Robert Street

I prepared the 61 for the Tidewater AACA ODMA meet next weekend. First showing for me so going to clean it up real good! Robert

Terry will be good to see everyone at your ODMA show this weekend. I think we may have a dinner close to what was at Charlotte. Have you another history topic for discussion as I was interested in the AC verses Champion plug topic! I have heard that you will experience a good car count but maybe not enough cars to cause Mark and Marion to go into overload. We will be bringing only one car as the logistics to bring two out of Maryland was overloading me! robert

I have heard and observed pushers having your "creep" comment several times before. I wonder if there is a tow safety recommendation for power to weight ratios. I have watched the big dually diesel 350 and 3500 tests of Fast Lane Trucking on Ike's Gauntlet and they do much better with more towed weight than our car trailers. They have much less power unit weight than a big pusher I admit. Just curious as I have passed many "creepers" with the F350 and my new 3500HD. oh, not all are pushers. Mike I like your rig especially your offset escape door. Robert

The usual car restoration parts are mostly out side along the speedway back stretch. The infield is typically the "midway commercial venders field". But a good walk to do both!! I never attempted the outside this year as no non needed parts. Nice job Hornets Region. Loved it all. Robert a class 36B participant

Just finished another good Charlotte. 36B 18 entered so another tough class. Weather was great as well as the auto fair. I don't have pictures other than 36B as spent time walking the dog and at infield These are the only ones I took

Thought was going to be warmer and less wind this year. Maybe tomorrow! as a little chilly and a fresh breeze out here. Robert

I'll have to bring my digital camera and try to remember how to post photos to a viewing site robert

Wearing out my trailer tongue jack and myself putting bars on and off and getting greasy? Robert

Got a trailering question. It just appears that it's about 6 miles from the trailer lot to the show field and I understand that "there is trailer parking at Showfield" the morning of the show. I guess we come from host hotel to trailer lot, then rehookup then go to show field for parking unload do the show then back to trailer lot? I am bringing a non-driver if I enter this one so any information/comments Robert

Good advise above from him. Especially since you said enclosed trailer might be in the works. I have towed enclosed with 1/2 ton but never again. 3500 series and I prefer diesel for it's towing abilities! Robert

yes, Gary RV's are exempt in MD and your rig is a gray area I believe so that might be the main reason why you haven't been stopped. Actually our car trailers are exempt (if under 26,000 GCVW and trailer is under 10,000 GVW) via federal but we aren't exempt in the guide book of Maryland commercial license so that is why I carry the federal books and the section of MD law that adopted the Federal. I have gone through the scales you mention and have always been green lighted. but, on the eastern shore much different and have had officers run me down and bring me back to scales. I am now a model MD citizen and stop at all scales as required knowing on eastern shore I will face inspection or interrogation delays. Robert

Grimy: So you were at Ft Holabird when I was drafted in 70!!! I haven't been back there since!! there aren't any scale houses on I-81 that I recall. The ones on I-70 if I am headed West have green lighted me every time also. It is the ones on the smaller state roads like route 13 that give me a fit. Yes, if you have a combined of 10,001 or higher you must stop in Maryland regardless of what you are. They are really burning up the landscaper guys with tandem trailers. If fact in the true interpretation of the annotated codes the one ton pickups must stop in MD but I have never heard of that being enforced. At one scale house they were insisting I should be commercial and DOT registered because of towing with a one ton. Yes, if you are driving a lettered truck or landscaping trailer then you are considered commercial in Maryland and also must be DOT numbered and CDL and are really stopping them. I have seen the same weight scale issue in a state out west while headed to the Cheyenne show last year. But it was about 30,000 GCVW I think so I flew by. I am hearing PA is thinking about a weight for stopping at the scales as it is a real revenue maker around here. A couple of years ago the rigs leaving carlisle show were stopped but I think that was more for DOT registered if the trailer or the truck was commercially titled. I also carry the Federal Commercial book with me as the federal laws clearly exempt cars shown for pleasure but in Maryland we are conveniently not in the exempt section but the Maryland book clearly indicates that Maryland adopted the entire Federal section so I have to play lawyer! Keep in mind those scale stops are not what you are carrying in the trailer but what your truck and trailer are placarded for. Also at one of my stops I had an inspector take a paper pad and write down all the capacities on my tires and add them to ensure they exceed the manufacturers GVW tag. Seems they have caught several with Walmart tires instead of higher load range tires! I could go on more with my trailering issues. I have heard that the Maryland DOT guys are starting to compare towing specs vs GVW of trailers!! Not sure how they can do that as a tow rating isn't on the door placard. Robert

