NATDA trip was a success for me.  I finally got to put a face to the voice of people that I've talked to over the phone for the last 5 years.  I also met lots of dealers that are just a phone call away if I need something in their area.  The trade show was fun to walk around and see all the manufacturers products that were on display.  The daily conferences and workshops were a wealth of knowledge of different aspects of the trailer business. 

Mr Truck....aka Mr Gadget had all his goodies on display and for sale.  He even got the guys at MaxBrake to setup me up with their brake control unit which we plan to install in my Dodge and have a review on later this month.  I believe Kent will also have a story about his idea to invent an additive that converts gas to diesel.    He came up with the idea on his drive back home to Colorado when he got confused at the gas fillup, first test, no bueno.  Spill the beans, you're only human!

Last but not least, finally had the time to meet the brains behind HTW and was told I monopolized their afternoon workshop.  No one else was asking or answering questions, someone had to speak up.  Good meeting you Dave and Rick and of course everyone else I ran into in Louisville.  I look forward to next years meeting and wish they would move it from city to city each year.  Vegas anyone, c'mon at least Reno for us with the itch to gamble.  Rumor has it we're stuck in Louisville for awhile???  Anyone care to comment...shoot me an email at kyle@topartrailers.com

Yep Kyle, my test is proving there are only 3 states out of 48 that have green pumps for diesel and gas. In 2006 when Ultra Low Diesel first came out, it had yellow pumps and handles for awhile. Now everything is Ultra Low Diesel with mostly green handles.

And thanks Kyle for allowing me to humiliate myself with the story I only told to a few ex friends. But this trip was educational as on the way up. I stopped at Popup Hitch in Kansas to load more displays, a pin on my coupler came out and dropped trailer #2 on the pavement at 70 mph. Glad I had the tongue jack all the way up, as using the trailer brake controller kept the flatbed inline behind the horse trailer until I could get stopped. Used a bolt this time in the coupler instead the quick pin. Only lost 15 minutes with little damage.

Had a great show at NATDA, in the 3 years I've been on tour at expo's around the country, never ran my truck battery down until this year. I guess we ran the gadgets a day too long. The truck batteries were too low to boost so we had to switch the truck batteries with the deep cell batteries on the trailers.

Back on the road two hours late and low on fuel because of fire marshal rules inside expo buildings, 100 miles into Indiana, with fuel light on I pulled in at Corydon. First station didn't have diesel, they directed me to their second station. Glad to get there as I have glided into fuel stations a couple of times on fumes. Saw a diesel truck fueling up, pulled in swinging my two trailers around to the last pump, left the truck running to charge the batteries and grabbed the green handle. I thought the nosel was small, but it didn't set off the warning as that side of my brain fell asleep replaying the events of the week.

You can figure it out from there, knocking noise, smoke and no power. I babied it to the Ford store next door, still not knowing exactly what the problem was. Next day the Ford tech asked if I put gas in it. Surprised and forgetting to grab my receipt the night before, I went to the station and got that sick feeling when I saw "regular gas" on the pump I used. I asked the station clerk about it and she said it happens 3 or 4 times a year.

When I sold trucks, I worried about lot tech's putting gas in the new diesel trucks I sold. Never done did this before. With all the trips I do across the country, I usually buy diesel at truck stops but in the RV/auto islands as they are usually the same price for credit cards as they charge the big rigs for cash price. Usually I look at the pump a couple of times before fueling.

I guess I'm human Kyle, almost forgot. All it takes is a distraction, like being tired. Another blessing was, my auto insurance paid for the repair including my hotel. I just paid the deductable for being stupid. Yes I'm happy with Esurance, besides my wife and daughters annual accidents. Gas took out 4 injectors, fuel filters were due anyway, all told $2450. But an important lesson with minimal damage.

Man, that does sound like an educational trip. Those green pump nozzle covers have ruined alot of injectors and injection pumps.

quote.... And thanks Kyle for allowing me to humiliate myself with the story I only told to a few ex friends.!!!

WHOA.... Better watch what you say and who you say it to and in front of, it will come back to haunt you...!! (did I just say that!!)

Back to the subject......is anyone going to tell us where the NATDA Show will be in 2010? Louisville or Reno? I heard both mentioned when asking around.

Kyle Shimizu (one of Mr Truck's ex friends)
Topar Trailers
www.topartrailers.com


Edited by Topar Trailers 2009-09-20 12:01 PM