| Harbor Freight trailers | Rate Topic |
| Moderated by: redbaron, Patch, MDKramer, AZgl1500 |
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| Posted: Mon May 15th, 2006 07:46 pm | 1st Post |
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I've got a 4X8 Harbor Freight kit trailer that I built a box on for Rodent to use with the shows she does for her store. One note of caution is to make sure that every time you use the trailer lube the wheel bearings. Typically, we don't go all that for but one or two trips a year we'll put a couple thousand miles on. So far we've been lucky. Last year three people that we know using both the 4X8 and the smaller 3X4 (?) trailers have had wheels separate due to bearing failures. One friend was passed by the wheel then watched it bounce off the dirt road into a cornfield. They never found it... At any rate, I've used and loved the trailer but wanted to add my twa-pence as I've read a few posts with riders talking about using them with their bikes. Ruaidh
____________________ "Words, unwritten, have no value" - Caius Merlinus Brittanicus. '90 Caramel Blue 1500 |
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| Posted: Mon May 15th, 2006 08:23 pm | 2nd Post |
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thanks for the heads up. I use one of these for hauling the bike (for when I HAVE to have the truck too). I noticed that the bearing covers are not that secure in the hub. if you lose this, you lose all your grease and shortly the bearings. I secured mine in place with duct tape (use #5,765,182) havent had so much as a drop of grease olst in the 2k miles I put on it this year so far. also beware of the grease zerks on the inside of the hubs. they break off really easy.
____________________ 1985 Honda GL1200 LTD formerly had 1980 CX500 1981 GL500 SilverWing |
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| Posted: Mon May 15th, 2006 08:53 pm | 3rd Post |
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you might try (when you have it all apart) adding a zerk fitting.... that way you can add grease all the time
____________________ -Rodger- of course I'm paranoid.... they are out to get me! '75 frame and parts project, '78 1000, '86 1200I, 05 HD-Road King, 08 Heritage softail (Beth's) http://www.nakedgoldwings.com/gallery/rcmatt007 |
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| Posted: Mon May 15th, 2006 09:30 pm | 4th Post |
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My version has zerks on the hubs so I can grease it fairly easy.
____________________ "Words, unwritten, have no value" - Caius Merlinus Brittanicus. '90 Caramel Blue 1500 |
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| Posted: Mon May 15th, 2006 11:50 pm | 5th Post |
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rcmatt007 wrote: you might try (when you have it all apart) adding a zerk fitting.... that way you can add grease all the timethey come with zerks installed, but they are cheap (really crappy brass) and tighten down at an odd angle. I replaced them with straight units made of steel. much more easy to use.
____________________ 1985 Honda GL1200 LTD formerly had 1980 CX500 1981 GL500 SilverWing |
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| Posted: Tue May 16th, 2006 12:39 am | 6th Post |
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I have one that I just rebuilt into a smaller trailer. I have a tendency to check my hubs on each side at every stop. As far as the grease caps are, mine are super tight. But I agree about the cheap fittings, I replaced mine with a 90 degree fittings instead of the 45 degree ones that came on it. Gene   
____________________ Gene Lester Present Bikes: 2005 GL1800 Pearl Yellow "Banana Bike" 1981 GL1100 "Loud pipes don't save lives, they just annoy everyone" "My Remington shotgun says I don't need an excuse" |
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| Posted: Wed May 17th, 2006 12:50 pm | 7th Post |
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I installed a set of bearing buddies after lossing the lefthand bearing. I grease it up every trip now.
____________________ 1983 Goldwing Interstate GL1100I BOMB! (Better Off Modified Baby!) - MP3 Player, Fan Bypass Switch, Homemade Trailer |
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| Posted: Thu May 18th, 2006 01:07 pm | 8th Post |
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I figured that the people in this group were probably already doing what I was suggesting; it was just a wild thought and I don't get the chance to add much on this site... 
