Trailering Issues (part duex)

[c130king]

I know this topic has been discussed before but here goes...

Got the König all spruced up and ready for my 9-week trip to Virginia.





My first long trailering trip so I have a couple of questions:

1) Does anyone know if the jack on a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer will work to jack up the trailer if needed?

2) I have read where you more experienced trailering folks recommend stopping at regular intervals to check bearings and tires. My tires are 50 PSI cold...what PSI should I expect when all warmed up?

Thanks,
Jim

[DLT]

As for the trailer jack, I bought one of these. Never used it yet and hope I never have to...

As for the tire/bearing check, all I do is check temperature with my hand... Yeah, how hot is too hot? Its going to get warm, real warm. But, if its too hot to touch at all, then you have a problem.

I always try to compare each tire/bearing with the one on the other side. Its not likely that both will go out at the same time. So, I'm looking for one to be significantly hotter than the other... If they both seem too hot, you might try to compare with the truck's tires...

Make sure you have a greasegun on hand. Because the other thing to check are you bearing buddies. Pull the cover off and gently push on the rim of the bearing buddy. If it rocks back and forth, you have enough grease. If it doesn't, you don't... Of course, this gets messy. So, also carry a roll of paper towels...

[JJ]

She sure is looking good!! I trailerd from Texas to Virginia when I bought my boat. If memeory serves tire pressure cold should be 66 psi (Check the tire and the trialer sticker posted on the front of the trailer by Macgregor).

I stopped evry couple of hours to be sure the bearings were not overheating. The tires do become pretty warm, but not baking hot.

Be sure the rudders are securley tied as I have had 1 rudder already fall down..needless to say I have a shorter rudder now.

I also tied the back of the boat down to the trailer and tied a second line from the nose to the trailer to be sure she wouldn't get lose. Let me know when You arrive and well try to hook up. Perhaps you can teach me how to sail!!!!!

[Bawgy]

Hope you can stop by Lake gaston for a sail . Remember the Spring Fling May5-6

[Catigale]

Pretty sure Ive posted this before - My tires Max inflation pressure is 50 psi - this is where I run them.

After 2 hours at 70 mph at about 80F ambient (hotter on the roadway, probably) they reached 60 psi and stayed there for the rest of the trip.

If I assume ideal gas thats quite a large temperature change to something like 150F for the air inside the tire. That makes the tire and wheel hot to the touch, but not burning hot.

[Currie]

Jim,

(Sorry, OT ) I like those bimini's that mount on the gunnels. Where did you get yours? How do you like it? Did you/they have to cut into the interior deck liner to install it? Thanks!

~ Bob

[PeteC]

c130king

Where are you going in Virginia?

[c130king]

Pete,

Going to Norfolk NAS for 9 weeks of "Joint Professional Military Education". Being an Air Force guy I get to learn interesting Naval terms like "Hatch" means door and "Head" means bathroom. They will teach me how to yell "Hooah!" like the Army. Not sure what the Marines do but I am sure I will learn. And I get to pass on all my great Air Force knowledge like how to ensure your hotel room has HBO and and in-room coffee machine.

But 9-weeks with no family, no house to take care of, no chores. I plan to sail as much as I can since when I come back from Norfolk my goes into storage for a few years since I am moving to London, UK. ( for no sailing... for moving to London)

I will be sailing the lower Chesapeake, James River and hopefully make a run out into the Atlantic just to say I have done it.

Bob,

I have only had the boat since Nov 06. The bimini was installed by the PO. Seems to work pretty nice...I have to tighten up the topping lift to get the boom over it...in fact I haven't sailed with the bimini up yet.

Thanks,
Jim

[Catigale]

and and in-room coffee machine

...which I havent used since I saw the video of the staff using it to clean the toilet....

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

1) Does anyone know if the jack on a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer will work to jack up the trailer if needed?

i broke the jack out of a 2001 GMC Safari Van last year on my X trailer. it just was not able to do the job and "snapped" on me. at the time i happened to be on a slope in which the jack was required to carry 70% of the weight.
so now i carry a large hydraulic jack separate from the tow vehicle jack when i trailer my X.

Bob T.
"DaBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[Frank C]

Bob's right, you really need a trailer jack. Consider that lifting half the boat+trailer, you're lifting close to 2 tons. Your tow vehicle jack expects to lift only a quarter of its weight per corner .... unlikely to have a 2-ton jack (very few tow vehicles weigh 8 tons).

Beyond that, I really want more capacity than miniimums. It's easy to find a 2.5-ton floor jack at reasonable price. Some are even package in a neato custom plastic suitcase. Problem is that they're usually too short, they only have a 13-inch lift extension, starting at 5 inches. I had to use 4x4 timbers under the trailer frame to clear the trailer tire, and that's not really a safe way to lift to such height.

Strongly recommend testing this at home instead of along the Interstate. With one wheel up, the trailer isn't nearly as steady as a car with 3 wheels grounded, so have 2 sturdy jack stands ready to support the trailer after you lift it. I now have a high-lift bottle jack and pair of jackstands in the trunk at all times.

[deacm]

Ah, but then a AAA membership can sometimes be cheaper and more peace of mind and less gear to haul with you. Just keep in mind you have to pay an upcharge on your annual membership for trailer inclusion.

[Hamin' X]

Consider that lifting half the boat+trailer, you're lifting close to 2 tons.

Frank, I'll bet that you'll get better fuel mileage if you unload some of the extra weight that you're pulling around.

Rich

[Frank C]

I was goin' double-speed yesterday~!

Right Hamin' ... it's only one ton, so any jack should work. But 2000 lbs. is still a bunch heavier lift than we're accustomed to when changing a car tire. The little floor jack that's was happy to hoist my truck at the differential is clearly straining to lift one side of the trailer, and it seemed a mighty iffy prospect to lift it high enough into the air to clear that tire. Few jacks will offer enough height for the trailer unless you "pad" the lifting saddle with some timber.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

Ah, but then a AAA membership can sometimes be cheaper and more peace of mind and less gear to haul with you. Just keep in mind you have to pay an upcharge on your annual membership for trailer inclusion.

that's the part of the story i omitted.
i am an AAA member but without the additional $18/year RV (includes boat trailers) coverage. so when my jack broke at 7am on a Sunday morning, i really needed help. they accommodated me by sending a truck to my rescue and adding a pro-rated RV coverage amount on my current membership period that covered me until the end of my renewal period.