer. Truck is ok. Broken headlight and leaf spring. The boat trailer is totaled and we are still waiting on the status of the boat. The truck is on it's way back to us now. Below is the video from the local news station. I will post some pics in a few.


http://www.newschannel6now.com/global/category.asp?c=179967&clipId=5017331&topVideoCatNo=179966&autoStart=true

[Mrs Coop]

And Cosgo thought he had a bad day :)

[cosgo]

OMG... hope everyone is well. As long as no one is hurt, all the gear can be replaced...

[Mrs Coop]

No injuries. It could have been worst

[NDanecker]

Sorry guys. Glad no one got injured. Equipment can be replaced....lives can't.

Chris - sent you a PM!

[ccoop769]

http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=158278831

[shstransport]

Thank god no one was hurt, went across the entire highway. Some body was watching out for the drivers.

[bayou hotshot]

its good to see that yall are ok
hope ya dont have to make a insurance clame

[ccoop769]

$4900 tow bill alone, still waiting on appraiser to come out today for final damage to boat/trailer. Its already claim status. Boat only has 200 hours from what I was told.

[LBZ]

Sorry to hear about this guys. Did the driver say whether it was a wind gust associated with a storm or trailer issue? Ehhh doesn't matter, hate to see it happen regardless.

[smr500]

That's a bummer man. Sorry

[bayou hotshot]

:eek: i need to get me a tow truck wow!!!

[Haul-A-Round]

hate to hear that, he was just down the road from me.

Coop watch the tow bill from Bid Daddies, they are notorious for jacking it through the roof. texas regulates their fees also. I run a wrecker here also and know how they are across the state line.

[short stack]

hang in there ole pal, seems like there is no where to go but up!!
if you need a hand i have a truck you can use
mark

[Microsoftsteve]

Feel sorry for you coop, I had a trailer flip on me in May. Some hick in Kentucky who was new to the business gave me an address that led to a dirt road. Well after looking for a place to turn around for about 10miles I came on a down hill 180 degree turn where my trailer hooked on the right side pulling it over. I know the feeling of having to call a customer to let them know. And the horrible tow bills. Hang in there

[ccoop769]

Anybody down south got a comparable boat trailer they want to sell tomorrow???

[bayou hotshot]

if ya need some help let me know

[ccoop769]

Well, my truck was an easy fix, found a headlight and leafspring in dallas for $275. Thats the only main damage to the truck. Truck is rolling, gonna send him to houston tonight. Owner found a couple trailers possible in galv and baton rouge. He still wants us to deliver as soon as possible. But weekend driving isnt allowed OD. So im going to have him stay in houston tonight and find out whatz happening in morning. If we cant get a trailer by morning time comparable, im just sending my truck home to pick the the stacker to get to work. This isnt the experience I initially wanted!!!


As for at fault, it hasnt rained in area for over a month, there is hills and notorious for cross winds. It just started raining, driver slowed down once it started to rain, this was confirmed by witness, a gust of wind came and pushed the boat making trailer hydroplain and then the fun began.

[haulin rv]

Coop take a step back and let the ins company handle it. Get the truck home, and hope for the best. My wife (and family) have been in insurance all there life and there isn't much from your point you can do. On a good note like I posted before the boat isn't worth a whole lot so hopefully the claim won't kill you, but I'd sure bet the chances of your driver being employed are slim to none.

[Microsoftsteve]

Did the driver get a ticket or was the speed he was driving mentioned. I can say having just drove through that area a few weeks ago there are some strong winds but this seems freaky. I definitely wouldn't do any oversize stuff with a dually anymore that's for sure.