____________________ "Words, unwritten, have no value" - Caius Merlinus Brittanicus. '90 Caramel Blue 1500 |
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| Posted: Thu May 18th, 2006 01:24 pm | 9th Post |
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hey any heads up i s appreciated. for every person who does take extra precaution there are 2 who do not.
____________________ 1985 Honda GL1200 LTD formerly had 1980 CX500 1981 GL500 SilverWing |
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| Posted: Thu May 18th, 2006 04:02 pm | 10th Post |
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If you need extra wheel bearings better get them from harbor freight, (you have to call them) because they are odd size and you will never find them on the road. Very inexpensive from HF. I also added a couple of tabs under the lug nuts to tie safety wires over my dust caps. I lost a cap one time and blew a bearing and that could easily be prevented. Randy
____________________ 81' GL 1100 Standard with Vetter 5 fairing with lowers, radio pod and Hondaline suitcase bags and trunk. |
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13th, 2006 05:54 am | 11th Post |
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i have a harbor freight trailer, good littel trailer. best bang for the buck out there. re-pac bearings once a year, mix in a littel anti-sieze, your good to go. weet
____________________ 94' harley ultra tour-glide classic |
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13th, 2006 11:38 am | 12th Post |
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Knowing HF doesnt not deal in top quality, but affordable wuality. I would take those bearings to a place that deals in bearings and get a good set. Around hear the place is called Motion Industries. Then I would add a set of bearing buddies. Any time a trailer sets and doesnt get used much the grease will start to settle and then moisture can get in there, that is what pits bearings, causeing undue failure. Good bearing, a good wheel bearing grease, and bearing buddies, and away you go.
____________________ 1984 GL1200I Pearl Blue |
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| Posted: Thu Jul 13th, 2006 09:21 pm | 13th Post |
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I have simular trailers on all my plumbing trucks (5x8)'s and (4x6)'s. we haul generators, tools, and fittings with them. The trailers are always attached, they are used every day. Anyway, we were blowing bearings quite regularly until I installed bearing buddies, more than a year ago. We have not blown a bearing since. Truthfully, I have totally neglected those bearings since I put the bearing buddies on.  I should probably check them huh??? OOPS!!We use these trailers easily 30k miles in a year very heavily weighted down.
____________________ 81 Interstate (the fastest color) 98 suzuki RM 125 (just plain mean) 95 suzuki DR 350 (dual sport) 83 honda CR 125 (in progress) |
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14th, 2006 12:08 am | 14th Post |
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liquidplumber wrote: I have simular trailers on all my plumbing trucks (5x8)'s and (4x6)'s. we haul generators, tools, and fittings with them. The trailers are always attached, they are used every day. Anyway, we were blowing bearings quite regularly until I installed bearing buddies, more than a year ago. We have not blown a bearing since. Truthfully, I have totally neglected those bearings since I put the bearing buddies on. Hey what does a "bearing buddy" look like? This  or  this  No, seriously anyone got a pic? Thanks liquidplumber got your post today. Keep on Winging 
____________________ John "2wings" Young '92 GL 1500 On the hunt for a Red 2005 1800 with all the fixings '49 Wife ....Keeping the Wife, to much invested '01 Minature Doberman Skype:shuckyducky2 |
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14th, 2006 02:39 am | 15th Post |
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Take a look http://www.bearingbuddy.com/
____________________ 1984 GL1200I Pearl Blue |
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14th, 2006 03:13 am | 16th Post |
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The bearings on my HF trailer have grease zerks so I can charge them as I feel I need to. I usually hit them with a couple of shots from the grease gun before each trip. Trying to be preventative without overdoing it.
____________________ "Words, unwritten, have no value" - Caius Merlinus Brittanicus. '90 Caramel Blue 1500 |
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| Posted: Fri Jul 14th, 2006 11:03 pm | 17th Post |
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After having Bearing Buddies on my boat trailer, and seeing how well they keep the bearings lubed, even though I was launching my boat in Puget Sound 50 times a year, I'll never own another trailer without Bearing Buddies.
____________________ 2002 GL1800 |
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