2TR
08-31-2011, 06:55 PM
I would like to thank the Altamont Police dept. for all the help they provided Sunday night approx 1:00am.
While towing back from LOTO approx 12:30/1am I just could not keep my eyes open any longer so I asked our engine builder to drive for a little while. We pulled off I-70 some place just outside of St. Louis a few miles or so into IL. to fill up and swap drivers, but both gas stations were closed so we figured we will just do a quick driver swap and move on.
While walking back around the rig I seen our rear bumper was broken.. yes BROKEN. It was held on by only 1 weld. The trailer hitch was welded to the bumper and the frame. The frame welds broke placing ALL THE WEIGHT on the bumper folding the bumper "oil canning it" with only 4 inch welds holding it on. Keep in mind the step bumper was bent down just 6 inchs above the ground.
While "Muther*fu**ing" the previous welder Office Sean Aaron of the Altamont police dept pulled in to see what this rig was doing or if we needed help. After we informed him of our predicament he got on his cell phone and started calling local welders in this 2500 person town. Now keep in mind this is Sunday night (Monday morning) 12:30/1:00am. After a couple calls he was able to wake a local welder that said he would be happy to come out at 7:00am and fix the trailer up. So we figured we would bunk in for the night.
We hoped the guy would show up early and to make our stop as painless as possible we started bending the bumper back into place with a bottle jack, hammer and large 4x4 we found next to the gas station.. after 15/20min it looked perfect with only welds needed. So we made our beds and got ready for some sleep.
Well just a few minutes later Officer Aaron can back saying he found a welder inside a pole barn not to far down the road if we would like to use it. Gary being a welder was more than OK with that.
Well we loaded up and left the boat at the station.. a few miles down the road we pulled up at a pole/storage barn owned by the Fire Chief Jon Becker who already had everything out and set up.
The bumper was far worse than we thought under good light so it took Gary a couple hours to weld her back together. We felt bad it was taking to long but Jon and Sean never complained or looked upset we were keeping them from there sleep.
Once finished we offered Jon some money for power used, rods used and for crawling out of bed to help a couple strangers that he did not know, but he refused and saying KARMA will pay him back some day. Officer Aaron being on duty would not (nor could he) accept money so we gave them both PFE Shirts, Posters, Stickers and any other swag we could find.
I cant thank Officer Sean A. Aaron and Fire Chief Jon Becker enough for all you did. You both went so far above and beyond the call of duty to help a few strangers get back on the road.
Thanks Guys, you did your town and profession proud.
While towing back from LOTO approx 12:30/1am I just could not keep my eyes open any longer so I asked our engine builder to drive for a little while. We pulled off I-70 some place just outside of St. Louis a few miles or so into IL. to fill up and swap drivers, but both gas stations were closed so we figured we will just do a quick driver swap and move on.
While walking back around the rig I seen our rear bumper was broken.. yes BROKEN. It was held on by only 1 weld. The trailer hitch was welded to the bumper and the frame. The frame welds broke placing ALL THE WEIGHT on the bumper folding the bumper "oil canning it" with only 4 inch welds holding it on. Keep in mind the step bumper was bent down just 6 inchs above the ground.
While "Muther*fu**ing" the previous welder Office Sean Aaron of the Altamont police dept pulled in to see what this rig was doing or if we needed help. After we informed him of our predicament he got on his cell phone and started calling local welders in this 2500 person town. Now keep in mind this is Sunday night (Monday morning) 12:30/1:00am. After a couple calls he was able to wake a local welder that said he would be happy to come out at 7:00am and fix the trailer up. So we figured we would bunk in for the night.
We hoped the guy would show up early and to make our stop as painless as possible we started bending the bumper back into place with a bottle jack, hammer and large 4x4 we found next to the gas station.. after 15/20min it looked perfect with only welds needed. So we made our beds and got ready for some sleep.
Well just a few minutes later Officer Aaron can back saying he found a welder inside a pole barn not to far down the road if we would like to use it. Gary being a welder was more than OK with that.
Well we loaded up and left the boat at the station.. a few miles down the road we pulled up at a pole/storage barn owned by the Fire Chief Jon Becker who already had everything out and set up.
The bumper was far worse than we thought under good light so it took Gary a couple hours to weld her back together. We felt bad it was taking to long but Jon and Sean never complained or looked upset we were keeping them from there sleep.
Once finished we offered Jon some money for power used, rods used and for crawling out of bed to help a couple strangers that he did not know, but he refused and saying KARMA will pay him back some day. Officer Aaron being on duty would not (nor could he) accept money so we gave them both PFE Shirts, Posters, Stickers and any other swag we could find.
I cant thank Officer Sean A. Aaron and Fire Chief Jon Becker enough for all you did. You both went so far above and beyond the call of duty to help a few strangers get back on the road.
Thanks Guys, you did your town and profession proud.