AmyH wrote:I probably would feel better if I drove down there with someone from this area. Then if something happened along the way I would have extra hands to help out. I would like to make the drive in one day if possible, so if anyone knows of someone heading down there from Washington that plans to make it down there in one day let me know.
I guess I am getting a bit of the butterflies anticipating the completion of the tear and already worrying about damaging it somehow.
Tag-teaming is a nice precaution on any roadtrip, hopefully you can hook up with someone. Sure wish I was just 10 hours from that gathering.
I had never towed anything before pulling my teardrop to the paint shop last fall from the teardrop's storage facility in the mountains. Piece of cake. Next I was really nervous about having to drive it into the city (Washington, D.C.) to have it inspected and licensed. Piece of cake.
Then I got even more nervous when faced for the first time pulling it on a narrow, curvy road (Shenandoah N.P.'s Skyline Drive). Surprisingly easy (just take the corners a tad wider).
Afterward I laughed at the realization of my trepidation over pulling a tiny trailer while other folks were cheerfully barreling down the road in humongous RVs and pulling massive trailers.
And it has occurred to me that my safety margin has greatly increased pulling the trailer because I drive 60-65mph while towing and 80-85mph when not towing. Probably makes the mpg a wash, too.
You're going to do great with that TD.
Please make sure you know exactly how to hook it up to your car. When I picked my TD up at the paint shop, the painter informed me that I needed a "coupler lock" to keep the coupler from coming off the hitch ball if I hit a bump. Well, I had bought one but didn't know where it went and it was in my glove compartment. He also showed me how to properly attach the safety chains (cross them).
My top safety priority now after adding some stuff to my TD is making sure I've got the tongue weight safely calibrated before towing it again. Have never weighed it and suspect it's too heavy but I know for darn sure I can't let it be too light because that is very dangerous.
It's been a learning experience, for sure. Thankfully, none of the lessons have yet been learned the hard way.
Which brings to mind an important question: Are you going to have your teardrop insured for collision?
by Eunice » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:33 pm 
Very nice Eunice! It will be a breeze towing your Tear. Congrats!
(and jealous).
