Trailer/Equipment Maintenance

[Loren]

Steve is working on the 2012 budget, and several things have been brought up recently about stuff for the trailer or other equipment. Let's discuss it all here and make it happen!

Here's what I have so far:
1. Everything in the trailer got a little wet again this weekend, we should probably have a quick trailer cleaning party soon to be sure everything is clean and dry.
2. Ed's getting new and mo' betta locks, hopefully with a shared combo.
3. Doug suggested a wheel for the tongue. (we had one on the old trailer) I'm gonna add that we shouldn't cheap out and buy the least expensive one. We only use the trailer once each month, but we're hard on the bitch. Get something that's going to last.
4. Mike suggested another dolly for lugging cones. Not sure if we really need that, or if just using a trailer and then making sure the trailer gets unloaded next to the back of the trailer instead of 50-feet away would be sufficient. If enough people think we need it, we'll get it.
5. Trailer maintenance. We need to look it over and see if it needs anything. Tires, wheel bearings, lights, whatever.
6. Pass-throughs for timing cables. We talked about this before, but haven't acted on it yet. Problem is that when it rains, not having a pass-through requires us to leave the window and/or doors open and stuff gets wet.
7. Brian is working on cleaning and restocking the Tech box so that it contains some useful minor hand tools and automotive fluids instead of just rust, dirt and junk.
8. Ron is drying out the timing equipment and taking care of the broken display.
9. John is drying out the radios (you ARE drying out the radios, aren't you, John?).

What am I forgetting? Anybody think we need more cones? Some tall cones? Other stuff?

Do we have enough worker vests? Flags? Anybody check the fire extinguishers lately?

We have 5 weeks until the next event. Let's get our equipment up to par for 2012!

[Charles]

3. You are right, if we are going to get one, it's worth an extra $15-20 to get a beefy one with a large/wide wheel on it. They roll so much easier.

5. The bearings should probably be re-packed, I don't think we've ever done it. Hopefully we are still good on lighting, I know Eric and others put time into fixing that recently. Tires definitely need to be replaced, WHEN is the only question. I wouldn't want to be towing it in a monsoon on the current tires, otherwise they are probably OK. The floor in the rear of the trailer feels suspect from getting wet I think. Not much we can do about it without a pretty serious project but we don't want our cones and generator to end up on the toll road either

7. Harbor Freight trip for Brian...

[shakedown067]

Yeah one more dolly for hauling cones at brooksville would speed up the process pretty well. Two people hauling a LOT of cones it much quicker than one hauling cones back and forth and someone hauling cones from a drop off point...so you end up hauling them twice over. I'd say this is a small cost, but a big gain.

[buddy bodean]

3. Doug suggested a wheel for the tongue. (we had one on the old trailer) I'm gonna add that we shouldn't cheap out and buy the least expensive one. We only use the trailer once each month, but we're hard on the bitch. Get something that's going to last.

Make sure it is removable. I know its a pain but the tongue is low enough and having that wheel sometimes makes it lower.
You may end up buying the whole new jack assembly with a removable wheel, actually that may be a better idea since the one on there is difficult to operate now. That are pretty much standard sized.

Or i guess i could buy a bigger truck. I will ask the wife about that...

[Charles]

We just need a quick release "swing up" wheeled tongue jack, they are common on ski/boat trailers. When flipped up, it'll sit horizontal along with the trailer tongue = no clearance issues...

[shakedown067]

We just need a quick release "swing up" wheeled tongue jack, they are common on ski/boat trailers. When flipped up, it'll sit horizontal along with the trailer tongue = no clearance issues...

Exactly! Hmm, harbor freight just happens to have one on sale.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-ca ... 67500.html

[Charles]

4. I have a dolly I could probably donate to the cause. I think it's a little smaller than what we have now but it'd be free! I need to drag it out of the shed and measure the lip on the base, if it's too short it might suck for cones although once the stack is tall enough and leaned back they would probably stay put.

