12ft sailing dinghy numpty needs help

[Croolis]

Ello. I bought a 12ft sailing dinghy (Graduate) a couple years ago and basically never used it (bought another one and used that instead).

Am changing clubs, went to move the boat this afternoon and one of the road tyres on the combi trailer is flat. I attach a rubbish picture I took of the wheel.

I know nothing about trailer wheels. I've towed my sailboats about 3 times (when I bought them and last time I changed clubs) and never had to consider the wheels.

I don't know if it's tubed or not. Was in a rush and didn't get a chance to spend time with it. Was hoping to just drive it away but nothing's ever easy is it.

The tyre's off the rim. If it's tubed it won't inflate. But I guess it isn't tubed because when I had a quick go at undoing those nuts, with the weight of the trailer on the flat tyre, I couldn't get the nuts undone because the wheel rim rotated (did the full 360) inside the tyre, while the tyre didn't move. I didn;t have any time or handy tools to get the nuts off.

So the tyre is off the rim and I don't think it's tubed. The rim is corroded, so I think I'll just get a new wheel as I see a new wheel with tyre (4.8x4) for ~£30. The other wheel is good and the tyres and wheels look the same so I don't think just replacing one should be an issue?

Here's the stupid question: do I just need to undo the four nuts to change the wheel? Nothing else I need to worry about? Answer seems obvious but never hurts to ask before spending money and time.

[Croolis]

Actually, please check me on the wheel/tyre choice.

Can just see in that rubbish pic I took 4.80/4.00 - 8

This right one?

https://www.trailertek.com/best-sell...caAptNEALw_wcB

Thx for help.

[ShinyShoe]

OK

I hate to be the bearer of gloom. But if 1 wheel has corroded are you sure you want to be trusting the other equally ignored brother at 60mph on the outside lane of a motorway...

I'd replace both and keep your 'good' as a spare.

Total cost like you say ~£60. (Check eBay 2 for ~£50). It's usually cheaper to replace the wheel than the tyre. So you don't care about tubes but I've never known them be tubed.

If the wheel is jiggered how are the bearings?

They are almost always a 4inch PCD but I think there is a metric 100mm version as well which is <2mm smaller and can screw you over.

If I was turning up to buy your boat with that wheel, I'd be bringing 2 new wheels, 2 hubs with bearings, grease, a bottle jack and a wheel wrench (probably 17 or 19mm) (although if you are doing the bearing - you can avoid the seized bolts altogether).

If I was more confident I'd still be bringing some spare bearings.

[Steve509926]

100% with ShinyShoe.

[Croolis]

Cheers. I'm going to drive that boat about 30 miles and park it for another very long time. TBH unless the bearings are completely shot (I'll check), they'll do for that journey.

The other wheel is fine I think. I'll take a closer look to be sure (like I say, I was rushing, it's true), but saw no corrosion, no cracks in tyres. It had remained inflated and I successfully stuck some more air in it today.

I was going to sell the boat but since I've had a look at it today I think I'm actually going to keep it.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Croolis

Actually, please check me on the wheel/tyre choice.

Can just see in that rubbish pic I took 4.80/4.00 - 8

This right one?

https://www.trailertek.com/best-sell...caAptNEALw_wcB

Thx for help.

Yes thats the correct wheel just undo the 4 nuts & swap it over the nuts go on with the taper towards the wheel (100mm pcd wheels come without grease nipple cut out ) yours are 4" pcd. Buying 2 isnt a bad shout then you have an inflated spare too. Not a bad plan to at least spin the wheels & make sure the bearings aren't rough, should spin easily with little or no rumble. A few strokes of grease from a grease gun wouldnt go amiss too

[Croolis]

Cheers for that. Yeah I'll check the bearings. I was a motorcycle courier for 10 years so I sort of know when bearings are a bit ropey, though I know nothing about trailer wheels, it's true. I'm confident enough in my own judgement to make that 30 mile trip or not.

Thing that concerns me most is getting those sodding nuts off...

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Croolis

Thing that concerns me most is getting those sodding nuts off...

A bit of heat from a torch on the outside of the nuts usually helps.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Croolis

Cheers for that. Yeah I'll check the bearings. I was a motorcycle courier for 10 years so I sort of know when bearings are a bit ropey, though I know nothing about trailer wheels, it's true. I'm confident enough in my own judgement to make that 30 mile trip or not.

Thing that concerns me most is getting those sodding nuts off...

The difficulty will be holding the wheel still , a small ratchet strap around the tyre & or wheel onto the trailer chassis might be a help in stopping the wheel turning as the boat wont be heavy enough to hold the wheel still. The nuts dont look particularly rusty so shouldnt need heat but they are often an awkward size being 11/16" which is 17.5mm which makes a standard wheel brace often too tight, if you dont have 11/16 socket then a 6 point 18mm does the trick.

[Croolis]

Think I've got the Imperial. 18mm fits but wasn't tight, I was finding that this afternoon. But also finding the socket I had wasn't deep enough to clear the shank end, though it's on the nut enough to work, I hope.

The boat is off the road trailer (it's a combi trailer so the launch trolley lifts off with the boat on it). 'Cos the tyre is off the rim the wheel kept spinning, while the tyre didn't move lol. I'll get someone to sit on it .

Need to find something to use as a breaker bar.

[Steve509926]

I always try to keep the nut that I'm undoing at the bottom of the wheel and the wheel brace (or torque wrench) parallel with the floor. That way you have less rotational force trying to spin the wheel.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Croolis

Think I've got the Imperial. 18mm fits but wasn't tight, I was finding that this afternoon. But also finding the socket I had wasn't deep enough to clear the shank end, though it's on the nut enough to work, I hope.

The boat is off the road trailer (it's a combi trailer so the launch trolley lifts off with the boat on it). 'Cos the tyre is off the rim the wheel kept spinning, while the tyre didn't move lol. I'll get someone to sit on it .

Need to find something to use as a breaker bar.

A ratchet strap tightened around the wheel onto the frame of the trailer will hold the wheel to undo the nuts

[Croolis]

Cheers folks. Don't have this problem on a motorcycle .

[Steve509926]

Hi Croolis,

These may be of interest:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204668420...mis&media=COPY

[Croolis]

Thx fella.