X-Country Trailer tips

[Bullshot]

For all the X-Country travelers packing to go soon, just a reminder to prioritize the trailer checks now, so you and your gear get there and back safely. Can't believe how many trailer issues I see guys have on the road.

- Replace tires/wheels if needed. They don't last too long in my experience. Just checked mine and discovered a faint sidewall crack. So two new ones are on order.

-Air up the tires. Be mindful of cold max PSI rating. Do the spare too!

-Bring a tire pressure gauge.

- Bring a tire repair kit.

- Grease the bearings! I bring two complete spare hub kits including all seals and bearings too, just in case. Bring grease/small grease gun.

-Wiring, wire harness, signals. Trailer signals and wiring give me fits. I bring spare driver /passenger signals, wiring, harness, connectors, splicing and crimping supplies. I assume you have good headlamp- trailer things always fail (or simply get noticed) at night!

- Secure licence plate. Lost one in Iowa once...

-Pack spare cotter pins, clevis pins as needed

-Inspect tongue, hitch, suspension, hinges, bolts pretty much anything that can loosen or break

-spray lube any locking hitch pins or other locks. find and secure your spare keys.

- adhere any extra reflectors or reflector tape on the trailer you might need

- bring road reflector kit to put out for any breakdown especially if you have to drop and leave trailer temporarily.

That covers a bunch. Any other tips I missed?

Safe travels!

 

[pwrwgn57]

You mention lubing them, but locks for your hitch and the trailer coupler. Also, locks to secure items to the trailer, preferably all keyed alike.

 

[JohnBud]

Thank you for a great list. I have these items rolling around in my mind but now I see the value of a written checklist. I carry a tool bag that allows me to handle just about anything that happens but I need to up my game with wiring, connectors, crimping etc.

 

[Bullshot]

Thank you for a great list. I have these items rolling around in my mind but now I see the value of a written checklist. I carry a tool bag that allows me to handle just about anything that happens but I need to up my game with wiring, connectors, crimping etc.

The spare wire, connectors, crimps, wire nuts, and wire stripper/crimper are key to being able to do a quick roadside repair. Thankfully I have broken things pretty close to a Walmart on several occasions. Easier still just to have everything on hand, they barely take up any space in your kit.

Also zip ties. But for 1000 other reasons most people should already have some stowed anyway.

And electrical tape.

Maybe I need an actual written list myself. Lots of details juggling around in my head, I leave for CO in 2 weeks.

 

[mtmuley]

Bring a little propane torch if you use padlocks. Sucks when they are frozen. mtmuley

 

[Bill Zent]

Use a ball with a minimum 3/4" nut with a lock washer and make it tight. Don't forget to check all wheel nuts on trailer and tow vehicle.

 

[MTLabrador]

Bring a little propane torch if you use padlocks. Sucks when they are frozen. mtmuley

Had to use a road flare last time this happened to me.

 

[95tigerbill]

Put a jack in a place easy to get to that is capable of lifting the trailer. Make sure you have lug wrench to fit trailer. I found a new way to break a trailer last year and ended up having a new axle installed in Wyoming.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Atlas/Maps kinda funny what happens if on board nav goes out.

 

[Bullshot]

Put a jack in a place easy to get to that is capable of lifting the trailer. Make sure you have lug wrench to fit trailer. I found a new way to break a trailer last year and ended up having a new axle installed in Wyoming.

Yeah the lug wrench in your car is likely different! I stash the trailer sized iron under my driver seat.

Hard to plan for a broken axle. But based on the location, you got off easy. I've seen a few enclosed trailers blown over upside down off the highway in WY with a debris field a 100 yards long. Mind those WY cross-wind warnings!

 

[Salmonchaser]

Don’t trust google maps. We see it every year here in northeast Oregon. Interstate 84, take you from Boise to Portland, it is the only east/west freeway in Oregon. There are a number of passes between the Oregon/Idaho border and Pendleton, lot of snow, lot of wrecks and unique to interstate travel, lot of access to forest service logging roads. It is the most frequently closed section of freeway in the country.
When the free way is closed Google maps routinely will send people on alternate routes into the national forest. They get stuck. Even more remarkable are the people who get stuck trying to go past people who are already stuck. (That of course is a different problem).
Having a good paper map and using it before you commit to Googles alternate route may save you from becoming acquainted with the local SAR.

 

[gburk]

Don’t trust google maps. We see it every year here in northeast Oregon. Interstate 84, take you from Boise to Portland, it is the only east/west freeway in Oregon. There are a number of passes between the Oregon/Idaho border and Pendleton, lot of snow, lot of wrecks and unique to interstate travel, lot of access to forest service logging roads. It is the most frequently closed section of freeway in the country.
When the free way is closed Google maps routinely will send people on alternate routes into the national forest. They get stuck. Even more remarkable are the people who get stuck trying to go past people who are already stuck. (That of course is a different problem).
Having a good paper map and using it before you commit to Googles alternate route may save you from becoming acquainted with the local SAR.

What a nightmare, poor guy was probably in a hurry because he had his wife with him

 

[gburk]

For all the X-Country travelers packing to go soon, just a reminder to prioritize the trailer checks now, so you and your gear get there and back safely. Can't believe how many trailer issues I see guys have on the road.

- Replace tires/wheels if needed. They don't last too long in my experience. Just checked mine and discovered a faint sidewall crack. So two new ones are on order.

