Posted 2005-08-05 3:40 PM (#28905) Subject: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Member
Posts: 9
Hi all- new to trailering- some questions for you:
1)If you don't have a trailer dealer near you, where do you take the trailer to get the bearings repacked,etc.? Anything else in annual maintenance? How much does this cost you?
2)When changing a tire, where do you put the jack to support it? Same for front and back axle?
Posted 2005-08-05 4:54 PM (#28907 - in reply to #28905) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 524 Location: Lone Oak, Tx
As far as trailer work, some of your RV repair people will do it. That's who I have do mine. Others I have found will basically hang up on you if you tell them it's a horse trailer. Haven't figured out why, maybe they don't like the smell or something. Anyway, I'd just do some calling around.
Posted 2005-08-05 5:38 PM (#28909 - in reply to #28905) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by jsnow on 2005-08-05 4:40 PM
Hi all- new to trailering- some questions for you:
1)If you don't have a trailer dealer near you, where do you take the trailer to get the bearings repacked,etc.? Anything else in annual maintenance? How much does this cost you?
2)When changing a tire, where do you put the jack to support it? Same for front and back axle?
thanks!
1) learn to do it yourself........that way you know it was done right.
2) depends on the trailer, but a jack is an iffy proposition on a horse/livestock trailer, hence the popularity of the "trailer aid" type devices.
so as in the above post, get the "trailer aid" or equivalent and it wont matter. of course i carry both a bottle jack and trailer aid, and a 4 way lug wrench...... make sure you check that all is compatiable with your trailer, you dont want to find out the hard way something doesnt work like you thought it did when youre staring at flat.
Posted 2005-08-05 10:49 PM (#28912 - in reply to #28905) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Good advice above. A Jiffy Jack or some other make of Trailer aid is a Great investment that you will be glad to own.
I've seen a number of tire stores around here offer specials on trailer bearing repacks. It's something I do each spring and I just plan on spending a saturdaay morning repacking bearings and changing the oil in my truck.
Posted 2005-08-06 8:26 AM (#28921 - in reply to #28905) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
A good RV place will do horse trailer work. I don't recommend using a jack. I actually just carry a 2x12 board, normally used to place under the hitch block of wood, that is long enough to roll the good tire on in order to take the weight off the flat. You only need a couple of inches to get the wheel off. Do make sure you loosen the lugs before you pull the trailer up on the board though.
Posted 2005-08-06 9:26 AM (#28922 - in reply to #28905) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 2689
1) DIY, first one or two times around you'll spend as much on tools, hand cleaner, supplies, etc. as you save on labor - but you make an investment in knowledge (-:
2) What she said, a ramp of some sort. I got the yellow plastic thang, but quite frankly I don't think I'd trust it with the big trailer and a full load. I was fortunate enough to score a couple of 2 x about 14 x maybe 3ft gluelam off-cuts, it doesn't have grain and shouldn't split(or rot). It doubles as a ground pad. {For bumper pulls align the jocky wheel ACROSS and when you're a couple of inches off you can probably nudge the tongue over.} Since I DO CARRY CHOCKS it is simple to make a ramp and run the good wheel on that side up it (backwards if you have a flat front tire, forwards if you have a flat rear tire. Just loosen the lug nuts before you get the wheel off the ground, if you have an ABSOLUTE FLAT and you're on an incline you might have to wedge a chock between the tire and the ground to stop the wheel turning as you loosen the lug nuts.
BTW, good triangular rubber chocks are only about $12 and they don't skid and spit out. Firewood works, but {yeah, TACKY} (-:
Posted 2005-08-06 2:17 PM (#28931 - in reply to #28922) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Reg on 2005-08-06 10:26 AM
I got the yellow plastic thang, but quite frankly I don't think I'd trust it with the big trailer and a full load.
c'mon reg wheres the love? the one ive got is rated to 15000#........even a GVW 16000 trailer will have 3000+ on the truck leaving 13000/2=6500# cause youre only picking up half the trailer. got to love plastic, ever heard of glock? nobody had any faith in them either.
Posted 2005-08-06 6:48 PM (#28936 - in reply to #28931) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by chadsalt on 2005-08-06 2:17 PM
Originally written by Reg on 2005-08-06 10:26 AM
I got the yellow plastic thang, but quite frankly I don't think I'd trust it with the big trailer and a full load.
c'mon reg wheres the love? the one ive got is rated to 15000#........even a GVW 16000 trailer will have 3000+ on the truck leaving 13000/2=6500# cause youre only picking up half the trailer. got to love plastic, ever heard of glock? nobody had any faith in them either.
It isn't so much the fact that it is "plastic" (which I grew up trusting and luving), it is more the fact that it is narrower than the tire and looks as if it would just press into soft ground and/or tip over if I ran ~40% of the trailer's weight up onto it. It maybe OK for the li'l b/p trailer, in fact it lives in the tack/dress room of that trailer - unused.
Mebee I'll put it up on e-bay with a $200 reserve - on the bigger idjit principle (-:
Oh, "Glock" - - as in "BANG, BANG !" Yeah, but Ya wouldn't make those things outa glue-lam cut-offs - well, I wouldn't
Posted 2005-08-06 7:00 PM (#28937 - in reply to #28936) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Reg on 2005-08-06 7:48 PM
[Oh, "Glock" - - as in "BANG, BANG !" Yeah, but Ya wouldn't make those things outa glue-lam cut-offs - well, I wouldn't
yeah that would cause a stink at the airport.
as for sinking in the soft ground i havent tried mine in anything real soupy yet so i dont know......but like i said i carry blocks, chocks and the trusty bottle jack so who knows.
Posted 2005-08-07 11:53 AM (#28946 - in reply to #28936) Subject: RE: where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
Ive used my trailer aid a few times and have had no problems. I now have new tires, but I wouldn't get rid of mine. It has studs on the bottom to keep it from sliding around and it hasn't sunk in the ground and the horses moving haven't caused any problems either. Of course we only have had 2 inches of rain since march, so I haven't been able to test it in the mud. I suppose I could use the hose to make some.
where get trailer work done/how to change tire?
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