Trailers

[Fingers]

I went to sunny Anglesey a few weeks back to drag the tub back home for the winter. It was blowing a bit of a gale and hammering down on the drive back, and even taking it slow, it was a nightmare of a journey.
I was towing an 18ft fast fisher with a 75HP outboard behind a Discovery. The Snipe rollercoaster trailer is less than 12 months old but the whole lot was all over tha place. Even at below 50mph it was swaying from side to side like Michael Flatley after 10 pints of Guiness.
I put the instability down to the weather, however I jacked the trailer up for the Winter last week and, blow me, the wheel bearings are shot! The trailer has done less than 400 miles, Kirkham to Hollyhead, Hollyhead to Manchester, and has only been dunked once. Also, I noticed that it appears to be bent! The boat is within the rated weight for the trailer, and it has only been launched and recovered once. I think a phone call to the suppliers is in order.
Just goes to show, dont event trust new stuff to luck - check and check again less you want to find your pride and joy scattered over the M56 like fiberglass confetti.

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[BarryH]

Um no a call to the suppliers is not in order from what I can see because, a. you've launched it let it sit there for a long period of time. So water got into the bearings, which it will, then you've left it idle. Nothin' kills bearing quicker than letting them sit in wet water doing nothing. Also if it be salt water thats even worse as it will also knacker the brake shoes as well.

b. it was swaying al over the shop 'cos probably there was too much weight behind the axle.That will always make for a swayey sawyey trailer. Did you check the nose weight of it ?, was it within the limits of the Disco?

Oh and c, Why didn't you follow your own advice about "check and check again"!

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[lanason]

No you've got it all wrong !!!

Trailers are delicate creatures and are very sensitive - they get upset being towed by a Disco, and have a tantrum, thrashing about and not doing as they are told.

I suggest a change of towcar is in order here /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

p.s. For Sale - Toyota Land Crusier 3.0 TD 8 seats, ABS, Aircon, .........

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[Dave1258]

Ady,...I hate to see you upset mate, but that piccy (top left in more pics of Kelisha) is not a Toyota Land Crab ok?
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[jon_bailey]

I agree with a lot of what BarryH says (in this thread only /forums/images/icons/smile.gif) and would certainly look at the nose weight before blaming the bearings, although if it is bent how on earth did this happen?

I have a Snipe trailer brochure in front of me and although I chose a different make, Snipe trailers have a good reputation and should come with sealed bearings. Which model do you have?



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[BarryH]

Gee thanks for the vote of confidence Jon! Love you too /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[YINDOOR1]

I have had a little experience of thrailers. I would suggest that if you will be towing over any distance at all. The boat will sit better behind the car if it has a double axle. I also tow an 18ft boat which is about 3/4 of a ton all up. I would not contemplate towing it with a single axle trailer.

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[gjgm]

Re: barryh

Well i cant read he left it in the water for a long period of time, and then left it idle.
But I would agree with you that if he did do so and didnt wash the bearings as best he could, he is unlikely to get much support from the manufacturer. But it could well be the release springs failing to pull the shoes back off (because they are now solid rust) has caused the bearings to overheat, boil the lubricant out.. and the party is over.
I think that even if it is foul weather, towing what is not a great deal behind a very competent tow car should lead you think...umm wonder whats up with my load, stop and have a look, rather than carry on at 10mph below the maximum limit.
And did anyone set the trailer up for this boat, I wonder, or was it just plonked on and off we go....

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[itsonlymoney]

Re: barryh

Cant see one launching doing any harm even if it wasnt dryed off after. More like a nose weight problem or. Was there anything in the boat that could have effected weight distribution ? either way a stabiliser may sort it.

Ian



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[lanason]

Re: barryh

I've towed caravan for years and "snakeing" as its called is caused by any or more of the following:-
1) Low tyre pressures
2) Low Nose Weight
3) High weight at the rear of the trailer / caravan - gives the pendulum effect and of course reduces the weight on the nose.
4) Low tyre pressures on the back of the towcar.
5) It is also exaggerated by a big rear over hang from the rear wheels of the car to the towing point.

IMHO


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[BarryH]

Re: barryh

You and ggm are mising the point. I didn't say it was left in the water too long, What I said was that it was launched and the left for a long period. And YES one launching and left idle for a long period of time will knacker the bearings. Especially if the bearings weren't left to cool down before the trailer was dunked. If you dunk hot bearings they cool rapidly and draw in water very quickly.


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[Fingers]

Hullo,

Launched the boat, trailer left in car park for 6 hours, recovered the boat & drove back to the farm where it is kept (15 miles), sluced the lot with a hose pipe - fastidiously drench the hubs - always have. The trailer never gets left in the water longer than it has to.