-Air up the tires. Be mindful of cold max PSI rating. Do the spare too!

-Bring a tire pressure gauge.

- Bring a tire repair kit.

- Grease the bearings! I bring two complete spare hub kits including all seals and bearings too, just in case. Bring grease/small grease gun.

-Wiring, wire harness, signals. Trailer signals and wiring give me fits. I bring spare driver /passenger signals, wiring, harness, connectors, splicing and crimping supplies. I assume you have good headlamp- trailer things always fail (or simply get noticed) at night!

- Secure licence plate. Lost one in Iowa once...

-Pack spare cotter pins, clevis pins as needed

-Inspect tongue, hitch, suspension, hinges, bolts pretty much anything that can loosen or break

-spray lube any locking hitch pins or other locks. find and secure your spare keys.

- adhere any extra reflectors or reflector tape on the trailer you might need

- bring road reflector kit to put out for any breakdown especially if you have to drop and leave trailer temporarily.

That covers a bunch. Any other tips I missed?

Safe travels!

Timely post. Do you have any suggested resources for bearing maintenance? I’m planning to repack bearings this season for the first time. Cheers

 

[RealMuddyboots]

+1 on electrical solderless connectors, tape, heat shrink tubing, wire etc.

Tandem trailer = 2 spares. If you hit nasty piece of scrap steel in night on I80 in a snowstorm, you will be very glad you did. Oh yes I did.

Trailer tires can have lower speed and heat rating of your vehicle. Do not assume they are the same rating. High speed towing on hot day with trailer tires not rated can be catastrophic.

Double check hydraulic fluid level in jack.

Tow vehicle:
Fresh oil change
Transmission serviced?
Differentials serviced?
Transfer case serviced?
Towing in "Haul" or OD off
All lights check, extra bulbs
Tires in good shape, air pressure where its supposed to be for towing
Vehicle spare correct size + air pressure
Air pump for tires?
Tire chains, they work in slop too
Brakes good to go?
Radiator and antifreeze up to snuff, extra thermostat
Clean exterior of radiator to improve air flow through main body
Air filter, cabin filter
Extra fluids, windshield, oil, transmission, antifreeze
Length of heater hose to splice in, couple pieces of copper pipe, hose clamps
Current tester, light tester
Tow straps, I like synthetic winch rope too,
Tools, more than your wife's junk drawer and less than gas station
Shovel, axe, nice bow saw
1-2 Ton Come along

Towing across country can be easy or hard depending how you approach towing long distances.

 

[El Jason]

Timely post. Do you have any suggested resources for bearing maintenance? I’m planning to repack bearings this season for the first time. Cheers

Depends on the bearing style. Mine require me to pull a seal to get to the bearing. Clean, grease, install and replace seal.

 

[Bullshot]

Timely post. Do you have any suggested resources for bearing maintenance? I’m planning to repack bearings this season for the first time. Cheers

keep well greased (mine have zerks and bearing buddies) and keep water out and they should stay good awhile. Seals do wear out and can let some water/grit in, so I'd probably just do new bearings rather than clean / repack them if very old or you are concerned for a reason. Otherwise just roll the grease in good with clean fingers to fill all the voids. And don't damage the seals when installing. Mind the tightness on the spindle nut. Should be snugged just right, no wheel wobble on the axle when jacked up on that side (try to rock wheel from side to side / top to bottom to detect play - a tiny bit, just barely detected, is OK) and not too tight. Castle nuts always seem to be 1/2 way between! Make sure wheel rotates smoothly and pretty easily a dozen rotations or so. Check occassionally on trip and adjust as needed - things heat and expand, or settle in, and can change that 1st use. Also palm the hub after maybe first 20 miles and then at 50-100 and then at gas stops and if it's running really hot at a check you may have an issue. Can get pretty warm but should not be "hot hot". If too hot, spindle nut could be too tight, or bearing could be too dry or seizing. Back off the castle 1 slot, see if wheel is still just-snug and try driving again and see if it operates normally (assuming bearing is ensured to be well greased). If your bearing catastrophically fails, that would be bad. That's why I bring complete hub replace kits with me to not drive on a bad besring were that to occur.

 

[Hammsolo]

What about tips for cold weather camping? How much water do you start with? Do you keep some water in grey and black tanks?

I bought a new bigger trailer this year, 3 kids and 3 big dogs. My wife loves our glamper and that’s what matters. I love it too. Not offroady, but my bro and I getting ready in the Hike at 4 AM was hilarious. 2 bears trapped in a cave wrestling over carcass if you know what I’m saying.

A few add on items; spare plugs for the generator and chain saw.

 

[MTLabrador]

What about tips for cold weather camping?

Cold weather camping = wall tent, wood stove, and Pendleton…

 

[MTLabrador]

I am considering getting a larger bottle jack to keep in the truck for trailer tire changes especially, and to make changing a tire on the truck easier. I hate using the cheap jacks that come with the truck, and I’ve had to use a hi lift to change a trailer tire before, that was sketchy.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Yes 2 spares absolutely. On our first long trip with the 5er I put the spare on the trailer before we left Silver Falls OR because I noticed a bulge on the tire tread. We only had about 70 miles to reach our next destination where I figured I would buy a new tire but we didn't make it. We ended up shredding a tire only 8 miles from our next RV park.
We had to leave the trailer just off a freeway exit on the Columbia river gorge and drive almost to Portland to buy a new tire.

https://imgur.com/a/7YNuqVO