Author Topic: Leaving Pa to go to Florida this week. (Read 3570 times)

Old Fart · « **Reply #60 on:** November 07, 2011, 04:57:30 AM »

Good luck Dale.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #61 on:** November 07, 2011, 06:03:11 AM »

Not sure how much you have in your trailer but you may want to put some in the truck if it's kind of full. I towed one about like yours. I think it was a 21 ft but can't remember. Three wheel studs broke and I had to find a tire shop to limp in to and wait until they opened. Could have been bad if all of them snapped and I lost a rim. Just take it slow and everything should be fine with the truck. Those vortecs are pretty tough engines. As long as you're not in the overdrive gear like the other fellows said everything should be good. They have a good deal of torque for being a v6 so it should take that heavy camper well enough. On your rest stops you may want to check all your fluids each time before you take off again. Your asking that truck to do quite a bit more than it's used to so it doesn't hurt to keep tabs on things.
Good luck to you Dale

BTW come to think of it I towed that trailer with a 4.3 at the time. It had plenty of power. I just ran 55 to keep from putting to much stress on the old trailer but it had plenty of engine left.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #62 on:** November 07, 2011, 08:26:05 AM »

I just talked to my boss and he will be meeting the home owner tomorrow morning at 7:30 to get paid. After I get paid and do the running around here that I have to do I think I should still be able to leave here by late afternoon for Florida. Yea bugflipper thats the motor I have in my truck it's the 4.3 Vortec. It runs real well and I would not hesitate to get in my truck and drive it anywhere. The thing is the trailer weighs nearly as much as the truck and it is going to be hard on the truck but I will take my time and not push it to hard. Besides the slower I go the more gas I should save and with the price of gas the way it is thats a good thing. The trip is 840 miles and I am hopping to get by with only paying $300.00 in gas. Gas up here now costs $3.49 a gallon. Do any of you know what I can expect to pay for gas a little further south? Well take care and I will let you guys know how things are going along the way. Dale

Old Fart · « **Reply #63 on:** November 07, 2011, 09:06:06 AM »

A quick check on http://www.gasbuddy.com/ shows it to be in the $3.20 range in central FL.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #64 on:** November 07, 2011, 10:22:02 AM »

sc wae the dheapest from here to kentucky a few weeks ago

pastorp · « **Reply #65 on:** November 07, 2011, 10:52:43 AM »

Dale,

My daughter that lives in the Atlanta area reports about $3.50 there.

Regards,

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #66 on:** November 07, 2011, 10:55:35 AM »

Quote from: Old Fart on November 07, 2011, 09:06:06 AM

A quick check on http://www.gasbuddy.com/ shows it to be in the $3.20 range in central FL.

Hey thanks for the link to the site. South Carolina is by far the cheapest gas on my way there. I will make it a point to buy gas there. I have a 5 gallon can that I will be filling also at $2.83 a gallon. I have not seen gas that cheap in a very long time. Thanks Dale

45-70.gov · « **Reply #67 on:** November 09, 2011, 05:12:10 AM »

dale just called a few minuts ago
minor break down around brunswick
about an hour away

i am headed out with my gas hog to rescue him

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #68 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:21:10 AM »

Well I made it to Florida. The hitch on my truck that was connected to the frame of my truck had rusted and just outside of Florida I hit a bump and the hitch on my truck came loose. I was lucky I was only 34 miles from FL and Tim came and towed my trailer the rest of the way. I am lucky. It could of been much worse. Other than that the trip went well. Dale

Old Fart · « **Reply #69 on:** November 10, 2011, 03:32:49 AM »

Good to hear you made. Props to 45-70 for helping you out. Best luck finding work.

Tommyt · « **Reply #70 on:** November 10, 2011, 04:55:06 AM »

Quote from: DalesCarpentry on November 10, 2011, 03:21:10 AM

Tim came and towed my trailer the rest of the way. I am lucky. It could of been much worse. Other than that the trip went well. Dale

You got a good friend right there
Congrats on the move hope it works out

Tommyt

Bugflipper · « **Reply #71 on:** November 10, 2011, 04:59:49 AM »

Good to hear you made it safe.
I hope you find work quick.

dw06 · « **Reply #72 on:** January 06, 2012, 09:30:14 AM »

Just wondering how Dale is doing? Any updates?