As for nose weight, as far as I know it was not set up for us, as the boat had no outboard on when we aquired it. I suspect that the nose weight is the issue. I have had it on the scales and it shows about 60lb. It 'feels' lighter than the previous boat did, and that was only 15 ft on an ancient rusty trailer, that was far more stable on the road than this one is.

So, I agree that the stability could be a set-up problem, possibly the reason why the aft section of the trailer is ever so slightly (about 3/4 of an inch) bent. The bearings however I cannot account for. They are 'lifetime sealed', so unless they were faulty from the outset, or had never been packed with grease, I would not have expected a single dunking to screw them. I cant see the lack of nose weight harming them either.

I will have a word with the supplier and see what he has to say for himself.

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[oldharry]

Nose weight is not the only problem - weight distribution is also critical on many outfits. You were towing with a 75hp outboard right out on the back end of the load, and this weight would have been quite enough to cause severe snaking, even if the nose weight was correct. The situation could have been made even worse if there was much fuel stored near the back end as well (just under 4kg/gallon).

Weight distribution on a single axle set up is almost as critical as nose weight, as many caravanners have found to their cost!

As to the bearings, if they were proper 'sealed for life' units then you may have some cause to go back to the makers at least for a 'comment' on such a short 'life'! Rinsing bearings with water will not save them if seawater has entered. I always carry a grease gun to pump grease through the bearings after a dunking. This ensures any water present is expelled before it does damage - and have never had bearings fail in the 30 years I have been doing this (many different trailers of course!).

As to the chassis damage - most trailers weight limits are imposed by the suspension units fitted, and the chassis themselves are capable of taking much heavier loads - there is usually a big safety margine to take abuse and shock loadings safely.

If/when the outfit is mobile again, get it weighed at a public weighbridge. You might be quite surprised at the all up weight. Until recently I used to tow a 20 footer, which was said to weigh 17cwt. I was quite astonished to find that, on the trailer ready to go with all the gear and everything aboard, it topped 28cwt!


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[me2]

Sealed for life bearings mean they are packed with grease and do not need more.They do let water in and do rust 1 dip in water and they will rust.If not used alot they must be replaced evey year.They are ment for the back wheels of cars so water does not do them any good. After 25 years working on all makes of trailers i can tell you there is no waterproof bearings out there.

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[oldharry]

Agreed - that's why I never used 'sealed bearings' - you cant push the water back out of them. The only way is to push plenty of grease in EVERY time they are dunked.

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[BarryH]

So if I read this right. Sealed for life bearings need no/cannot be greased or recieve any maintenance for their servicable life. Which on average is one year. I 'spose the cost of these things is greater than "normal bearings".

Now seeing as I've had the same bearings in the hubs of my trailer for the past 5 years, since I put new suspension on it, and have only ever pumped then full of grease and stripped them once a year for cleaning, brake adjustment etc etc. These sealed for life jobs seem to be a total waste of money.

I never go to the trailer places for bearings as the mark up is in the realms of "rip off". Much prefer to go to my local bearing and seal supplier and furnish my 4 wheel trailer with 20 quids worth instead of nearly 100 quids worth.

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[lanason]

Who do you use for the bearings - as I need to give mine the once over after Xmas.

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[BarryH]

Mercury Bearings & Seals. They are a local company to me. Yer best bet is to look thru the yellow pages and see who's in your area. Most places will sell to the likes of you and me at trade prices. Especially if you walk in with greasy hands and dirty jeans/overalls.
Just take the numbers off of the bearings you remove and quote them. They'll do the same with the seals on the back of the hubs. It works out way cheaper than buying at the trailer places. Indespension bearing kits are a just SKF bearings in a different bag. You pay a hell of a lot for that bag!

While you at it, get yerself a 2lb tub of the white grease as well. Pack it in with no air spaces in the hub, even fill the dust cap with it. The bearings will last for ages. I've had the same set on mine for the last 5 years. I've just stipped them out for the annual overhaul and they are fine for another year. Need another set of brake shoes though!

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[me2]

Yes that is right sealed bearings can not be greased the grease is in them from new there is no point putting grease in the hub it cant get to the bearing.Water can get in it sits at the bottom of the race and rusts.If the trailer is used alot for alot of miles they will last well and do about 3 years but if they are used once a year and do a few miles the do not heat up and get rid of the water.Bearings from independent trailer dealers are not dear we keep prices low as there is no one telling us how much to charge as i said sealed bearings are from cars like the astra all the same alway check them the same way as normal bearings they will let you down

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[Fingers]

Result!

Spoke to the supplier on Saturday. A new set of bearings is on its way!
I will also fiddle about with the weight distribution over the winter, probrably move the axle back a good few inches to get the nose weight back up.

Cheers for all the suggestions. I think I might just have to buy a bigger boat and get a birth at Hollyhead.

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