View Full Version : SuitedPairs Stud Mill Misadventure



fins2right
08-09-2009, 09:41 PM
While I was blissfully camping in N.H. this morning I got a call from my friend Ann (the better half of SuitedPair) They were on the SMR with a flat tire and could not get the spare tire off. They got 2 or 3 caches so they were not all that far out, perhaps only 2 miles off the paved road, and had a call into AAA.

Later I discovered that AAA could not find a single company that would go out to the Stud Mill Road. Not one. Chris ended up driving on the flat to the paved portion of County Road and the tow truck met him there. The driver could not get the spare off so Chris's truck was towed to VIP. They could not get the spare off and had to use a cutting torch to cut the bracket off.

This process took almost 7 hours.

Now, the tow was free due to AAA and Chris had to pay for the new tire (driving a few miles on a flat killed that tire) and the repair job for the spare, plus he was really, really upset that they did not get to cache :mad::rolleyes:

Why is this important? Well, a few weeks ago I had work done on my brake lines and the mechanic told me that my spare tire was rusted into the bracket and would have to be cut out. Both my Dodge and Chris's Chevy have tires mounted underneath the trucks and they are exposed to road salt ect.

If you have this type of spare, take 15 minutes and make sure you can get to it. This may save you 7 hours later. Plus, If you go out anywhere that is remote, make sure that you are in a good vehicle and prepared. Chris found out the hard way that help may not be an option. Just a little heads up. I now have new brake lines, a new spare tire bracket, new tires and bombed around the back roads near Eustis. Have fun, Be safe!! and Happy Caching :)

hollora
08-09-2009, 10:16 PM
Ah, the lessons we learn on the road. For years, when I was younger, I belonged to the 3A company. Feeling confident being on the road - they were there for me. They never asked what I drove when they took my premium.

Well, I drove a 1 ton, multi passenger window van. Passenger plates and most of the passengers were dogs.............lesson learned on the NH pike when I got a flat. It took 4 hours for the "contract company" to find me (I was less than 1 mile from the NH toll - but apparently invisible).......and then when they arrived they said my policy would not cover it as I had a "commecial vehicle because it was a 1 ton van)........whatever - fix it!

I argued with the 3A company after the fact and they finally did cover the service. But, not happily. They stood to loose a lot of money from dog show folks who drove the same vans = pulling out of their insurance.

I suspect the issue with responding service was it being on a private road. Word of caution on those tires mounted under the vehicle.....they don't always come down and off easily.

Remember a night a few years ago - one cacher parked her car at a park N ride and a bunch of us went off caching for the day. We arrived back - late at night - to find a flat tire on her car.............well, what to do - we (a bunch o' gal cachers) changed it. Under flashlights.........not a car stopped to help......but perhaps they thought we just had it under control.

Amen on the being Safe Out There - and also remember - you may not always have cell service.

attroll
08-09-2009, 11:02 PM
I have a truck and I now keep my spare in the bed if the truck because of this problem.

brdad
08-10-2009, 05:27 AM
Stud Mill Road, and more so the Golden Road, you should make sure your original spare works plus have another spare in the back. Maybe more - ask Tat!

Make sure you have insurance for windshield glass if you are going on days the logging trucks are passing through, too!

Mainiac1957
08-10-2009, 06:15 AM
My jeep's spare is on the back so I can see it. Full size and ready to go. BTW if you got a flat at The Last Cache Bashe of Summer 2009 (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5620dc13-5805-4709-8940-9e47e4b1d85b) (GC1WT2K) by mainiac1957 (http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?id=139598) (1/1) then AAA would be glad to come there.:rolleyes::cool::D Sorry I can't help myself.:p

TRF
08-10-2009, 06:47 AM
.... They were on the SMR with a flat tire and could not get the spare tire off. ... .... ... ... ... The driver could not get the spare off so Chris's truck was towed to VIP. They could not get the spare off and had to use a cutting torch to cut the bracket off.

.... ....
Why is this important? Well, a few weeks ago I had work done on my brake lines and the mechanic told me that my spare tire was rusted into the bracket and would have to be cut out. Both my Dodge and Chris's Chevy have tires mounted underneath the trucks and they are exposed to road salt ect.

