Thinking it’s time for trailer maintenance….brakes and bearings on my mind

Looking at my 5 year old AlumaCraft trailer in the barn and thinking… wonder how the brakes and bearing are doing? I trailer about several times a week in summer. Several times a year up to Ontario and I’d sure hate to have a breakdown. Driving up to Outing from the Twin Cities on Sunday I saw a surprising number of boats being towed on 169. And yes, I drove past several pulled over to the side with trailer issues. Don’t want that to be me.
Ok I have a two wheel trailer with an AlumaCraft 185 Competitor and 90 hp tiller on it. Surge brakes and bearing buddies. I keep the bearing buddies up on grease but I’ve never had the surge brake system checked out. So should I have the brakes checked over? Flush and replace brake fluid? I’ve never checked the level in 5 years I’ve had it. What about the bearing? Regrease or replace? Oh and should I take it to a marine store or a trailer shop? I’m between Brainerd and Grand Rapids. Cross lake is near by. Any suggestions, experiences?

Like you I take several Canada trips a year. So every few years I have my bearings checked and replaced if needed and at least repacked. Probably overkill but in Canada is the last place I want to have a issue. As far as the Brakes go, Never bothered to mess with those. I have added a little fluid from time to time. to be honest, I’m not even sure how those work and what should be done to them .

Don’t overlook the tires themselves – just because they have tread doesn’t mean they are good. Pair of new tires is cheap insurance. Along with bearings. I can guarantee you those rigs weren’t on the side of the road because of brakes! But yes, a look over the braking system won’t hurt.

One thing that is slick is you can buy a pregreased hub. So if you ever had trouble you could just swap hubs in 10ish minutes and be back on the road.

Most any auto or trailer shop can help you. If you like I can recommend a shop in Crosslake that can help. They will tear down inspect and replace if needed the bearing and install new seals. The brakes I probably wouldn’t worry to much about. The tires as mentioned if the rig is 5 years old are probably ok but you just said in the 5 years you have had it so might be worth replacing them also.

I also carry a ready to go complete hub when going any distance. Like Youbetcha mentioned.

You guys that have trailer breaks carry a pre greased hub ?

Yes please share your recommendation. Thank you.

isu22andy wrote:

You guys that have trailer breaks carry a pre greased hub ?

I carry a whole hub as a spare vs bearings and grease and what not.

You guys that have trailer breaks carry a pre greased hub ?

I carry a whole hub as a spare vs bearings and grease and what not.
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I assume these are not what you are thinking Andy…they are talking about bearing and hubs for bearing buddy type systems. Not oil bath systems like on a ranger trailer.

I’m a big fan of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If you are making sure the bearings are greased and the seals are good don’t touch them. Carry a spare setup.

As far as brakes go, those surge brakes will last a lifetime. Even if they do fail the trailer is still drivable. Add fluid and take a peak at the rotors. Unless they got gouged up (not sure how they would) then you are ok.

Michael Sell wrote:

Yes please share your recommendation. Thank you.

Victory Auto Service right in Crosslake they are attached to a Napa. Once you set up the appointment let me know via pm’s and I will call up there and make sure you get taken care of.

Matt Moen wrote:

I assume these are not what you are thinking Andy…they are talking about bearing and hubs for bearing buddy type systems. Not oil bath systems like on a ranger trailer.

Correct I had to replace mine or something, don’t recall exactly what happened but my tech said here he packed the bearing and handed me a whole set up the the drum and hub to carry with in case.

John Rasmussen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Matt Moen wrote:</div>
I assume these are not what you are thinking Andy…they are talking about bearing and hubs for bearing buddy type systems. Not oil bath systems like on a ranger trailer.

Correct I had to replace mine or something, don’t recall exactly what happened but my tech said here he packed the bearing and handed me a whole set up the the drum and hub to carry with in case.

This is what I did on my old shorelander trailer. The whole hub and bearing was like $35 and you could swap the whole works in 15 minutes. Never understood why guys would just try and replace bearings on the side of the road. Getting the race out of the hub would be damn near impossible unless you are bringing a puller with you.

What if the bearing race or races are welded to the spindle from over heating?How do you just put the hub on?

Michael,
Do you have a place in the Outing area?
I have a place on Roosie and know all the good spots, and a few on the lake.

Yes, I’m on Leavitt. I fish Rosie a lot.

Ok thanks John for the recommendation. I’ll contact them.

