John White
Gold Member
I have a 12K gvw 16' trailer and have been looking for a used one for about 5 years. I Wanted a 14k gvw and 16' with a 2' dove tail. Hard to find. I didn't want to pay more than what I could get out of my present trailer. It has served me well for 10 years and is a well built trailer. I found a 16+2 on Craig list in Pa. It didn't look too bad by the pictures. He said the tires were bad. So I made arrangements to go look at and pick it up between snow storms. (450 miles) I took the usual things you might need in picking up as trailer. Magnetic lights with plug already attached, screw drivers, wire cutters, tape, circuit tester, jack, spare tire, crescent wrench, pliers.. It was getting late in the evening when I got there, about 10 degrees, way out in the boonies.. It was a Load Trail. 2010. He said they bought it new and hadn't used it in two years because they got a shorter trailer for their bobcat. He said in Pa. you have to have them inspected every two years, including pulling the wheels checking the brakes and bearings.. I looked it over and I could see it needed tires (he told me that) I wasn't sure I could make it home on the ones on it. It needed new stake pickets welded back on it, probably a new paint job to make it look good. I jacked it up to check the bearings, they all made a little noise when turning them, rust from sitting so long. One seemed a little tight but not bad. I got the lights hooked on it. I was sort of disappointed in the condition. Has powder coated wheels and most paint is chipped off it and rusted. I felt bad after driving all that distance. and going back empty. I made him a offer of $1000 less than what he had it listed on Craig list. He took it. We had to drive several miles to get title notarized . By the time I got back to trailer it was after dark and getting colder. I hooked up and off I went. Stopped about 25 miles to check the lights, hitch wheels, tires. I noticed one wheel was pretty hot. It cooled down very fast because it was so cold. Drove another 25 miles and hot again. I finally found something to knock the grease cap off (it had ez lube) I got my grease gun out which I seldom use that one. Grease was so cold and dried out, couldn't get it to work. Drove another 25 miles, pulled into a rest area. Took the grease gun inside the rest room, took a tooth pick and picked out all the old grease and threw the old tube away. Put a new tube in it and finally got it to pump. Lubed the spindle real good. Drove another 25 miles and checked it again, still very hot. Drove another 25 miles and got a motel. All I could vision was the bearing locking onto the spindle and ruining the axel. Next morning I want on a ways till I came to another rest area. Got the cap back off and finally got the cotter pin out. The axle nut was so tight I couldn't loosen it with pliers. Crescent wrench wasn't large enough. All I had a was a hatched and a masons hammer. Finally beat the nut off. Put it back on and properly tightened it. Made it on with no trouble. All my trailers over the years when first getting them home is to remove all wheels, inspect brake, clean and repack bearings. This could have turned out to be a real disaster.(one wheel is too lose) So much for Pa inspection. (if he ever had it done) So if you ever get a used trailer or new even, take a jack and jack it up and check wheel bearings.
