Jim Oaks
Just some guy with a website
Administrator
Founder / Site Owner
Supporting Vendor
Article Contributor
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
TRS 25th Anniversary
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2000
- Messages
- 13,530
- Reaction score
- 8,807
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Nocona, Texas
- Vehicle Year
- 1996 / 2021
- Make / Model
- Ford Ranger
- Engine Type
- 4.0 V6
- Engine Size
- 4.0 / 2.3 Ecoboost
- Transmission
- Automatic
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Total Lift
- 6-inches
- Tire Size
- 33x12.50x15
I'm Home:
I got back to Texas around 9:00 pm last night.
I travelled 2,247 miles averaging 12.5 MPG towing TRS-2 behind TRS-3. That puts me at roughly 180 gallons of fuel. I probably purchased 65-67 gallons of more fuel than I would have used going to TN and not towing it.
Since I got back after U-Haul closed it cost me an extra day for the tow dolly for a total of $524.00.
Between the extra fuel, the dolly, the tent, the poster and tripod to display with TRS-2, and the event stickers, I probably spent around $1,100 to get TRS-2 and TheRangerStation.com to the Truck Nationals in Carlisle.
Then you have to factor in Eric towing the Ranger 8-hours each way from TN to PA, JohnnyO cleaning it up and getting it displayed, and Snoranger helping represent it and TRS at the show.
This was definitely a group effort.
I'm disappointed I wasn't there, but it's nice to know that I was able to be at my son's wedding while the Forum Staff and members of this site did a great job of representing TRS.
I want to think those of you who contributed to the tent cost. Eric tried to give me the money when I saw him on Monday. I had him keep it to help compensate for the extra fuel he used towing TRS-2 for me.
My Adventures In U-Haul:
I got TRS-2 back from Eric Monday morning in Gatlinburg. Here's a picture after we transferred it from his truck back to TRS-3:
Notice that the front tires are straight.
At some point the tires decided to turn sideways.
I stopped a few times on the way to Tennessee because a strap came off of one of the tires, and I stopped 3 or 4 times on the way back to Texas to fix the straps again. Once was along the side of IS-30 with heavy truck traffic going by. While putting the strap back on along IS-30, I noticed that the passenger side tire had rubbed a hole into the plastic fender on the U-Haul dolly. I removed the straps, started TRS-2, and tried to turn the steering wheel. It was tight, the tire wouldn't turn, and I turned the steering wheel so hard that it made a clicking noise like I was stripping it. I had no choice but to leave it the way it was.
Just before 9pm I rolled in to Chik-Fil-A to grab a bite to eat. When I pulled out of the parking lot, I looked in the mirror and saw that one of the straps came off. I pulled into the next parking lot, put the strap on, cranked it down, and drove about a mile to stop and pick my dog up at a friend's. When I got out, I looked and saw that BOTH straps had come off.
Again, I put the straps on and cranked them down. Below is a pic of it this morning.
And here's the hole my Cooper Discoverer STT PRO's put in the plastic fender.
I let U-Haul know about the hole when I dropped it off. I had purchased insurance for the dolly when I rented it, so as far as I know I won't be billed for the damage.
I also showed them how the plate the tires sit on would barely budge. I could hardly move it with my foot. I think since it wasn't pivoting freely with the truck my tires took the brunt of it.
It took a moment to get the Ranger off of the dolly this morning. I was able to steer it to unload it and park it. I just had to move it back and forth as I turned the wheel to get the tires to straighten up before I could back it off of the dolly. Still wondering if it damaged anything or how bad I damaged the splines on the steering wheel trying to turn it so hard they clicked and skipped. @JohnnyO complained that the steering wheel was 120 degrees out. It might only be 110 degrees now.
I'm so glad to be home and not dragging this around anymore.
Thanks again to everyone that showed up.
Also, I have more TRS event stickers if anyone wants any.
I got back to Texas around 9:00 pm last night.
I travelled 2,247 miles averaging 12.5 MPG towing TRS-2 behind TRS-3. That puts me at roughly 180 gallons of fuel. I probably purchased 65-67 gallons of more fuel than I would have used going to TN and not towing it.
Since I got back after U-Haul closed it cost me an extra day for the tow dolly for a total of $524.00.
Between the extra fuel, the dolly, the tent, the poster and tripod to display with TRS-2, and the event stickers, I probably spent around $1,100 to get TRS-2 and TheRangerStation.com to the Truck Nationals in Carlisle.
Then you have to factor in Eric towing the Ranger 8-hours each way from TN to PA, JohnnyO cleaning it up and getting it displayed, and Snoranger helping represent it and TRS at the show.
This was definitely a group effort.
I'm disappointed I wasn't there, but it's nice to know that I was able to be at my son's wedding while the Forum Staff and members of this site did a great job of representing TRS.
I want to think those of you who contributed to the tent cost. Eric tried to give me the money when I saw him on Monday. I had him keep it to help compensate for the extra fuel he used towing TRS-2 for me.
My Adventures In U-Haul:
I got TRS-2 back from Eric Monday morning in Gatlinburg. Here's a picture after we transferred it from his truck back to TRS-3:
I stopped a few times on the way to Tennessee because a strap came off of one of the tires, and I stopped 3 or 4 times on the way back to Texas to fix the straps again. Once was along the side of IS-30 with heavy truck traffic going by. While putting the strap back on along IS-30, I noticed that the passenger side tire had rubbed a hole into the plastic fender on the U-Haul dolly. I removed the straps, started TRS-2, and tried to turn the steering wheel. It was tight, the tire wouldn't turn, and I turned the steering wheel so hard that it made a clicking noise like I was stripping it. I had no choice but to leave it the way it was.
Just before 9pm I rolled in to Chik-Fil-A to grab a bite to eat. When I pulled out of the parking lot, I looked in the mirror and saw that one of the straps came off. I pulled into the next parking lot, put the strap on, cranked it down, and drove about a mile to stop and pick my dog up at a friend's. When I got out, I looked and saw that BOTH straps had come off.
I also showed them how the plate the tires sit on would barely budge. I could hardly move it with my foot. I think since it wasn't pivoting freely with the truck my tires took the brunt of it.
It took a moment to get the Ranger off of the dolly this morning. I was able to steer it to unload it and park it. I just had to move it back and forth as I turned the wheel to get the tires to straighten up before I could back it off of the dolly. Still wondering if it damaged anything or how bad I damaged the splines on the steering wheel trying to turn it so hard they clicked and skipped. @JohnnyO complained that the steering wheel was 120 degrees out. It might only be 110 degrees now.
I'm so glad to be home and not dragging this around anymore.
Thanks again to everyone that showed up.
Also, I have more TRS event stickers if anyone wants any.