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Posted by Tim Holloway [69.54.28.229] on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 15:27:07 :
Made it home yesterday from Iowa. Had an awesome time seeing lots of good friends and meeting new ones.
On the last leg, from the Folmans Power Wagon Resort to home I was driving through Wilkes-Barre Pa when I heard a THUMP. I checked the mirrors and saw nothing amiss. Nothing in the road behind that I could see. A minute later there was a car alongside me motioning for me to pull over. I did and so did he. He jumped out and said "Hey buddy, you lost a wheel back there" I got out and went around top the passenger side and sure enough the passenger side rear tire and rim was gone. So were all of the wheel studs and the dust cap. Damn! The man told me he knew right where it was and would go pick it up for me. He took off and I waited on the shoulder near the truck. About 20 minutes later he was back with the tire. I asked him if he knew anywhere that might be able to fix me up. He did and told me to follow him. We took off and went nice and slow dor a couple of miles to a large tire shop and truck repair. At this point I told the samaritan I could handle it from there. He refused any payment, and went on his way. The truck shop crew came out to check out the M37 and see the tricycle trailer. They told me they wouldnt have anything there that could fix it and it would not happen that day anyway, as it was 4:20 in the afternoon. The manager said he could make a couple of calls for me. He called an RV place nearby who had a hub in stock. They sent a kid over to pick it up and then got it all put back together when he returned with it. The mechanic was there till 5:40 getting me done, and with great attitude the whole time. He reluctantly did accept a tip.
As they did their work on the trailer, they decided to check the other wheels. The other rear wheel was also loose. Then the light came on. The week before leaving for Iowa I had the pivot replaced on the tilt bed of the trailer. They had removed both rear wheels.
This morning I went by the shop that had done the pivot work and told them what had happened. They didnt hesitate a minute and told me they would pick up the tab on the repairs ($300) and replace the rim that had been run loose.
All in all it could have been so much worse in any number of ways. I am very thankful it worked out the way it did. Everyone was very kind and helpful.
Other than that the trip was great!
Tim
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