Remember to pack your bearings!

[KHNewman]

I've been running mulch in my trailer lately and pushing the loads to the maximum. I was loading 10K of mulch into my 14K GVWR Flatbed trailer with wood sides. I pulled out of my backyard and as I turned onto the street I noticed that my rear drivers side tire was tilting out. I had a load of brush in the back but I was able to nurse it back into the driveway. I put a jack under the axel and as I lifted the trailer the whole tire and hub fell off the spindle.

Needless to say I was in shock. I have owned 4 different trailers over the last 15 years and I have never had a hub come off the spindle.

I bought this trailer used over the winter from a guy who was a full time mechanic and told me he had packed the bearings last year. Normally the first thing I do when I buy a used trailer is take it to the local trailer guy and have him check the brakes and pack the bearings. I was just busy and did not get around to it...now I need a new hub and have to get all the bearings packed.

The scary part is someone could have easily been killed if that wheel came off at 50MPH and hit a car head on. I can only thank God I noticed it while I was still in my yard. The deceiving part is that you could only notice it in sharp turns, once the tailer was driving straight you did not even notice a problem. Luckily the load was light enough I was able to nurse it to the dump on 3 wheels, unload the brush and then drive to the trailer guy and leave it for repair.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have done lots of towing, about 10,000 miles a year for about the last 20 years, and never had one come off but have had 1 set go bad. I pack them every other year.

Now I did have a scary situation. I got my uncle a 14k Bumper Pull Bri-Mar Dump back in 2006 and I borrowed it to go get a 5.5 ton load of coal for a guy, 300 mile round trip. Anyway the trailer did not have a spare tire and I was cringing the whole way. When I got home I decided to get him a spare so I ordered one and decided to try it out. I jacked up the trailer on the drives side and went to take the rear tire off. As I grabbed it the tire/hub slid in and out on the spindle about 2". I took off the dust cap and no cotter pin and the nut was on about 1.5 threads.

I tore every thing down and this was the only one missing a cotter pin. I got thinking about it and the drivers side is always trying to loosen as you drive forward while the passengers side is trying to tighten as you drive forward. I was lucky. I had been traveling at 75mp on I-70 and if that tire would have came off I am not sure how it would have ended for it or my brand new F-350.

Glad it turned out good for you also. If you need parts asap this is the guy I get all the stuff from for my marine business (boat trailers). He is the best and prices are great. Talk to Paul or Robin.

http://www.randpcarriages.com/

Chris

 

[KHNewman]

Chris...thanks for the link. It is scary the thought of losing a wheel at high speed. The day before this happened I had a 10K load on the trailer and if that wheel had come off then I think I could have easily flipped that trailer and wrecked.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris...thanks for the link. It is scary the thought of losing a wheel at high speed. The day before this happened I had a 10K load on the trailer and if that wheel had come off then I think I could have easily flipped that trailer and wrecked.

I only live a state over but I can buy from them and get it next day if ordered by noon and buy it cheaper than I can as a dealer most times. Real good people like I said.

Chris

 

[FlaDon]

I've been running mulch in my trailer lately and pushing the loads to the maximum. I was loading 10K of mulch into my 14K GVWR Flatbed trailer with wood sides. I pulled out of my backyard and as I turned onto the street I noticed that my rear drivers side tire was tilting out. I had a load of brush in the back but I was able to nurse it back into the driveway. I put a jack under the axel and as I lifted the trailer the whole tire and hub fell off the spindle.

Needless to say I was in shock. I have owned 4 different trailers over the last 15 years and I have never had a hub come off the spindle.

I bought this trailer used over the winter from a guy who was a full time mechanic and told me he had packed the bearings last year. Normally the first thing I do when I buy a used trailer is take it to the local trailer guy and have him check the brakes and pack the bearings. I was just busy and did not get around to it...now I need a new hub and have to get all the bearings packed.

The scary part is someone could have easily been killed if that wheel came off at 50MPH and hit a car head on. I can only thank God I noticed it while I was still in my yard. The deceiving part is that you could only notice it in sharp turns, once the tailer was driving straight you did not even notice a problem. Luckily the load was light enough I was able to nurse it to the dump on 3 wheels, unload the brush and then drive to the trailer guy and leave it for repair.

I think more and more of that type damage is due too road conditions. I had a bearing failure 3 weeks ago 900 miles into a 1200 mile trip. All bearings were tight and greased when I left home. Picked up a new axle set on the way home as the seal area is damaged on the old one. Even though it made it back here ok.

Having one fail but stay on is alot better than one failing at 65 MPH and flying off. Glad it was close to your place. Might not be any axle damage.

 

[The Haymaker]

Worst case someone could've been hurt. The potential for a lawsuit and being found liable could be very destructive no matter what. Get in the habit of walking around the trailer and doing a quick retinal scan of your equipment.

YouTube - truck lose a tire in highway


CBC News - Toronto - Woman killed as truck tire hits car

Notice who sponsors this article.

What happens when a driver doesn't check fluids in his hubs.

Another example of poor lubrication.

And, just to throw some humor back in the mix, a perfect example of why A.D.D. and youtube can keep me busy for hours!:confused2:

 

[RobertN]

I need to do my 5th wheel. I greased bearing, and inspected/replace brakes after I got it last summer(it is 10 years old). Glad I did, looked like dried up grease, and...two types of grease. Bearings and races were good though.

The 5th wheel came with all documentation. Dexter axles. The book said to remove, inspect, and grease yearly or something like 10,000 miles. So, it has been(almost) a year, and about 5500 miles.

While I did that, I did the same as a weekly and monthly we do on the fire engines at our station. Everything else was good.

Which reminds me, I need to do the same on my flatbed trailer...

I don't trust anyone selling used cars, tractors, motorcycles ect ect. Best to give them a good going over, even if they claim it was done recently. And, I enjoy doing that kind of stuff.

 

[newbury]

Had to comment:
YES check your wheels!!
I was going to Kings Dominion from Alexandria, Va with two of my sons and one of their friends in my Dodge B100 standard shift at about 50Mph. Summer Saturday morning, heavy traffic, middle lane. CROWDED.

Wheel and tire came off a boat trailer in front of me. Blasted thing BOUNCED up in the air about 20 to 30 feet and was headed right for my windsheild. Cars to the left and right beside me and no swerving possible. I downshifted and floored it, hoping to get under it.
Didn't.
Far enough.

It hit just above the windshield on the frame, just like I was heading a soccer ball. Not what I wanted, but good enough. I didn't pay much attention to the mayhem it caused behind me.

Since then I hate the middle lane.

 

[psj12]

I see trailers on the side of the road all the time that have lost a wheel and/or Hub.

 

[FlaDon]

Worst case someone could've been hurt. The potential for a lawsuit and being found liable could be very destructive no matter what. Get in the habit of walking around the trailer and doing a quick retinal scan of your equipment. .....

Every time I stop, I do a walkaround and feel the tire and axle temps. Last check on mine were at Wytheville, VA when stopped for gas. Under 100 miles before the failure. All temps were cool. Telling thing was the wrecker co we used had 3 trucks out on the same strech of I-77 at the same time with breakdowns to pickup. And at the southern end of the same bad strech, another wrecker co had 3 more that we saw while southbound. Kind of makes you wonder about the WV Turnpike, AKA the WV Washboard near Beckley.