What a week of fishing I had: I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and boat on behind it. For a week of fishing in South Dakota. It's a seven hour drive to Francis Case Lake...

mbrillhart1957 Loc: Southeast Wyoming

I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and boat on behind it. For a week of fishing in South Dakota. It's a seven hour drive to Francis Case Lake from my home here in Wyoming. Ten miles into my trip a fellow motorist passed me. She pointed out to me something was wrong. So I pulled over to see what was wrong. Since I can't see my boat behind the camper when towing. I figured something was about to blow out. Got back there and my boat was MISSING. As I was driving the 5 miles back to find it. I was thinking my fall fishing was over before it started. I was also thinking "Now I can get that boat I really want". Found the boat. It was just sitting along the side of the road like it had been left there. After I got it ready to hook backup to the camper. My vehicle would not start. My dash was doing all kinds of flashing and dinging. Oh this just gets better and better I thought. I get out my tester and checked the battery. It's dead. I called a wrecker. Got a jump and off I go. I really needed to know why my battery went dead but, my fishing desire overrode that thought. I just won't shut the motor off until I get there. Fifty miles from the lake something feels wrong and I was having a hard time maintaining my speed. Motor sounds ok. Maybe a flat tire? I pull over and check things out. There is smoke coming from the front tire on the camper. I'm thinking a bearing went bad. I get back in to pull up the road where I can look at it better. I look down at my brake controller and has activated the brakes on its own. I quickly unhook it and away I go. I think that is what drained my battery earlier. No more problems the rest of trip.
As far as the fishing went it was slow at best. My first morning I caught a small smallmouth a drum and a walleye. Caught the walleye in 2ft if water on a ned rig. Go figure! It was tasty! I was there for the smallmouth. For the next 3 days I caught just a few bass. Talked to the guys fishing for walleye and was just as bad for them. Decided to go home early.
After I got back home decided to go fish my home lake. I caught more fish the first hour than I did on my trip in 4 days. Went back the next morning and did even better. Caught four 15" smallmouth in a row at one point.
After driving 422 miles with many problems and burning over 100 gallons of gas plus camping fees. I come home drive 15 miles and do real good.
Now is that not "FISHING".
The fact is I would do it all "AGAIN".

.

Jarheadfishnfool Loc: Woodlake/Tulare ,Ca.

mbrillhart1957 wrote:

I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and boat on behind it. For a week of fishing in South Dakota. It's a seven hour drive to Francis Case Lake from my home here in Wyoming. Ten miles into my trip a fellow motorist passed me. She pointed out to me something was wrong. So I pulled over to see what was wrong. Since I can't see my boat behind the camper when towing. I figured something was about to blow out. Got back there and my boat was MISSING. As I was driving the 5 miles back to find it. I was thinking my fall fishing was over before it started. I was also thinking "Now I can get that boat I really want". Found the boat. It was just sitting along the side of the road like it had been left there. After I got it ready to hook backup to the camper. My vehicle would not start. My dash was doing all kinds of flashing and dinging. Oh this just gets better and better I thought. I get out my tester and checked the battery. It's dead. I called a wrecker. Got a jump and off I go. I really needed to know why my battery went dead but, my fishing desire overrode that thought. I just won't shut the motor off until I get there. Fifty miles from the lake something feels wrong and I was having a hard time maintaining my speed. Motor sounds ok. Maybe a flat tire? I pull over and check things out. There is smoke coming from the front tire on the camper. I'm thinking a bearing went bad. I get back in to pull up the road where I can look at it better. I look down at my brake controller and has activated the brakes on its own. I quickly unhook it and away I go. I think that is what drained my battery earlier. No more problems the rest of trip.
As far as the fishing went it was slow at best. My first morning I caught a small smallmouth a drum and a walleye. Caught the walleye in 2ft if water on a ned rig. Go figure! It was tasty! I was there for the smallmouth. For the next 3 days I caught just a few bass. Talked to the guys fishing for walleye and was just as bad for them. Decided to go home early.
After I got back home decided to go fish my home lake. I caught more fish the first hour than I did on my trip in 4 days. Went back the next morning and did even better. Caught four 15" smallmouth in a row at one point.
After driving 422 miles with many problems and burning over 100 gallons of gas plus camping fees. I come home drive 15 miles and do real good.
Now is that not "FISHING".
The fact is I would do it all "AGAIN".

