Reflections on Flat Tires

P

Pat Anderson

New member
Ever have a flat tire on your trailer? I just did, a nail through the sucker, fortunately it was in my driveway and not halfway across the country...but here is what I learned from this experience. First, the lug wrench in the Expedition is too shallow to fit over the trailer lug nuts. OK, a bunch of scrounging around in the garage, finally came up with a suitable lug wrench. Second, the lug nuts were almost like they were welded on. Some more scrounging to find the Liquid Wrench and a sledge hammer to whack the end of the lug wrench to get them loose. Third, didn't have a suitable jack in the Expedition, yet more scrounging to find a 4 ton bottle jack in the basement. Finally, the bottle jack needed about a foot of blocks to get ithe trailer up high enough for the tire to clear the ground. Now, if that flat tire happened on the road, I wouldn't have had any of the stuff I needed, plus we don't have a spare mounted on the trailer like we used to with the 22. So this, plus all the stuff about trailer bearings, brakes and other things about which I know nothing, has got me worried about leaving my driveway again... :( :(
 
OK Pat... calm down. You have to feel like you have won a battle brother. Enjoy a nice train. Now, you have two things to take care of...

#1: Check all your insurance policies, clubs, organizations, and find out about tow insurance/tire replacements. Some things are just best hired out. No pulled muscles, busted fingers, or other body parts out of whack??? Good Job!

#2: Just realize, that either you, or some handy friend who might be more mechanically inclined than you are, might also do the at least annual maintenance on your trailer while he is doing his.....or.... just bring in a mini-keg of train to a nice local mechanic.... and have it done. Salt water bad...fresh water not a lot better.

Well....OK,,, I use pulled pork and ribs instead of a mini-keg.

:thup
 
...and you and Austin can lift it up while Patty changes the tire.

I carry a long handle ratchet, extension and socket in the truck for the lugs. I have never tried the Dodge jack, but looked at it and figured it will work. It not, I'll figure out something alongside the road.
 
Anti-seize is your friend...every lug nut I ever install, gets a coating.

Just a tiny dab on the lug is all it takes - makes a huge difference, especially on the trailer. Between the surge brake heat and the salt water, those nuts will get frozen up in no time without it...

Plenty of choices out there - I've had a can of this stuff for about 5 years, and I've hardly put a dent in it.
 
Absolutely Bill, I use the same brand but in the tube, works great, and I also check the lug tightness about twice a year or before every long trip for sure.

Hey, just thinking, would that be better to use on the prop shaft than marine lube, or would it wash off too easily. Hmmm.
 
Dora~Jean":3oo6jvir said:
Hey, just thinking, would that be better to use on the prop shaft than marine lube, or would it wash off too easily. Hmmm.
Click to expand...

There is actually suspended particles of metal (copper, aluminum, who knows what else) in the stuff and I wonder if they might react in the salt water. We use a high-content copper anitseize compound in the pulp mill and it works great in all the bad stuff there, but I would be leery of keeping it underwater. Plus, I don't have to buy the shafts and props at the mill.

I do agree with putting it on the lugs, though. Works great.
 
I hear ya Mike, a little too expensive to go experimenting with the props/shafts using something that wasn't made for that use. The marine grease seems to be adequate as long as you don't let it go too long between pulling the props.
 
That product contains aluminium, copper and graphite.

All three can cause electrolysis in salt water. I would stick to what the manufacture recommends for prop shafts. Graphite based grease also can cause corrosion on SS shafts.
 
Sorry to say I have some experience in this field. I will give you the benefit of my experience.

Number one after you have lubed the lug nuts. Join BOAT US and their Trailering Club. It only costs $10.00 a year over your basic membership. This could be the best ten bucks you ever will spend. The 800 number gets you help when you are far from home and would not have a clue who to call. On one trip to FL we used the service twice. Both service companies were very helpful and got us going as quick as possible.

After that trip we have always carried a good jack and lots of wooden blocks, a good spare, and a grease gun to refill the hubs after a long run.
 
Pat,
Another thing to check: sometime the spare tire is bolted to the carrier with a different size nut than your lug nuts. I found this out the hard way with a flat on a different trailer. I now carry a long breaker bar and sockets for my truck tires, trailer tires and the spare tire carrier.
 
Karma says: quit rooting for Seattle and you will not have flat tires! :roll:
Mike on Huda Thunkit
 
A little late to be rooting for Seattle I think. Only about 3 hours left before the great commercials start. I wish the breaks for the game were shorter!
 
Pat,
Quit listening to all the above advice! Go out, purchase a Dodge Diesel, hitch it to your boat trailer and drag it anytime, anywhere you want ....who cares if your surge brakes seize up or your tires are flat (they're only flat on the bottom), the Dodge Diesel, will "git 'er done"! :wink
 
We carry a 24" torque wrench with sockets which will fit the lugs. Also assorted blocks in the truck. On a long trip a 110 V air compressor (runs on Honda Generator), with tank which an impact wrench will run off of--(same socket). We also have a 2" pipe cheater bar. We also carry a 4,000 lb floor jack, so we can get under the axel if necessary, as well as the 8,000 lb bottle jack. (We have road service, but in a couple of cases we have had RV problems where we could not get a phone signal out, or it was hours for the road service to get to us.). I know that the copper containing "neversieze" is supplied with Village Marine water makers--and there you are dealing with not only salt water, but brine in the discharge product, so it must be OK for salt water.
 
Hi Folks,

I pay $10.00 a year for trailer insurance with BOATUS. The tow vehicle is covered by AAA. Had it for years. On top of that, BOATUS includes a trailer boating magaine.

Never used the BOATUS yet but very cheap insurance.

Fred
 
thataway":1ubykrm7 said:
We carry a 24" torque wrench with sockets which will fit the lugs. Also assorted blocks in the truck. On a long trip a 110 V air compressor (runs on Honda Generator), with tank which an impact wrench will run off of--(same socket). We also have a 2" pipe cheater bar. We also carry a 4,000 lb floor jack, so we can get under the axel if necessary, as well as the 8,000 lb bottle jack. (We have road service, but in a couple of cases we have had RV problems where we could not get a phone signal out, or it was hours for the road service to get to us.). I know that the copper containing "neversieze" is supplied with Village Marine water makers--and there you are dealing with not only salt water, but brine in the discharge product, so it must be OK for salt water.
Click to expand...

Wow - you're prepared! Maybe Pat should simply trailer in front of you....

I came to the realization that I needed a different jack and a socket wrench and deep sockets awhile ago. I keep a 2-ton floor jack and a bunch of wooden blocks in the truck.
 
To prepare for the bearing burn-out and flat tire scenario I loaded a compact 2 ton floor jack, a grease gun, extra grease cartridge, complete hub, bearings, races, seals, rags and hand cleaner into a plastic bin. The lug wrench and special sockets to fit the locking lugs ride in the truck. Having all these tools and parts on hand all but guarantee they will never be needed. Something else will go bad and then I'll call Boat US Roadside Assistance.
Mike 'Levity'
 
I take Pat's experience as a reminder, to check--next spring, before taking the trailer on the road--that I have the needed tools, that they work, and I know how they work!
 
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