Hey gang, I've been quiet for a while - work's been going into a death spiral lately (half our department is shipping out to China this summer), so no real time to work on hot rods at all.... But I'm not sitting around watching them lie to us and ship it all overseas again (like they did with several other divisions), so I'm finally getting my *** in gear and getting things ready to job-hop back to Texas. I think I told Scoob about a couple years back I was planning this move when the China lab was just starting up, but I've been footdragging pretty bad because this is such a kick*** area to be in for hot rodding. Plus it was a great place to work. Anyway, part of that is getting a couple of my project cars down to a friend's place in Texas when I go see my son graduate at the end of the month. ***uming I can buy, borrow, or steal a decent trailer, I'm thinking I can cram the '55 and Austin body shell (the frame is ****tacular) on the trailer and haul some front end sheet metal in the back of the truck. Question to y'all is - is there any legality I need to be aware of if I'm piling a couple of body shells on a trailer and hauling them from Indy Amarillo? I respect police officers immensely, but I don't really like stopping by the side of the highway to chat and contribute to their retirement funds if I don't have to. I've done the rental trailer thing before and hauled a single vehicle without ever bothering with "port of entry" stops before... any chance I'd need to worry about that this time if I'm piling it full? Thanks for any advice.... I just need to get some of this stuff in the right state first. Makes it easier when the big move finally happens. Oh and if anyone has an open trailer I can buy, borrow or steal, I'd be all ears. Well mostly buy or borrow. I like jail even less than highway chats with patrolmen.
you're not hauling commercially, it's your stuff, just make sure it is well secured so you don't get an "unrestrained cargo" ticket. by the way, I've got 400 jobs here if anyone needs one.
Shouldn't be an issue in OK. Just make sure the trailer lights work, everything is secure and pay for enough axles on the toll roads. Actually, if you use the "manned" booths they will charge you correctly. Where it gets dicey is getting off at 'unmanned' stops for food/gas/etc. But you should be good to go since you're going end to end and there are "captive" stations/eats on the pikes. Just come in at Joplin, MO, (on I-44) through Tulsa then OK City to I-40 then west. Oh, and wear the belts........ they look that over bigtime here.
like treb said, its not commercial so the clowns at the port of entry or scales wont bother you. just make sure its tied down right. not sure what your driving experience is but watch for us truck drivers and lean to the right/left accordingly so we fit on the lane next to you =) thanks and good luck.
Dunno about "port of entry" stuff,But I hauled a 6,000# lathe from Cedar Lake Ind. (35-40 miles S.E. Chicago) back to GA last summer. This was through Indiana, Kentucky,Tennessee, back into GA. Talked to friends who haul stuff all over, and got some advice: (1) Avoid Illinois even if it makes a longer trip. (2) Make sure there is nothing in the way of signs, etc. on the truck or trailer to make it appear a commercial vehicle. (3) Be sure the trailer has good fenders, good lights, good appearance, and brakes. (4) Secure your load well and visibly so (5) p*** by those weight stations without stopping as your load is not commercial and visibly within limits. I followed those instructions to the letter, drove up and back with no problems. The Illinois bit is because the cops there are real picky and also don't like people from GA who may well have a gun in the vehicle (and I do). YMMV Dave
secure your load and if you have a tarp to cover it that keeps any little things from flying out. in wa.state you don't have to stop at scales when your under 16,000#'s. stop every once and a while to check you load. don't out drive your brakes. good luck.
When I left Atlanta we loaded up the trailer with a '36 Chebby PU, the extra Cab, doors, Beds, etc. etc. etc. ALL on one trailer. looked like the Beverly Hillbillies, but rode great. Strapped it all down well and got waves from 3 different cops. Just make a good show of securing it and they don't care as long as it doesn't fall off the trailer..
Make sure you get a good trailer. i bought a 500.00 18ft off of craigslist last year and all i ever did was have head aches. now i have a brand new 20ft with dual brakes and a nice strong deck. make sure you put your load on right. dont have to much tounge weight and dont have to much on the *** end of the trailer. either one will make for a slow going sketchy ride.
if ya DO go through illinois remember that the speed limit for anything pulling a trailer is 55. not just semi's; EVERYTHING. i can attest that this also includes '48 ford panel trucks pulling small teardrop trailers.
Wow... thanks for the bits about Illinois. I knew they were a pain, but never pulled anything through there. Thanks for all the advice, too! Plan is to head down with my folks the weekend of Springfield NSRA, stop there and see the show with them, then finish the job afterwards. I hear ya on the dicey ride.... I pulled my Hudson pickup back from Wisconsin and never could get that damn trailer load balanced. 55mph all the way home.
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