As of 1500, 4/14/17, I finally retired, for the 2nd time.
First time was from 29 years at a power company in downstate Michigan.
This time was after 11 years of playing with the big trucks. The last 6 driving heavyhaul in northern Michigan and Ontario.
The job really never got boring, but it's time I start getting ME time.
I'll miss crossing the Mackinac Bridge and the Soo Locks everyday, and most of the people I worked with and know down here, as well as the ones in Ontario.
I won't miss -30/-40 temps,ice/snow for 350 miles at a time, getting up at 0315, and the damn tourists.
So, I'm starting another phase now.
Oh, and my bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label is 200 miles away, my gift to myself. I left it at my wifes house last month!!
The photo is of my last truck, 2013 Freightliner Coronado SD. I picked it up at the dealer brand new, a little over 4 years ago. It now has 435765 miles on it when I parked it for the last time yesterday.
The trailer was custom made by Titan specifically for my job a year ago.

Attached Images

P1000007.jpg (97.8 KB, 46 views)

__________________
'04 Edge, Scab/flareside, 2wd, 3.0, 5 speed, 4:10 open. Billet grille, Raceline Raptor black wheels, 265/75/16 DuraTracs. Tbar crank, AAL. Fox shocks, Thrush welded SI/DO swept back side exit. Morimoto projectors, '06 tails and power mirrors. LEDs all the way around. Blacked out fender badge. Access Limited rollup tonneau. 5% tint on back three windows. Airbox mod, FWIW. And a Border Collie that likes it too!!

Congratulations!

__________________
2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 (sold)
2006 F150 Lariat 4x4 (sold)
2007 Explorer XLT (Destroyed by Deer on highway)
2014 Explorer XLT (inherited from parents)

Thank you Terrence!

__________________
'04 Edge, Scab/flareside, 2wd, 3.0, 5 speed, 4:10 open. Billet grille, Raceline Raptor black wheels, 265/75/16 DuraTracs. Tbar crank, AAL. Fox shocks, Thrush welded SI/DO swept back side exit. Morimoto projectors, '06 tails and power mirrors. LEDs all the way around. Blacked out fender badge. Access Limited rollup tonneau. 5% tint on back three windows. Airbox mod, FWIW. And a Border Collie that likes it too!!

Hey John, congrats on firing your manager in the name of pursuing personal pleasures! I suggest starting with that bottle of Johnny.

"...I'll miss crossing the Mackinac Bridge..."
^^^Isn't that the bridge that a crosswind blew a (being driven at the time) Yugo off of and down into the river?

__________________
2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

Congratulations. That trailer looks like one hell of a beast. What did you haul? I am definitely used to seeing loads that heavy on flat beds, not inside a nice cushy trailer.

Thanks Bill, the Blue Label will have to wait until I go downstate. Guess I'll have to make do with the bottle of Double Black I have here. The cheap stuff, ya know.

Yes, that did happen. IIRC it had somewhat to do with the car being driven too fast. But it fell into Lake Huron. It's surprising there aren't more accidents on the bridge. When the winds get too high, trucks and campers, and people pulling trailers/boats, aren't supposed to exceed 20 mph. But typical 4wheelers, they either think the rules don't apply them, or as soon as they read the warnings, they don't remember even seeing them.
There was a semi blown into the cables a few years ago as well, but the cables caught him, and he stayed on the bridge.

__________________
'04 Edge, Scab/flareside, 2wd, 3.0, 5 speed, 4:10 open. Billet grille, Raceline Raptor black wheels, 265/75/16 DuraTracs. Tbar crank, AAL. Fox shocks, Thrush welded SI/DO swept back side exit. Morimoto projectors, '06 tails and power mirrors. LEDs all the way around. Blacked out fender badge. Access Limited rollup tonneau. 5% tint on back three windows. Airbox mod, FWIW. And a Border Collie that likes it too!!

I didn't know that was even possible in a Yugo.

