dmurph
Well-Known Member
Doing some spring maintenance on the trailer and noticed the clamp on the leaf springs has fallen apart, is this a crucial part, replaced I with what I had in the shop. Trailer was new in 2019, sure falls apart quickly
Trailer maintenance possible issues
- Thread starter dmurph
- Start date
tinboatrobb
Well-Known Member
Do you fully hose it down every time you use it?
salmonkiller01
Well-Known Member
I do not think it is much of an issue. Should be able to get a replacement at a trailer shop but the band clamp does nothing structural.
dmurph
Well-Known Member
I do but French creek doesn’t have a wash down hose so it’s now until I get home after a day of boating. This trailer is going be if my biggest regret purchases, wish I went tuff trailer,
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dmurph
Well-Known Member
Thanks wasn’t sure if it was a critical part, replaced it with the u bolt so that should do the job
Foxsea
Well-Known Member
Even torsion bars have their issues. The spring leaves will be good for many years. Bearings and brakes - no.
dmurph
Well-Known Member
Apparently tuff offers 5 year brake warranty and life time on lights though
dmurph
Well-Known Member
That being said the tuff was more of expensive
ab1752
Crew Member
That looks like a roadrunner trailer, I was just measuring the leaf springs on mine today for replacement, this is an 8500 RR which was new in 2016 and honestly these leaf springs haven't been road worthy in years. This only used once for marina haulout and I've always rinsed.
dmurph
Well-Known Member
Ya mines a 8500 lbs new in late 2019 washed after uses. Not overly impressed. I wanted a new trailer for such along time as the one that came with my boat was the original from 2007 and not heavily rated only 5500lbs if I recall. I got by with it cause I moored the boat. Since moving to the island I now trailer . Anyways the new trailer basically looks like the old one from 07.
ab1752
Crew Member
Do you happen to have pic of your leaf springs? If im right, not sure why I have 7 band leafs for a dual axel 8500 lb trailer. I measured mine 3 times eye to eye and each time it was 25.5" but I can't find any that length either. I guess I have to go back to them...again. ugh
Mine gotta be 25" 1/4 it was pouring today and I bet the tape deflected a bit over the axel.
Mine gotta be 25" 1/4 it was pouring today and I bet the tape deflected a bit over the axel.
pescador
Well-Known Member
Ya, I think it’s the 5800 model. I might be off a few hundred lbs.
Foxsea
Well-Known Member
Leaf springs are high carbon steel and it naturally rusts. The leaves move alongside each other as they flex. This action produces tiny metal particles that also rust. However, other than being ugly, it causes no harm. My 2016 triple axle, RR trailer has been great, other than for the drum brakes - certainly a weak point. I have sprayed the 6 springs with Fluid Film, so there is little visible rust.
Boat trailers are often over- loaded. A 4000 pound boat on a GVWR 4500 pound trailer is overloaded.
- Empty Weight – The weight of the trailer without any cargo or fluids; also called Dry Weight or Unloaded Weight
- GVWR – The maximum weight a trailer is rated to weigh, including cargo, fluids, etc.
- Load Capacity – The total weight of the cargo a trailer is rated to carry
The bands some people are concerned with are there to hold the spring stack together until it's mounted. Afterward, they have no purpose.
Look at your Class IV hitch, too. Use only to 5000 pounds.
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turbomack
Well-Known Member
I believe the most important thing to get the most value out of your boat trailer is to rinse the salt off it the minute it comes out of the water. I have a 200 litre tank of fresh water and a deck wash down pump in the box of my truck and religiously spray down after launch and retrieval. I beach launch my boat in Mexico now and depending on how the waves are the truck can get pretty salty too. They both get sprayed to wherever the water level was when the truck and trailer went in. I also spray leaf springs dif and frame rails with oil periodically to slow the corrosion of those components.
