Boat trailer work

[Crusader]

One of my winter boats projects was to get the Crusaders trailer in good shape so we can make as many Hot Boat events across Texas as possible and also make our annual trek to Lake Lanier in North Georgia next August.

I've priced new trailer rims and tires and decided that buying new rims was just to darn expensive.....especially since I have good functioning but ugly rims anyway. So I decided to refresh what I already have. I started off by pulling off the four tires and rims over the weekend and started work. After removing the old and dry rotted tires from the rims, I stripped, cleaned and repainted the old rims. I used the Rustoleum "Hammered silver" paint to give the rims a brushed aluminum look to them. Also, I priced trailer tires and was really surprised at how expensive they are locally so I ordered four new 6-ply trailer tires from a store on EBay and they should arrived this week.

My next project is to replace all of the wheel bearings on the trailer as I found two sets of bearings, out of four sets, bad. After I put the new tires, painted rims and new bearings on the trailer I plan on rewiring the trailer and installing new L.E.D. rear lights and L.E.D. side marker lights.

Below are the before (painted white) and after pictures of the rims.

 

[Devilman]

That ought to dress it up real well, looks good. Know what ya mean about the price of rims. Hell, tires too. Ran me last set for 5 years, they have doubled in price since I bought 'em last, lol. Luv that road hazard though. :wink:

Be real nice coming into the season knowing everything on the trailer is fresh & ready to hit the road. clap.gif

 

[Crusader]

Ya, with as much traveling as we do towing our toys, I want to take the best precautions and try to head off any problems before they happen. If anyone has ever been on the side of a busy highway to change a tire, especially at night, then you know exactly what I mean.

When I took off the tires I spun the spindles and could hear a grinding noise. I knew right then that I needed to replace bearings so I'll go ahead and replace all four sets.

Trailer tires are ridiculous in price however the tires that the prior owner had on the trailer were shot and in worse shape than I originally thought. It was only a matter of time before I had a blowout with them. 

 

[JYBTX19]

Cliff, check out Southwest Wheel here in Dallas online. I found there prices to be quite a bit cheaper and I have an account there you can use. They have anything you could ever want for trailers...

 

[blazeracer]

Most boat trailers use the small Ford 5 on 4 1/2 bolt patternm, right? Eagle tire by my shop has great prices on tires. I outfitted our F250 with heavy duty 8-ply tires for $500 out the door. I'm gonna have them rubber up our our fridge trailer next. I would like to get some old school Cragars on my boat trailer.

But those rims look a lot better. Now that the wheels are off your trailer, the weather will be in the 80's with no wind this Sunday. LOL

 

[Crusader]

Well I've already ordered and paid for the new trailer rubber. At $52 a piece for a six ply High speed rated DOT approved  Trailer Tires size ST205/75D-14. The $52 plus $40 shipping comes out to about $62 a piece for the tires which I didn't think was too bad.

Now that the wheels are off your trailer, the weather will be in the 80's with no wind this Sunday. LOL

That's why I have the Whaler!!!! lol.

 

[Crusader]

Eagle tire by my shop has great prices on tires. I outfitted our F250 with heavy duty 8-ply tires for $500 out the door. I'm gonna have them rubber up our our fridge trailer next. I would like to get some old school Cragars on my boat trailer.

I'll have to contact them in the spring as I'll need new tires for my F-150 then.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Well I've already ordered and paid for the new trailer rubber. At $52 a piece for a six ply High speed rated DOT approved  Trailer Tires size ST205/75D-14. The $52 plus $40 shipping comes out to about $62 a piece for the tires which I didn't think was too bad.

Seems like a good price. What Brand?  Aren't those bias ply and not radial?  Not that it matters on a trailer.

 

[Crusader]

[Seems like a good price. What Brand?  Aren't those bias ply and not radial?  Not that it matters on a trailer.

They're made by King and I bought them from a company in Tennessee. I think they are Bias ply and not radials. Typically it seems that the radials are about $30 a tire more. Every tire shop I called wanted to sell the radial trailer tires to me. They said that they are best for long haul driving and that is what we intend to do as we're planning a trip to Georgia in August. That's why I went with new tires instead of keeping the old ones on there. If we just stayed local, I would have just left the old tires on. I ended up buying bias ply because I just couldn't justify the extra $30 per tire cost difference.

What's your take on the radial versus bias ply trailer tires?

 

[blazeracer]

Eagle Tire, $324.75 for four ST205/75D-14's, installed and balanced. My trailer has 15's for the same price (bias ply). Four 8-ply 15 inch radials (225/75R-15) are $389.70, mounted and balanced out the door.

