Tuesday, June 28, 2022

 3rd trip done and over with. Brownsville down and right back up, no detention.  

However.  After I hooked up to the empty, I saw that one side of the landing gear was lower than the other.  Huh?  It did strike me odd that the trailer was leaning when I pulled up to it.  That was the answer.  These people must have known it was like this and just dropped it anyway.

They are lucky the thing didn't collapse and the trailer tip over. It definitely would have if the trailer had been loaded.  I sent pics to everyone of interest and then an agonizingly long message trail ensued.  I took it to the TA about 250 miles up the road. Dispatch wanted it for tomorrow.

TA said 45 minutes to an hour.  After  an hour and a half, I got out of the truck, got out my adjustable wrenches and got the lock-thread nut off the bolt holding the shaft that goes from the crank side of the gear to the other side.  I adjusted one side even with the other, put the bolt back in and walaah.  

Well, not so fast.  I cranked it down okay, but cranking it back up? One side was going up and the other wasn't. You could hear the internal gears giving way and causing one side not to crank.   So, I said this landing gear is trashed and left that TA that never did anything anyway.  

I had to try to relevel it all when I got back to the yard today, the mechanics were gone. Gear kept slipping, they aren't sending that trailer out tomorrow as much as they'd like to.  Or if they do, they are going to create serious problems. 

But, not MY problem.  I did what I could to help the situation along.  The dispatcher kept telling me "I need you starting Thursday, several drivers are going on vacation".  Of course they are, 4th of July.  Yes?  I am available, I just don't trust old landing gear. Not to mention it's only Tuesday, but she said this 3 times. Seriously, I wasn't asking for July 4th off, I've been off for 13 days, I need to make all of that back up.  

So I thought it odd that she didn't send me out tomorrow. Yes, I know tomorrow is Wednesday, but her continued reutterance of the holiday.....I have tomorrow off. I'm calling the repair shop - do you have the part yet? I'm tired of driving a hot vehicle in 100 degree weather.  

That and the ATV.  What on earth? That thing is going on a month in that shop, are they fixing it or not?  

On a better note, all of the supplies, I have been informed, have been ordered to start work on installing utilities. Hallelujah! The permit for the septic isn't cleared yet, the contractor says it usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. Well, it hasn't been that long yet since they actually go the thing over there.  I don't expect any issues, this contractor's specialty is septic systems and he's been doing it over 30 years, they know him and they know his work.  

I get some things take time, but the cost of everything has gone up literally thousands of dollars, I want to get this thing over with before the costs go up even more.  Or sit on it until the recession hits and everything goes back down?  I'm not hoping for a recession, obviously, but it's a very real possibility.  

I don't know what else. I wasn't expecting tomorrow off. It's cooling off really nice in the mornings, down in the 60's, I'm hoping to get up earlier than normal for a day off and go for a nice long walk with Addler.  Kids are still in Arkansas, I actually like going for walks with Addler alone.  Kids kind of hold me up from the workout type of brisk walk I like to get.  But, the kids beg me to take them with me, even hot as hell outside, it's hard to just tell them no.  I like to encourage exercise and outdoor activity with kids, too many of them sit inside houses and play video games. 

Well that's it for me. I'm heading off to sleepy land early.


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