I, like many others, can relate to Joe Diffie’s song celebrating the pick-up truck. I probably had my first truck that young, but I didn’t haul anything for the girl next door. I didn’t have any close neighbors.
I don’t agree with Joe’s fondness for Chevy, however. He and I will just have to agree to disagree. I wouldn’t want a Cadillac. I have had a few cars, but mostly trucks. I shared my truck ownership recent history in an article, Changing Logistics.
Saturday, May 3, found me selling books in partnership with Cindy Ladage. We were in Greenville, IL. This is our second cooperative venture. Since we’re country folk, the outdoor venue suited us. The host allowed us to have my truck right where we set up.
Cindy pointed out that we actually could have set up without the table. We used the truck tailgate as our place to sit instead of the sales surface. Her idea caused me to reflect.
A lot of my life has gone over a tailgate.
I’m a certified SCUBA diver. A good majority of my logged dives were in local “black” water. The dives originated on shore. Any guesses, what serves as a great gear assembly point?
On a busy summer day, a line of pickups and SUVs could be found at lakes that accommodated SCUBA. My book New Perspectives celebrates that style of diving.
Tailgates make great work benches for any number of activities. I’ve used mine as saw horses.
Everyone has been to a tailgate party. Some four-wheel drives are the perfect height for a bar top. I have fond memories of going to the drive-in with friends. We would take several trucks and mill among them. Sometimes, we’d even watch the movie! I’m not much on sports, so I’ve never actually been to a bona-fide tailgate party.
I can only think of one bad experience involving a tailgate. I lost a lawn tractor out the back of a truck. In those days, my dad didn’t have the convenience of a trailer like I do now.
We’d find a handy embankment or a ditch and back the truck so the rear was lower. The tailgate would make a great dock plate or ramp.
My dad put me in charge of loading our JD 110 in the back of the truck. We didn’t believe in straps. Leaving the tractor in gear worked fine, maybe set the brake….
Well, it’s all good on paper. I got into a hurry. It was supper time! I pulled away from the bank, and the tractor decided it didn’t like it in the truck. It rolled out backward and flopped upside down.
My dad didn’t yell too much. It took a minute to stop laughing at me. I have a greater appreciation for that model of lawn tractor now, but I hope to have some latitude. I was only 12 at the time.
A JD 110 looks pretty sad wheels up. The steering wheel was never the same after the accident.
What was the takeaway? Set the brakes, leave it in gear, and make sure the tailgate is secure. Maybe a rope as a tie down. The things learned with experience
Antique Iron Media 