EDIT: Those are 205/75R-14's for $324.75 out the door... 8 ply radials. 14" biased ply's are $259.80 out the door but like the other tire shop guys, he doesn't recommend them for road trips.

 

[Last Mohecian]

They're made by King and I bought them from a company in Tennessee. I think they are Bias ply and not radials. Typically it seems that the radials are about $30 a tire more. Every tire shop I called wanted to sell the radial trailer tires to me. They said that they are best for long haul driving and that is what we intend to do as we're planning a trip to Georgia in August. That's why I went with new tires instead of keeping the old ones on there. If we just stayed local, I would have just left the old tires on. I ended up buying bias ply because I just couldn't justify the extra $30 per tire cost difference.

What's your take on the radial versus bias ply trailer tires?

I'd say bias is fine for mostly local hauling and the occasional long haul like you do.  I'd go with radial if I was making long hauls all the time.  I actually put car tires on the Rebel trailer but that boat is light relatively speaking.  I put radial trailer tires on the cruiser.  It had two almost new tires and two mis-matched tires.  I replaced the two mismatched tires with matching 6 ply radial trailer tires so they all match now.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Eagle Tire, $324.75 for four ST205/75D-14's, installed and balanced. My trailer has 15's for the same price (bias ply). Four 8-ply 15 inch radials (225/75R-15) are $389.70, mounted and balanced out the door.

EDIT: Those are 205/75R-14's for $324.75 out the door... 8 ply radials.

That is a car tire not a trailer tire.  The sidewall is thinner and it has a lower load rating.  Probably fine for the lighter boats.

 

[blazeracer]

That is a car tire not a trailer tire.  The sidewall is thinner and it has a lower load rating.  Probably fine for the lighter boats.

Oh, maybe it was a D, but that is for 8 ply trailer tires, not car tires. His car tires are even cheaper.

 

[Last Mohecian]

That is a car tire not a trailer tire.  The sidewall is thinner and it has a lower load rating.  Probably fine for the lighter boats.

Oh, maybe it was a D, but that is for 8 ply trailer tires, not car tires. His car tires are even cheaper.

OK Cool.

 

[Last Mohecian]

Here is a pretty good explanation of the differences as well as how to read the identification.  It's the ST in front that identifies a trailer tire.

http://www.championtrailers.com/tire_art.html

 

[Crusader]

Wow, okay. I had problems with the Whaler tires blowing on me all the time....the 2 ply tires I got from Wal mart just weren't cutting it....along with towing the whaler at 75mph.....on 8 inch tires (ya, those things were spinning something crazy). I put a larger tire that is an 8 ply and made for high speed towing and haven't had a problem with them yet.

Maybe I should have bought the radials.....because we travel to Atlanta once a summer with the boat, those tires will be going there a few times before I replace them again.

The dealer stated in his ad:

High speed rated DOT approved  Trailer Tire.  This size fits ALL trailer with a 14x5 or 14x6 RIM.  Can be used to replace all Trailers with the ST205/75D-14 tires size. Constructed from a hard rubber compound to last longer for Highway Use these tires will perform.  Plus because these are DOT approved tires, they will last longer due to the standards this tire must meet to take Interstate Highway Speed Driving.  If you like to travel and TAKE your toys with you this is a MUST item for you.    These tires are New never mounted never ran.

 

[Crusader]

Here is a pretty good explanation of the differences as well as how to read the identification.  It's the ST in front that identifies a trailer tire.

http://www.championtrailers.com/tire_art.html

Okay, the D in the ST205/75D-14 states that I did indeed purchase a bias ply tire.

 

[blazeracer]

I have Eagle Tires products on my F250, Grand Prix, wife's Avenger and our daughter's Avenger. Also, you buy from him he'll rotate them for free when the time comes.

The trailer tires probably were R's then looking at the explaination.

HAHAHAHAHA!! Some dude is pounding the crap out of a tranny on Jerry Springer right now!!

 

[blazeracer]

As long as it is specified as a DOT trailer tire, you should be just fine with a once a year road trip.

 

[Devilman]

I was told basically what has been already said, the radials hold up better in the heat for long haul towing. My boat is somewhat heavy (3000 lbs including trailer) & on a single axle trailer so I wanted the best I could get. Was told on a tandem axle trailer the radial was not quite so crucial.

One thing I have read & heard is that trailer tires should be replaced every 3 years/5 years max no matter the mileage or treadwear. haven't heard an explanation as to why exactly that is though.