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Old 05-14-2018, 11:06 AM   #1
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About those wheel bearings....

So, I picked up a new to me Swivel Wheel Trailer for my fiver.....and neglected to check/repack the wheel bearings. Sucks to be me....and I know better.....They gave up about half a mile from getting on the interstate and a good Samaritan notified me at a red light. Inner bearing welded to spindle, so it's at a shop now, getting a new spindle.


So - don't neglect the maintenance, it'll cost ya!


On the good side, we were only 20 minutes from our friends farm, where we returned to with the fiver, and we didn't make it to the interstate, where life would have really sucked for us when the wheel fell off.


All in all, a slightly expensive, slightly inconvenient reminder to not neglect the maintenance.
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Old 05-14-2018, 12:09 PM   #2
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I would think that the caster shaft or king pin has some bearings too.

May want to check them.
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Old 05-14-2018, 05:52 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by aknavy View Post
On the good side, we were only 20 minutes from our friends farm, where we returned to with the fiver, and we didn't make it to the interstate, where life would have really sucked for us when the wheel fell off.
The trailer wheel probably would not have departed. Smoke and scream a lot, but not separation of the wheel from the axle. I had the same problem on my 5er on U.S. 70 between Phoenix and Lordstown NM. We were about half way to Lordstown when the trailer axle began smoking. More than 50 miles to the KOA, and I knew the axle was already ruined, so we slowed down to about 55 MPH and hobbled in to Lordstown.

I had enough tools and jacks and jack stands with us to R&R the axle, so I removed the axle Friday afternoon. There were no RV shops in Lordstown, so we drove 250 miles to El Paso to get a new axle. We ordered the axle Friday night, and it was delivered in El Paso Tuesday morning.

Darling Daughter lived in El Paso, so we spent the weekend with her. Not a disaster, but 500 miles extra road trip without the trailer.

Lesson learned: Hauling a loaded tool box, floor jack, bottle jack, and jack stands paid off. I didn't need an expensive RV rescue outfit from Tucson or El Paso to drive a coupla hundred miles to R&R the trailer axle.
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Old 05-15-2018, 07:18 AM   #4
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So, at the end of the day, the spindle wasn't ruined - the rear bearing and race had welded to it, but was able to be removed. Took my axle to Midway Trailer in Bell Buckle, TN at 8:30 in the morning and had it back by 2:30 in the afternoon. He took care of the welded bearing, cleaned up the spindle, put new bearings in the hub all for $150 after tax. Pleasantly surprised!

I put everything back together, checked the top bearing, and reloaded last night, will give it a test later today.

Now that I know what bearings I need, I'm traveling with an extra set, and an extra hub. Hopefully this won't happen again.

Would have gotten on the road last night, but the wife's voice of reason won out and we stayed put!
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Old 05-15-2018, 03:52 PM   #5
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I carry an extra hub with bearings and races installed. I also carry a extra set of bearing and races already packed with grease. I figure if I lose one set of bearing can change the hub and be on the road quickly. Get to campground and install extra set of bearing in removed hub and now still have a spare.
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Old 05-16-2018, 07:18 AM   #6
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Well, that ended poorly. While the new wheel bearings performed, and are still performing great, the spindle decided it was done and broke off, sending my wheel into the woods. Made it a whopping 7 miles. Roadside took it back to our friends place and we spent another night there.

Today, we shall re-arrange our load and continue our trip without the f$#@$ing trailer. While on our trip, I think I'll have a new axle put on it, and retrieve it on our way home.

Anyone have experience with Axles and More by Joe? Seems to be a sturdier axle that what is put on stock from SwivelWheel.

https://www.axlesandmorebyjoellc.com/
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