45-70.gov · « **Reply #73 on:** January 06, 2012, 04:45:29 PM »

gone to texas

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #74 on:** January 06, 2012, 06:46:56 PM »

I spent 7 weeks in Florida with no luck finding any work. There is no construction going on there to speak of. I want to thank Tim 45-70.gov for giving me a place to park my trailer. I love Fl and really hated to leave there but there was no work to speak of. I put many applications in at many different business's and did not get one call for an interview. I have a friend out here in Texas that said he had some work so I ended up selling my travel trailer and moving out here to Willis Texas which is about 50 miles north of Huston. I sold my trailer for $1,100.00 and my buddy was able to get me into a 35 foot FEMA trailer that was left over from Katrina for $600.00. The guy sold it to me for $2000.00 and I have it set up in his trailer park. My lot rent is $250 per month and my trailer payment to him is $250 a month. Tomorrow will make it a week I have been here. The trailer needs some work which is not a problem since I'm a carpenter. The main thing it's going to need real soon is a new rubber roof because it leaks and has caused some damage to the inside of the trailer. Well take care Dale

PowPow · « **Reply #75 on:** January 06, 2012, 11:39:52 PM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on January 06, 2012, 04:45:29 PM

gone to texas

Dale, saw this post and had share this.
The wife got into genealogy research and was learning about family records.
In early Alabama, if a record of a person abruptly ended with the letters "gtt", it stood for "gone to Texas", and meant they were running from the law.
I know that's not the case with you, but seeing those particular words posted got my attention.
Of course in the early 1980's, lot of folks were "gtt" and became very successful.
I know it will work out well for you.
Hope you still have the 22-250.
I've heard that's what they use out there.

powderman · « **Reply #76 on:** January 07, 2012, 02:58:53 AM »

DALE. Great to hear from you friend, prayer sent. POWDERMAN.

Sourdough · « **Reply #77 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:13:53 AM »

I did not think you would find employment in Florida. Too many unemployed people there. Texas is a different story, work there, more than in Florida. The oil industry is in North Dakota is begging for workers. The oil industry has people in Texas looking for workers, the more they find the better for you finding work there in Texas.

Bugflipper · « **Reply #78 on:** January 08, 2012, 06:04:52 AM »

Dale, I used to do handy man work at a trailer park. There is a rubber paint called kool seal that you put on the roof for leaks. Most of the time after they moved a trailer in, the vibration from travel would cause a leak at the seams on a metal roof. 10 gallons would do an 80' single wide. I would guess a gallon would cover a tt. If you can find it, silver color will reflect and lower your utilities. It is a little more expensive but will pay for itself in about 2 months. If not, white is the only other option because black will keep your ac running constantly. Any hardware store should have it. I just mopped it on. To conserve and make the gallon have even coverage you could probably use a roller.
Good luck in Tx

ba_50 · « **Reply #79 on:** January 11, 2012, 12:26:43 AM »

Dale,

My brother has a house in SW FL and it is amazing how many houses are for sale and how many are just sitting half built where people just walked away from them. Like you found out there are no jobs, except maybe a part-time minimum wage job if you can find one.

Trying to find a place to shoot, let alone hunt close by is like trying to win the lotto. The closest range is 25 miles away and that gets old quick. Ths fishing isn't anything to brag about either. You should have good coyote hunting there.

Jobs aside, you are better off in Texas for hunting and shooting. My brother says Progressive doesn't pay up well. I know Farmers doesn't, since we have been waiting almost 2 years to settle on an accident. I have auto-owners right now but never had a claim yet. It does have a high rating on the internet list.

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #80 on:** January 11, 2012, 02:11:42 AM »

Just out of curiosity, what seemed attractive about the florida job market? I hope things go better for you in texas.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #81 on:** January 11, 2012, 02:27:13 AM »

I have always managed to find a job any where I went until I went to FL. I figured I would find something and I was wrong. Dale

Conan The Librarian · « **Reply #82 on:** January 11, 2012, 04:01:15 AM »

DalesCarpentry:

That's what I thought. Couldn't recall. I know the feeling. Things must really be bad down there when there's no market for a good carpenter. Is Texas definitely more promising? Or is it still too early to tell? In any case, best wishes for some stability and good jobs.