Getting the truck ready to pick up the Argosy should have been a simple job, it should have been easily done in the time we had.
We just needed three things done:
1. get a brake controller and electrical connection for trailer lights installed
2. get a temporary light kit for the trailer, since the taillights had been removed. It's a state law that requires working stop and turn lights on a towed vehicle, so this was a must.
3. get side mirror extensions for the truck, to see around the trailer on the road, also a state law I believe.
None of these are unusual for boat, rv or cargo towing. We had 4 days to get it done.
But nothing is easy or simple during the quarantine.
Here we are, two days from pickup day, and 8 days from when we began this quest.
We went to UHaul, of course. Back in 2004 or so, UHaul put in the hitch system in our my Ford 150, a big brake controller module on the dash, and the two plugs at the hitch, with the relevant wiring. We got a rundown on the whole rig, and never had a problem.
I am sure that the current quarantine has everything normal turn into nightmare. Instead of the knowledgeable hitch expert was a gaggle of overworked kids, with no customer service skills, no masks or social distancing protocols. No one knew anything and were too bored or just didn’t care to look it up.
[Note from the future: That last paragraph should have been a big warning sign. This post was written before we went down to pick up the trailer, which happened two days ago (today being the blog date). I hadn't posted this yet because the whole saga unfolded, day after day. The next paragraph and the photos were added today, and then the post continues from the past. See the post on Pickup Day for the whole story.]
The installation was scheduled, and then delayed because of a missing part, a circuit breaker. That didn't come in for 3 days, when we were billed for overnight delivery (UHaul took that off at the end. ) Then, they forgot to install the circuit breaker, so we had to come back for a "10 second fix" to put it in. Finally, a week later than planned, we got it all done [We thought... see the post on the pickup day for more on this] It wasn't cheap! just under $300.
The brake controller, mounted on the dashboard, adjusts the trailer brakes to work comfortably with the truck brakes. This is connected through the 7 way plug.
The electronics plug in to the side of the hitch on the rear bumper.
The 7 way outlet, receiving 6 straight pegs and a round center peg. The diagram shows what each peg does.
The light kit plugs into this receptacle, the plug itself referred to as a 4 way flat. The diagram shows what that plug runs. If we had the trailer lights installed, we likely would have only needed the 7 way plug.
~~~~
UHaul should also have had a light kit for towing, and indeed, today when we went to get the 10 second repair, I checked the racks on display. I had also been checking the internet, hoping to find something easily. Strangely, everything I found for sale, on UHaul site and others, had only a 20 foot cable. It seems these are largely used for towing cars, and nowhere could I find anything longer. The extremely bored UHaul employee didn't bother to ask if he could help me, or bothered to answer my question about a kit that didn't have a cable length on the package. Shrug.
We were facing a trip to Walmart (and stand in line to get in the store with the Great Unmasked), or even a trip over to Statesville to the big RV dealership there. If we couldn't find what we needed there, auto parts stores were next. We hadn't even found a mirror extension yet and only a day to wrap everything up. Too much traveling, too little time. We are supposed to be on lockdown, I know.
My last hope for a possible save was a google search I had done previously for Airstream dealers. Interestingly, there is one just about 15 minutes from the current owner. Did he know that? No idea. But I thought they might be able to quickly check the axle for cracks and give an estimate on a new body panel repair. I hoped to drive by there on our way back to have that done.
I called John'sRV in Columbia this afternoon and no, the service schedule is booked solid for weeks. No stopping by, if that is even a thing anymore. (I am showing my age.) Oh well.
But, I called the Parts department, just in case...
A great guy named Albert answered and listened to my descriptions and looked up his parts catalog and found a light kit with a 25ft cable that he could have there for us on Thursday. Oh, and they also carry the mirror extensions in stock.
Yes!
He called back a minute later, all apologetic because the reason the light kit was so reasonable ($52) was that it wasn't magnetic, the high end choice for light kits, I guess. I said, "hell, I'll duct tape it on, go ahead and order it." Yes, I was in that place that nothing was going to get in my way! He cracked up on the other end of the phone, and said I made his day. He just made mine, too. Super nice guy.
