harbor freight 4x8 questions

[catch2otwo]

I cant find any specs for the parts on this trailer. Im not home yet, so i can really measure anything but i do want to pre-order stuff such as bearings so i can throw them on right when i get home.

1. What size bearings does it have. Scottieducati said he thinks they were 1 inch?

2. Do bearing buddies come in different sizes?

3. Is it true that bearing buddies wont grease the inner bearing so it will need to come apart to be re-greased anyway?

4. most important question. how many miles between greasings? im going to ca which is around 3500 miles. how often will i have to grease these things

thanks in advance

[SVRACER01]

i think BB have to be filled to max with grease in order for them to work. go to a trailer shop and ask them. my trailer has a different set up that greases the inner bearing and CF forces it out to the outer

[Charlief]

I have a similar trailer and they are 1". Bearing bud won't grease the inners but if you keep them packed good you should be fine. I would def take them apart and repack them. It's easy and doesn't take that much time.

If your traveling that far I would pick up another set of bearings any way. Another thing to pick up is a spare tire. Believe me...it's worth the $50.

I would just bring a grease gun and pump up the bearings here n there.

[Qfactor]

having experience with said trailer

the bearings like the marine grease best, keeps them the coolest @ freeway speeds, and safe in case you encounter rain.

repack every ~1000 miles should be fine.

+1 about the spare.

Check and tighten all the bolts before leaving.

Q

[Rambunctous]

Considering that the axle in a rear of a front wheel drive car is capable of going incredible distances with things in the trunk and passengers aboard I see no reason that a trailor cannot do the same unless you allow containiments into the bearings. Are you going to remove the rear tires, brakes, etc and repack the bearings three times (every 1000 miles) on the car too?

[SSearchVT]

In addition to what everyone else has said - Every time you stop for gas, while the tank is filling put your hand on both hubs and tires. If it's hot, you're in a good spot to fix it.

[catch2otwo]

having experience with said trailer

the bearings like the marine grease best, keeps them the coolest @ freeway speeds, and safe in case you encounter rain.

repack every ~1000 miles should be fine.

+1 about the spare.

Check and tighten all the bolts before leaving.

Q

Cool, What size are the bearings?

[catch2otwo]

Considering that the axle in a rear of a front wheel drive car is capable of going incredible distances with things in the trunk and passengers aboard I see no reason that a trailor cannot do the same unless you allow containiments into the bearings. Are you going to remove the rear tires, brakes, etc and repack the bearings three times (every 1000 miles) on the car too?

Trailer bearings and car wheel bearings are different, just slightly.

[Rambunctous]

Seals, tapered roller bearings, washer, retaining nut, cotter pin. Grade of bearings are the same. Slide fit over the axle with a press fit into the hub. Most every manufacture using Timkins or equilivent. What is the difference?

[Qfactor]

Seals, tapered roller bearings, washer, retaining nut, cotter pin. Grade of bearings are the same. Slide fit over the axle with a press fit into the hub. Most every manufacture using Timkins or equilivent. What is the difference?

if you think the bearings in the $250 trailers are Timkins, you are in for an awesome surprise!!!

Q

PS: back on topic

catch, for ~3500 trouble free miles, I would replace the bearings with Timkens, and not have to worry about that too...

[SSearchVT]

if you think the bearings in the $250 trailers are Timkins, you are in for an awesome surprise!!!

Q

PS: back on topic

catch, for ~3500 trouble free miles, I would replace the bearings with Timkens, and not have to worry about that too...

That suprise is usually in the form of a horrible noise followed by the trailer swerving around in traffic and frantically trying to get over to the breakdown lane... If you're lucky it's daylight and not raining...

[banzairx7]

I moved to Texas with the harbor freight 4x8. Check the lug nuts EVERY time you stop for gas and get a spare. I missed one check right after a particular bad stretch of concrete in Louisiana. As soon as I hit the Texas border they were doing construction and had jersey barriers right next to the travel lane. I then was able to hear a very loud banging from the trailer echoing off the barriers. I pulled off and found I had lost three of four lug nuts on one wheel. The nut that was left was about 2 threads from flying off. Two wheel studs were broken off flush with the hub. The two remaining ones were half way worn through. And last but not least the stud holes in the wheel had been elongated to around an inch long.

I threw on my spare, stole one lug nut from the other side, then limped it to the nearest auto parts store. They had the studs and nuts in stock. I was able to fix it up proper in the parking lot.

I had zero bearing issues. I put a few hundred miles on the trailer before I set off and re-tightened the bearings then. Drove it 2500 miles here and they never heated up or loosened up. I was traveling @ 70-75mph the whole way too. I had 500-600lbs in the trailer so the light load probably helped.

[catch2otwo]

ill check it when i stop for gas. can anyone recommend a trailer shop in the south shore or boston area?