Hopefully our swing-up tongue jack doesn't create a "spare tire" relocate project. Someone would need to take a few measurements and see how long the tongue is and how much space the tire mount eats up.

[shakedown067]

I can stop by sunday morning and do some measuring.

[Native]

Fire extinguishers were just recently refreshed - they are good for a while.

Thanks for the recon on the tongue wheel - somebody coordinate that and it would be greatly appreciated (and reimbursed). Ed? Eric?

Charles - if you wanna donate a dolly, that'd be great!

[shakedown067]

I think between Ed, Charles, and my self, we can coordinate the tongue wheel. Ed, do you want me to grab a couple of new locks when I head over sunday? You want the 4 digit combo locks instead of the old high school locker dials right?

[buddy bodean]

I think between Ed, Charles, and my self, we can coordinate the tongue wheel. Ed, do you want me to grab a couple of new locks when I head over sunday? You want the 4 digit combo locks instead of the old high school locker dials right?

The swing up ones are nice, but since they are side mounted sometimes the u-bolts don't fit around the frame of the tongue. Also, it may also hit the spare tire before locking into the up position.

Yes, the 4 digit ones work well and can be "reprogrammed".

[snookwheel]

4. I have a dolly I could probably donate to the cause. I think it's a little smaller than what we have now but it'd be free! I need to drag it out of the shed and measure the lip on the base, if it's too short it might suck for cones although once the stack is tall enough and leaned back they would probably stay put.
.

A square of plywood (cut a bit larger than the cone base) bolted to the lip will solve that problem.

[garage west]

9. John is drying out the radios (you ARE drying out the radios, aren't you, John?).

Radios are well dry. Somebody's going to have to pick up a load of new AA batt'ries.

[Native]

I think between Ed, Charles, and my self, we can coordinate the tongue wheel. Ed, do you want me to grab a couple of new locks when I head over sunday? You want the 4 digit combo locks instead of the old high school locker dials right?

You all, collectively and individually, rock.

[BigBlue]

If someone grabs batteries before the next event, pick up 4 9volts as well as the AAs. I changed out the batteries in the eyes as this was the fourth event of the season and I want to keep them fresh as possible. I can't speak for all the run groups as I wasn't in the trailer too much, but I don't recall there being many if any problems with timing at this event. I think keeping fresh batteries in the eyes is helping. Also, I left the metal folding chair that I had been hauling back and forth to events in the trailer after this one. It seems the only time I use it is at our events. I still plan on grabbing a couple for the trailer next time I'm at Wally World. (If I remember to. )

[Loren]

A square of plywood (cut a bit larger than the cone base) bolted to the lip will solve that problem.

I have a welder if someone wants to acquire a piece of steel and bring it over here.

[shakedown067]

Oh, I have some 2x10 treated wood left over from my deck project. Would we want a couple of drive up ramps thrown in the trailer for easy cone removal? Going to make a pair for myself anyway. Would just 2 2x10's stacked (45ed and offset of course) be plenty high enough?

[rojeho]

Realized during one of the tows that there is no jack/lug wrench in the trailer. Not a big deal on race day when I've got the Suburban filled with race gear, but thinking of the guys that pick up the trailer on Friday and tow it up to Bville.

[Solar]

I have the orange vests, they got another good washing. I think we could use a few more, not sure how many we need though.

I think Steve told me he had a 4 way lug wrench he could donate. We were talking about getting a small floor Jack, I think they work much better than a scissor or bottle Jack. Plus if the trailer is loaded I doubt a scissor or bottle Jack could lift it.

[Native]

I have the orange vests, they got another good washing. I think we could use a few more, not sure how many we need though.

I think Steve told me he had a 4 way lug wrench he could donate. We were talking about getting a small floor Jack, I think they work much better than a scissor or bottle Jack. Plus if the trailer is loaded I doubt a scissor or bottle Jack could lift it.

FWIW, the last time I picked up orange vests I got them at Harbor Freight - like 2 or 3 bucks each.

Yes, I have a 4 way lug wrench to donate.