I had a day from hell :(

[hd&boatrider]

I go out to Bullhead (BHC) to pick up the Commander to bring back to CA for my buddy who bought it. Left Monday night and was supposed to be back Tuesday night.
I start catching a nasty cold when I left and couldn't sleep for shit when I pulled into AZ. I got up 4:30 AZ time which is 3:30 CA time since I couldn't breathe so I figured might as well get up. Registered the new SHockwave in Kingman and looked at some properties for sale. Everything seems pretty good at this point.
I go home and decide to wash my jeans but I didn't have time to dry them....no biggie and threw them in a bag wet. I will get back to the jeans later. Hooked up the boat and headed out. As I came down BHC Parkway the rear axle is smoking a bit. It stopped as I turned into the gas station so I thought maybe the brakes just worked a little hard coming down the hill. Try the CC pump and it won't take my card so I go in a give the attendant ny card, Fill up and I check the tires. The rear R tire is low so I put some air in. Off I go.
I stop in Needles (about 15 miles) and decide to check the tire again as I suspected a slow leak. Sure enough low air. I bought the foam tire stuff and put some in and top off the air. Off I go.
Cruising along the 40 and things seem fine. I get into Barstow and check the tire. Low again and I am getting pretty concerned now. ****, I just remembered I did not get my card back. Call the office and have them cancel the card and order another one
I figured I would check the tire again in Victorville. It is about 5:45 and I call Big O because I wanted them to change out the tire with my spare. They won't be there so they send me to Pep Boys. Pull into Pep Boys and they will change the tire for me. Feeling better now as the tire had lost more air and was looking pretty much bald.
As the guy has the spare on without the lug nuts he lets the lift down. ****! Pumps it right back up and he puts the lugs on and says I am good to go. I kick the tire and the tire is loose. I tell him he needs to tighten the nuts. He says they are tight and I must have an axel problem. I am like WTF! I didn't have the problem when I came in. After talking with the manager I pretty much understand that my bearings are shot. I must have called apx 20 numbers as the sun was setting in Victorville trying to get one of those mobile mechanics to come out AS I am sitting on the phone a 300ZZX comes sliding around the corner...the car is coming straight at my truck/boat. I kind of brace myself and the guy hits the curb and stops dead. Smoke is coming from the car and he just sits there as I am looking at him. After a little time he just backs up and skids away. WTF! I guess this is Victorville and I have had it.
I finally get a guy on the phone. He was rude and said someone would be out in 45 minutes. I call back in one hour to check on when they would be arriving. There is no record/order on my call...WTF! They said they will have someone out shortly. I call back about 45 minutes later and they say they don't have anybody to come out...WTF! I am cold as I am in shorts and a tee shirt and of course the friggin jeans are wet!
I am getting pretty pissed and now that I am not leaving my boat at this ****ing Pep Boys to be stolen or stripped. **** it....I drive my wobbly ass about 1 mile and get a room at a nearby hotel.
I have a pair of wet jeans, no tooth brush, hungry, sick, pissed off to the 10th degree and I am running out of Skoal. I am just about delerious. I decide to eat something and go to the room. I call the front desk and ask if they have security on the grounds. They say yes and I have them send him to my room. I give the guy $20. and ask him to not let my boat out of his sight. He takes care of it as nobody ****ed with it.
Can't sleep again....****! MF'rs are driving by with big ass booming stereos. I am in ****ing HELL! The high desert....**** this place. It is all about trying to survive at this point without friggin killing someone.
Next morning with about 2-3 hours of sleep I get a call and the mechanics are on their way. They don't have the parts to fix the problem. The bearings are totally gone I call Extreme and get to Tony. He will have all the parts necessary and all I need to do is pick them up. I call my brother he gets the parts and drives them to Victorville. We get the trailer fixed and I get home and want to collapse. Oh ya.....I was so cold in the AM that I put the friggin jeans on....wet...because I really had no choise....
Bottom line it could have been a lot worse. If I would have started down that Cajon Pass I would have had a major catastrophe (sp) coming down that mountain. Boat, trailer and probably the truck would have all been damaged. I did not know the bearings were completely gone and am very lucky I pulled into Pep Boys to change that tire. If not.....WTF a lot worse.
Thanks to Jason and Linda (Mr And Mrs Boardsmnj) for offering to help in any way. I appreciate it very much. Both of you are stand up people that have the true boating spirit. I won't forget it
That was my day....how about yours? lol

[RiverToysJas]

Damn Tom, at least things can only get better from here!
Just one more story to reinforce my desion to store the boat @ the river instead of tow this year.
RTJas

[redneckgirl]

Tom
That sucks, at least you and the boat made it safely. Good thing it wasn't the shockwave.... By the way when do you pick it up?
RNG

[hd&boatrider]

Originally posted by RiverToysJas
Damn Tom, at least things can only get better from here!
Just one more story to reinforce my desion to store the boat @ the river instead of tow this year.
RTJas
I hear you Jas....sooner the better so as to not tow. The bad thing is that you can't just run out to the local lakes like you like to do from time to time.

[hd&boatrider]

Originally posted by redneckgirl
Tom
That sucks, at least you and the boat made it safely. Good thing it wasn't the shockwave.... By the way when do you pick it up?
RNG
Actually, I am glad that this happened to me instead of my friend who bought the Commander from me.
I did have the energy to go by Shockwave when I got back. The engine is there and they need to put it in. I am hoping over the next day or so. After that it is off to Wired For Sound for the stereo install. I am hoping next weekend the boat will be out and safe in BHC .
I need to get some sleep....Maybe if I drink the entire bottle of Nyquil it will knock me out....yes, it is the big bottle n:wink:

[Mandelon]

Sucks indeed but could have been a lot worse. I joined some Good Sam RV AAA type service that will come out with parts, or even two tow rigs to take your truck and flat bed for your trailer if necessary. After reading your hellish story I am glad I did. Probably $39.00 well spent.
I got a speeding ticket towing my utility trailer at 75mph yesterday. :yuk: 55 mph would be a damn hazard on the freeway, but they don't see it that way.
I carry spare wheel bearings for my trailer and a spare wheeland tire on the desert trips just in case.
Hope you get better quick.

[hd&boatrider]

Thanks Mandelon and all those little things you do are WELL worth it!

[cc322]

Look at the brite side, you got a new 25 tremor and when things get that bad you gotta get rid of the skoal and step up to the COPENHAGEN, its a cure all too, cures zits , warts, freckels , coughs , colds runny noses makes conseption a wonder and child birth a pleasure copenhagen makes me feel so good Also saw your boat at the shop last weekend NICE and congrats.

[77charger]

A little lesson to check bearings before long trips or season(lift up wheels and spin listen for abnormal noise,looseness,harder to turn wheels) and to grease them.
I found a bad set on my trailer also noticed odd wear on tire so i looked closer at it bad outer bearing as well another on the otherside ready to go

[HOSS]

At least you didn`t run out of Skoal.