Is this the trailer of choice? ($143.99 with 20% off coupon)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42708
8" wheels OK, or should they be upgraded?
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Is this the trailer of choice? ($143.99 with 20% off coupon)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42708
8" wheels OK, or should they be upgraded?
Those wheels should be good to go. I've hauled a motorcycle and gear on a trailer with wheels that big cross country and it held up fine.
I put over 6000 miles on my trailer with 8" wheels. AFAIK it's still going strong with the second owner down in Houston nine years later.
I was looking at some the other day, all were rated at 45mph. Based on some of the comments here I'm assuming thats probably just a CYA for the manufacturer, correct?
BTW, there is one at Northern tool and equipment with 12 inch wheels that can handle just over 1000 pounds.
Looks like the same trailer with 12" wheels. The weight limit on the HF trailer isn't an issue for AX use.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebel
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...duct_7769_7769
What about the speed limit, just a CYA thing?Quote:
Originally Posted by sammm
Probably so...I've seen several AX trailers being pulled faster than 45mph on the way to Mineral Wells. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebel
My HF trailer with the 8" wheels has gone over 100mph in the darkness of a downward slopping Arkansas Freeway. But kids please don't try this at home! ;-)
I got my trailer back in August of 2002 and it has been to Houston, Collage Station, Oklahoma City, Baton Rouge, Pennington Field, Mineral Wells, and Walnut Ridge & I'm sure I'm forgetting some other trips. I'm on my second set of tires and put bearings on as a maintenance item.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_...0025_large.jpg
I dropped the extra ::1Dollar: for the larger diameter wheels. At a given speed, they turn fewer rpms, and while the Eights work, I figured it was worth it.
I'm wondering if 4 of this item would be needed to do proper maintenance on my 8 y/o trailer . . .
Good to know for when I do buy one.
Although I may get the larger capcity so I can use it for other things also.
Don't try THIS at home! :D
::Teacher: The trailer actually has a self monitoring bearing system. When a bearing fails the trailer will automatically lock the offending wheel to let you know maintenance may be required! Slick stuff! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
ahhhh...the flyin' coffin. Memories. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
Sucks if that happens on the freeway.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Actually, that only blows... what *sucks* is when the metal in the tongue where it meets the front edge of the box fatigues and breaks while driving down the highway... I think the traffic helicopter described it as "tires everywhere and some poor guy in a Dodge Neon scrambling trying to get stuff out of the roadway."Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebel
So, how come they make car bearings that last for over 100K miles, but it's impossible to buy trailer bearings like this?
It may relate in part that ONE front wheel bearing from my RAM weighs about the same as a harbor freight trailer...Quote:
Originally Posted by jrj512
and the RPM's being turned by an 8" wheel are exponentially higher than a normal car sized wheel.Quote:
Originally Posted by tailchaser
Bu even trailers with normal-sized wheels always seem to have bearing issues.Quote:
Originally Posted by sammm
Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
ROFL... that was quite the experiment. Hard to believe it was almost six years ago. Never did work out quite as I had intended though. If I were to do it all over again today I would weld up a steel frame and skin it in aluminum, but I prefer having a car that can carry everything without a trailer. :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by sammm
They aren't modern designed sealed bearings like on new cars. Don't forget old cars like my 'lac the front wheel bearings were a scheduled maintenance item. Every 10,000 miles I believe.Quote:
Originally Posted by jrj512
So, why not put sealed bearings on trailers? Is the cost that much more?Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Duh..... They are selling it for $143.99 (with 20% off coupon) what do you expect???Quote:
Originally Posted by jrj512
Mostly I think trailer bearings fail because of several factors.
Extreme torsional and side loads caused by the trailer swaying from side to side. This is aggravated by a short tongue length.
Poor or no service. New bearings should be tightened after a hundred mile break in.
High RPMs caused by small diameter wheels.
Long periods of disuse. The bearings get hot and then cool suddenly and draw humidity, water in as they cool. Driving in the rain or dunking the hubs in water (boat trlr) aggravate this. Corrosion and hardened grease are the result.
Sealed bearings are a solution and many trailers come with them or oil bath bearings. Just not $200 utility trailers.
Keeping the hubs pressurized (bearing buddy) will greatly lengthen bearing life. Still, annual service is required even if the trailer is not used at all. A waterproof wheel bearing grease is a must. http://shop.easternmarine.com/index....categoryID=191
My 1,000,000 mile 2 cents worth.
What creek said. Also on the torsional loads think that if you have a multi-axle trailer the wheels don't turn when going around a corner. You can see when a trailer with more than one axle is being backed up or turned sharply that there are very high side loads being placed on it. Look at the sidewall of a tire on one of those trailers while it is moving in tight confines and you will see what I'm talkinga bout.
POS, can you source me some sealed bearings for my AX trailer? I am curious about the cost.
I have the 8" wheels and have towed over 5000 miles at 70-80mph. I replaced the wheel bearing this past winter and they all looked great!
Those are the correct bearings but you will also want some new hub seals as well. To get those you can call HF and order them over the phone.Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
In case anyone wanted something with sides....that tilts also....just for fun...
http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Trai..._Trailers.aspx
Buy a set of Miata hubs and modify the axle to accept those hubs. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by jrj512
May I remind you of this quote after the blessed event?Quote:
Originally Posted by altiain
Hmmm a Miatacamino...........
http://www.paul-davis.com/vehicles/miata/camino2.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Yeller90
Been done . . . don't know why.
I broke down and bought the HF trailer this past weekend. I've been searching 'autocross trailer' looking for ideas to build up my trailer. One thing I noticed is most Miata trailers I've seen use this tire configuration -
http://www.topdownmx5.com/images/Trailer/DSCF0002.JPG
But this looks more straight forward to me. Any ideas why most Miata trailers use the other?
http://www.topdownmx5.com/trailer2.jpg
This came up before in an OZMDD discussion IIRC. If I remember the result its that you want the weight on the tongue more than tipping back.
I didn't mean tires in the front vs. tires in the back. I was referring to stacking tires vs. all 4 upright, side by side.Quote:
Originally Posted by goofygrin
Really depends on the width of the tires. Can you get 4 to fit across the trailer upright. On mine I couldn't so I went with the posts.Quote:
Originally Posted by sammm
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/220596/2
Stacking vertically you can fit 6 Miata sized wheels/tires or 4 in Z06 sizes.
Standing side-by-side you can only fit 4 Miata sized wheels/tires or 3 in Z06 sizes.
Stacking vertically is much more versatile.
The stack of (4) 15" Kumho's are around 32" tall. The RE-11's are around 36" tall. Should fit across, but my trailer is still in its boxes. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
That makes sense, but I'd have to plan ahead with extra tall posts, and I'm not planning onQuote:
Originally Posted by Davidss
buying another Z06 anytime soon. ;)