Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I hauled a few boats last weekend. The son of one of my good friends helped out to make a little extra cash. I'm glad I brought extra parts and was there to help him. I inspected all the trailers and they all had 2" couplers. I made sure everyone knew before hand, and threw 2 extra 2" hitches in my truck just in case. I was lowering the boat down on my friend's son's hitch, I wiped off the ball to read it just in case... sure enough, 1-7/8. Hurray for being through. I grabbed him one of my hitches and we were off with no issues.

Except he had a blowout on a trailer.. but that's a whole different story.

 

[blacktruck]

Well no pic
but I have a story
A cautionary tale, some would say

I was pulling a flatbed earlier today, with a bunch of wood on it (consider it lumber, mostly)
Trailer popped off the ball, hit a small berm and dumped its load.
Snapped 3k straps like nothing, load all over.

Good: nobody hurt. Trailer 98% ok; needs a new trailer jack; the lumber stuff also 98% ok. Landed in bushes and soft dirt; I was probably going about 30mph at the time.
Bad: I'm a frikken idjit, like wtf. I can try to blame it on a lousy night's sleep, but the truth is I just completely skipped over the consideration that though it was a lightweight flatbed, it still had a 2 5/16" coupler, and I had a 2" ball on my truck from moving my small enclosed cargo trailer last time I used it (months ago). I just completely didn't consider ball size at all.

Starting to think I need a literal checklist for simple things....

@WM75Guy
It takes a man to admit a mistake.
You definitely did a bone head thing but fortunately, nobody was hurt and property damage was kept to a minimum. Pretty sure I have done the same thing but just got lucky when I did it.
Cautionary tales are important to those who might be prone to do something similar.
Thank you sir for sharing.

 

[John0829]

Fortunately I am down to one trailer so the ball size is no longer a possible screw up but of late I have been either forgetting to hook up the safety chains or forgetting the 7 way connector. The brake controller usually reminds me if I have missed the connector but I cannot understand why I started missing the chains... after all they are right there when I lock the hitch.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Two things have helped me: wire tags and a laminator. They're not expensive. Remove wire, write on tag and laminate 8 tags with one sheet. Cut & wire back through.
They save time & mistakes.
Weeks ago I use a gas pump to fill a water tank and the last straw was the flat outlet hose twisted up and burst before I could shut pump off. Yesterday so easy reading tag: 1) check oil 2) green inlet hose to top 3) red hose to bottom 4) prime pump 5) switch on 6)fuel on 7)choke...etc.
So trailer tagged: 1) 2 5/16" ball 2) safety chains 3) check lights...etc.
I think as we get older the brain is like a 5 gallon bucket...it can only hold so much. Either that or dementia!

 

[QRTRHRS]

I saw two "good ones" today but I don't like messing e with my phone while driving so no photos.

The first was a trooper with a straight log truck. Dumb ol' driver had an untagged log sticking out about 6 or so feet. It was in the middle of the load. He could have put it on the top having it stick out over the can.

The second was along a busy road in Lexington, KY. A decent looking round bale sitting on the sidewalk/curb.

 

[WinterDeere]

I hauled a few boats last weekend.

Boat trailers seem to be the most universally subject to breakdowns of all highway vehicles and trailers. Between the harsh environments to which they're subjected, and the fact that many are used only twice per year, it always seems like maybe more than 95% of them are of questionable road-worthiness.

I used to race sailboats in a class where guys were routinely putting 30k miles per year on their boat trailers, and even half of them had trailers I'd be afraid to take on the highway.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Boat trailers seem to be the most universally subject to breakdowns of all highway vehicles and trailers. Between the harsh environments to which they're subjected, and the fact that many are used only twice per year, it always seems like maybe more than 95% of them are of questionable road-worthiness.

I used to race sailboats in a class where guys were routinely putting 30k miles per year on their boat trailers, and even half of them had trailers I'd be afraid to take on the highway.

The fact that they get backed in the water each launch and their bearings rarely get greases by most people surely doesn’t help.

 

[Gregster613]

This is what UPS did with a package for me a few days ago.,

Shipment Details
You’ve Got the Details
You’re seeing what customer service agents would share with you. If you need more support,
use the Virtual Assistant or contact your shipper.

