Time to check your trailers

boristhebold · 24 October 2011, 10:54

As im planning on doing some work on my Rib I decided to have a trailer service/check carried out as I haven't used my trailer for over a year, I am glad I had this done as all the brakes were shot including the brake lines. While its an expense when I hardly ever use the trailer I am glad I sorted it out as the implications of not sorting out could be extreme. I contacted 'trailerguy'.

jyasaki · 24 October 2011, 16:26

I use my trailer year round, but at random intervals (anywhere from weekly to monthly), so it's *always* time to check it.

jky

Trailer Guy · 08 November 2011, 18:17

Thank you for the mention Sir, it's much appreciated.

With kind regards, Ben

hadd · 15 November 2011, 17:09

Yes , just check the brakes on my trailer today & found them shot at , took them all to bits , give everything a good clean ready for putting back together at the weekend , just need to replace brake cables with new one,s

hardnose · 15 November 2011, 17:22

Handy tip guys , always kept an old pot of used engine oil and an old brush in my trailer repair kit and slap it on the rusty spots as soon as they appear .

spartacus · 15 November 2011, 22:53

Is there any merit in jacking the trailer up over winter so there's no pressure on the tyres? The boat is in a garage - so not in the elements. Heard or read somewhere you can get flat-spots on the tyres if it's left standing. I probably won't be venturing out again until next March/April.

BogMonster · 15 November 2011, 23:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

Is there any merit in jacking the trailer up over winter so there's no pressure on the tyres? The boat is in a garage - so not in the elements. Heard or read somewhere you can get flat-spots on the tyres if it's left standing. I probably won't be venturing out again until next March/April.

You could do. I used to work as the local Land Rover dealer and a tech bulletin came out years ago about flat-spotting of certain tyres (Goodyears, IIRC) which were parked in the same place for long periods in hot climates - Middle East markets etc. The factory just puts about 60-70psi in the tyres which keeps them round so that's another option

jyasaki · 16 November 2011, 03:48

Cold weather causes rubber to stiffen, so the flat spot stays put. Should even out after the tire friction warms things up. Only an issue if you trailer while it's still cold.

Haven't heard much else, at least with modern tire manufacturing. Then again, I live in a climate where boating year round is an option.

jky

Leapy · 16 November 2011, 05:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by spartacus

Is there any merit in jacking the trailer up over winter so there's no pressure on the tyres? The boat is in a garage - so not in the elements. Heard or read somewhere you can get flat-spots on the tyres if it's left standing. I probably won't be venturing out again until next March/April.

All car manufacturers use transit pressures of 50/60 psi when vehicles are to be left standing a while or will be in transit a while on a ship, for instance. By 'a while', I mean greater than one month.

My work-based experience is that tyres, once flat spotted, never recover, and the warranty stats can be littered with claims if the transit pressures aren't set and then checked and maintained through the storage and/or transit process. It's not so much about the rubber taking a set - although this does happen temporarily - it's more about the tyre steel reinforcements taking a set.

Pump then up to 60psi and check monthly. Attach a tie-on label to the wheel or trailer hitch to remind you to lower them to the correct running pressure before you next go out

Waterman · 16 November 2011, 10:53

Doing a job on a friends trailer at the moment which has been neglected over the years. Braking system is completely redundant and backing plates are completely rotten and falling to pieces. He only uses it as a yard trailer so doesn't want/need a braked trailer.
Need to change all the bearings and a couple of the hubs.
Anyone see any problems with fitting new braked hubs (no brakes being fitted) but not replacing the backing plates??

Trailer Guy · 16 November 2011, 12:24

None whatsoever, providing the backplates are out of the way and no gnarly bits are going to foul the new drums.

I've got a little 16' open bass fisher, which is on an unbraked roller trailer. I removed the standard unbraked hubs and fitted braked drums instead (obviously without and backplates etc), as this allowed me to fit really wide wheels (because the braked style drum is obviously much deeper than the unbraked type), so I can happily tow across sand and shingle with no fear of sinking.

Waterman · 16 November 2011, 15:25

That confirms my thinking on it.
Cheers trailer guy!!

spartacus · 16 November 2011, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

Pump then up to 60psi and check monthly. Attach a tie-on label to the wheel or trailer hitch to remind you to lower them to the correct running pressure before you next go out

Going to whip off the wheels anyway to replace the bearings and leave the trailer on jack-stands for the winter.