New Trailer!

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DuroBoat

Well-Known Member
Just got a new Tuff Trailer from Sherwood - the guys there were good to deal with… I towed it home from Sidney to Esquimalt and when I was backing it into my driveway, the trailer popped off the ball, munched my bumper a bit and got jammed under the truck. Got it apart and realized my old trailer ball is 2” and new trailer is 2 5/16. No one checked before I left.. no serious damage done but hours wasted sorting it out and dent in my bumper… imagine if this happened when I was towing it home! (I did take the back roads home). I’m not going after Sherwood as we all missed it, but In your opinion, hypothetically who would have been responsible if there was an accident? Sherwood helped me hook up the trailer and We both double checked the trailer before I left..
 

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Glad you got her home safe! Sherwood should have a checklist for every trailer and boat they sell, that the salesperson goes through with the new owner. It should include the size of the ball, the strength of the ball and hitch, as well as the pin that goes in after the ball latch is down, lights work, brake controller works....... In my opinion, it was a perfect time to upsell you on a bigger hitch and ball. Checklist are great for safety but also selling more stuff.
 
Lotta different size balls out there. I think everyone assumed on this one. Sherwood is generally very good and cautious.
 
Finally in my driveway.. I’m gonna have a beer and buy a lottery ticket! Props to the Esquimalt firehall guys who stopped traffic and helped me untangle the trailer and Sherwood Marine who were good to deal with throughout
 

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DuroBoat said:
Just got a new Tuff Trailer from Sherwood - the guys there were good to deal with… I towed it home from Sidney to Esquimalt and when I was backing it into my driveway, the trailer popped off the ball, munched my bumper a bit and got jammed under the truck. Got it apart and realized my old trailer ball is 2” and new trailer is 2 5/16. No one checked before I left.. no serious damage done but hours wasted sorting it out and dent in my bumper… imagine if this happened when I was towing it home! (I did take the back roads home). I’m not going after Sherwood as we all missed it, but In your opinion, hypothetically who would have been responsible if there was an accident? Sherwood helped me hook up the trailer and We both double checked the trailer before I left..
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I’d say it’s on Sherwood to make sure you have the right configuration. They are the pros that sell the trailer and set them up for the boat. They should know what ball is required for that trailer. This is what they do for a living. It’s up to them to make sure it’s set up properly and safely.
 
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I'll start by saying glad it wasn't worse than that as it certainly could have been, but that's why you use safety chains and a brakeaway system. Who connected the trailer to your truck, like actually lowered it down on the ball? Whoever that was i'm surprised it wasn't noticed right away as you can tell when you have a 2" ball in a larger coupler. Yes it would have been nice if they noticed but at the end of the day its your tow vehicle and you end up being responsible for whatever you're towing or hauling. Just like it would be your responsibility to make sure you have a proper brake controller in your vehicle to use with said trailer. Just my opinion, glad it wasn't worse.
 
I’d say it’s on the truck owner too unfortunately. But could have been much worse so there’s that.
Years ago heading up north hunting a buddy was towing my flat deck with our 4 atvs on it. Leaving the Tsawassen terminal it popped off his hitch. ( his 2” ball didn’t fit the same as my 2” ball ) 40?kmh there was a much better outcome than potentially 110kmh on the freeway.
We dodged a bullet as I think you did on your boat trailer.
 
Driver is respond for their load. This really is unfortunate and if you haven’t called them to let them know please make sure you do. This should have been spotted when connection was made. I’m sure the spec’s they gave you when quoting the trailer would have the hitch size in it as well.
Very fortunate for everyone nothing major happened
 
The marine shop I deal with in Courtenay does not hook your trailer to your truck. That is the responsibility of the owner. But that being said , I would have been extremely pizzed if it was my brand new trailer...... Sherwood owes you . Ask them what they will do to compensate.
 
Bryan Allen said:
The marine shop I deal with in Courtenay does not hook your trailer to your truck. That is the responsibility of the owner. But that being said , I would have been extremely pizzed if it was my brand new trailer...... Sherwood owes you . Ask them what they will do to compensate.
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Lol... One minute is his responsibility.. the next Sherwood owes him?? Which one is it??
 
JohnS said:
Lol... One minute is his responsibility.. the next Sherwood owes him?? Which one is it??
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It should be Sherwood’s responsibility to advise him of the required ball size. He’s probably been using the same ball size for years and years and didn’t even consider it could or might be different. Sherwood are the pros and should advise the customer. Not all customers are fully versed in ball sizes.
 
I had a 1st service done at Breakers a while ago on main. They are very good usually. But they did the service and didn't check everything. The main motor had at time less than 50hrs on it, and they forgot to tighten the lower drain screw after leg oil change.

Imagine my surprise after a long run to Esperenza and back to find murky leg oil dripping from a loose lower leg drain screw. They fixed everything/made thing right and drained everything but my point is I really should have checked everything before I left for trip.

Now I always check things when boat is serviced. You sort of have to. Same thing really applies here....
 
SpringVelocity said:
I had a 1st service done at Breakers a while ago on main. They are very good usually. But they did the service and didn't check everything. The main motor had at time less than 50hrs on it, and they forgot to tighten the lower drain screw after leg oil change.

Imagine my surprise after a long run to Esperenza and back to find murky leg oil dripping from a loose lower leg drain screw. They fixed everything/made thing right and drained everything but my point is I really should have checked everything before I left for trip.

Now I always check things when boat is serviced. You sort of have to. Same thing really applies here....
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That’s true to a certain degree but where does the customers mechanical proficiency and knowledge come into play. There are a number of reasons you hire professionals to do jobs.
 
MRWood said:
That’s true to a certain degree but where does the customers mechanical proficiency and knowledge come into play. There are a number of reasons you hire professionals to do jobs.
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MRWood said:
That’s true to a certain degree but where does the customers mechanical proficiency and knowledge come into play. There are a number of reasons you hire professionals to do jobs.
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In this situation obviously would have been good if they had have caught it, but I bet you know where. In the invoice it said that you hired them to hook up your trailer. You didn't hire them as a professional to hook up the trailer. It would make sense if they had a checklist and caught this. But in this situation not their fault.
 
No matter what, in the eye’s of DOT if you were in an accident on the way home, it is the driver who is held responsible. I’m sorry but the driver should have checked it. I never let anyone attach a trailer to a truck I am driving without checking it 100%.
 
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