__________________
2004 Ranger FX4 Level II, 5R55E, Sonic Blue Pearl

Proudly JAP/RICE free since March 2000

More work than I'll ever do. It's a well-deserved retirement, enjoy life buddy

Thank you!
In that trailer, I hauled wood chips or saw dust. It's 53' long, and with my truck, was legally good for 138K#, that was the legal limit in both Mi. and On. Not to say I wasn't over at times, but as long as I stayed under 144K, I didn't exceed the limits on the two big bridges I crossed.
Actually, that combination was easier to drive, and more stable than an 18 wheeler. On that particular trailer, the two front axles were also "steer" axles. According to Ontario law, the driver has no control of the axles from the cab, and they have to stay down. It's a very stupid law, on ice/snow/slick conditions, you really have to be careful when turning, the drives on the truck are unloaded quite a bit, and that trailer will push you off the road, or worse, into someone. That's the only drawback on that trailer, but in dry conditions it handled great.
The other trailer I used to haul, had 8 axles, 4 of them were controlled from the cab, much nicer on ice/snow, and also I could weigh up to 158K legally.

----------

Thanks Matt, I'm sure gonna give it my best try!

__________________
'04 Edge, Scab/flareside, 2wd, 3.0, 5 speed, 4:10 open. Billet grille, Raceline Raptor black wheels, 265/75/16 DuraTracs. Tbar crank, AAL. Fox shocks, Thrush welded SI/DO swept back side exit. Morimoto projectors, '06 tails and power mirrors. LEDs all the way around. Blacked out fender badge. Access Limited rollup tonneau. 5% tint on back three windows. Airbox mod, FWIW. And a Border Collie that likes it too!!

Congratulations! When you get back down state, give me a shout. I'm not too far from 'Waste-land'! 😉

__________________
1994 Ford Ranger XLT Extended Cab
2WD Automatic
4.0 V6 OHV
MODS: LED Dashlights, Wired for OHC (don't have the guts to cut the headliner), Lighted Visors, Auto-Dim/Mirror, Auto Headlights, other than that it's pretty much stock

congrats!! enjoy life now!

__________________
Fx4 levelII
enough^^ said
t-bar cranked 33x10.5x15 bfg all terrain ko2-15x8 pro comp 7031- blacked out headlight and corners mustang dome Westin brushguard March 2014 TOTM

Thanks Andy, and I'll do that!

----------

Thanks Howard. I sure will, got plenty to do here. Except for today, I'm just kicking back, 'cuz I can!!

__________________
'04 Edge, Scab/flareside, 2wd, 3.0, 5 speed, 4:10 open. Billet grille, Raceline Raptor black wheels, 265/75/16 DuraTracs. Tbar crank, AAL. Fox shocks, Thrush welded SI/DO swept back side exit. Morimoto projectors, '06 tails and power mirrors. LEDs all the way around. Blacked out fender badge. Access Limited rollup tonneau. 5% tint on back three windows. Airbox mod, FWIW. And a Border Collie that likes it too!!

Congrats John, Are you sure you are ready to settle down, That truck is just getting broke in.

__________________
Myrtle: & Danna
1999 Ranger 4x4 3.0 Stepside Ext Cab XLT
2000 Mustang 4.6 Roush Supercharged ( Show Car )
1984 Elcamino 350 330 HP ( Nick's Show Car )
1959 Wife ( Arm Candy )
Danna passed away 5/26/2016

Thanks Don! Yepper, I'm sure. You're right about the truck, it's got more miles left on it than I do!!!LOL

__________________
'04 Edge, Scab/flareside, 2wd, 3.0, 5 speed, 4:10 open. Billet grille, Raceline Raptor black wheels, 265/75/16 DuraTracs. Tbar crank, AAL. Fox shocks, Thrush welded SI/DO swept back side exit. Morimoto projectors, '06 tails and power mirrors. LEDs all the way around. Blacked out fender badge. Access Limited rollup tonneau. 5% tint on back three windows. Airbox mod, FWIW. And a Border Collie that likes it too!!

Congratulations john! You earned it. Now you can enjoy life.

__________________
2014 F150 xl 3.7 6 speed auto.