I missed your question a year or so ago. Just get any trailer you can find and put 6,000 pound axles under it like Marty's. The good news is your tag will probably say 7,000 or 9,990 pounds. Very few inspectors will know the difference between a 5,200 and 6,000 axle. That way even if towing with a 3/4 or most one ton trucks your tag GCVW math will be a tick under the magic 26,000 number Robert

Grimy Maryland laws sound very similar to CA in regards to trailers and towing. But there is one significant difference. Maryland requires all vehicles over 10,000 pounds GCVW to stop at scale houses. I have even had them come out and run me down when I missed them! Other difference is on a 10,000 GVW trailer a class (A) non commercial license AND a CDL medical card is now required. Are you sure you did the math on the GCVW correctly. The GVW of a one ton dually is about 15,000 pounds. Your stacker trailer is actually a 15,000 GVW unit (3-5,200 pound axles) making your GCVW 30,000 pounds. Busted big time over 26,000 federal non commercial! Gonna cost you big time in Maryland as they are going to know triple axle 5,200 units equal 15,000 GVW regardless of what the tag says. Are you sure your tag isn't a replacement or a misprint stating two 5,200 axles? I have never seen a trailer tag "downrated" Robert

2003 explorers are not approved to tow u haul trailers much later ones are; about in 2012 or so I think. this was caused by the suspension design of several years ago. Robert

I have stored before but must admit you have to use a dehumidifier as I had power near the trailer. Robert

Mark that Fed Ex was a good find but on the same newsfeed was something equally fascinating. Millions in a box springs mattress. Going to get a big knife and check the ones around here http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2017/01/24/20-million-dollars-found-in-box-spring-intv.hln/video/playlists/atv-trending-videos/ Robert

What is an IVAN report? I thought they were environmental reports. Robert

Marty: I don't recommend putting out a 7,000 tow rating for that Explorer as it's rated towing capabilities are much less. Also check the hitch classification as it probably is a 5,000 lb model? Just a suggestion to keep you from getting in trouble later. Robert

Jim you are spot on I forgot his OAL issue. I am not sure if he is near MD but MD is becoming more OAL RV restrictive and has many DOT guys on the road. One other item is he would lose his RV exempt status in MD if the tow vehicle or trailer is lettered. But... If he is CDL licensed he is much better here. That trailer will require a medical CDL card in MD no matter what his license is. Robert

Brad I would think it would be a factor of what the RV is rated at for towing rather than the torque of the current engine. I am assuming that you have "books" on your unit. Robert

John I have had a 2011 F350 and put about 75,000 on it mostly towing with no warnings and used DEF from all sources never saw a sensor light on. My vehicle doesn't sit long. I have sold my F350 and ordered a GMC Denali HD 3500 2017 mainly because GM has finally built a new Duramax to produce power close to the Ford diesel. I'll keep my attention to the DEF. I am planing on using it to tow down to the Florida National show next year. See you there Robert

I have two sets of Merrick's and the difference is in the casters. The HF ones are much lesser quality casters. I am moving around two 4,200 cars and it is a chore even with Merrick's I hope you have a shop helper! The bigger and better the caster the better they roll Robert

Sorry for the picture quality. The aluminum is not punctured

Loved the movie BUT.... I have been run down twice by MD DOT troopers and had to go to nearby Scales "inspection" station. No tickets were issued as they had to call a supervisor in headquarters for my disposition one time and he advised the inspection station to let me go. I now have to carry the federal manual with me that Maryland adopted the section where I am exempt if under 26,000 GCVW (I am 23,500). When Maryland wrote their commercial and truck book years ago us hobbyist were conveniently left out of the 26,000 pound exemption but we are in federal exemption for hobbyist. Now they argue at MD scales that our cars win prizes of value so soon I'll have to carry my audit with me to prove the cars aren't expensed nor revenue booked! I do have a medical cdl card as required to tow over 10,000 GCVW in MD but private non CDL license. I recently completed the Western Cheyenne Wyoming show and western family trip with a car trailer down to Colorado with no problems in any state. Robert