TRS Event Ford Ranger 40th Anniversary - Truck Nationals - Carlisle PA

[Jim Oaks]

I'm Home:

I got back to Texas around 9:00 pm last night.

I travelled 2,247 miles averaging 12.5 MPG towing TRS-2 behind TRS-3. That puts me at roughly 180 gallons of fuel. I probably purchased 65-67 gallons of more fuel than I would have used going to TN and not towing it.

Since I got back after U-Haul closed it cost me an extra day for the tow dolly for a total of $524.00.

Between the extra fuel, the dolly, the tent, the poster and tripod to display with TRS-2, and the event stickers, I probably spent around $1,100 to get TRS-2 and TheRangerStation.com to the Truck Nationals in Carlisle.

Then you have to factor in Eric towing the Ranger 8-hours each way from TN to PA, JohnnyO cleaning it up and getting it displayed, and Snoranger helping represent it and TRS at the show.

This was definitely a group effort.

I'm disappointed I wasn't there, but it's nice to know that I was able to be at my son's wedding while the Forum Staff and members of this site did a great job of representing TRS.

I want to think those of you who contributed to the tent cost. Eric tried to give me the money when I saw him on Monday. I had him keep it to help compensate for the extra fuel he used towing TRS-2 for me.

My Adventures In U-Haul:

I got TRS-2 back from Eric Monday morning in Gatlinburg. Here's a picture after we transferred it from his truck back to TRS-3:

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Notice that the front tires are straight.

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At some point the tires decided to turn sideways.

I stopped a few times on the way to Tennessee because a strap came off of one of the tires, and I stopped 3 or 4 times on the way back to Texas to fix the straps again. Once was along the side of IS-30 with heavy truck traffic going by. While putting the strap back on along IS-30, I noticed that the passenger side tire had rubbed a hole into the plastic fender on the U-Haul dolly. I removed the straps, started TRS-2, and tried to turn the steering wheel. It was tight, the tire wouldn't turn, and I turned the steering wheel so hard that it made a clicking noise like I was stripping it. I had no choice but to leave it the way it was.

Just before 9pm I rolled in to Chik-Fil-A to grab a bite to eat. When I pulled out of the parking lot, I looked in the mirror and saw that one of the straps came off. I pulled into the next parking lot, put the strap on, cranked it down, and drove about a mile to stop and pick my dog up at a friend's. When I got out, I looked and saw that BOTH straps had come off.

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Again, I put the straps on and cranked them down. Below is a pic of it this morning.

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And here's the hole my Cooper Discoverer STT PRO's put in the plastic fender.

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I let U-Haul know about the hole when I dropped it off. I had purchased insurance for the dolly when I rented it, so as far as I know I won't be billed for the damage.

I also showed them how the plate the tires sit on would barely budge. I could hardly move it with my foot. I think since it wasn't pivoting freely with the truck my tires took the brunt of it.

It took a moment to get the Ranger off of the dolly this morning. I was able to steer it to unload it and park it. I just had to move it back and forth as I turned the wheel to get the tires to straighten up before I could back it off of the dolly. Still wondering if it damaged anything or how bad I damaged the splines on the steering wheel trying to turn it so hard they clicked and skipped. @JohnnyO complained that the steering wheel was 120 degrees out. It might only be 110 degrees now.

I'm so glad to be home and not dragging this around anymore.

Thanks again to everyone that showed up.

Also, I have more TRS event stickers if anyone wants any.

 

[Jim Oaks]

If this was your first TRS event, don't forget to go to:

Account details | The Ranger Station

And check the box next to 'Have You Attended An 'Official' TRS Event?' to get the 'TRS Event Participant' banner under your name.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Can we come up with enough info and details to do a story about this event?

Anyone have any more photos to share??

I'm surprised there isn't more photos.

 

[Snoranger]

I have a bunch I took with my real camera. I’ll have to go through them.

 

[JohnnyO]

I'm Home:

No problem. Happy to help.
Saw a ratchet strap pry bar thing at a vendor tent but didn't think to buy it. Just now I got to wondering if maybe they were too tight and the ratchets couldn't hold the tension. Just a thought.
Maybe one of those old contraptions that locks the steering wheel to the brake pedal, if they still make them, would hold the wheels straight.
Maybe catch you next year. We're automatically in.

