Gonna be a long post.

After about 300 miles into my 575 mile one way trip to Hutch, on Thursday, I noticed the front end of my 1ton dually feeling odd.  Pulling to the right and getting worse as I kept going, also a vibration from the passenger side that got so bad that after a while I just left the interstate and started taking back roads as it eventually got to where I couldn't drive over 60mph.  I had checked the front end a couple weeks ago, noticed unusual tire wear on both front tires but also found the pressure low, aired them up and all seemed fine until that far into the trip.  At 20 miles and hour it felt like I was driving on marbles so I called Darrell Grams and he made arrangements for me to have it looked at Friday morning at 8.  Jeff, at Car Shop Inc. in Hutch, got it in and called me at 8:45 to inform me that mechanically everything was fine but my front tires were separating.  He drove my truck over to the show grounds, picked me up, said he didn't have the Firestone tires in stock that he recommended but had made arrangements to have a pair mounted and balanced for $385 at Sam's Tire in Glenco if I drove straight there.  Also Jeff didn't charge me anything and as far as the IRS is concerned that's how it stands.  Anyway I drove to Sam's, got the tires installed and made it back in time for the 11:00 forum meeting.  I can't say enough about all of those and great treatment I received this weekend.  Thanks to those involved with putting on the Orange Spectacular, A big thanks to Darrell and the entire Grams family for their hospitality and help, Jeff at Car Shop Inc., Sam's Tire in Glenco and even the cute waitress, (with the funny accent), at McCormick's for saving me a pork chop Thursday night.  When you're out of town you are nervous about what could happen which I'm sure is what led to my stomach problems Saturday.  And yes, my reservations are already made for next year.

Darrell G (MN) wrote: JW what a honest man who would admit that it only need tires, he could have said you needed mechanial work done and tires.  The place I sent you has a very good reputation for being up front and honest.  Thanks for coming and I will be talking to ya soon.

Especially since I relayed to him I thought it felt like a wheel bearing.  They could have faked new wheel bearings, replaced the shocks and tie rod ends, put on a cheap set of tires and I wouldn't have known the difference.  He wouldn't put any other tire he had in stock on the front of my truck or get these himself and mark them up, just sent me there and when I walked in the second person that morning that said, "Oh, your the guy. . . ."