Trailer maintenance

[Bob]

They say a wise man learns from the mistakes of others, and I've heard enough horror stories from other folks to check my wheel bearings and make sure they are in good shape and well-lubed. If you don't check yours, put a cold chisel and a two pound hammer in your tool box and prepare to find out how hard the bearing races are while you are trying to cut them off the spindles to which they have become welded while spinning dry at 55 mph. This will usually be in the rain in an inconvenient location. An absolutely critical part of your trailer is the grease seal that keeps the water out of the inside lip of the hub - if it's not in good shape, you deserve whatever happens next. After a launching or take-out make sure you pull the trailer down the road at least half a mile. If the bearings have taken in water, this will cook most of it out. Even more critical is the condition of the spring shackle bolts - they are inconvenient to check, so most folks put it off. Jack up the trailer (with the boat off, otherwise you can bend the frame), pull the bolts and check them. If they look pretty good, clean, lube, and replace them. If they look shakey, think about what a pain it would be to have one let go at 60 in traffic (or not in traffic, for that matter.) Remember, the boat won't sail if you can't get it in the water. MAINTAIN THAT TRAILER.

 

[john]

burned bearings!

I have burned up bearings....no fun. Every few years, I through away the hubs and install new ones. The new hubs come with new bearings and grease seal. Salt water is a killer. Also, marine grease works better than the conventional car grease. I don't ever pump the bearings up with a grease gun. Instead I pull the hubs every spring...inspect and repack with new grease. The old grease will turn to mud after two seasons of salt water.

 

[tomD]

bearing buddies

Trailer bearings take dunkings that other wheelbearings never have to go thru. That means they need a little more care. My last two trailers have had Bearing Buddies on them which allows you to quickly attend to this:1. After trailering some distance, the bearings are warm/hot, and should not be instantly submerged into the water, because the cold water contraction on the bearings causes a vaccuum that sucks water deep into the bearing where it mixes with the grease and forms an emulsion which will not lubricate but will take up space in the races.2. After you offload the boat and park the trailer, with the weight off, get out the greasegun and pump up the bearing buddies with 2 - 3 shots of grease. It enters the bearing all over and pushes residual water out the back side.3. When you retreive the boat, the bearings are cold and greased and you are ready for the road.Doing this little routine every time works. I have no burnt bearing stories to tell and and glad of it. Bearing buddies are cheap per set and easy to install, you just tap them on with a block of wood and a hammer.

 

[Bob]

Good point, Tom

One advantage we trailer sailors have is that it takes so long enough to set up the boat at the ramp that the trailer hubs have cooled off by then. Another feature of having Bearing Buddies is that when they are pumped up they create a positive pressure inside the hub, which helps keep the water out when the hubs are immersed. It's a good idea to feel the hubs whenever you stop - doesn't take long, and a hot hub is a strong message that something is wrong inside.