[ccoop769]

Driving was doing avg 55-60mph in a 70. Was doing 60-65 when it wasnt raining.Witness said this. Truck was pulling this fine. No tickets were given. A big gust of wind came with newly wet oilly roads from initial rain made trailer slide over. Driver isnt fired, as everybody I have talked too said this was a freak accident. Anybody can say it could of been avoided, as myself, but people have accidents, no tickets were given. Everybody was safe. As of now, im going by freak accident and unavoidable. Staying in houston and morning if nothing comes up fo trailer, hes home bound and wont be touching these loads again, maybe witha bigger truck though. Just have that fear now, never had fear with car hauler. If we have chance to finish run, we will, if not, im trying to sub it out. Theres extra costs involved that has to come out of my pocket now, like $500 lift at wrecker to throw on new trailer, saving I sub it out, I will need to pay lift also in WA. Even though this isnt our fault, theres no reason why customer should pay more, hes already getting a wrecked boat. I would feel the same way. Im just trying to do what is right. Thats all. Figuring this claim wont be anymore then 30k all together, still might be enough to skyrocket my premiums, my quotes last for 30 days, doesnt mean they cant cancel me in 60 days. Many things going on now, dont want a repeat of last company. All else fails, maybe i should just become a broker/dispatcher!! Alot of stuff in air, think I sold my trailer to a canadian fellow for $4500. See what happens.. Gotta love this business.

[Microsoftsteve]

Coop you're a good guy. Sounds similar me I got no ticket. Good job.

[Haul-A-Round]

Did the driver get a ticket or was the speed he was driving mentioned. I can say having just drove through that area a few weeks ago there are some strong winds but this seems freaky. I definitely wouldn't do any oversize stuff with a dually anymore that's for sure.

that is a rough area, high winds are to be expected through there. you should see the bull wagon and box vans that take a spill yhere.
drivers not at fault, just bad situation and circumstances.

[LBZ]

Agree there, have never seen so much dirt blow than across that highway. Was nervous about the air filter plugging or if there was a small leak anywhere in the intake the motor was screwed.

Coop, am impressed at your willingness to get that boat there. Not sure how I'd of handled it.

[littlejoe]

Coop,

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!

Tell me you were using an appropriate WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCH w/BARS to tow this load


I just need to know

I hauled O/S 12 wide park models to texas back in 2000 and my boss REQUIRED us to have and use them.


PS- Im not yelling at you ,just wanted to know

LJ

[Tosch88]

I hope everything works out for ya Coop. Towing tag trailers is a whole different ball game (as I'm sure you RV hauler know), especially a tri-axle boat trailer like that. Weight distribution hitches are not needed on these trailers because they have very little tongue weight for the guys that pull them with 3\4 tons (by design) & thats the problem as once your out of shape a little your done unless you get lucky. I'm glad everyone's okay. I agree with Haulin, let the insurance company handle it, as the claim has already been started.

[oregon]

WOW Coop that sucks, you sure keep it interesting here. I hope it all works out.

[ColoradoRVHauler]

Boy bad deal. Sorry Coop..

Carey

[twoduners11]

bummer...


on a side note, was that trailer safe? i mean the entire tongue looks like a single 2x6 thats gotta be 4 or 5 feet long. i dont know, maybe it wasnt that heavy, but then why the tripple axles? actually i dont see any axles, looks like it has those torsion stub axle things? wouldnt it be easier (and cheaper) to fix the trailer, rather than buy a new one?

[twoduners11]

forgot to add. very impressed with your business ethics. dont know if its technically the right thing to do or not, but your heart is good

[ccoop769]

Boat pulled very well under normal circumstances. Its just that area and wet roads. Other then that it pulled great and driver didnt even know it was behind him. Trailer is customers also, customer was wanting to bypass insurance for now and expedite move so he can have insurance next week. Id rather not cancel move, but today is my last straw on hanging around, not even today, just another couple hours. If customer wants to buy a comparable trailer with his own money for now, im ok with that. Only 2000 miles left to collect a nice paycheck. But yes, seems like most likely this shipment will be on hold for another week or so. As if we dont get a trailer today, surveyour will prolly be brought out to do inspection in tx instead of wa. Who knows, couple more hours at most and my driver is heading home to be a car hauler.. All this happening with renewal of insurance only 6 days away!!!

[Haul-A-Round]

who has looked at the trailer ? can it be repaired ? get me some picts if you can. help if I can.

[ccoop769]

all the pics I have are posted in the link on the first page, a few post down. We will know tuesday when appraiser comes out.

[ccoop769]

To make things better, while I ordered my truck leaf springs at a chyrsler parts store, everything install good, but the spring is 2 inches shorter then what it should be leaving a 2 inch dog tracking. ARGGHH, it was booked out to buffalo with a 2.10 per mile run, but now I have to deal with another leaf spring issue. WTF.

