drivadesl
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2007
- Messages
- 288
- Location
- Hudson Valley, NY
- Tractor
- New Holland TN-70A, Kubota U-35 Mini-Ex,SCAG Wild Cat, Cub Cadet 109
So I've got my gooseneck trailer loaded with my New Holland heading up to my MIL's property up in Windham NY. Pulling it with my 99 F250 PSD I've made this trip many times. Intention is to do some bush hogging, and maybe squirrel hunt with my son who's driving with me. If you know where Windham is, from the NYS thruway, you drive up NYS Rt 23 which as you go along the road gets steeper and steeper from the hudson valley floor eventually you are at 2,300 ft from about 150. Normal driving is no problem but pulling 10K lbs turns into a heavy load.
As we hit the steeper part I notice the truck is fighting it and feel some vibration as I eventually slow to a crawl and decide to pull over to examine. All systems on truck are normal, trailer tires aren't overheated, but Im stuck. Engine was laboring heavily, thought maybe the trans was overheating, but really no idea. After some deliberation decide to put trans in 4wheel low and attempt to make it to the top. After a brief prayer to the almighty, we go maybe a half mile up a real steep stretch, truck tops out at 15mph and slows down to 1mph and I pull over.
Plan now is to disconnect the trailer and leave it. MIL;s is only another 4 miles. Gotta move the trailer off the road, cars are wizzing by, and I'm on a turn no less.
Out of nowhere a Ram diesel truck stops behind me and a man asks if I need help. Yeah I reply, and walk over. At first I thought it was a policeman, but turns out its Tom (Irish last name) a retired FDNY firefighter in full dress. He's returning from the 9-11 ceremonies in NYC! He offers to follow me up the mountain so I unhitch and make it up in low gear. After we examine the truck, and find nothing he calls his Ford mechanic friend and we troubleshoot over the phone, but find nothing obviously wrong. Then drives me back to my tractor, and after I hook up, follows me up the hill again.
Just before the turn a local cop pulls up from behind us, we slow down. Tom explains we are getting the trailer off the road, the COP sees his uniform, and takes off. Not sure I could have gotten out of it myself, but certainly not that easily.
With the tractor and trailer stowed, we figure to drive the truck down to Kingston and Tom follows me 25 miles to the thruway exit. The truck didn't seem to bad without the load going downhill, but Tom offered to tow me if necessary.
So a major thanks to Tom from the FDNY, for putting his day aside to help me out. The day turned out safe for my son and I, thats the most important part. Another example of the unselfishness of these people I can't say enough thanks to Tom.
Sorry for the long story, just thought I'd share my little adventure.
As we hit the steeper part I notice the truck is fighting it and feel some vibration as I eventually slow to a crawl and decide to pull over to examine. All systems on truck are normal, trailer tires aren't overheated, but Im stuck. Engine was laboring heavily, thought maybe the trans was overheating, but really no idea. After some deliberation decide to put trans in 4wheel low and attempt to make it to the top. After a brief prayer to the almighty, we go maybe a half mile up a real steep stretch, truck tops out at 15mph and slows down to 1mph and I pull over.
Plan now is to disconnect the trailer and leave it. MIL;s is only another 4 miles. Gotta move the trailer off the road, cars are wizzing by, and I'm on a turn no less.
Out of nowhere a Ram diesel truck stops behind me and a man asks if I need help. Yeah I reply, and walk over. At first I thought it was a policeman, but turns out its Tom (Irish last name) a retired FDNY firefighter in full dress. He's returning from the 9-11 ceremonies in NYC! He offers to follow me up the mountain so I unhitch and make it up in low gear. After we examine the truck, and find nothing he calls his Ford mechanic friend and we troubleshoot over the phone, but find nothing obviously wrong. Then drives me back to my tractor, and after I hook up, follows me up the hill again.
Just before the turn a local cop pulls up from behind us, we slow down. Tom explains we are getting the trailer off the road, the COP sees his uniform, and takes off. Not sure I could have gotten out of it myself, but certainly not that easily.
With the tractor and trailer stowed, we figure to drive the truck down to Kingston and Tom follows me 25 miles to the thruway exit. The truck didn't seem to bad without the load going downhill, but Tom offered to tow me if necessary.
So a major thanks to Tom from the FDNY, for putting his day aside to help me out. The day turned out safe for my son and I, thats the most important part. Another example of the unselfishness of these people I can't say enough thanks to Tom.
Sorry for the long story, just thought I'd share my little adventure.
