List of items to take with you when picking up your trailer.

Aug 13, 2015 9:46:35 GMT -8 coloradocamper said:

I bought an electric adapter that plugs in to my hitch wiring, it has 4-prong and 5-prong outlets and enabled me to bring home a 1956 trailer (4 prong) with the rear lights functioning. I have been grateful to have that adapter several times since then, and I think it was an $8 investment...

Hi Friends,

These adapters are great.  Here is the one I have. www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Wiring-lights/Adapters/Multi-Tow-Adapter-7-to-6-4?id=726  You never know what you gonna tow, but it helps to ask before looking.

Also, here are some more items to add.

I recently picked up a 66 Scotsman on a  cold and rainy day when the outside temp was in the high 40s. The trailer had been sitting for ten years in one spot.  Who knows what the prior history of sitting was.   First plan of attack was  to remove the old trashed tire/rims and replace with ones from my other trailer which I had brought with me.  When doing that, I went into the hubs.  The grease was like molasses. Literally. The wheels barely moved.  Old grease and cold temps do not make good pals.  I cleaned up the bearings as best I could and wiped out the old grease out of the hub with half a role of paper towels.  Yep, those work great.  The thicker the better.  I dug into the pit of the hubs constantly removing the old grease by  a gloved hand and a paper towel. I discovered yet another use for human fingers.  I got most of the old grease out this way and then added new grease.  Not optimum, but better than pulling the trailer without that clean up over 200 miles back home.

Take also  a garbage bag(s) for all the junk you need to throw away if using paper towels and whatnot.

Lumber for crossbracing and charged battery operated drill with screws. Hand saw or battery operated saw if having to block or brace. Let's not forget the tape measure and the staple of all carpenters - the pencil with pencil sharpener.

For those new, here is a the blocking thread for a How To Block.  vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/5335/blocking-framing-support-camper-trip  This is extremely valuable.

Also, mount your new rims with hand tools.  When I picked up the Scotsman, the PO was a tool junkie and insisted that I use his impact wrench.  It helped with removal, but would later find out at my home, just a week ago,  that it would be impossible to remove the wheels with hand tools.  I even tried a breaker bar.  Eventually, I had to use a borrowed impact wrench and some PB Blaster (add that to your list for stuck lug nuts).  Moral of the story: Mount with hand tools, incase you have a flat on the way home.  I would have been stuck with no means of  tire removal - impossible while on the road - if I had experienced a flat.

Finally, bring some tape, bungie cords or long cable ties to more securely attach the temporary lights.  One of mine fell off even though I was positive that the solid iron bumper made a good contact mount for the magnet on the temp lights.  Now I know why that guy in the pick up honked at me back there (somewhere).  5 miles later when I stopped for gas, I discovered that I had been dragging one of my lights.  The damage had been done and the light was broken and torn up.  I can tell you all about friction.... I bungied the remaining light to the bumper and tied up the fallen one.  I ended up driving home on the interstate with only one tail light and 2 hours  of a 4 hour drive were in the darkness of night in pouring rain.  Ask me if was relaxed on the way home, LOL.  

One last thing, call ahead and have your honey hand you a nice cold one as you walk in the door.  You just might need it, LOL.

Cheers,

Rod