[AT] Spam> My Trailer made sparks

[Don Bowen]

> Do folks on the list periodically clean and repack wheel bearings to
> make sure they are ok?  Or just wait till the smoke leaks out.

I have spent the last four years hauling me and my travel trailer from one
end of the country and back again, several times.  Every spring I pull and
repack the bearings.  I also inspect and adjust the brakes.  So far no
problems.  This year I do plan to replace the bearings on at least one axle,
it seems to need adjustment several times this last summer.

>I'm told that if a bearing overheats an axle it
> can cost you a grand to get it right again.

Sounds way too high.  I was thinking I had a bent axle so checked into
getting a new one.  The cost was less than $100.  Replacing it would have
been easy.  In the end I used an alignment tool and found a very loose
bearing, the one I will replace this year.

> I trust a torque wrench is not really needed: what is the normal
> procedure?  I seem to remember "tighten up snug then back off one flat".

I like to take them down fairly tight while rotating the wheel.  When it
stops spinning freely I back off then take the nut back down finger tight
then back off only enough to fit the Cotter Pin.

> It turns out my Ford F-250 has NO trailer brake controller (duhhh!).
> 'Was one, but it stayed with the previous owner (So I had no trailer
> braking at all).  Any favorite type or brand?

I have a Tenshodo I bought new when I bought the pickup in '98.  In fact I
bought it from someone on the list who was a dealer as part of a group buy
if I remember correctly.  I found the connector to hook to the pickup system
and hooked that to the controller wires.  I soldered the wires and covered
them with heat shrink tubing.  It has done well hauling tractors around and
now the travel trailer.

Last fall in North Carolina I had to back down a steep driveway and got a
little out of alignment.  I was able to control things by just the trailer
brakes and using the pickup to steer.  Things got a little exciting for a
while there.

Don Bowen  KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html