Trailer woes

[kaneboats]

I'm glad you said it before I had to. It sounds like salt water usage. You don't have a premature failure of one or two components. Instead, it's every part of the whole system on both axles just rotting away on you. That sounds like salt water exposure. Now I'd be worried about the boat itself. They don't drop the trailer in salt water to run the boat in fresh water. Better go through everything my friend.

[mmandley]

The inside of the pistons on the calipers are majorly rusted. Makes me wonder if the previous owner dunked it in salt water

I was wondering this too, but you havnt had any issues with the boat right? Maybe if they did then at least they did a proper engine flush when they were done.

[Razzman]

Yeah somethings not right for sure there, I tow a minimum of 70 miles everytime out roundtrip. I've probably got 3,000+ miles on the trailer now and the only issue was a leaking oil bath seal. I never liked that setup and it was discontinued by UFP so I converted all the hubs to the standard grease setup with Bearing Buddys.

[bzubke1]

i've had the same issues as david with our trailer we had all 4 calipers rebuilt last spring, one of which had to be replaced again in the middle of summer. Should have just got new ones right away instead of rebuilt. The brazos river where I boat has a higher salt content than most freshwater lakes and rivers because it goes through some salt flats so that could have something to do with it but none of my friends with boats older than mine that have been exclusively used in the brazos have any problems with their trailers. Maybe we just got a bad batch of calipers or something.

[rdlangston13]

Could be it, we have the same year model. When I got my boat it had Arizona numbers on it so I don't think it was used in salt unless George strait owned it. Maybe the lakes up there have a similar issue? The boat itself shows no sign of salt water damage that I can see. The v drive and tranny have a few spots of surface rust but nothing too bad for something that gets wet alot.

So I'm on pacific trailer website looking at brakes and just want to verify one thing. We have a 5 on 4.5 lug pattern and a 1 3/8 x 1 1/16 spindle right?

[rdlangston13]

Just some pics I snapped of the chaos

[jmb]

I will never put this boat or trailer in salt or brackish water. I had to replace everything on my last boat. New trailer after 4-1/2 years. Washed it every time I pulled it out and thats all the longer it lasted. Even sanded and painted it. Manifolds, Risers and heads. I will charter or rent a boat before I stick mine in salt water again. I flushed for 15 minutes every time I pulled the boat out. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!

[jmb]

Buy an Outboard for salt water. Repalce the motor after about 7 years.

[Nobodyrides4Free]

Hey Dave, Has anyone thought of the rotors warping or cracking from heat. Its kind of like on your car , if the rotors are hot then you roll through some water the can wrap or even crack. Ive seen other people pulling boats and rotors were red from heat! Also make sure to Torque wrench them.
I bought all my stuff from Pacific trailers for my brakes. Previous owner bought boat new and never hooked up th brake lines. I had to replace whole system becuase everything filled with water and rusted. Do you have Bearing Buddys on your trailer?

[rdlangston13]

My guess is that the caliper dragging generated excess heat and then cracked the rotor when it met cool water. I don't have bearing buddies, mine came with the "vault" lubrication system. Susposed to me maintenance free but I assume I will put beating buddies on when i fix all this in a few weeks