A few thoughts and recommendations of mine. My trailer has disc brakes on it so unless you are prepared and have the correct tools, there’s some odd ones you’ll be screwed. I always have all the stuff and am prepared for the worst but it’s never happened. Carry one of the small floor jacks with you. This is a life saver if you have the tools and know how to do the job. As mentioned above if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Most of the time unless you know what you’re doing and are good at it you’ll do more harm than good. I recommend jacking up each tire off the ground and spin it and wiggle it to check for excessive play or a rough sound. Lastly am I the only one that absolutely hates bearing buddies? I think it’s the stupidest most pointless invention ever created that causes 100 more times damage than what they prevent. My last trailer and everything else I own has the ez lube hubs and those get the job done the way it should work. I can’t count how many times I’ve had those stupid bearing buddies come off and make a huge mess and let all the grease out and then on top of it if you don’t notice it before you put the boat in your $hit is filled with water. Ok rant over. Hopefully I helped someone out a little.

Victory Auto Service right in Crosslake they are attached to a Napa. Once you set up the appointment let me know via pm’s and I will call up there and make sure you get taken care of.
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I’m dropping it off tomorrow John. They do have very good reviews. I’ve driven by and the shop always looks very professional.

Awesome I will reach out

chuck100 wrote:

What if the bearing race or races are welded to the spindle from over heating?How do you just put the hub on?

Then you’re just plain screwed.

Matt Moen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>chuck100 wrote:</div>
What if the bearing race or races are welded to the spindle from over heating?How do you just put the hub on?

Then you’re just plain screwed.

Cut off wheel and a chisel and a punch would give you a fighting chance. When I’m pulling the boat I have a tool box I always toss in the box of the truck just incase. No offense towards anyone but if your bringing you boat in to get the bearings done there’s pretty much zero chance your going to learn how to do it on the side of the road. It’s definitely a good skill to learn and get good at.

I was trying to make that point Matt.
I have probably done 250-300 trailer bearing jobs not counting my own.I think and i’m on the light side but the boat trailers with 5 plus years between bearing jobs had bad bearings 50% of the time.
I agree with fins bearing buddies are not a cure all for regular maintenance.
I will say when you have to cut the races off the spindle the price of a bearing job goes up dramatically.

chuck100 wrote:

I was trying to make that point Matt.
I have probably done 250-300 trailer bearing jobs not counting my own.I think and i’m on the light side but the boat trailers with 5 plus years between bearing jobs had bad bearings 50% of the time.
I agree with fins bearing buddies are not a cure all for regular maintenance.
I will say when you have to cut the races off the spindle the price of a bearing job goes up dramatically.

do you have the ability to make an ice auger turn the right direction Chuck??????

EPG and iowaboy could use a hand from what i hear!!!!!

I hate those bearing buddies so much I’m about ready to take the leap and go to oil bath hubs. When I’m beating on something at work with a hammer and it’s being stubborn, I picture what I’m hitting as a bearing buddy and I can swing 10 times harder.

Matt Moen wrote:

You guys that have trailer breaks carry a pre greased hub ?

I carry a whole hub as a spare vs bearings and grease and what not.

I assume these are not what you are thinking Andy…they are talking about bearing and hubs for bearing buddy type systems. Not oil bath systems like on a ranger trailer.
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For some reason in my mind when I posted this I thought the rotor and hub were all one piece on the ranger systems . Definitely two separate . If I was going to carry a spare I’d just use grease pound a cap on till I got home and re assessed.

No hate here with bearing buddy’s – just don’t reuse them . Then they’ll fly off.

Any recommendations for bearing work in se mn?

isu22andy wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Matt Moen wrote:</div>
You guys that have trailer breaks carry a pre greased hub ?

I carry a whole hub as a spare vs bearings and grease and what not.

I assume these are not what you are thinking Andy…they are talking about bearing and hubs for bearing buddy type systems. Not oil bath systems like on a ranger trailer.

For some reason in my mind when I posted this I thought the rotor and hub were all one piece on the ranger systems . Definitely two separate . If I was going to carry a spare I’d just use grease pound a cap on till I got home and re assessed.

No hate here with bearing buddy’s – just don’t reuse them . Then they’ll fly off.

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I didn’t know they were a one time use way over priced item. I think I dislike them even more now. What makes them a one time use thing if you don’t mind me asking?

They fly off if you re use them. Happened to me and one of my buddies . My buddies didn’t even make it 5 minutes down the highway . Mine didn’t make it 30 minutes .

I’m guessing most bearing failure is do the the rear seal going out .. I check mine every few trips with a flashlight . No leaks I’m going to keep going . I know farmers in the ag industry who drive through cattle yards and slop with feed wagons who don’t change a wheel bearing for lifetimes.

Another tip on bearings. When you are going somewhere to fish, stop after 10 to 20 miles, and touch the hub with your hand. If it is cool or barely warm to the touch your bearings are probably good. If you can’t hold your hand on the hub, you had better head home instead of going fishing. Bearing service is in order.