Beginning of season trailer checklist?

[jbousquin]

Hello everyone, just looking forward to towing my 2011 26M down the highway and launching her for the season.

Does anyone have a recommended checklist or maintenance plan for the trailer before taking it out for the first time each year? The boat's been in the driveway here in California since November. When I backed it in, I had issues with the automatic reverse brakes engaging, even though I had the reverse wire plugged in to my vehicle, and good circuits there. Eventually was able to disengage and back it up, but it led me to thinking I ought to inspect the whole thing before taking it out again.

Before I take her out on the highway, I'm wondering what other folks look at on the trailer each year to make sure it's road worthy.

Thanks in advance for all the great advice.

Cheers, Joe

[Québec 1]

I bring my boat to my garage and get a complete trailer checkup by my mechanic. Luckily my mechanic is also a good friend and he does a complete check up , grease and oils everything that needs to be done on my Honda 50. Last year while he was testing it the water pump stopped working. This year he will change the timing strap cause he said it needs to be done. For a few hundred bucks I would not put my boat in the water without having a professional check my motor and trailer. Last time I went to Florida, a 6000 kilometer round trip it cost me 500$ for the check up and repairs,but I left feeling secure.
Q1

[raycarlson]

Basicly do the same check you would do for any trip you make during the year,tires,axles,electrical,coupler.

[RobertB]

Look at your brake discs - if there is a good layer of corrosion, suggest you remove it - otherwise, if the layer is solid enough, it can wear right thru the brake pad linings. I have had this happen on cars that sat for extended periods of time - it can be worse with brakes that have been in salt water.

I use a right angle air grinder with sanding disks to clean off the corrosion (after removing the wheel).

I would also recommend looking at your wiring for corrosion and making sure the wheel bearings are greased.

[Wind Chime]

Do yourself a favour Joe ... every spring, back off your wheel lug nuts a few turns, and add a dab of grease or spray some lube on the threads.
You want to be able to get the lug nuts off if you get a flat or need to.

This is now on my spring to-do list, as all five of my starboard side nuts were seized solid. WTF? I broke off all five wheel studs today trying to take them off. If I would have been on the road tailoring and got a flat, I would have been in big trouble. Port side nuts were fine, and I had both sides off two years ago.

p.s.
Pulling the hub, and replacing wheel nuts is not fun , nor is it meant for sailors

[Wind Chime]

Oh, and add this to the list as well.
Back the screws out of the tail light covers, and spray come lube on them, then tighten back in.
I broke one of those off today too

[prishi]

What? A 2011 Boat?
Checklist:-
1. Walk up to Boat and Trailer
2. Lift Boat Cover and inspect to see if Boat is still there.
3. If still there, just hook-up and drive off!!

It's a new boat and a new trailer. And with the winter we've seen, just take it easy! There's nothing to worry at this point. E N J O Y your boat!!!

[mastreb]

I just pulled my boat out of the lot after it has sat for essentially five months (we had it out for a week in February). I checked tire pressure and removed the plastic caps on the hubs to confirm grease, which looked fine (as per the manual). When I plugged in, my truck informed me that a brake light on the trailer was out, so I re-plugged and that went away. The trailer is operating just fine. My boat is a 2010 and is now 18 months old.

[Catigale]

Do yourself a favour Joe ... every spring, back off your wheel lug nuts a few turns, and add a dab of grease or spray some lube on the threads.

Warning!!! Incoming thread debate on.....To lube or not to lube...whether tis wiser to suffer the slinging of outrageous grease or start a rrow and to let them rub......aye.....a good question indeed...

[Hamin' X]

Warning!!! Incoming thread debate on.....To lube or not to lube...whether tis wiser to suffer the slinging of outrageous grease or start a rrow and to let them rub......aye.....a good question indeed...

Now you went and did it. Since we're on the subject, here is a good article from Bridgestone tire and an interview with wheel manufacturers:

http://www.bridgestonetrucktires.com/us ... s1/ra5.asp

~Rich

[SKIPPER2C]

Thanx for the article. I was on the wrong track.
Renier

[Hamin' X]

I'm sure that someone will post a counter point of view. I have always lubed the threads and never had a problem. The main thing is to not get any lube on the shoulders of the nuts, or the depressions in the wheels, as this is where the greatest torque values come from.

~Rich

[C Striker]

Any suggestions on how to get off seized or rusty lugnuts without breaking anything? That trailer is gonna bite me in the arse one of these summers if I keep rolling the dice.

Erik

[Wind Chime]

Obviously, a little annual preventative maintenance is the best cure. Remove the nuts and lube them at the beginning and end of every season.

If they are stuck, you can try applying heat. If they still do not move you can apply heat and put a wax candle to the thread. This will suck the wax into the thread and act as a lubricant. If this still does not work, do what I did this past year ... break off the bolts and install new ones

[Phil M]

And don't forget to run your bare knuckles across the nearest metal structure while breaking the old bolts off.