 

[Curious Hound]

Strange things with that tow dolly. It’s interesting that I didn’t experience any issues with the straps coming loose or off. I did notice the wheels would turn a little bit, periodically. But not as bad as what you show. I was paranoid about checking that thing in my mirrors often. When we met Wednesday, you mentioned that U-Haul said the steering wheel should be locked with the wheels straight ahead. That would have helped. But we couldn’t do that without adjusting your tie rod sleeves to straighten the wheel. Not something I wanted to do in the rain at midnight. Overall, it towed well for me.

You can bring stickers next month for more people to get some.

I have a decent number of pictures. I can send you a bunch or put them in Google Drive to share for a forum article. I’m going to do a video with video clips and slide show. That will be linked here on the forum. But it may take me another week or so. I’m busy preparing for and celebrating Mom’s 80th birthday this weekend.

 

[sgtsandman]

I’m glad you made it home ok.

I took a couple extra stickers to put on the 2019 next to the “Return of the Ranger” stickers that are already on it. I want to give a shout out to whoever does your stickers for you. They have held up very well on both trucks with no fading or peeling.

As far as the pictures, that is going to be all Ericphoto and Snoranger. I’m not a picture taker. Other than ones with who was there when I first showed up and the one of Rick’s truck, I took nothing.

I’m glad the contribution I made went to the costs. Where it went didn’t matter.

 

[svtcards]

Show how many rangers actually made the show? Anyone have a count on that?

 

[Curious Hound]

Show how many rangers actually made the show? Anyone have a count on that?

If you're asking about those registered with TRS;

I count 12 at our tent area plus TRS-2 in the featured vehicles building. Also, my Ranger was registered but not present. Late afternoons and on Sunday I substituted my F250 beast. So that's 13 TRS Rangers officially present.

Rangerfabworks stopped by the tent for a few minutes. But didn't park a Ranger with us. I also heard something about Plumcrazy showing up. But I didn't see him and he didn't bring a Ranger to our area t, that I'm aware of.

There were many other Rangers at the show. I have no idea how many.

 

[97RangerXLT]

I would be interested in a sticker...

Glad you made it home safe Jim. not sure what a flat bed trailer rental would be, but that might be the best way to cart TRS2 to events unless it puts the tow capacity over limit on TRS3...
Sounds like you need to recruit a driver

AJ

 

[PlumCrazy]

If you're asking about those registered with TRS;

I count 12 at our tent area plus TRS-2 in the featured vehicles building. Also, my Ranger was registered but not present. Late afternoons and on Sunday I substituted my F250 beast. So that's 13 TRS Rangers officially present.

Rangerfabworks stopped by the tent for a few minutes. But didn't park a Ranger with us. I also heard something about Plumcrazy showing up. But I didn't see him and he didn't bring a Ranger to our area t, that I'm aware of.

There were many other Rangers at the show. I have no idea how many.

I was there and registered with TRS (hoping to help get a free tent), but I was parked with the OBS Addicts on the main drag by the only tree on the grounds. I had the little Portofino Blue Ranger

 

[sgtsandman]

I was there and registered with TRS (hoping to help get a free tent), but I was parked with the OBS Addicts on the main drag by the only tree on the grounds. I had the little Portofino Blue Ranger

We probably saw it and didn’t make the connection.

 

[JohnnyO]

Dang, he even got the truck intake to fit...

Guy said he ‘froads it too, it’s not a show queen.

 

[Curious Hound]

Can we come up with enough info and details to do a story about this event?

Anyone have any more photos to share??

I'm surprised there isn't more photos.

Micro SD card is in the mail. I'll email you comments for a bunch of the pictures on it.

 

[Snoranger]

Can we come up with enough info and details to do a story about this event?

Anyone have any more photos to share??

I'm surprised there isn't more photos.

I added an album called Carlisle 2023 and posted 40 pics or so. I have about 250, but they’re mostly duplicates of what I already posted. (I had my camera on burst and it just keeps taking pics until you release the button.)