Newbee need to get my bearings!

[WheelchairDon]

Bought a 1999 38' Forest River Sandpiper TT. Going to get it tomorrow. About a 2 hour drive. The unit was originally purchased new and moved to the campsite, parked and never moved again. Should I be worried about repacking the bearings that have only100 miles on them?

 

[HangDiver]

I would. Some units come from the factory with very little grease to begin with.

Welcome to the forums!

EDIT: Also, trailer tires age out before they wear out. If it were me I'd replace them right away.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

Wow! Twenty four years since it's been moved?

I'd be worried about tires first, wheel bearings second, slides retracting, brakes and brake lights working and that's just to get it on the road.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Sunseeker16]

Hook up and go, I wouldn't do it. I'd at least give everything a once over to be sure something isn't locked up or dragging and the brakes work nothing falling off. Tires are a crap shoot. I wouldn't haul it down the interstate at speed. I've seen it done many times but take some reasonable precautions before getting on the road.

 

[kenandterry]

As everyone has mentioned……this unit needs an extensive wake up visit before even thinking of towing it home.

Imagine waking up Rip Van Winkle and asking him to run the Boston Marathon.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Ouch! Tires 23 to 24 years old. I'm surprised they are holding air. I would replace the tires before putting the trailer on the road.

As to bearings and brakes, it is time to pull the hubs and do a good inspection. Likely lots of rust in and on the brake parts. Depending on the rust on the hubs where the brake linings contact, they may be able to be turned, depending on the rust pitting.

You will need to do a good inspection of the wiring associated with brakes, turn signal lights, and brake lights. Do a temporary fix on the system that doesn't work to make it road-worthy.

All of this depends on how far you have to travel. Even then, at a very conservative speed.

Bob

 

[Mokurt]

I would be scared to tow that trailer for 2 hours with those tires!

 

[doanshop]

Bought a 1999 38' Forest River Sandpiper TT. Going to get it tomorrow. About a 2 hour drive. The unit was originally purchased new and moved to the campsite, parked and never moved again. Should I be worried about repacking the bearings that have only100 miles on them?

How far are you going less than 100 miles get go ahead and tow it home then do Maintenace on it?

 

[PhilFromMaine]

It is official! The post has been hijacked! LOL

Referring to the OP, I would closely check the tires first before moving the trailer. IMO, the bearing inspection can weight until you get home. But the tires.......................

 

[tomkatb]

Best of luck. You are going to need it.

Lots of things for you to check.

 

[aceinspp]

Hes got a lot to learn. Later RJD

 

[flyflotrtim]

Bought a 1999 38' Forest River Sandpiper TT. Going to get it tomorrow. About a 2 hour drive. The unit was originally purchased new and moved to the campsite, parked and never moved again. Should I be worried about repacking the bearings that have only100 miles on them?

YES and also get new tires before towing.

 

[kenandterry]

No comment back from the OP since he first posted here.

We’ve offered our suggestions, it’s up to him now.

 

[Chuck_S]

Been less than 24 hours since this extremely naive topic was posted...

Would not surprise me if the trailer is untowable with rusted wheel bearings that may not allow the wheels to rotate and if they do not for long. The tires are absolute scrap and unsafe beyond a couple hundred feet.

Recommendation: Contact a mobile RV service and get the wheel bearings and spindles replaced along with the tires. You can buy new wheels with tires already mounted and install them in minutes. I've done it by myself in my driveway. Throw them in the back of the truck and take then to meet the mobile RV service.

-- Chuck

 

[doanshop]

And poof! their gone!

 

[Larry-NC]

Scared him pretty good

And poof! their gone!

All the gloom and doom about sheared spindles and blowout tires probably scared him off. Maybe could have been a bit gentler.

 

[jjscsix]

Hook up and go, I wouldn't do it. I'd at least give everything a once over to be sure something isn't locked up or dragging and the brakes work nothing falling off. Tires are a crap shoot. I wouldn't haul it down the interstate at speed. I've seen it done many times but take some reasonable precautions before getting on the road.

I understand your point, but I would not pull it more than a couple of miles and make damn sure the tow vehicle can stop it without the aide of the trailer brakes.

 

[Boomerweps]

All the gloom and doom about sheared spindles and blowout tires probably scared him off. Maybe could have been a bit gentler.

And teach children how cute and cuddly bear cubs are. (Thank you, Disney).
Too bad the gloom and doom was not visited upon him BEFORE the purchase.

 

[jlynn721]

Bought a 1999 38' Forest River Sandpiper TT. Going to get it tomorrow. About a 2 hour drive. The unit was originally purchased new and moved to the campsite, parked and never moved again. Should I be worried about repacking the bearings that have only100 miles on them?

Tires and wheel bearings and anything that can be greased on that model.

 

[benchmarks]

Floor it!

Ah come on.....man-up. You only live once and you remember that rush you had when you were a teen. Feel that wind blowing through your hair....if you still have some?! Okay, I remember many bad choices I made. x2 on what everybody else said.