If you have this type of spare, take 15 minutes and make sure you can get to it. This may save you 7 hours later. Plus, If you go out anywhere that is remote, make sure that you are in a good vehicle and prepared. Chris found out the hard way that help may not be an option. Just a little heads up. I now have new brake lines, a new spare tire bracket, new tires and bombed around the back roads near Eustis. Have fun, Be safe!! and Happy Caching :)

Funny coincidence that you should post this story but mine is far from eventful. Last week while driving my daughters to camp I had looked in my side mirror just in time to see a tire rolling along side me going down the road. I'm not speeding by any means but I'm cruising along about 45 mph and this tire threatens to veer into me as it appears to want to be in the lane we are in. So I speed up, (no tire is going to intimidate me) and sure enough the tire crosses over into the ditch and up in to a someones yard narrowly missing their mailbox where it proceeds in the longish grass (appears these folks have gotten lots of rain) to lose its speeds til it gradually flops over. Of course I stopped. I had several thought all happening at once; did it fall off my axle, nope we are still pretty level on the inside, did someone else lose the tire, couldn't have been that because we haven't seen a vehicle in miles. Where could that tire have come from? It must be the spare! Sure enough, the spare that is normally tucked up underneath the truck bed simply fell off. I haven't had a chance to investigate what might have failed underneath but I did check the air pressure in the spare and its good even after 6 years of being neglected.:D:eek:

pm28570
08-10-2009, 08:21 AM
Great reminder, having had the same problem once, learning my lesson.



If you have this type of spare, take 15 minutes and make sure you can get to it.

Mainiac1957
08-10-2009, 03:47 PM
First post they can't get it off. Steve can't keep it on. Strange goings on around here with spare tires. Jeep spare....right there when you need it.:D

hide_from_the_kids
08-10-2009, 03:49 PM
does your have the key to get the tire off like mine. when i go far i check to make sure i have it

fins2right
08-10-2009, 04:45 PM
First post they can't get it off. Steve can't keep it on. Strange goings on around here with spare tires. Jeep spare....right there when you need it.:D


Next summer, when I turn 40, my wife says I can buy one. :D:D Or fix the roof. :(:(

Mainiac1957
08-10-2009, 08:30 PM
You're going to have a leaky roof I suppose.:rolleyes:

hide_from_the_kids
08-10-2009, 08:35 PM
You're going to have a leaky roof I suppose.:rolleyes:
i agree, but you can do both if your frugal. for under $5 you can get a tube of tar and that should hold it for another two years.:D

Ekidokai
08-10-2009, 10:21 PM
I have had two bad experiences with AAA.

The first was in NH. We went into a restaurant and had dinner. At closing we came out and she had left the lights on. No problem right? Call AAA. Wrong. After several calls and waiting 3 hours then being told that they could not find anyone to help us, we were on our own. I had to find help myself. I walked up this hill to the road and there was a gas station right across the street. Guess what? they were AAA. I was totally mad.

The second was out on 95 about 35 miles from Orono. I called and again several hours later they said they could not help. I got a ride to the nearest station and guess what again? They were AAA.

So as far as I'm concerned they suck and I'll never give them another cent.

squirrelcache
08-10-2009, 11:07 PM
Stud Mill Road, and more so the Golden Road, you should make sure your original spare works plus have another spare in the back. Maybe more - ask Tat!

Make sure you have insurance for windshield glass if you are going on days the logging trucks are passing through, too!

Great advice! Learned long ago that multi-ply sidewalls are necessary if you want to avoid flats off-road up North.

I also found a great product that keeps those spares available. PB Blaster catalyst for breaking down rust and keeping things free. http://blasterchemical.com/display.cfm?p=50003&pid=4

brdad
08-11-2009, 06:17 AM
AAA is a not-for-profit organization. Towing companies who tow for AAA make much less profit on a given job than they would for cash, much like doctors who take Medicaid perform their services for less for those patients. IIRC, they only make a set price as well, meaning they would make the same profit to fix a tire on a car one mile from their station as they would 25 miles down the Stud Mill Road. On top of that, some towing company drivers make a percentage of the actual tow bill when they are working on call as their only profit.

All these factors contribute to lower quality service by AAA itself, it's participating stations, as well as the drivers themselves.

tat
08-11-2009, 06:22 AM
The North Maine Woods recommends driving 25mph or less to save on flats.

Ekidokai
08-11-2009, 11:38 AM
AAA is a not-for-profit organization. Towing companies who tow for AAA make much less profit on a given job than they would for cash, much like doctors who take Medicaid perform their services for less for those patients. IIRC, they only make a set price as well, meaning they would make the same profit to fix a tire on a car one mile from their station as they would 25 miles down the Stud Mill Road. On top of that, some towing company drivers make a percentage of the actual tow bill when they are working on call as their only profit.

