still a boy scout

The Boy Scout motto is Be Prepared. I was a Boy Scout back in the day, not a very good one mind you, but the motto and Scout Oath have stuck with me. 

It should come as no surprise that, living on a farm out in the country we try to be prepared for things. Running to town isn’t crazy far but it also isn’t something to do lightly. We use a grocery list, keep a little extra food and water around, and a little extra fuel for the machinery.

We don’t have a dooms day bunker (at least not one we can tell you about) but we like to Be Prepared.

So last week, while I was taking a load of pigs to the locker, the trailer got a flat. 

And not just “kinda’ flat” but REALLY flat.

The best part, I didn’t notice. Not once in 40 miles. A fella from the locker comes outside and says, “You know you got a flat? Looks bad.” 

He was right. After the 40 mile trip the tire was a mess and the rim was ruined.

Never fear, I’m PREPARED!

I’m so prepared that I literally have a blog post about our winter emergency kit.

I have a special homemade tandem axle trailer jack, a 3 ton hydraulic jack, a four prong tire iron, and there’s a spare tire literally attached to the trailer. “No worries” I thought as I got out to look at the tire.

Well…….. 

I got out the homemade tandem axle jack, got some gloves,

a flashlight, and ... wait, where’s the handle to the jack? 

Where’s something to pry this tire from the leaf springs? 

Where’s a bandaid for my bloody finger?!?!

Friends, I can say that I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was. 

It took some doing but I did get the tire off. I pumped up with jack with my hand and foot (that’s how I cut myself), and the spare went on with no problems once the wheels were in the air. 

I wasn’t prepared. So, I fixed that right quick as soon as I got home.

Here’s a picture of the tools I added to the truck’s tool box. 

• Screw drivers (would have been nice to help me pry the tire off or to pump up the jack

• A hammer (cause everything looks like a nail when you’re frustrated)

• A couple of pliers, a couple of knives, a saw

• And a box of bandaids! (the tape is redneck bandaid incase I run out of the real thing)

Let’s all just admire this for a second…the way Eddie admires his RV in Christmas Vacation.

So, the next time this happens (and it will) I hope to have a better time of it. 

Misery loves company. Tell us about a time you weren’t prepared and how you fixed (or didn’t) it for next time.