A trailer won’t be able to go far without wheels. In the theory of things, you could attach an unwheeled platform on the rear of a vehicle and then drag it behind your vehicle, but you would not risk something valuable such as the boat that sits to top it. Fortunately, trailers come with wheels, which means they can move along with our cars as large cargo hold.
Wheel hubs on trailers are a key component in keeping the trailers moving along. The wheel hub assembly of the trailer connects the trailer’s tires to the axle of the trailer and assists in their rotation. If the wheel hubs begin to corrode or aren’t fitted correctly they will cause the tires of the trailer out of alignment, which could result in serious damage to your trailer, vehicle and anything else you’re carrying around. For instance, if you’re towing your boat to Lakefront for an overnight escape The tiny amount of components within a wheel hub could make the difference between enjoying a day in the water and having to spend hours repairing.
Since the hubs of your wheels affect their overall efficiency of the trailer regular maintenance is vital. Based on the dimensions of the wheels on your trailer and the frequency with which they are used it is recommended to remove and, if required replace the components in the hub assembly of your trailer at least every year. Some towing experts suggest replacing the hubs each time you travel 10,000 miles (16,093 kilometers). For trailers with smaller wheels , which need to rotate more frequently it is recommended to inspect the hubs every 2 miles (3,218 kilometers).
The process of adjusting your trailer’s wheel hubs could seem like a big job however, a bit of education will go a long way to prolong the life of your trailer towing. We’ll first take off the wheel hub assembly to know exactly which parts we’re working on.
What is the purpose behind trailer wheel assemblies
The role that the hub serves is in the role of gluing between axle and the tire. The tires are connected by bolts that are attached to hub assemblies. The hub assembly will then be placed on the axlethat connects the tire part and the other components of the vehicle. Since the wheel hub is the bridge that connects the tire to the whole vehicle, in the event that one of its components breaks down, it can cause an impact that ripples. It could lead to issues like a steering issue or a damaged or broken axle.
What’s happening inside the wheels hub? Hubs aren’t an independent component of hardware. Instead, it requires several other pieces for its work. The wheel hub of the trailer appears like a donut of steel which slides over the axle. On both sides of the hub are the outer and the inner bearings. The bearings are cylindrical parts that are filled with grease to reduce friction when turning tires. A castle nut located in the middle of the hub is used to hold the hub as well as the bearings on the axle. A metal piece that resembles a stick called a cotterpin anchors this castle nut.
The hub’s bearings need to be well-lubricated to minimize the heat by-product as much as is possible. Furthermore, water and dirt that get into the hub could hinder tire rotation. That’s why the grease cap, which is often referred to as a dust cap, is placed on the outer edge of the hub for the trailer wheel in order to prevent the oil from getting inside and dirt out.
With all these pieces to consider, how do you go in getting rid of or replacing a wheel on a trailer hub? We’ll talk about installation in the following section.
Installing Hubs for Trailers
Removal or replacement of the hubs on trailer wheels is something you can do without paying the mechanic. It won’t require a lot of effort to disassemble or put together but you’ll need to record every component you’re working with. A basic toolbox that includes an hammer, pliers and a wrench can adequately prepare you for the job. Also, you’ll need bearing grease in your arsenal and, if you’re doing regular maintenance on the hub assembly using a solvent, you’ll need you’ll need a solvent to melt old grease from the bearings.
If you’re looking to purchase an assembly for your trailer hub, there are some important details you need to know to make the best choice. Wheel hubs aren’t a one-size-fits-all component. They have different dimensions depending on the dimensions of the wheel and bearing weight. Before buying it, make sure you:
Determine how many holes for studs are required inside the hub. Hub assemblies typically have at least four or five holes on the circumference. The slots are designed to accommodate bolts that connect the cap on the tire hub with the hub of the wheel.
Find the bolt’s diameter hole that is located in the middle on the hub. This is where you put in the castle nut and keep everything in the right place. Most wheel hubs feature bolt holes with diameters ranging from 4 – and 6-inches (10 to 15 centimeters) which are broken down in half inch increments. To determine that number take a measurement from the center of the bolt hole up to the middle of the stud hole then divide that measurement by two.
Find out the inner and outer bearing sizes. It’s not necessary to pull out your ruler to determine this as most bearings are marked with a reference number on them to indicate their size. The retailer you purchase the hub from will have this chart and you may find it on the internet.
After you’ve found your wheel hub assembly to the right specifications, you’re ready to set it up. There are a few suggestions for installing the hub to avoid problems later on regarding your tires. The first step is to apply a thin layer of bearing grease on the outside of the hub prior to you put it on the axle. It’s not necessary to put to cover the entire surfacejust enough to make the hub slide onto the axle quickly. When tightening the assembly make sure you don’t go overboard. If you adjust the castle nut properly the hub should not move over a .25 centimeter (.6 millimeters) once the tire has been fixed.
Next, we’ll discuss what kits for trailer wheels that include whole hub assemblies. If you’re planning to install a new hub for the first time, this kit could make the process easier.
Kits for Hubs for Trailer Wheels
Instead of buying the various components of a wheel hub for a trailer separately, manufacturers provide the hubs in kits. A majority of these kits include seals, bearings and bearings, as well as grease caps, key for a cotter, bolts and nuts. Certain kits offer the option of having the bearings already assembled and greased.
Even if the hub assembly is pre-greased however, it doesn’t mean that it’s greased forever. It’s still important to inspect the hub regularly for signs of cracks, corrosion or other damages at least once each year. Bearing Buddies can make this maintenance easier. The Bearing Buddy is basically identical to a grease cap, with the exception that it opens to a grease gun that lets you inject fresh grease into bearings without needing to do the cap manually. If you don’t possess an assembly of wheels that has this type of cap , and a mechanism to remove the old grease and not removing the hub bearing it is still necessary to remove the hub off of the wheel and wash it.
If you’re shopping for a wheel hub set-up kit, you’ll require the same info as in the preceding page in order to identify which one is best to fit the dimensions of your wheels. The whole kit isn’t needed to put in your trailer’s wheel hub, particularly when you have problems with your bearing or seal as they are among the most frequently repaired parts of this hub. It is possible to purchase these parts and any other parts in the wheel hub assembly and separately.