Spare Trailer hub question

[JB25VIP]

hey guys,

i'm looking at investing in a spare trailer hub that comes ready to go with bearings and a seal already in place. I'm planning on carrying it with me especially on longer trips just in case something goes terribly wrong. I just put new bearings in my existing hubs so there should not be any trouble. But my question is.........

The hub i'm looking at says it is rated for 1750 pounds.

My boat and trailer weighs about 4000 pounds.

Is this hub "heavy duty enough" for my load? i was under the impression that the hub needs to be rated strong enough for just the amount of weight that is pressing down on that particular hub. am i wrong??

Thanks in advance for advice everyone

 

[mthieme]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

FWIW - I've found that simply keeping on top of things (PM) has been enough to avoid repairs on the road.
If the setup you're talking about is what is pictured in your avatar, I'd guess you're at the upper limit of that single axle trailer.

 

[JB25VIP]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

yea i'm sure i am......i don't like that its only a single axle......i'm trying to keep my eye out for a tandem axle for a fair price,

your right there is no substitute for preventative maintenance!

 

[hankll]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

Preventative maintenance is best , but having a spare hub whether heavy enough would at least get you somewhere further down road or even home to get your OEM hub's bearings replaced. Good insurance, even if slightly band aid style is worth having with you, instead of wishing you had it but not. I run with My (heavy)ProCraft 19'6 on a single axle OEM trailer, and wish I had a 2 axle trailer also, but have taken mine on fairly long trips(without spare hub) and been fine, checking heat on spindles once in awhile along the way, to assure myself that all is well.

 

[fondafj]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

Sounds like the hub is light for the load --- what is the trailer rated at? For long trips, carrying a hub is the way to go --- it only takes one failure. I believe Tie Down even has a frame mounted spindle so you can use the hub to store the spare tire as well.

PM is the way to go... we also use an IR thermometer to check bearings and tires at evey stop on the trip.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

Ayuh,...

You said you Just had your Hubs Off,....

You need a spare that's Exactly like the 2 on there Now....
Same Bearing Diameter,+ the Same distance from the Seal, to the Outer Bearing...

 

[JB25VIP]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

yea bondo i just had the hubs off. The spare hub that i found is exactly the same as my originals i was just wondering how they rated hubs in pounds. Because this spare is rated for 1750lb and my trailer and boat weigh 4000. Are you saying that if they are the same as the oem hubs (size wise) then they will be fine regardless of what the weight rating is on them?

 

[fondafj]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

This is where the name plate overall weight comes in --- assume it says 4000 lbs, then the hub needs to be rated at 4000 lbs overall trailer wt minus 400lbs tounge wt then divided between the two hubs ---- which comes out to 1800 lb. Pretty close to the 1750 one you have.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

No -- No -- a thousand times NO! Two of those hubs on a single axle trailer means the GVWR for that trailer cannot exceed 3500# (1750 x 2 = 3500#) regardless what size/capacity tires you have. Why? Because neither the hubs, spindles, springs or axle are rated for more than that. If your rig indeed weighs 4000# you are 500# overloaded and risking a serious breakdown and a serious court case in the event of an accident. If you had a tandem axle, that same combination would have a 7000# rating. As for deducting the tongue weight from GVWR, that doesn't hold water. While in theory it does transfer to the tow vehicle, if you weighed the loaded trailer only, you have the true GVWR and that condition is what trailers are designed against. There is no deduction for tongue weight.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

Come on, guys...this is an EMERGENCY hub that he is talking about, here!

If it is the correct fit...than it will serve it's purpose, which is to get him to help.

By your reckoning...every spare 'doughnut' tire (in pratically every car on the road) will never serve it's purpose.

We are talking about avoiding an expensive tow...and getting the rig back on the road....

 

[LOW-LIFE]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

i say it will be just fine as a spare.

then once home or someplace you can repair your O.E. hub do so and install it back on and keep the spare as a spare.

 

[Mike722]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

It may only be an emergency spare, but why put a non OEM lower rated hub on? If you believe you need a spare, get an OEM replacement. Then when you get home you can leave the spare hub on the trailer and repair, if possible, the damaged one for the new spare.

 

[JB25VIP]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

great info guys thanks a lot for the help!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

Yes -- it is an emergency hub but that doesn't change the fact that this trailer is overloaded. The existing setup is the issue here, not the replacement hub. If this trailer is a single axle, it is very likely overloaded at 4000#. Look at any trailer parts catalog. The upper limit for a 1750# spindle is a 3500# axle. That axle has 1-1/16 outer and 1-3/8 inner bearings. That means the hub, bearings, spindle, axle, and springs are not designed for a 4000# load. The next step up is a 5000/5200# axle with spindles that accept 1-1/4 outer and 1-3/4 inner bearings. You cannot put a 1750# spindle and bearings on that axle. That hub by the way is a 6 lug, not a 5. Nor can you reverse this application and put a the larger bearings on the 3500# axle. So lets make sure we know what we are dealing with here. If that trailer has a five bolt hub, it is overloaded period. If it has a six lug hub you would not be able to install the 1750# hub. For obvious reasons, a five hole wheel will not fit on a six lug hub and vice versa. And as for "doughnut" spares, read the sidewall of the tire and you will find out exactly what they are rated for, how far, and how fast.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

... And as for "doughnut" spares, read the sidewall of the tire and you will find out exactly what they are rated for, how far, and how fast.

