I finally got the boat down to NC this weekend. All I've got to say is WHAT A FREAKING NIGHTMARE!!!!! I had planned on getting the tires replaced, but ended up having to come to NC a week earlier than planned to finalize everything for my new job. I had left the truck and trailer in MD and took a train to and from NC. I planned on leaving Friday morning thinking I could make it most if not all the way by dark. I had gotten almost all the way to Richmond when my first blow out happened. Changed the tire with my spare (a new trailer tire on a new rim), and was on my way in fairly short order. I also called BoatUS and added the Trailer Club to my membership.
About 40 miles later, I blew my second tire!! I called BoatUS, and they couldn't help me because my membership wasn't active yet. :evil: Thank God for Navi systems. I was able to call around and find a new tire at Pep Boys. I had to leave the boat on the side of the Hwy and go get the new tire put on. 3 Hours later, i made it back to the boat to change the tire out. I started breaking the lug nuts loose before jacking it up, and the &#@*ing lug wrench broke!!! I called MY roadside assist, and kinda told them it was my truck and not my boat that had the flat. :wink: Well, it worked, and someone came out. I finally got the tire changed, but by this time it was 10PM and I couldn't drive anymore because it was well after dark. We spent a very comfortable night at a Hyatt, for what turned out to be really cheap.
Got a start Saturday morning, and all was well for the first 100 miles or so. I got just past Rocky Mount, and lo and behold, blow out number 3!!!!! I called BoatUS, again, and this time they found someone to come change the tire on the side of the road, but I would have to pay for the tire. Fair enough. They connected me with the dispatcher, who told me they were going to put a generic car/truck radial on the trailer. After my previous experience, I told him the hell you are. I called BoatUS back, and told them, if I am paying for the tire, I wasn't putting anything less than a trailer tire on. the girl was going to try and find someone to tow the boat to a shop that had trailer tires in stock. I found a shop, but they couldn't find a provider to tow me. I got them to have the roadside service company to pick up the tire at the tire store. I told them while they are at it, bring three. One for my blown tire, the one old tire I have left, and my spare that was still blown. I finally was back on the road.
So, $600 and 2 days later, I made it. Whew!
*Cliffnotes: Don't tow long distances with Passenger tires.....
