Fun with Propane

[jwstewar]

After being jerked around by our propane provider the last couple of years, when the contract expired we decided it was time to switch providers. By the advice of the new provider we wanted to use as much propane out of the old tank that we could. We ran it down to about 8% I called them (wasn't sure how accurate the gauge was and we were predicted to have some pretty cold (0 - 5, I guess it depends on where you are /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) weather, I thought we would be pretty close. I called them a few days before Christmas. They didn't make it out until New Year's Eve. By this point we had started our January thaw early. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

This is location the first attempt for the driver to back straight up to the tank from the driveway. Unfortunately, he crossing the new waterline & electric line that I had put in for the garage in late October.

 

[jwstewar]

Another shot a little bit closer of the first attempt. Decided we had better stop before we get stuck. Even though he had a Ford 550 w/ 4WD, it was sinking & spinning pretty good. Got out here w/o any issues. Hindsight is 20/20. Guess we should have pushed on. I then could have kept my truck on the driveway and probably pulled him right back out. I was afraid that he was either going to take out my electric conduit/pole or the corner of my garage if got fish tailing pretty good.

 

[jwstewar]

We decided we were going to go around the garage and back behind my sheds - making sure to avoid the garden - so that we didn't get stuck. I'm walking along and he his following me in the truck. All of sudden I can tell he isn't right behind me anymore, but yet I can hear the PowerStroke going up in RPM but he wasn't getting closer. When I turned around I knew that we had a problem. Didn't get any pictures until later in the adventure. First thing we tried was hooking my little NH up to the Big Ford. My little NH couldn't budge it. The tires were spinning and/or hydrostat slipping. Decided that wasn't going to work. I was a little skeptical to get my truck out as I had just gotten it back from the body shop the day before getting the bed repainted from some of my adventures. We hooked my Silverado up to it. Attached you will see the only thing that happened is my truck got a little bit muddy. Body Shop looked at me kinda funny when I went back in that afternoon to have the Z71 stickers put back on the side of the bed. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[jwstewar]

The other side of the truck.

 

[jwstewar]

Here are the ruts that my little NH and my truck left while they were both pulling their guts out.

 

[jwstewar]

For the most part, this is just where my truck was pulling. We tried blocking my truck and using it as an anchor to pull against with his winch. We couldn't get his winch to work. He said he had just used it a couple of days before, but it wouldn't engage. We could hear it pulling the PowerStroke down, but nada.

 

[jwstewar]

Ended up having to admit defeat and calling a tow truck. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif His company is the one that called the wrecker. They probably should have called a little bit bigger one, but this is what we got. In the end it got, so I guess it was big enough.

 

[jwstewar]

This is going across 2 neighbors driveways. One is an actual driveway, the other is a right-of-way pretending to be a driveway. Guess I'll have some work when it dries out a little bit more. This is where the tow truck was stuck/spinning. I think one of the problems is the driver of it was afraid to "drive" the truck. I don't know if he didn't want to get it dirty or what. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[jwstewar]

This is the truck as it is being dragged backwards by the wrecker. By this point we had already unloaded our 500 gal. tank trying to lighten the truck up somewhat. The driver stayed in the truck and kept it "spinning" slow to ease the strain on the wrecker.

 

[jwstewar]

This is how far we ended up dragging the propane truck. I would guess 150 - 160' maybe a little more. That is what the wrecker driver based his bill on.