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Well, I pick up the trailer tomorrow, and begin packing it. On Sunday I finish packing (although I think all of it will be done tomorrow ) and begin cleaning the place up so I can get my deposit back.
I move out on Sunday afternoon, I think. My friend Pete will be helping me pack, and will be making the trip with me as well. That way we can drive further, and hopefully make the trip in 2 days rather than 3. We are pulling a fairly heavy trailer though so our speed will be rather slower than JenniK's car was...we are not suppose to exceed 45 mph, but I have towed a trailer like this before and averaged about 55, so that is probably about what we will be doing.
I fixed the cars exhaust today, by myself..I took two soup cans and I put one of them inside the catalytic converter and pipe (after I used tin snips to cut away the rotted pipe) and then another on the outside of both, and used clamping strips on the outside to crimp the can tight around the pipe and converter. I then used muffler tape to seal the ends, and to seal the outer tin I had clamped. I tried to use more muffler tape on the tailpipe, but there wasn't enough room...a very rusty clamp was too close, and it won't stay. I have used Liquid Wrench on the clamp tonight, and if I can get it off I will, then use another can and clamp to "fix" it...
But what a difference already! I can hear, and no one stares when I drive by them.
Honestly, while I have always been able to figure out mechanical stuff, I was never the guy who liked to fix cars myself. I am closterphobic, and that makes it tough, and I don't like getting really dirty. Not that I completely shy away fro dirt...I love camping, and have built a lot of things, from sheds to siding my families cottage...but those were things I HAD to do, not things I CHOSE to do.
So I am quite proud of myself today.
Too bad I can't get the electrical grounded properly....All my lights work fine now, until I turn on my headlights of running lights. Then just the front turn signals work, which means it isn't properly grounded.
Funny part of this is that while I checked every single place in town for a "quick-connect" harness, where I could just plug it into the light harness and have it work, I didn't check with U-Haul, where I got the trailer. I remembered my dad talking about how they always tried to screw him, so I didn't ask...and proceeded to mess up the lights pretty bad.
And U-Haul had the only connector in town for a 1990 Ranger. For $15.
I had to cut the harness all the way off of both sides, and wired everything together, and it all works by the ground. At the advice of someone else I tied all 4 of the grounds together, then attached it to the frame of the truck, but it isn't right.
Tomorrow I will unhook them all and try to ground then separately, I guess...but U-Haul said I was good to go as I am driving during the day, and everything works well with the lights off.
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