Trailer peace of mind - achieved

[M3Fan]

I've always wanted to purchase and put together a spare hub/drum for the boat with grease, bearings, and seal all in place so that in the event of a bearing failure on the road I can clean off the spindle (assuming the spindle isn't hosed) and slide on a completely pre-assembled unit. We only take a couple long trips a year, but seeing the poor souls on the side of the road with the trailer jacked up and wheel missing (I see at least one a year) has made me always want to have the entire spare unit handy. Just never got around to it. This weekend I forced myself to purchase a whole new 6 bolt 12" drum assembly (88.00, my lord) and completely pre-loaded it with grease, bearings and seal. Now, for long trips I can toss that in the back of the car and rest assured that I won't have the nautique up on a flatbed in the middle of the night with smoked bearings in the middle of nowhere! Just mentioning it as an idea for others and because I'm relieved that I finally got the time to do it. Even with just a spare set of bearings/races, you'd be sitting on the side of the road tapping out races while traffic whizzes by... no thanks!

[EchoLodge]

RE: Trailer peace of mind - achieved

Like this?

http://www.etrailerpart.com/mywebs/m...3e_1322935.htm

[M3Fan]

RE: Trailer peace of mind - achieved

Yep. Looks like I got taken to the cleaners.

[EchoLodge]

RE: Trailer peace of mind - achieved

Great idea. I have seen the adapters that hold the drum. Its like a spare tire holder with a spindle. I am going 550 miles to Powell in a few weeks. Pulling my 90 Sport with original trailer. I repacked my bearings and rebuilt my brakes. Three new tires and a new spare. Hope all goes well!

[ZachR]

RE: Trailer peace of mind - achieved

My family is planning a trip to Shasta this year, and I've definitely seen people stranded. $51 for the hub when I also have a spare tire and rim might not be too bad of an investment.

[ag4ever]

RE: Trailer peace of mind - achieved

I was one of the ones who toasted a hub, twice. I have started keeping a spare hub in a plastic case made for it. I bought the whole thing from Acadamy for less than 30 with pre greased bearings installed. But then again, I don't have brakes on my trailer, so that makes it much easier.

I have found that if the bearings go, you might have a brake problem, and just throwing a new brake hub on there won't solve the overheating problem. That is why I ditched the brakes and just use the cheap hubs.

[EchoLodge]

RE: Trailer peace of mind - achieved

I will not be covering the 550 miles in one day. I will be bringing a grease gun and plan on topping off the bearing buddies if needed after my first leg. My break cylinder locked a few months ago causing the brakes to heat up my drums. This caused the grease to boil almost and ooze out everywhere. Point being, if you keep an eye on things you should get some warning before the bearings seize to the spindle. Worse case scenario, you can always strap and axel up to the fender (dual axel trailers) to drive and get some help. I carry: tie straps, tire plugs, grease gun, tools, and bearings when I trailer any distan

[ag4ever]

RE: Trailer peace of mind - achieved

I had to strap an axle up when one tire and rim came off my trailer. I traveled about 75 miles that way at about 30 MPH, and made it home to deal with it latter. That was my first trouble with a hub, so it had nothing to do with bearings, but when the tire came off, it sheared off the lugs, so i could not put one of my two spares on. if I had a spare hub I could have.

My second time was towing to the CC reunion in San Antonio last year. The hub was defective, and was overheating. I caused a tire to blow from being overheated. Then I put a spare on, and it blew from being overheated too. While installing the second spare the lug nut cross threaded because they were so hot. So i limped into town, and replace the hub with one from acadamy and bought a spare in the nice plastic case. If I had a spare hub with me, I could have replaced it and been on my way with the first spare tire. I might get an axle stub and weld it to the trailer so I can mount a spare hub with a tire on it and have it convienently mounted on the trailer at all times.