We were pulling our skidsteer to a jobsite last week, when one of our trucks behind us frantically started flashing lights and waving to get our attention. As I looked back I saw that even though we were going 65 mph, we were leaving a trail of rubber on the highway and some smoke.
Pulled over to initially find the wheel well on one side of the trailer resting firmly on the tires - it had eaten about 1/8"-1/4" of rubber off one of the tires, and the wheel well was slightly bowed to the shape of the tire. We travelled the last 2 miles to the jobsite, deciding that having the skidsteer on site would be worth any extra damage we'd do to the trailer.
Upon later examination we found the front bracket holding the leaf springs to the trailer had broken, leaving the weight of the trailer and the cupping on the wheel well over the wheels as the only thing holding the tires under the trailer on that side. The front bracket on the other side was half broken. It appeared that 10 years of wear and tear had done the brackets in.
We discovered all of this on July 3rd, in the afternoon. Over the weekend I was crunching number to see how a new trailer would fit into the budget.
Dragged the empty trailer to a welding shop today, thinking the damage was repairable. Picked it up at the end of the day - they had welded the brackets back together and welded another 1/4" plate to brace both brackets on both sides, more firmly to the trailer frame. All expenses for the repair: $31.
*big sigh* This is one of the few times that the worst case scenario was far worse than what ended up being true.
I know it's only Monday, but it's time for a
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