I decided to check my map and make sure. The Walt Whitman Truck stop at the corner of S. Lawrence and Patison was completely bulldozed and new construction going on a year ago. Unless the new construction is a matter of rebuilding the truck stop, it is not there anymore. And, from the condition of it before the construction, I doubt the owners had the money to build a new one. Construction looked more like it might be a bank going in. If I have to go back to that area again, I do not expect to find a truck stop there anymore. Last time I was there, I had to park on a side street and wait for the appointment time. There was no truck stop.

Is it possible that you're thinking of a different one we don't know about?

 

Does anybody else get the incongruity of naming a truck stop after Walt Whitman?

 

T/A - Gary, Indiana

I stopped there one time after dark - never again

 

I know I've been in there, but it's been so long ago, I don't remember when it was. Last time I was there, some guy pulled the release on another driver's 5th-wheel, and when the truck pulled out, the trailer came off. I used to pull quarters out of my glad-hand couplings, and lock the tandems back in before I left. Made a couple of dollars that way. These days, I don't even slow down.

 

Proper pretrip would catch any of those potential problems.

 

Do you take off your glad-hands and put them back on when you do a pretrip? Most do not. That place has a reputation, so if I ever have to stop there (and a few other places), that's been part of my pretrip. Of course, most times, I do not set the trailer brake, so the red line is charged. It's been pulled off a few times, but they can't put a quarter in there with the air going, and the leaking air generally makes them leave in a hurry.

 

I was taught to in school and will in my pre-trip that takes less than 10 minutes (not including air brake test) . That and also carry a box of glad hand seals since they are cheap since you wear them out checking them on a regular basis. At the very least check to see the the 5th wheel and trailer tandems are locked. I would be afraid to drive without checking those.

I wonder if you could paint the section of the 5th wheel lock when unlocked a bright colour without getting covered in grease or wearing off right away?

 

Lake station has the Gary T/A beat anyday. Get off at the Flying J and go past both the Road Ranger(Pilot Ranger) and T/A. To the next xroads Rt 20, its on the RHS Thats all Im gonna say...but give her a shot!!

Also, If you get in a good practice of pulling against the kingpin/jaws when you park, so no one will be able to yank it out.

 

I like the idea of rigging it up to some explosives.

 

An inverter and stick welder with the power cranked up would be more enjoyable.