Don't be That Guy!
We have all seen people on the side of the road with a broken-down trailer. Especially this time of year when everyone is heading to the water for the first time of the season. Don’t Be That Guy!
The three common failures on boat trailers are bearings, brakes and tires. All are very easy to check and relatively inexpensive to fix.
Trailer Bearings. Trailer bearings are probably the least expensive item on our list. You should repack the wheel bearings for your boat trailer yearly. The repair can be as inexpensive as a couple wheel bearing seals and some grease.
A boat trailer is different from a standard utility trailer. This is because the wheel hubs go underwater every time we put the boat in or take it out of the water. This means if you have a spindle seal that is leaking, it has the possibility to allow water into the bearings.
After a long winters rest that means rust on the bearings. Rust and bearing don’t play well together and soon you’ll have a failure.
Carrying a replacement hub is a great insurance policy. As long as the spindle is the same size as a standard hub, you could replace a brake hub just to get you off the road. Please remember, you won’t have brakes, but will allow you to get off the main road to do a proper repair.
Here are general guidelines for repacking wheel bearings. Your trailer may have different options, check your owners manual.
Time to Complete: roughly 30 minutes per bearing (depending on the level of expertise)
Tools and Materials Required:
1. Shop rags
2. Heavy-duty rubber gloves (optional)
3. NLGI GC-LB & SAE J2695 grease
Steps:
1. Place a small amount (about the size of a half-dollar) of grease on your hand.
2. Press a section of the widest end of the bearing into the outer edge of the grease pile closest to the thumb forcing grease into the interior of the bearing.
3. Repeat this while rotating the bearing from roller to roller.
4. Continue this process until the entire bearing is filled with grease.
5. You should see grease through the rollers to confirm that the grease has worked through the bearing.
6. Before reinstalling, apply a light coat of grease to the bearing cup. Confirm there are no spots left without grease
Trailer Brakes. Trailer brakes are another area that can easily rust over a long winter's rest. First, check the master cylinder. Is if there is the proper level of fluid in the master cylinder?
Check for rust inside the master cylinder. If rusty, you may want to clean or replace it because that rust will make its way into the brakes through the hydraulic lines. This rust can cause the brake failure.
Next, inspect the brakes shoes or pads by pulling off the hub or wheel. By pulling the brake drum, this will give you the opportunity to repack the bearings in the drum. Before you do anything, inspect the drum for grooves or excessive wear.
Now check out the backing plates, springs, brake shoes, wheel cylinder and springs. If you see anything suspicious, like a leaking wheel cylinder or worn brake shoes, you can easily replace these parts.
Many times people find that replacing the backing plate is much easier. This is actually a complete brake assembly that installs with just 4 bolts and connecting the brake line, bleed, adjust and done!
Tires. Checking your tires is no different than checking them on your car. Look for proper amount tread and any wear patterns that may be of concern. Look for any signs of dry rot or checkering on the sidewalls of the tire.
Problems with any of these items call for a time to replace those tires. Check the air pressure to make sure it matches what’s on the sidewall of the tire. Most importantly, don’t forget a spare!
These quick tips will hopefully keep you from being “That Guy” broke down on the side of the road.
Below is a few more tips to make your keep your trailer up to snuff, and maybe your trailer experience more enjoyable.
- Checking your lights regularly can help identify and fix problems early. It may just be a bad ground connection or faulty bulbs. Check them before they cause major problems.
- Upgrade to LED. Enhance your road visibility by utilizing LED tail, brake, turn and reverse lights for trailers. LED lights can last 30-40 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs, which saves you time and money.
- Check trailer winch and strap. Check the winch and lubricate the drum and gears according to the manufacturer's instructions. Review the straps. Frayed stitching, tears, cuts, and extreme fading all indicate that you need to replace the winch strap.
- Add Bow safety cable. A bow safety chain provides a reliable and essential connection between the boat and the bow stand of the trailer. This chain aids in the safe loading and transport of your pontoon.
- Check trailer bunks to determine if they need replaced. Bunk boards often face exposure to water, which can cause them to rot and become spongy over time. Look for signs of mold, mildew or a soft, spongy texture.
- If the bunk carpet looks torn, worn, or shows signs of damage, it can scratch the boat's hull, so you should replace it. You can find bunk carpet, Ubolts, bolster brackets and trailer rollers and shafts at PontoonRestore.com. You can readily find treated wood at your local home improvement store.
- Transom tie downs. Tie down are an absolute must for transporting your pontoon. Secure your boat with ease using the Kwik-Lok Transom Tie-Down from Boat Buckle. Many new trailers feature a new style that includes retractable elements, so users never lose them.
- Side Guides. Look like a pro at the ramp this year by adding side guides to make loading the boat a breeze this year! If having the best visual aid is your top priority, post-style guides are the better choice.