The Off Ramp - Trailering tales from...

Along a Minnesota road...
My buddy and I are avid fishermen and we were making one of our weekend trips towing my boat to a lake in northern Minnesota. It was 9AM and we had already traveled about 150 miles and I figured we were about 20 miles away from the boat ramp. Well this car comes along side on a two-lane road and the guy driving starts yelling and pointing to the trailer. "Guy must be a whacko" my friend observed and we ignored him. Well he passes us and we continue on our way. We make a corner on the road and there's the same guy, standing outside his car and waving and I figured he must have some kind of problem so I pull over. He starts running over to the truck and says "Your rear trailer tire is smoking." We all get out and sure enough, the hub is so hot it can't be touched for very long. I thanked him and we set about jacking the trailer up and changed the bearings right there (I always carry spares of everything). When we're back on the road my friend says "I'm going to pay more attention to whackos from now on." Best advice I've had all year.
R Willis, Bloomington, MN

Davis Marina at Blountville, TN
My wife and I were loading our boat and another couple was putting in. The husband backed the boat in and left the wife to park the trailer and truck. The truck was a straight shift and every time she tried to pull out she killed the engine and went further into the water. Mean while her husband kept looking away like I do not know that person. My wife convinced me to help the lady who was in tears by now. I walked over to the lady with a smile and helped her to get it in 4 wheel drive and put it in 1st gear. She started the truck and eased it out. When the pick up came out of the water the bed was full of water but made it out. She said thank you and her husband never even acknowledged what was going on. I guess that the husband did not want to be embarrassed by his lack of care.
C. Johnson, Blountville, TN