Trailer and camper maintenance

[threedogs]

Apart from the obvious Id also look at your towbar bolts
Theyare just ketting dipped in the drink off road,
Ill swear by BEARING BUDDIES best product ever
My trailr/camper is getting a new water tank for our next fishing trip.
Its an 85ltr that Ill fit at the back of the camper to balance the weight a bit better
Check all electrical wires including the trailer plug on the rear of the Patrol thats
probably been drowned a few times as well.
Ill have a Dolium 55ltr tank for sale later on, it will fit acoss the floor behind the driver
so ildesl for ywo up touring

[threedogs]

Trying to balance the Trailer with water can cause it's own issues.
If you put the tank too far back from the axle you may get trailer sway.
If the tank is empty (IE your on the way home) you are back where you started anyway.

Hi Evil my camper is very front heavy even with the
extra 85 kg of water the front is still hard to lift up
The other dolium 55ltr tank was hard agaist the front
of the Hilux single cab tub

[mudnut]

You know the drill... Go have a great time away and forget to release the caravan handbrake before leaving camp. I was unlucky that the handbrake wasn't engaging properly. Old Trol pulled the van easily from the campsite and through town. I only noticed a problem when ascending the hills near Avoca.

Pulled over to discover the hub was hot on the passenger side. Then found the handbrake still on. Released the brake and drove to Amphitheatre and tested the temp again. The hub was only slightly cooler. Stopped at Elmhurst and jacked up the wheel to test the bearings and brakes. There was only a slight dragging sound and the bearings had minimal movement.

After twenty minutes it had had cooled enough to keep going. Unfortunately the hub ran hot, which showed I had cooked the grease. I stopped at AutoPro Hamilton to buy some bearing and seal kits, only to discover that the damn van runs a Holden large bearing and seal, and a Ford small bearing.

I would have been in deep poo poo if the bearings had failed, as the Caravan parts supplier in my home town had sold me a Holden kit !!! Spent today pulling the hub and brake apart, greased and replaced the bearings, and got the hand brake working properly.

[pollenface]

I can't remember if I've even pumped my tyres up since I bought my trailer.

I did fit a remotely switched reversing flood light though, powered by a small battery charged by a 10w solar panel on the toolbox, pretty nerdy.

[mudnut]

I can't remember if I've even pumped my tyres up since I bought my trailer.

I did fit a remotely switched reversing flood light though, powered by a small battery charged by a 10w solar panel on the toolbox, pretty nerdy.

That is the problem with trailers and such. They get forgotten until needed. This is the first time I've had trouble with towing as I usually drive for a few ks then stop and check the temps. (For some stupid reason, I forgot to do it) I also change the grease after 12-18months. The handbrake cable U bolt was loose enough to let the cable slide a bit when I reefed on the handbrake at the site. Just another dodgey thing to add to a long list done by the bloke who sold the van to me.

[pollenface]

fair call, I've actually got a couple of brand new spare hub/bearing kits sitting in the shed ... I might try swap them over tomorrow if it's not raining

[Mooty]

I try to annually give the trailer a real good wash and wax for the walls. The roof a good cleaning and a coat of rev roof conditioner. I also check all the sealer and touch up anything that looks like a problem. The bearing repack I wait for 2-3 years. I don’t put a lot of miles on a year.

I recently bought a 2021 Sprinter that I'm converting into a camper van. I'm looking to get something like these SoCal Van conversion Kits. I don't really care about the style, just whichever is easier or most practical. Has anyone had experience with something like this? Is it worth buying this, or is it easier to build it myself? To be honest, I don’t have that much free time.