All these factors contribute to lower quality service by AAA itself, it's participating stations, as well as the drivers themselves.

My Frustration with them and hatred comes from paying for a service for years and listening to all the adds and hype then when I'm stuck they can not or will not help at all.

I was 1/2 mile from a AAA station when AAA said they could not find one in my area that could give me a jump start. When I asked the station they said they had not been called and even gave me the jump for free. They got a big tip from me.

The second time I was stuck again and they almost seemed to refuse to help me. I will tell everyone that they are useless as far as I'm concerned every time I hear AAA.

I get roadside service through my insurance company at no extra charge. I have used them twice so far and they are more than helpful at any hour.

Did I mention I don't think much of AAA?

firefighterjake
08-12-2009, 07:48 AM
Guess I've been fortunate . . . the few times I've needed assistance AAA responded relatively quickly.

Inadvertently left my lights on in the 4Runner in Waterville at a parking lot . . . they came out and gave me a boost and I was on my way within 45 minutes or so.

The other time I locked my keys in my car (and didn't have my second set of keys on me) at work . . . again, showed up within an hour.

Not exactly wicked speedy, but I figured in both cases it was my own stupidity that got me there so I deserved to pay a little penance.

Ekidokai
08-12-2009, 09:26 AM
You see, the thing is, you were not in desperate need. If you were truly stranded you'd be out of luck.

Hiram357
08-12-2009, 02:55 PM
Guess I've been fortunate . . . the few times I've needed assistance AAA responded relatively quickly.

Inadvertently left my lights on in the 4Runner in Waterville at a parking lot . . . they came out and gave me a boost and I was on my way within 45 minutes or so.

The other time I locked my keys in my car (and didn't have my second set of keys on me) at work . . . again, showed up within an hour.

Not exactly wicked speedy, but I figured in both cases it was my own stupidity that got me there so I deserved to pay a little penance.

Don't forget about the time you broke down in the Benton Triangle of Doom!!! :D;);)

TRF
08-12-2009, 05:39 PM
Don't forget about the time you broke down in the Benton Triangle of Doom!!! :D;);)


Aaron, didn't you have a problem at Harris Mt. trying to drive a Jeep where only Toyota's could go.

Haffy
08-12-2009, 08:12 PM
HA HA HA that's a good one Steve. We went all the way til that tree got in the way.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/haffy6/CachePlaces1539.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/haffy6/CachePlaces1540Medium.jpg

firefighterjake
08-13-2009, 07:35 AM
Don't forget about the time you broke down in the Benton Triangle of Doom!!! :D;);)

I called HAA for that issue . . . Hiram's Automobile Association. It isn't the best service, but the dues are pretty fair (a 6-pack of Guiness once a year.) ;):D

EvilHomer
08-17-2009, 05:15 PM
HA HA HA that's a good one Steve. We went all the way til that tree got in the way.



http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/haffy6/CachePlaces1540Medium.jpg
This is why I carry my chain saw with me :)

If your at the Milford end of the STUD MILL RD, CALL SULLIVANS 827-2413 directly. They are AAA and will usually take care of you fairly quickly.

EvilHomer
08-17-2009, 05:16 PM
Thats the old trail groomer in me. Never drive a woods road with out the SAW !

TRF
08-17-2009, 10:03 PM
Thats the old trail groomer in me. Never drive a woods road with out the SAW !

The husky was in the back and the tower was a few feet in the front. lol. Didn't make much sense to cut it see that we were there. :D

firefighterjake
08-18-2009, 11:53 AM
The husky was in the back and the tower was a few feet in the front. lol. Didn't make much sense to cut it see that we were there. :D


. . . and that would be the Old Firefighter in TRF . . . a chainsaw is truly a multi-purpose tool in the right hands!;)

EvilHomer
08-19-2009, 04:37 PM
The husky was in the back and the tower was a few feet in the front. lol. Didn't make much sense to cut it see that we were there. :D

When in doubt CUT IT OUT! :)

squirrelcache
08-19-2009, 06:24 PM
When in doubt CUT IT OUT! :)
Out clearning trails after the ice storm last year... my saying was "If it's down.....go to town" ;) Esp. all the poor birch trees....they don't stand up well after bent :(

kayaking loon
08-20-2009, 08:31 AM
After reading about the spare tire mishap on the Stud Mill Road I suggested that my husband check ours. Rusted in solid. It goes to the garage next Tuesday. At least we didn't need it when we did the Stud Mill run...