PM for a 500 Mile Round Trip

[radioman]

I never had my trailer tires balanced, but after hearing the testimonies here, i guess I'll add it on my to do list this winter -pull off all the trailer tires and check the balance. Between 3 trailers that is 10 tires to check!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I broke down and bought some new dust caps for the hubs since I only had one of four. I measured the single remaining dust cap with a micrometer and came up with 1 15/16" for the ID on the hub. I looked up a few trailer places on-line and saw that the common size closest to my measurement is 1.98". I bought a set of 1.98" dust caps from the local farm/hardware/autoparts store figuring there must have been some slop in the measurement, but there's just no fitting them on.

I re-measured the remaining old dust cap and it's exactly 1 15/16 inches. My micrometer is pretty accurate down to the 1/64" and the little needle couldn't line up more perfectly on the center of the mark for 15/16".

So, where do I get dust caps that are 1 15/16"?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I sell and work on trailers for a hobby. I had to dress down a set of 1.98's on the bench grinder just this summer to fit. Just keep it round and it will work. I run into this from time to time.

Chris

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I sell and work on trailers for a hobby. I had to dress down a set of 1.98's on the bench grinder just this summer to fit. Just keep it round and it will work. I run into this from time to time.

Chris

I thought about this, but the metal is less than 1/16" thick. By the time I grind off enough to make it fit, I think it'll be approaching the thickness of aluminum foil. I may be able to fit it in if it's just a little bigger. I guess it's worth a try since I've got the cap now and it has enough hammer marks in it that it's not returnable.

I take it that if you do trailers regularly and you had to resort to grinding a 1.98" down it means I'm wasting my time looking for a 1 15/16".

 

[Diamondpilot]

I actually never use dust caps but instead use buddy bearings. They are about 1/8" steel so there is alot more meat to work with.

Chris

 

[teg]

Couple of months ago, I had to replace the axle of my trailer (3 years old). I didn't grease the axle... I bought a set of Genuine Bearing Buddy and don't plan to have to replace the axle again. Trailer is rated for 3500# but I don't plan to load it near that much and will grease it every 6 months. A BIG rubber mallet helps when you install them.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I'm about a heartbeat away from just putting this trailer back together as is and buying a car hauler that a guy has advertised locally on Craig's list.

When I add the cost of new brake hubs and all the trappings to what I estimate the current value of this trailer to be, I'll be well over the cost of what I think I can get this other trailer for if I dicker real hard. This project could very quickly become one of those sequences where one thing leads to another until I'm in it way over my head.

This trailer has done a great job for me, but I really want brakes. I'll hate to give up the tilt bed, though.

Decisions... decisions...

 

[Rara Avis]

I never had my trailer tires balanced, but after hearing the testimonies here, i guess I'll add it on my to do list this winter -pull off all the trailer tires and check the balance. Between 3 trailers that is 10 tires to check!

Well, you could always try this...

"Centramatic Automatic Truck Wheel Balancers will save you tires.Trucks and Hummers, wheel balancer, tire balancer, Centramatic,tire balancer for horse trailers,tire balancing,wheel balance,spin balance,tire rotation,18 wheeler,tire tread,wheel weigh

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Update: DW got the wheels painted for me last night. It was a trade... I put the porch back together for her (different story), and she painted the wheels for me. She's so much better at painting than I am.

The plan for tonight is that after I take the rugrats trick-or-treating and after I take them to see my grandpa and after I take them to see my mom, I'm going to mount the tires on the rims. I'll check fit two of them on the trailer to make sure the added tire size isn't going to be a problem.

Saturday Morning I'm taking the wheels down to the Co-Op to have them balanced and then I'll mount the wheels on the trailer and I'm off to rototill gardens!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Here's a opinion question:

When I put the split wheels back together with the new shiny bolts, should I leave the nuts to the outside like they were before, or should I have the bolt heads showing to the outside?

I'm thinking it's just a matter of preference, but I'm wondering what the rest of you have to say about it.