Week before last I saw on the Boat and Motors forum page of CharlestonFishing.com where one of our members, Saltwater, posted he checked his trailer bearings and discovered saltwater had infiltrated the hub. He went on to say how fortunate he was to have caught this problem early and avoided a costly repair, not to mention the possibility of being stranded on the roadside.
Saltwater’s post was a great reminder to all of us to get our trailer maintenance done while weather may not be the best and before the season gets in full swing. The post also reminded me of this article I put together several years ago. Thought it would be a good time to run this article again.
When was the last time you checked your trailers temperature? I check mine every trip! Okay, I know by now that most of you are scratching your head and wondering what I am talking about. Checking a trailers temperature? Sure my father got me in that habit some years ago, and now I do it on a regular basis no matter what I am towing. Simply place your hand on the hubs after a short tow or on a regular basis during long tows. If the hubs are heating up, you know your bearings are worn or running short on grease, and a major problem and serious damage is sure occur if it has not already.
As we all know saltwater can really wreak havoc on a boat trailer, and a boat trailer that is not properly maintained is sure to leave you stranded on the roadside. With the windy days of March right around the corner getting out on the water can be quite tough. So instead of sitting in the house and watching the trees double over I to use the time to perform some routine trailer maintenance that may help prevent breakdowns.
Here are a few preventative maintenance ideas that may help keep you from being stranded on the roadside at 6 o’clock on a Sunday afternoon:
- Hubs should be packed with marine grade axel grease. Dust seals located on the inside of hub are notorious for failing and when these seals fail salt water and sand may enter the hub thus