*Warning* Continental Trailers

Blue197320 · #1 05-30-2007, 12:27 AM

i guess i should put my experience with torino trailer out there. i got my new double axle trailer and they put the boat on it for me only with WAY too much tongue weight and cut off the rear of the bunks so i cant move the boat back any. thats fine ill fix that when i have the boat in the water for its test. but the real problem is with the axles and u-bolts. the axle is on top of the leaf spring and the plate on the bottom of the spring that the u-bolt tightens to does not have any washers on it just the nuts. well the holes in that plate are almost the same size as the nuts. BIG PROBLEM i turned into the gas station to fill the tank and heard BOOM! and looked in the mirror and the u-bolts had broke off and the axle was free on one side. luckily i work by their shop and went in there kinda angry one day and they replaced the u-bolt. sorry its so long but if that would have happend doing 40+ MPH it would have been bad.

gw204 · #2 05-30-2007, 09:41 PM

I've always been told to NEVER grease lug nuts! So I haven't and have never had any issues breaking them free.

Anyway, let me share my new trailer stories. I bought a nearly new Loadmaster and a new Hi-Tech within the past year. Both had leaking grease seals because the castle nuts were tight enough and the hubs wobbled. So, first thing I did was tear everything apart, repack the bearings and install new seals.

Now it's as good as new should be.

Fr. Frank · #3 05-31-2007, 06:24 PM

As long as you torque the lug nuts properly, the grease won't be a adverse issue, and prevents excess corrosion on the threads.

sixguns · #4 05-31-2007, 09:25 PM

You can't torque the lugnuts "correctly" with grease on the studs as the torque value normally given will be for a dry stud . The torque value will be completely different for a stud with grease as it drastically changes the amount of pressure applied at the same torque . Even different types of grease and oil will require different specs .

Only when a manufacturer provides a special lubricant and a torque value (like with ARP studs) to use with that lube applied should one use grease on studs that have an important job like wheel studs .

brianmac · #5 06-05-2007, 12:33 AM

I had issues with "performance" brand trailers out of miami. i ordered a 24 foot 3500 lb galvanized pontoon trailer. and like you said , they stack em for shipping to and from the galvanizing plant. well mine was the biggest,so it was on the bottom, and they dont take the time to load the weight balanced on the axles. so the first one came with 3 out 4 cracked welds at the A frame spot, the next one came with 2 of 4 cracked, and a bunch of spots where the galvanizing never stuck, and the 3rd one came with rust all over it from spots never galvanized. the dealer said, ill just paint it with "galvanizing paint".... yeah right, i ran to the next dealer and paid an extra 500 for all alum and stainless hardware. yeah sure you cant use a torque wrench if ya lube the studs, but if your an experienced gearhead, and you fish saltwater, ya lube em and use your "armstrong torque wrench" and your "shouldertop computer" to make the adjustments. hence the expression , "old salt"

Fr. Frank · #6 06-05-2007, 12:48 AM

Quote:

...yeah sure you cant use a torque wrench if ya lube the studs, but if your an experienced gearhead, and you fish saltwater, ya lube em and use your "armstrong torque wrench" and your "shouldertop computer" to make the adjustments. hence the expression , "old salt"

Absolutely true. And make sure you check everything including the lug nuts every time you use the trailer .

People who hook up and go without inspecting their lights, brakes, bearing lube, lug nuts and tie-downs are the same people who
(a) launch their boats onto the asphalt,
(b) can't change their flat trailer tire 'cuz the lugs are frozen,
(c) weld their bearings to their spindles for lack of lubricant, or
(d) get back-ended cause they gave no indication of stopping or turning due to a lack of functioning trailer lights.

Disney coined a name for idiots like that back in 1970 - Boatniks

wavelength · #7 06-05-2007, 01:02 PM

When I was still Marine Patrol'n we would check the lugs and the coupler to the vehicle at the ramp after a day of water patrol. Several times I've found things undone or nuts backed off... messin with man.

RS · #8 06-05-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

You can't torque the lugnuts "correctly" with grease on the studs as the torque value normally given will be for a dry stud . The torque value will be completely different for a stud with grease as it drastically changes the amount of pressure applied at the same torque . Even different types of grease and oil will require different specs .

Only when a manufacturer provides a special lubricant and a torque value (like with ARP studs) to use with that lube applied should one use grease on studs that have an important job like wheel studs .

That's true, but lug nuts are not heads, manifolds or spark plugs. You're probably not going to strip them out too easily. FWIW I normally torque lugs dry to about 100#. If using anti seize I go to about 90#. I have not broken any studs, nor have my lugs ever worked loose.