.

I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and ... (show quote)

Thanks for sharing your story M, wow amazing things seems to happen to us fisherman, but you persevered !! Amazing that your boat was intact on trailer ! Glad you caught some fish and stayed safe,,

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Right now...Old Testament "Job" (Jobe) is looking down and admiring your patience and perseverance...and he just gave you a big "thumbs up"! Your experience is like the "Wizard of Oz" syndrome...meaning "sometimes there's no place like home!"

Glad that your road delays and hiccups became solvable and at least you reached your destination to give it a try as far as fishing goes. Also wonderful to hear of the fabulous fishing report from what was awaiting you right back at home!

Just out of curiosity, is your brake controller one of those tongue mounted piston/hydraulic types with a mechanical mechanism involved to trigger it via rearward momentum? My salmon boat trailer has one of those, and after having some trailer wheel lock up issues this past Spring I discovered that it needs periodic lubrication so that it does not oxidize and get stuck. I used some spark plug "anti-seize" on it and things went back to normal. Seems like there are so many things to do and remember besides just catching fish!

mbrillhart1957 Loc: Southeast Wyoming

No it is not. It's in the cab. Suppose to be a plug and play. May need to have it looked at by a pro.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Could also have been a breakaway switch like on a boat. My trailer has a cable attached to the truck. If the trailer breaks loose it pulls the switch and activates the brake on the trailer. Had it vibrate loose one time and believe me, that trailer stops PDQ.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

mbrillhart1957 wrote:

I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and boat on behind it. For a week of fishing in South Dakota. It's a seven hour drive to Francis Case Lake from my home here in Wyoming. Ten miles into my trip a fellow motorist passed me. She pointed out to me something was wrong. So I pulled over to see what was wrong. Since I can't see my boat behind the camper when towing. I figured something was about to blow out. Got back there and my boat was MISSING. As I was driving the 5 miles back to find it. I was thinking my fall fishing was over before it started. I was also thinking "Now I can get that boat I really want". Found the boat. It was just sitting along the side of the road like it had been left there. After I got it ready to hook backup to the camper. My vehicle would not start. My dash was doing all kinds of flashing and dinging. Oh this just gets better and better I thought. I get out my tester and checked the battery. It's dead. I called a wrecker. Got a jump and off I go. I really needed to know why my battery went dead but, my fishing desire overrode that thought. I just won't shut the motor off until I get there. Fifty miles from the lake something feels wrong and I was having a hard time maintaining my speed. Motor sounds ok. Maybe a flat tire? I pull over and check things out. There is smoke coming from the front tire on the camper. I'm thinking a bearing went bad. I get back in to pull up the road where I can look at it better. I look down at my brake controller and has activated the brakes on its own. I quickly unhook it and away I go. I think that is what drained my battery earlier. No more problems the rest of trip.
As far as the fishing went it was slow at best. My first morning I caught a small smallmouth a drum and a walleye. Caught the walleye in 2ft if water on a ned rig. Go figure! It was tasty! I was there for the smallmouth. For the next 3 days I caught just a few bass. Talked to the guys fishing for walleye and was just as bad for them. Decided to go home early.
After I got back home decided to go fish my home lake. I caught more fish the first hour than I did on my trip in 4 days. Went back the next morning and did even better. Caught four 15" smallmouth in a row at one point.
After driving 422 miles with many problems and burning over 100 gallons of gas plus camping fees. I come home drive 15 miles and do real good.
Now is that not "FISHING".
The fact is I would do it all "AGAIN".

.

I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and ... (show quote)

Wow Mike, St Christopher was definitely riding with you! Sorry the trip was disappointing, but glad the home front fishing helped make up for it. I've never towed a tandem setup, but it would drive me crazy not being able to see the 2nd trailer all that way.Thanks for the pictures.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

I've seen more than one brake controller malfunction. I'm glad neither of my trailers have brakes. Can be a pain to keep properly adjusted

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

What a trip! Certainly glad the boat was okay and didn’t cause any other issues. Thanks for sharing!

