Won a MEP-803A with trailer at auction - but how long will it take to get home?

[steelydan]

Hi guys,

Nope, I wasn't in a big hurry. I wanted to optimize the time I had - only two days. My theory was such: travel down on Sunday since it's already a "day off", sleep in hotel so I can get up fresh and early, get to the pickup spot, do inspection, and start driving before I hit work-day traffic in the cities. My pickup truck is fairly new and I've never taken it on a long trip before this one, so I was considering this a shake-out trip for it. I've also never towed anything before. I also didn't know the condition of the trailer/tires (I just had pics - no onsite inspection). All that together, it was a bit nerve racking until everything settled down and I could enjoy the trip. It was beautiful driving through PA - I loved the cows, horses, mountains, etc.
I prayed before I left, I prayed in the hotel, and I prayed on the way back. I only saw Murphy in NYC - he had my GPS give me wrong directions, put up confusing road signs, and hiked tolls so I hit the last one with 2 dollars left in my pocket - not knowing if there were more tolls. Luckily, someone who outranks Murph was also watching over me.

 

[steelydan]

Regarding writing up my experience: what's the best way to do that, another post on this thread or a brand new thread?

 

[JRM]

I too only had my 2 day weekend to drive the 2,500 miles round trip from northern Oregon down to Barstow! I drove 85-90 empty down I5 and made awesome time, except the small fuel tank kept stopping me. On the way home I kept it at 60 the entire way home until I got close enough for a friends flatbed rescue if I blew out a tire then I hammered down on the rural parts of my trip Quick recap of my trip:
1. had 4 I pad's refreshing a huge auction while at work with units going up every 2 minutes
2. manager hit bid now on one that only had a few seconds left, he won it for me-
3. Manager looks at me and says umm, its really far away and I cannot give you extra days off so soon (favoritism) union rules
4. He looks at me and says you can leave at 4 Friday
5. Pack the truck full of emergency stuff right up to a floor jack and air tools + compressor, leave work in Portland Oregon at 4pm
6. Cat nap at Shasta lake cali at midnight
7. call yard when I'm 200 miles out, GPS says arrival at 455pm, hammer down!
8. arrive at 440PM due to the highway packed full of slow busses going from Bakersfield to Vegas
9. has me checked out by 450pm and I pull outside of gate to fully hookup and let him go home.
10. Enjoyable drive home, pulled like a dream even tracked threw the drive threw without any flowerbed action.
* pulled it threw one super windy sandstorm in Barstow, several heavy rainstorms with inches of standing water on I5 and one blizzard on the Siskiyou pass!

 

[steelydan]

I too only had my 2 day weekend to drive the 2,500 miles round trip from northern Oregon down to Barstow! I drove 85-90 empty down I5 and made awesome time, except the small fuel tank kept stopping me. On the way home I kept it at 60 the entire way home until I got close enough for a friends flatbed rescue if I blew out a tire then I hammered down on the rural parts of my trip Quick recap of my trip:
1. had 4 I pad's refreshing a huge auction while at work with units going up every 2 minutes
2. manager hit bid now on one that only had a few seconds left, he won it for me-
3. Manager looks at me and says umm, its really far away and I cannot give you extra days off so soon (favoritism) union rules
4. He looks at me and says you can leave at 4 Friday
5. Pack the truck full of emergency stuff right up to a floor jack and air tools + compressor, leave work in Portland Oregon at 4pm
6. Cat nap at Shasta lake cali at midnight
7. call yard when I'm 200 miles out, GPS says arrival at 455pm, hammer down!
8. arrive at 440PM due to the highway packed full of slow busses going from Bakersfield to Vegas
9. has me checked out by 450pm and I pull outside of gate to fully hookup and let him go home.
10. Enjoyable drive home, pulled like a dream even tracked threw the drive threw without any flowerbed action.
* pulled it threw one super windy sandstorm in Barstow, several heavy rainstorms with inches of standing water on I5 and one blizzard on the Siskiyou pass!

Sounds like an awesome trip!

 

[Firebrand]

You know what they say, 'pictures or it didn't happen!'

That sure does sound like an epic trip! Shoulda bought a lottery ticket after that kind of luck over that many miles.