[twoduners11]

To make things better, while I ordered my truck leaf springs at a chyrsler parts store, everything install good, but the spring is 2 inches shorter then what it should be leaving a 2 inch dog tracking. ARGGHH, it was booked out to buffalo with a 2.10 per mile run, but now I have to deal with another leaf spring issue. WTF.

what do ya mean 2" shorter? is the ride height 2" shorter on one side or is the rear end sitting crooked? if the rear is crooked (dog legging like ya say) i would look to see that the spring is in there the right way. its usually a shorter distance from the pin to the FRONT eye of the spring. could be a simple fix

[ccoop769]

Axle pushed forward dog tracking.

Measured from bracket end of each side to main bolt. Driver side (good side) is 28 inches on each side. The replaced leaf spring on passenger side is 28 inches in rear and 26 inches in front. Also noticed it has a slight bend near main bolt. He also mentioned he might of gave me 2003 as he thought we said that. He says he has a 2007 in stock (1) and will check first thing monday morning and call. This leaf spring will be measured...

[Haul-A-Round]

they need to eat that

[Dorsey]

they need to eat that

We all know how that goes.

[Haul-A-Round]

yes but, he orderd the part from chrystler, they made the mistake of shipping the wrong one.

[Brisco]

yes but, he orderd the part from chrystler, they made the mistake of shipping the wrong one.

No, he didn't order it from "Chrysler" itself. He got it from one of the largest "Chrysler" salvage yards in the DFW area.

Did they get the part to you "Overnight" Coop??? If so, cool.............

As far the area where the wreck happened, Yes, it is a bad area for crosswinds. Wichita Falls/Lawton OK are sitting on top of a "plateau" where crosswinds are common all year long. Also, up in this area of N Texas, (DFW to Wichita Falls), we've been under a "high pressure ridge" for over 2 weeks now that has caused our temps to be over 100 degrees everyday. Going on day 16 today!!

My belief is that if Coops driver had just driven into rain right before the accident happened, then he may have been a victim of a "micro-downburst" of wind. This happens when a low pressure system bumps into a high pressure system. If rain had just started as he said, then he was fighting winds that could briefly be at 40-50-60 miles per hour even for a brief minute. This is what brought that plane down at the DFW airport in 1985.

I too have fought winds/rain like that in that same area pulling my cargo trailers while running auto parts throughout that area. It didn't dawn on me when Chris and I talked on the phone Thursday morning, but I now remember a day just like this, just started raining and windy, in that exact same area pulling my little 6X12 trailer. I was chugging along doing maybe 45-50 MPH in rain and wind that just started when all of a sudden a burst of wind pushed my little trailer to a 45 degree angle. It didn't move my 7K lb truck much but I was dragging that little 3K lb trailer at an angle with no control of the trailer. Scared the living crap out of me. Got the truck and trailer stopped on the shoulder, waited for just a couple of minutes, and then the wind died down and all was fine. I look back now and Thank Gawd I didn't have my 8X24 ft 7K cargo trailer full of parts on my ass end that day cause I could have very easily lost control of my truck and trailer just as Chris's driver did.

[Haul-A-Round]

[QUOTE=Brisco;5270]No, he didn't order it from "Chrysler" itself. He got it from one of the largest "Chrysler" salvage yards in the DFW area.

Did they get the part to you "Overnight" Coop??? If so, cool.............



QUOTE]

then they should have known what they were doing !

I've lived around Lawton, okla. all my life. we see some rough winds that blow up unexpectdly. if you dont like the weather here then hang around about an hour.......it will change.

[ETS]

[QUOTE=Brisco;5270]No, he didn't order it from "Chrysler" itself. He got it from one of the largest "Chrysler" salvage yards in the DFW area.

Did they get the part to you "Overnight" Coop??? If so, cool.............



QUOTE]

then they should have known what they were doing !

I've lived around Lawton, okla. all my life. we see some rough winds that blow up unexpectdly. if you dont like the weather here then hang around about an hour.......it will change.

That's funny! In Seattle, they say, "wait 15 minutes, if ya don't like the weather, it will change."

[twoduners11]

in phoenix, its "wait 6 months":rolleyes:

[Haul-A-Round]

yep , yall just go from hot to hell