JB
Honorary Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2001
- Messages
- 45,907
Maybe this should be in Stupid Human Tricks, but I'm putting it here to help trailer buyers avoid similar troubles.<br /><br />I went to Ft. Lauderdale to pick up a boat I bought on ebay and put it on a trailer I had bought VERY cheap via Yahoo classifieds. At $250, the 2650#, 18-20' galvanized Shoreline was a bargain from heaven. When I got the trailer to the storage yard where my boat was I had the guys put new lights on it and check it out for a 1500 mile trip. They said everything was fine and congratulated me on getting such a deal.<br /><br />I got about 150 miles. One of the tires started throwing tread and the spring plate on one side collapsed, dropping all but one leaf somewhere on the Turnpike. Seven hours later I was on my way again with new springs, springplates, "U" bolts, wheels and tires. Also $300 poorer.<br /><br />About 800 miles later I hear a rumble. Rust on one hub has flaked out, leaving a gap and loosening that wheel, which starts to wobble and enlarges the stud holes to about an inch. One new wheel destroyed. It was Sunday, so I just stopped in the first hotel I saw.<br /><br />Monday morning. New hubs, bearings, Bearing Buddies and one new wheel. Minus another $150.<br /><br />So I am now home with a sound, $700 trailer, not counting the cost of the extra day on the road. I will put new rollers on it (16 times $9.95) and have a new trailer and an education about salt water and trailers for about $900. That's a good price for a like new Shoreline. . . a silver lining, I guess.<br /><br />I hope anyone contemplating a used trailer remembers this. I sure will.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB 