Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[Garandman]

True enough... I just get concerned with very small diameter tires and the associated RPM's causing too much heat and eventual failure due to freeway plus speeds.

Most snowmobile trailers have 12” tires. These have a diameter of 20.5” so they turn roughly 975 turns per mile (or 975 rpm if you are going 60mph). The tow vehicle is 725.

Just got the recall letter but probably going to replace them with Carlisle or Kenda or something with a good track record when the weather gets warmer.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I bought one of the HF 40” x 48” trailers with 8” tires. I have a 4000 psi pressure washer with 13 HP Honda engine, that I’ve removed wheels from and installed on the HF trailer. Makes it easy to move around the Ranch to where it’s needed pulling it with my Polaris Ranger. It has never seen even 10 MPH. I will look into the tire recall though. I’ve thought about upgrading it to 12” tires / wheels as it has plenty of clearance under fenders.







I’ve thought seriously about buying another one, same size, for our 8 kW portable generator.

 

[sklunk]

Recall Notice Harbor Freight All Trailers and Replacement Tires.

I just looked at HF's website and there's not a single trailer, or road tire, listed.

Recall (PDF) on HF's website:

https://images.harborfreight.com/hftweb/recalls/Tire-Recall-Notice-to-Customers.pdf

NHTSA (fed) website PDF:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCLRPT-17T017-3269.PDF
excerpt:
"Number of potentially involved : 173,557
Estimated percentage with defect :100 %

My understanding from talking with someone at Harbor Freight is that the trailers themselves were fine but the problem was with the tires. However the whole thing is sold as complete kit so they pulled everything. Once the tire issue is resolved they hope to put the trailers back in stock.

 

[fried1765]

True enough... I just get concerned with very small diameter tires and the associated RPM's causing too much heat and eventual failure due to freeway plus speeds. It sounds like you maintain your bearings (most don't in my experience) so probably a mute point in your case.

For ALL size trailers!
There are five common trailer safety maintenance and/or use issues.

(1) Trailer wheel bearings have not been repacked ( bearing failure).

(2) Trailer tongue weight is a poor guess job ( towing on slippery surfaces is unsafe).

(3) Safety chains are not crossed.

(4) Trailer electric brake battery is inoperative.

(5) Trailer tires in very poor condition (sidewalls cracked/dry rot)

 

[lilranch2001]

I would add to many people with no real world knowledge/experience pulling trailers!

 

[California]

I bought one of the HF 40 x 48 trailers with 8 tires. I have a 4000 psi pressure washer with 13 HP Honda engine ... I致e thought about upgrading it to 12 tires / wheels as it has plenty of clearance under fenders.

I致e thought seriously about buying another one, same size, for our 8 kW portable generator.

Just do it. I have two of the little trailers: One I originally built for camping, here's an old photo turning around in tight deadend. It's light enough to detach and turn around by hand if I get into a downhill deadend deer trail. And a second one I bought more recently, $30 used, to make a watering trailer.

I like the 8 inch tires so long as its for a firm surface. The lower loading height allows reaching over higher trailer sides. For the watering trailer on rough ground, the little tires were like towing a sled. I put used 12" car tires on the watering rig after I located a used pair.

This little 'camping' trailer has never seen over 400 lbs load. Tire tread and wheel bearings have always been cool to the touch when I check them. One tip: 28 psi is sufficient for moderate loads. Look up a tire pressure chart. Full 60~80 psi will hop like a pogo stick on the highway if the trailer is unloaded.

 

[Travelover]

.............Just got the recall letter but probably going to replace them with Carlisle or Kenda or something with a good track record when the weather gets warmer.

I bought a HF trailer in June, but have received no recall letter. I asked at the local HF and they said right now they will refund the cost of a set of tires (HF tires I assume), but have no replacements.

What did your recall letter say?

 

[GLyford]

I just bought 3 replacement tires this summer, I'm surprised I haven't heard about this. Now I need to go check my sidewalls...

 

[Garandman]

I bought a HF trailer in June, but have received no recall letter. I asked at the local HF and they said right now they will refund the cost of a set of tires (HF tires I assume), but have no replacements.

What did your recall letter say?

Hopefully you can read this. Front.

Back

 

[California]

Hopefully you can read this. Front.

Thanks for posting that.

I went to the recall site shown and found a couple more items I didn't know were recalled (don't own them): automotive blade fuses 120 pc kit, 18 and 19.2 volt cordless drills, handicapped sit/stand walker, some taillight kits. And the Kidde fire extinguisher recall.