Danny Ryder - Deceased - 1962 - 2021
PCS Life Member
Unexpected road trip has a few highlighted moments: We sold the 96 eureka hearse that I had taken to florida. Funeral home in Milledgeville, Ga. bought for use at one of there three locations. They were suppossed to pick up earlier this week but for various reasons could not so yesterday morning my boss decided I needed to delivery. Only about 140 miles so no big deal, right? ooops, not so easy. First our car hauler is still broke down in IL. so next move is hook up the trailer, wait one minute, what to tow it with? Ok, decided to use a 87 ford F-250 4X4 WITH 64k actual miles and a 460 for the job. Sounds good, right? Ok, didn't get to leave till almost 3pm and need to get there by 6pm and do my deal and return. FLash back to topic about towing vehicle, etc. I mentioned that at least a F-250 was needed. Discovered this is barely good enough for this situation. Trailer weighs about 3000 pounds empty and with hearse almost 10k total weight. Was making way through Atlanta perimeter and traffic does a sudden stop. I am going with flow and not speeding nor texting and had left good distance in front of me and I see stopped cars and proceed to get heavy on the brakes, the trailer locks up but weight of trailer being what it is and truck not as heavy I don't slow like I should and see in front of me something that will stop me in a chevy 1500 crew cab pickup with a small trailer hauling concrete finishing equipment. I knock the Sh$% out of it and fear how many of us will pile up here. I felt several hard hits during this and see behind me wrecker driver checking me out so I get out to access damage. Straps broke holding hearse in place and it stopped against back of truck. Frame mounted hitch folded up under truck so now front of trailer is on ground. I back hearse back to original position of trailer to get weight off hitch. Wrecker driver stopps traffic so we car move to shoulder. Lucky guy I hit only had slight damage to tailgate of his little trailer, how it was not worse I don't know, my truck will need front bumper and grill and frame bent where hitch gave way. While waiting on police retied hearse on trailer and lucky hearse had no damage nor did the trailer but was not towing any further with this truck. Called for boss to send another tow vehicle and waited. Finally got police there after about 30 minutes. Received ticket for "following too close" which I understand in accident with damage ticket of some sort has to be given. FInally new tow vehicle arrives and boss wants me to continue my journey but getting there before they leave was now out of question so need to spend night and plan to deliver this morning. Got there early and unloading hearse and preceded to load trade in. Not a pro car but a 66 vw dune buggy with nice body used by schriners for years. Finished business and returned home. Decided in extreme situation even though truck pulled ok and handled well it could not handle sudden stops as trailer and hearse weight too much for it. Only two of us involved in wreck and no injuries, could have been alot worse for sure. Moral of this story is be careful and have proper tow vehicle for these heavy cars.