Right...the largest lettering on the doughnut spare reads. FOR TEMPORARY USE ONLY.

I rest my case....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

So to follow your logic, let's assume the poster does indeed have a bearing failure. Since he happens to have this brand new hub and bearing assembly with him, he slaps it on and down the road he goes with this "temporary" use hub. So what does he replace it with? There is no other replacement. The spindles on a 3500# axle requires a 1750# hub which is identical to what is already on the trailer. That does not change the fact that the trailer is overloaded and contributed to the failure in the first place. I do not dispute the fact that this hub will work on that axle. My point is to fix the problem.

There is also a high probability that in the event of a bearing failure it will likely take the spindle with it. In that case the ready to go hub will be of no use. Regardless of the logic that seems to consider this an OK situation, this remains an overloaded trailer and carrying a replacement hub is not a solution.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

So to follow your logic, let's assume the poster does indeed have a bearing failure. Since he happens to have this brand new hub and bearing assembly with him, he slaps it on and down the road he goes with this "temporary" use hub. So what does he replace it with? There is no other replacement. The spindles on a 3500# axle requires a 1750# hub which is identical to what is already on the trailer. That does not change the fact that the trailer is overloaded and contributed to the failure in the first place. I do not dispute the fact that this hub will work on that axle. My point is to fix the problem.

There is also a high probability that in the event of a bearing failure it will likely take the spindle with it. In that case the ready to go hub will be of no use. Regardless of the logic that seems to consider this an OK situation, this remains an overloaded trailer and carrying a replacement hub is not a solution.

Finally...we are both on the same page!

The question as to his trailer being 'overloaded'...is a seperate question from where we started.

He was wondering about his 'spare' hub...and given his situation, he probably has, in hand, an exact match for what he is using. His trailer is...what it is.

He scores with me, just thinking ahead to the possibility that he might need this hub...somewhere down the Interstate.

I bet, that if you were in the same situation (broke down on the side of the road)...you would give your left nut, for the backup hub.

Life isn't always perfect...or fair, for that matter...but he is thinking proactive. I tip my hat to him....

If he ever decides to upgrade his rig, we both know which direction to send him!

Peace....

John

 

[JB25VIP]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

i'd like to clear up a little confusion if i may

I'm not EXACTLY sure how much my boat and trailer weighs, based on how it pulls (and i've pulled quite a few trailers at different weights) i think its about 4000 pounds. i know thats not exact but i think its a good approximation. problem is the tag on the trailer telling the gvw is long gone. so i have no way of knowing unless i pull it out to a scale which i think would be a pain.

In any event the 1750 pound rated hub is, yes, an exact match to what i have. Given that the hub matches my oe's and vip built the trailer to accomodate the boat i can only hope they knew what they were doing when they made that trailer and put the correct rated hubs on there

Thanks to all that agree with my line of thinking on carrying an extra hub. Ive burned out bearings before on the road and not had any replacements on hand. and if youve never had that experience then you may not know exactly how much some spare parts wether it be just some extra bearings or a whole new hub can be, in a pinch.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

JB;i fully understand what you are doing and i think you are wise.
one other thing to consider is that if the trailer is the same age as your boat it has lasted 11 years so with the proper maintenance you should get another few any way.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Spare Trailer hub question

Trailer manufacturers and dealers do not "always know what they are doing" and that is being very kind. One cannot assume because your boat was delivered on a specific trailer that the two were designed for each other. Trailer manufacturers build trailers. Boat manufacturers build boats. Dealers place the boat on whatever trailer they choose. While they try to assemble the best package, "price" generally overcomes "responsibility" so in the end, a boat/trailer package can easily end up at the very high end or even over its GVWR. Add the battery, fuel, gear and adult beverages and the trailer is now overloaded. In this particular case I took the liberty of checking the weight of a VIP Valiant and it is listed at 2670 pounds. The trailer will weigh in the area of 600 - 800 pounds. So we are already at 3270 - 3470 pounds. Add a battery, fill the tank with fuel, through in the gear and this trailer is indeed overloaded regardless what size tires it has because the hubs and spindles are rated at 3500#. Marginally overloaded yes -- but nevertheless, overloaded. Again, my issue is not with the idea of the spare hub, that is always a good thing to carry. My comments here deal only with the capacity of the trailer.