 Times shown are in Local Time Change
06/02/2025
12:00 P.M.
Delivered
DELIVERED
GREENWICH, NY, US
06/02/2025
7:18 A.M.
Out for Delivery
Out For Delivery Today
Latham, NY, United States
05/31/2025
6:14 P.M.
On the Way
Processing at UPS Facility
Latham, NY, United States
05/31/2025
3:20 A.M.
Arrived at Facility
Latham, NY, United States
05/30/2025
10:32 P.M.
Departed from Facility
Buffalo, NY, United States
05/30/2025
2:29 P.M.
Arrived at Facility
Buffalo, NY, United States
05/30/2025
9:03 A.M.
Departed from Facility
Mansfield, OH, United States
05/30/2025
8:28 A.M.
Arrived at Facility
Mansfield, OH, United States
05/30/2025
4:12 A.M.
Departed from Facility
Lexington, KY, United States
05/29/2025
5:32 A.M.
Processing at UPS Facility
Lexington, KY, United States
05/29/2025
4:38 A.M.
Departed from Facility
Kingston, NY, United States
05/29/2025
3:24 A.M.
Arrived at Facility
Kingston, NY, United States
05/28/2025
10:55 P.M.
Departed from Facility
Middletown, PA, United States
05/27/2025
11:27 P.M.
Arrived at Facility
Middletown, PA, United States
05/27/2025
9:31 P.M.
Departed from Facility
Baltimore, MD, United States
05/27/2025
8:52 P.M.
Arrived at Facility
Baltimore, MD, United States
05/27/2025
3:17 P.M.
We Have Your Package
Pickup Scan
Baltimore, MD, United States
05/26/2025
7:23 P.M.
Label Created
Shipper created a label, UPS has not received the package yet.
United States

From MD to PA to NY to KY to OH to NY and then finally to me.

LouNY....WOW!! All I can say!!!

 

[Dftodd]

Boat trailers seem to be the most universally subject to breakdowns of all highway vehicles and trailers. Between the harsh environments to which they're subjected, and the fact that many are used only twice per year, it always seems like maybe more than 95% of them are of questionable road-worthiness.

I used to race sailboats in a class where guys were routinely putting 30k miles per year on their boat trailers, and even half of them had trailers I'd be afraid to take on the highway.

Around here, it's quite common to see someone's high dollar toy, tractor, motorcycle on a trailer that really isn't fit to haul manure reliably.

Then again, I saw a crew hauling wood in the back of a pickup. Most was in the bed, but they had some longer stuff stacked on top.

The back window was completely gone out of the truck, and it had a piece of plywood held in place with a ratchet strap in lieu of a tailgate.

The passengers in the back seat had their heads about 2 inches from the boards.

Following them down the interstate, I kept thinking that off they got into a wreck, those back passengers would probably lose their heads

 

[Jstpssng]

Around here, it's quite common to see someone's high dollar toy, tractor, motorcycle on a trailer that really isn't fit to haul manure reliably.

I had a small boat trailer converted for utility use with a piece of light angle iron welded to the front, and a single sheet of plywood for a deck. The guy I sold it to was going to pull it behind his RV with his nice dresser Yamaha on it... it's his money but I wouldn't have.

Then again, I saw a crew hauling wood in the back of a pickup. Most was in the bed, but they had some longer stuff stacked on top.

The back window was completely gone out of the truck, and it had a piece of plywood held in place with a ratchet strap in lieu of a tailgate.

The passengers in the back seat had their heads about 2 inches from the boards.

Following them down the interstate, I kept thinking that off they got into a wreck, those back passengers would probably lose their heads

I was using my nearly new F150 to haul a little firewood from the jobsite back to the landscaper I was working for. My coworker was about 8 feet from the truck when he started tossing. When I put a stop to it he growled " My uncle smashed the back window out hauling firewood when his pickup was a week old."
Exactly my point!!!

I am rather **** about hauling items such as long pry bars, ice chisels et.at. They are always crosswise in the bed. If I ever so leave the road, I don't need a steel missile joining me in the front seat.