Wheel of Misfortune
So, there I was, pootling along the M4, with a car full of family and a trailer full of Medieval tent and all the other paraphenalia required for a weekend’s trading at Firejoust, when there is a sudden clunk and shudder. I glance in the wing mirror to see my trailer wheel bouncing across three lanes of motorway into the fast lane.
Those of you who follow this blog will, no doubt, be aware of my recent trials and tribulations with my former trailer. (If not, see the three Travails in Essex posts!). In the aftermath, I decided the best course of action was to re-mount that particular horse and bought a brand new 8ft x 4ft trailer and took it on its successful maiden voyage to Tewkesbury last month. Unfortunately, it appears that this was, in fact, a single use trailer since it only made it the 30 miles as far as the A34 junction before the wheel fell off on its second trip!
I mean, how bizarre is that? Not content with plaguing me with a string of flats and blowouts, the Universe, in its wisdom, decided that it wasn’t going to let me outwit it with my shiny new trailer (complete with spare wheel), by causing the entire wheel assembly to come away from the axle! WTF????!!!!
So we spent another merry day on the hard shoulder, watching the traffic zoom past while awaiting the AA*. On the plus side, the trailer decided to commit suicide not far from where I bought it, so (eventually) we dropped it back with the maker and got a full refund. Thames Valley Police kindly retrieved the errant wheel from the central reservation, so that went back too and VOSA, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, will be paying a visit, as there could very easily have been a serious accident.
Car crammed to the rafters with all the essentials (left the rest in the trailer to be collected this week), we continued on our way to Wales, arriving a mere 10 hours after setting off. Just as well we left early really or I think I would have just given up and gone home.
*Top Tip: if you’re going to break down, don’t do it on a Friday during the holiday season because that’s when everyone else does.
I am now trying to work out which member of my family has the Jonah gene, though, since these things only seem to happen when they all come along.
You’re so lucky that it wasn’t more serious, Ania. It will be interesting to see what the report is into the roadworthiness of the vehicle. You didn’t overload its weight limits did you? *eyes the three tons of fayre paraphernalia on hard shoulder* 🙂
Glad you were all ok.
Ali xxx
The tent is pretty heavy, but half of it was in the car anyway and the rest was mostly sleeping bags and stuff, so I don’t think it was overloaded. Either way, it was very apparent that the thing had just not been properly welded on.
The tent is pretty heavy, but half of it was in the car anyway and the rest was mostly sleeping bags and stuff, so I don’t think it was overloaded. Either way, it was very apparent that the thing had just not been properly welded on.If you look at thw wheel pic, the little line of silver on the right is the extent of the welding, so about a quarter of the area that should have been welded to the axle. I’m actually surprised it made it to Tewkes and back.
VOSA will be all over the trailer people ….Glad you’re all OK 🙂
Not half as glad as I am – when I think of what could have happened…to us, to other road users…I think we got off incredibly lightly.
Ania –
Ali is right – you were blessed that no harm came to you or your family, and that another car (or cars!) did not hit the errant wheel! I am sure that the dealership is now sitting up and taking notice!
Hesitant to even ask what you are contemplating replacing this with! 😉
Blessings,
Bonnie
Crikey, the Universe really is socking it to you, trailer-wise. Glad you are all well, and hope the rest of the weekend was a success – Firejoust sounds like fun 🙂
I have one more significant event that the family are coming to this year. They will be taking the train. I’m not even going to contemplate getting another trailer this year.
Trailers and tribulations.
Had me in stitches – sorry. And thought my holidays were cursed… Read all posts and wow, never knew what a good writer you were. Fantastic!