It ended up ok,* but U Haul has fallen in my estimation.
Johnsrv.com, Parts Dept, ask for Albert.
This all might have gone smoother if we had read this article first ; http://www.airstreamcentral.com/articles/56/1/Preparing-for-the-First-Tow-Home/Page1.html
* No, it didn't
We just needed three things done:
1. get a brake controller and electrical connection for trailer lights installed
2. get a temporary light kit for the trailer, since the taillights had been removed. It's a state law that requires working stop and turn lights on a towed vehicle, so this was a must.
3. get side mirror extensions for the truck, to see around the trailer on the road, also a state law I believe.
None of these are unusual for boat, rv or cargo towing. We had 4 days to get it done.
But nothing is easy or simple during the quarantine.
Here we are, two days from pickup day, and 8 days from when we began this quest.
We went to UHaul, of course. Back in 2004 or so, UHaul put in the hitch system in our my Ford 150, a big brake controller module on the dash, and the two plugs at the hitch, with the relevant wiring. We got a rundown on the whole rig, and never had a problem.
I am sure that the current quarantine has everything normal turn into nightmare. Instead of the knowledgeable hitch expert was a gaggle of overworked kids, with no customer service skills, no masks or social distancing protocols. No one knew anything and were too bored or just didn’t care to look it up.
[Note from the future: That last paragraph should have been a big warning sign. This post was written before we went down to pick up the trailer, which happened two days ago (today being the blog date). I hadn't posted this yet because the whole saga unfolded, day after day. The next paragraph and the photos were added today, and then the post continues from the past. See the post on Pickup Day for the whole story.]
The installation was scheduled, and then delayed because of a missing part, a circuit breaker. That didn't come in for 3 days, when we were billed for overnight delivery (UHaul took that off at the end. ) Then, they forgot to install the circuit breaker, so we had to come back for a "10 second fix" to put it in. Finally, a week later than planned, we got it all done [We thought... see the post on the pickup day for more on this] It wasn't cheap! just under $300.
~~~~
UHaul should also have had a light kit for towing, and indeed, today when we went to get the 10 second repair, I checked the racks on display. I had also been checking the internet, hoping to find something easily. Strangely, everything I found for sale, on UHaul site and others, had only a 20 foot cable. It seems these are largely used for towing cars, and nowhere could I find anything longer. The extremely bored UHaul employee didn't bother to ask if he could help me, or bothered to answer my question about a kit that didn't have a cable length on the package. Shrug.
We were facing a trip to Walmart (and stand in line to get in the store with the Great Unmasked), or even a trip over to Statesville to the big RV dealership there. If we couldn't find what we needed there, auto parts stores were next. We hadn't even found a mirror extension yet and only a day to wrap everything up. Too much traveling, too little time. We are supposed to be on lockdown, I know.
My last hope for a possible save was a google search I had done previously for Airstream dealers. Interestingly, there is one just about 15 minutes from the current owner. Did he know that? No idea. But I thought they might be able to quickly check the axle for cracks and give an estimate on a new body panel repair. I hoped to drive by there on our way back to have that done.
I called John'sRV in Columbia this afternoon and no, the service schedule is booked solid for weeks. No stopping by, if that is even a thing anymore. (I am showing my age.) Oh well.
But, I called the Parts department, just in case...
A great guy named Albert answered and listened to my descriptions and looked up his parts catalog and found a light kit with a 25ft cable that he could have there for us on Thursday. Oh, and they also carry the mirror extensions in stock.
Yes!
He called back a minute later, all apologetic because the reason the light kit was so reasonable ($52) was that it wasn't magnetic, the high end choice for light kits, I guess. I said, "hell, I'll duct tape it on, go ahead and order it." Yes, I was in that place that nothing was going to get in my way! He cracked up on the other end of the phone, and said I made his day. He just made mine, too. Super nice guy.
It ended up ok,* but U Haul has fallen in my estimation.
Johnsrv.com, Parts Dept, ask for Albert.
This all might have gone smoother if we had read this article first ; http://www.airstreamcentral.com/articles/56/1/Preparing-for-the-First-Tow-Home/Page1.html
* No, it didn't
