I recently spent two days traveling three times going on a four hour round trip to Angelica, NY getting 24 yearling Red Devon cows for next years harvest schedule. I have used this ranch for four years now and have a great relationship with the rancher that raises the cows. I have to take three trips because my trailer and truck have a limited hauling capacity and don’t want to overload the system. The procedure is to load up 8 yearlings at a time then go down to the weigh station and weigh the total trailer weight. I then add the three weights and pay the piper for his goods.
I was a bit leery about taking the trips because I had had an inkling that there might be a problem with the cooling system in the truck. I’m pushing 190,000 miles on the truck and the last long trip there was a situation of the truck heating up a bit more than usual. I had my repairman check it out but he said all checked out fine. As a safeguard, I picked up two gallons of a 50/50 antifreeze solution and put it behind the seat. The first trip was no problem which was the only one that day. The next day I got up extra early because of the double trip and the second trip went without a hitch, so two down one to go. The third trip I needed to get to the farm and weigh station before they closed, which I made it, and on the way home I noticed the temperature gushed started to fluctuate as I went down the road. The gauge would swing up and then go back down to normal. It would hold steady then swing back up and get me all nervous. This was a frequent event but I really had no choice but to keep moving.
My concern was what happens if the truck over heated and I have this trailer full of animals, and what do I do then. I got just outside Chautauqua Lake and the heat pushed up but this time did not got down. I pulled off and popped the hood to take a look. Luckily, I had the extra gallon of anti freeze and used it to put into the radiator. I was a bit apprehensive that I would get to my destination but luckily the truck made it to the farm and the last batch got off with no other problem. Like I said, I think there was something out there watching out for me to make sure I got home safe with my new family. Home safe and sound.