trailer maintenance

[tightstripes]

i just got a new 17' boat last summer, i stored it about 90 miles from my home at my families summer home in the garage. i'm planning on driving it back home this weekend but am a little concerned with the trailer. the guy i bought the boat from probably didn't do much service to the trailer if any at all in the 3 years he had the boat. I didn't do any maintenance last summer, but also didn't have any problems, seemed to ride very smooth.

I'm just curious, if i there's anything i should do before i drive it back 90 miles to home.

i plan on doing a lot of research on how to go through the trailer when i have it back at home, but probably won't have a lot of time to do it before i drive it back. is there anything that i HAVE TO DO before i drive it home?? I'll probalby only have about an hour to check anything that you guys recommend.

Thanks

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: trailer maintenance

If this were mine, I'd be checking the lights...condition of tires and pressure...and I would jack up each tire and spin, looking for any excessive play or grinding. Also make sure that your tow vehicle has the correct ball (1 7/8" vs 2").

I always care a spare tire, and am sure that the lug nuts can be freed with whatever lug wrench I have.

Happy boating!

 

[75TowerOfPower]

Re: trailer maintenance

How old is the trailer? This might help, if its relatively new you can hope everything is in good working order and on the other hand if it is an older trailer it would be worth digging in to check out the bearings before you head out since a side of the road bearing change could run you $500.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: trailer maintenance

if you are concerned maybe purchase an extra hub and pack it with bearings.....then you will be setup for quick roadside bearing failure without too much hassle. And make sure you have a spare tire. I remember not having one with me once......

 

[kelscrusader]

Re: trailer maintenance

If the hubs have bearing buddies take a grease gun with you. After you jack up each wheel and spin it, you can add grease if they don't make any noise. If they do make noise they will have to be taken off and new bearings and seals put in. this will probably take more than an hour if you've never done them before. Good luck!

 

[road.ripper]

Re: trailer maintenance

definitley do a good once over safety check before you get on the road with it, lights, tires, straps, chains etc.. checking the wheel bearings is a must !
Trust me , last year before we left for a weeks holiday i thought everything was in top shape. i took my 12' aluminum up to my sisters cottage up north, a 300klm trip there,
at 9 o'clock at night about 200klm from home on a dark country road my wife said she sees something funny with the trailer tire in the mirror.
thank god she noticed !
i pulled over and had to do a roadside bearing fix and a tire change till i got to the cottage .the next morning i went into town and found a hardware store open on a holiday sunday. my nephew has a well equipped tool room up there and i spent the afternoon doing a complete hub bearing and race replacement on both sides.
now i keep a complete spare hub and bearing set with my spare tire.

the worse part of this is my wife caught an awsome large mouth bass while i was fixing the trailer !

road