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Wow what a trip man. glad your boat was ok. I've never tried pulling two trailers at once I bet that's tricky to back lol. Good to hear everything worked out ok 😁👍

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

I’m sure glad that it all turned out ok in the end but, why did your boat come uncoupled and where were your safety chains. Curious minds want to know…they won’t let us pull doubles here in Washington.Otherwise I definitely would…🐟on

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

mbrillhart1957 wrote:

No it is not. It's in the cab. Suppose to be a plug and play. May need to have it looked at by a pro.

Ah yes....I have had that style too. I believe that the electronics aspect "talks" to the trailer via the round 7 plug in to activate things as needed.

I was noticing how your boat just missed that solo little highway mile marker post too! Divine intervention for sure!

The highway looks rather desolate, so that was great to have a fellow motorist draw your attention to the missing boat!

Billbeck Loc: Hull, Massachusetts

I am so glad you got your boat back. I remember in 1958 my father, brother and I were on our way to Twin Lakes in CT. This was when it was pristine, clean, and held abundant fish. It was a long drive back then. The boat trailer got a flat tire. Jacked the trailer up and removed the tire, no spare. Father told us to stay with the boat while he went and fixed the flat and bought a spare. It was just dawn. I was 7, my brother was nine. Trust me, we loved fishing and that boat so much had anyone stopped to take it blood would have been spilled. Fortunately, not one car drove by and two hours later we were back on the road. We three caught our limit and had fish for supper two days in a row (7 siblings) I used to eat the eyeballs.

mbrillhart1957 Loc: Southeast Wyoming

I didn't get it latched good. Operator error! The safety chains did not hold. It was kind of funny looking. Pigtail and chains hanging off the back of camper and no boat.

Jeremy Loc: America

mbrillhart1957 wrote:

I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and boat on behind it. For a week of fishing in South Dakota. It's a seven hour drive to Francis Case Lake from my home here in Wyoming. Ten miles into my trip a fellow motorist passed me. She pointed out to me something was wrong. So I pulled over to see what was wrong. Since I can't see my boat behind the camper when towing. I figured something was about to blow out. Got back there and my boat was MISSING. As I was driving the 5 miles back to find it. I was thinking my fall fishing was over before it started. I was also thinking "Now I can get that boat I really want". Found the boat. It was just sitting along the side of the road like it had been left there. After I got it ready to hook backup to the camper. My vehicle would not start. My dash was doing all kinds of flashing and dinging. Oh this just gets better and better I thought. I get out my tester and checked the battery. It's dead. I called a wrecker. Got a jump and off I go. I really needed to know why my battery went dead but, my fishing desire overrode that thought. I just won't shut the motor off until I get there. Fifty miles from the lake something feels wrong and I was having a hard time maintaining my speed. Motor sounds ok. Maybe a flat tire? I pull over and check things out. There is smoke coming from the front tire on the camper. I'm thinking a bearing went bad. I get back in to pull up the road where I can look at it better. I look down at my brake controller and has activated the brakes on its own. I quickly unhook it and away I go. I think that is what drained my battery earlier. No more problems the rest of trip.
As far as the fishing went it was slow at best. My first morning I caught a small smallmouth a drum and a walleye. Caught the walleye in 2ft if water on a ned rig. Go figure! It was tasty! I was there for the smallmouth. For the next 3 days I caught just a few bass. Talked to the guys fishing for walleye and was just as bad for them. Decided to go home early.
After I got back home decided to go fish my home lake. I caught more fish the first hour than I did on my trip in 4 days. Went back the next morning and did even better. Caught four 15" smallmouth in a row at one point.
After driving 422 miles with many problems and burning over 100 gallons of gas plus camping fees. I come home drive 15 miles and do real good.
Now is that not "FISHING".
The fact is I would do it all "AGAIN".

.

I left home October 2ed towing my 29ft camper and ... (show quote)

The crown of the road was a good thing. If not it may of went other direction. Sounds like you got lucky.

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

mbrillhart1957 wrote:

I didn't get it latched good. Operator error! The safety chains did not hold. It was kind of funny looking. Pigtail and chains hanging off the back of camper and no boat.

Wow!!! I guess those safety chains weren’t so safe after all. Check, Check, double check…🐟on