Trailer Wheel Bearings... FUBAR!

[WestEndAngler]

Just as a background this trailer is 6mos old.

Story:

Well had to make a series of stops Thursday on the way to the Island. I was running around with my head cut off and trying to stay on schedule with no luck lol... Anyways, I made it down to Galveston and decided to install the new trailer lights. Didn't realize I had grabbed two right hand signals. Upon inspecting the left turn signal Robby (Redfish Rob) walks around and looks at the left tire & wheel and noticed I had blow my bearing out... So we headed off to Academy returned the one signal and got a left handed for the license plate light etc... Also grabbed 2 hub kits to replace bearings etc.

Got to be to late and couldn't get the spindle nut off that night and I didn't want to wake the neighbors. Woke up Friday morning and raced off to Autozone to grab a breaker bar and a spindle nut socket or at least one that would fit it. I got back to the house and we realized quickly we had a 3/4 breaker bar with a 1/2" socket... Went to Jamaica Beach Hardware to grab an adapter...

Got the spindle nut off and hub removed... Realized that the hub kit was the wrong kind... Removed the good hub off right hand side to check wear nothing wrong...

The bad hub blew the inner and outer bearings. Went to Academy returned the pack it yourself bearing kit and bought the ones that are already assembled after looking at the good hub.

Returned to the trailer to start repairs. Sat down with the new hub and stopped... What's this? Two completely different type of hubs are on my trailer! I was at a loss for words... Went to Napa and bought seals and bearings to repack both hubs left it sitting at the house on the Island. I was able to launch so that was good but had to hammer the new inner bearing onto the axle which told me it was bent... Needless to say the manufacturer will be getting a nice phone call tomorrow!!!

[coachlaw]

There's just no excuse for having 2 different kinds straight from the manufacturer. Don't just call, send a letter too. I had a very positive response when I wrote a letter to Sportsman trailers after an unsatisfactory situation. They more than made it right.

[WestEndAngler]

It was the non buddy bearing hub that blew...

[wschorp]

Coe,

Without a doubt trailers are a pain in the ***....and they are more of a pain when they break down on you. Glad to hear you spent the money and fixed the problem so it will not occur again. I took my contender to the Florida keys a few years ago and had a brake caliper on the trailer lock up on the way back; the buddy bearing got so hot the grease caught on fire it was a mess ....

if it can go wrong on a trailer...it will go wrong.
WS

[WestEndAngler]

Coe,

Without a doubt trailers are a pain in the ***....and they are more of a pain when they break down on you. Glad to hear you spent the money and fixed the problem so it will not occur again. I took my contender to the Florida keys a few years ago and had a brake caliper on the trailer lock up on the way back; the buddy bearing got so hot the grease caught on fire it was a mess ....

if it can go wrong on a trailer...it will go wrong.
WS

I didn't fix it... I spent $100 that day on parts just to re-assemble a bent axle which will need to be completely replaced.

[Redfish Rob]

i would say damn rednecks.oh i am one at least we got it half fixed need to get the other hub so it will be fixed right

[bountyhunter]

Rob, the problem here is redneck weren't involved. Redneck know how to build trailers, I'm sure there were yankees involved somewhere in this chain. Coe let me know if you need any help, we can load your boat & trailer on my flatbed if need be to get it home. I'll be in the area till Wednesday then I'll be heading out for the wedding.

[WestEndAngler]

I will more than likely have to drop the axle and take it to McClain and have them deal with it... Which will require me driving back down there borrowing a truck for someone and then hauling it back into Houston. PITA!! Maybe they'll just give me a new axle... then again I still need to know dimensions etc. SOB!

[Redfish Rob]

yeah but u got to wander sum times about those swap rednecks.

[Torque]

Nothing worse than buying new and having a problem. They should just swap it out with a new one. I hope they do.

[imhammer]

Dang dude.....You have more probs with the new rig than I have with the ancient one....at least until it was sunk!

[WestEndAngler]

Dang dude.....You have more probs with the new rig than I have with the ancient one....at least until it was sunk!

Beach Bum Bailey took care of sinking my old one

Luckily he bought me out the weekend before!

[WestEndAngler]

Quick Question

guys at McClain told me to measure spindle to spindle... Guess I'm going back down there today to drop the axle and remove tires etc, etc...

Does anyone have jack stands I can borrow that live close to 45? Mike you got any?? Still got boat on trailer so going to hook it up and then support rear cross members while I take measurements of axle and photos to send to McClain. They're going to ship or I will need to go pick up the new one so I guess I'm going to need to borrow them for a few days until I can get the new axle installed... I hate to leave it sitting on jacks!

Can anyone lend a jack stand? I got impact wrench, 4 way and floor jack.