Thursday, September 29, 2011

Left Sedro-Woolley, WA yesterday morning at about 900 AM. Got about 90 miles down the road and blew a tire on the trailer. This was just outside North Bend, WA. Got the spare on and went into North Bend to the Les Schwab dealer. Got a new spare and as they were checking torque of the lug nuts noticed that the trailer frame was sitting on and wearing away part of one of the tires. Limped down the road about 3 miles to a repair shop. They could see nothing wrong except that the springs were almost flat. Spent the night in their front parking lot. This morning found out that while we have 7000# axles the springs were only rated for 300# (7000# axles times two is 14000# and 3000# springs times four is only 12000#) So my 13000# trailer weight sitting on the axles was actually over weight for the springs but not the axles. New springs were ordered and while waiting for them to make the 40 mile trip up from Seattle the shop took things apart. They then discovered that one of the equalizers between the two axles was way worn out. This was the major cause of the trailer frame sitting on the tire. New equalizers wont be here until 430 this afternoon and they are the first part needed to put things back together. Springs arrived already. So another night will be spent in Cascade Diesels front parking lot. Plans for being in Boise by Friday for our Granddaughter's birthday party on Saturday are not going to happen. Earliest departure time from North Bend seams to be about noon on Friday and Boise is about 500 miles away. Probably wont be in Boise until Sunday.