Winter Trailer Towing - The Hull Truth

jerryclaybrook · 10-09-2009, 04:12 PM

I live in Wisconsin and am planning on towing my 196 Key West Bay Reef to Florida the end of Feb. for a few months. I have not yet put my boat in storage but will soon. A friend scared me with a horror story about towing trailer in winter. He has a dog trailer and was getting ready to leave for Georgia last Jan. and his wheels were frozen. He ended up replacing bearings and I don't know how extensive. He claims he has bearing buddies but has been told that the grease doesn't get to the inside ( ****** bearings. Is this an odd coincidence or something I need to be concerned with? I will be storing my boat in unheated building Nov.-March 1. I regularly feel my wheels and so far they are cool after trips. I don't want to pull the wheels off and regrease by hand unless really necessary. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Bamaskeetshooter · 10-09-2009, 04:51 PM

There is no way I would trailer from Wis. to Fl without looking at my bearings and replacing my seals and grease first.

Afishinado · 10-09-2009, 06:23 PM

I wouldn't even think of doing one of bi-annual NJ-Fl/FL-NJ runs without doing the hubs!

Andrew134 · 10-09-2009, 10:03 PM

I would replace the bearings before any long rip. You may be sorry if you dont.

ivank · 10-10-2009, 04:54 AM

I duck hunt and make normal runs of 1000-1500 miles on each 4-6 day trip, from late OCT through JAN. Typically I make 5-7 of these trips a year. Hubs are pulled and regreased every year and checked at every stop (checked for temp), and given a squirt of lube prior to rolling. I also carry a spare hub, a full grease gun, a jack stand, several blocks of lumber and KNOW that my truck jack will work on my trailer (its the one I use for trailer maintenance).

I had a "stellar" experience on the side of the road in West Virginia two years ago....blew out a hub, burned through part of the axle, had a great two days getting a new axle picked up, installed, and then finishing my drive back home.

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...and sitting on the side of the road in West Virginia an hour from nowhere on Halloween afternoon is not the best thing.....

jerryclaybrook · 10-10-2009, 01:04 PM

Guess I better get the hubs checked before I stored for the winter.

Thanks, you convinced me.

reelapeelin · 10-12-2009, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerryclaybrook

Guess I better get the hubs checked before I stored for the winter.

Thanks, you convinced me.

If it turns out you need to replace, look for American made bearings...they're gonna hold up better than offshore brands...Timken and there's another I can't recall the brand name are American made...yep, they'll cost a few more bucks, but worth every dime of it IMO...

Oh yeah...make sure you got a lug-wrench for the trailer lugs before you take off...and yeah, I did learn that the hard way

...an adjustable wrench w/a breaker bar got it done, but took all the fun outta the experience

... your tow vehicle's wrench may not work

jerryclaybrook · 10-12-2009, 04:03 PM

I spoke with the shop that installed my new disc brakes and they say the bearings are fine and grease looks good. They did put new hubs on the axle that had the disc brakes installed and checked the other axle ( tandem trailer). I do have a correct lug wrench and plan to carry a shop floor hydraulic jack. Supposed my bearings he says are the most common size so should be available almost anywhere. I think I will get a set just to have them in case things don't go as planned. I will feel bearing heat right after I get boat from storage and at every gas stop along the way to FL. Should be frequent since I only get 10-12 mpg and have a 25 gal tank.

I appreciate all the advice.

Andrew134 · 10-12-2009, 06:04 PM

Jerry, on my last trip I picked up a thermal temp guage with a lazer pointer at sears for $45. I checked my tires and hubs at every stop. They where all within a couple degrees. if not it will give you warning that somiething is wrong. For me It was worth it for the peace of mind. Good luck on your trip!

katkt · 10-12-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerryclaybrook

I spoke with the shop that installed my new disc brakes and they say the bearings are fine and grease looks good. They did put new hubs on the axle that had the disc brakes installed and checked the other axle ( tandem trailer). I do have a correct lug wrench and plan to carry a shop floor hydraulic jack. Supposed my bearings he says are the most common size so should be available almost anywhere. I think I will get a set just to have them in case things don't go as planned. I will feel bearing heat right after I get boat from storage and at every gas stop along the way to FL. Should be frequent since I only get 10-12 mpg and have a 25 gal tank.

I appreciate all the advice.

Get the Bearing Buddies. Carry a grease gun.

I dragged a 6x12 box trailer back and forth from Illinois to Pcola, more times then I care to remember.