Trucks, Trailers, Towing and Misc Accessories

[Alss]

I agree with Chris..ordering a new trailer next week and will get the heavy axles and 16 inch wheels..8 lug hub..maybe heavier bearings inside??..but on topic, have been usung TOWMASTER trailer tires for all 8 years I had my trailer..numerous flats..expected..a couple of curbs..expected...only one catstrophic failure on the NY thruway @70 MPH..lost the pass side rear tire explosively...cause underinflated!!..my own stupid fault..noticed the tire was a little low before we left and thought..it'll be fine...nope!..

ALbert

[Chevy454]

My thought has always been a taller tire is a better tire (on a trailer, at least)...seems to me, less revolutions means less heat in the bearing/tire, and it's heat that kills both. Also, a physically *larger* tire will have a higher load capacity due to the increased air volume...

[jeff morocco]

since were on this subject....dont take for granted that your wheels are torqued to spec.before every trip, check them.on the way back from new jersey we broke 5 out of the 8 studs off the right rear wheel on a triple axle trailer. we pulled into a truck stop and they sent us to some hodunk truck repair shop that needless to say didnt have the studs in stock....i drove to dexter axle in IN. and to Haulmark for 2 new wheels and tires and then back to PA to have the guy put them on......i now have an extra 20 or so studs in case that happens again. this was right before Vettefest this year and was not about to let a truck/trailer/car sit in this shop and wait til the studs came in and miss vettefest!!!!and as far as accessories, you should probably keep a small bottle jack or so in the trailer in case you need to change a tire with a car in it....way too heavy for a regular jack or make some kind of ramp to drive the trailer up to raise the other wheel so you can change it.just my .02c to add.....

[Chevy454]

Funny (or not, actually!) you mention wheel studs...except ours were on the drive wheels of our dually. Thought I'd be cool & put new Eagle aluminum wheels on the dually before our annual trip to the Pure Stock Drags...welp, little did I know that Eagle wasn't aware that GM made *both* an R/V and a C/K truck from 1989-1991! So, we make it all the way to Terra Haute, IN, before we sheer 6 of 8 studs on 1 side & 7 of 8 on the other side! So, on the shoulder of I70, I got to pull the axles out, run all over Terra Haute looking for wheel studs, and came up with a measily 6...so, knocked 'em in, drove all night to Stanton, dropped the cars & double trailer @ track, ran back to a hole in the wall garage, and had the tires put on our spare steel wheels, and put a couple more new studs in...for some reason, they let the new guy work on our truck, and I watched him strip the 1st 2 studs with an air gun, so I took it from him and finished it myself. Got home, and found out the *2nd* set of lug nuts Eagle had sent were the wrong ones, and allowed just enough wiggle room to eat at the stud...mark that down as "lesson learned".

BTW, we bought a trailer aid to throw in our new trailer...haven't had to use it yet, but it sure sounds like a good idea!

[Canuck]

Here are the tools I keep permanently in my trailer.
I have Plastic tool box bolted to the floor at the front
Warn Winch
Deep cycle Battery
8 ton Bottle jack
1 1/2 ton hydraulic jack.
6 axel straps
2 HD cargo straps
1 cargo net
8 Light duty cargo straps
Fulton Wheel lock
Tongue lock.
Wheel chocks and several pieces of wood.
Spare tire mounted on rear rignt side.
36" pry bar
Gloves
Grease gun.
12 Volt compressor and quality tire guage.
2 pieces of carpet underlay approx 4x4

Additionally I take a Bosche portable impact gun.

The tires get checked whenever the trailer gets moved,I keep a check list posted on the entry door.

Paul

[jeff morocco]

the trailer aid will be on my list when i win PITPAL's contest!! right.............Dan / Jody ??

[Chevy454]

HA! Get in line...

BTW: I got another PM for you, Jeff...

[CamarosRus]

would like to see more GOOD pics of how and where "YOU" strap down your car, hang your spare tire, secure floor jack, etc etc.........