Value of a Trailer Service

Mbryant · 13 August 2009, 13:09

Just contacted a major retailer in Park Gate to book in a trailer service. £95 plus VAT, which I guess is charging for about 2 hours labour. It occurs to me that the extent of their 'service' will be to check the lights, tyres, brakes, bearings, winch, coupling and check the rollers. I suspect that they will probably come back and tell me I need new bearings and brake shoes and that the total bill will probably be around £350 plus VAT. (just under 25% of the new replacement cost)

Question really is how easy is it to do the 'service' yourself and do they undertake any other sort of examination which you need to be skilled and trained to do, or is it just common sense and elbow grease? Plus would it be worthwhile shopping round for any required parts rather than paying what appears to be top of the range prices through this dealer.

Trailer is 6 years old and an Indespension 3.5 single axle. I live 4 miles from the slipway so probably not covered more than 200 miles since the last full service (which cost an arm and a leg).

JSP · 13 August 2009, 13:37

I'd do it yourself, if not to save money then to gain knowledge if you ever get stuck.
Wheel bearings are very easy to do. Brakes can be a bit more tricky but not much. Everything else is just a matter of checking over. Apart from the wheels, look around and if you see a grease nipple stick some grease in. I expect there should be one near you Hitch.

There's a wealth of knowledge on here so if you get stuck just ask!

Rogue Wave · 13 August 2009, 14:20

definitely shop around for parts ebay is a good price reference.

I'd service it yourself the only fiddly things are brakes and after a bit of swearing they come together. one way of avoiding expensive ervice bills is to keep running around the trailer with a grease gun. Bearing savers if your hubs will accept them are good. also make sure you whack grease into the coupling actuator shaft/drawbar nipples

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Light-Trailer-...d=p3286.c0.m14

worth every penny

chris123 · 13 August 2009, 19:28

I don't have any experience of the 'major retailer in Park Gate', but I do have very good experience of Trailertek not too far up the road:

http://www.trailertek.co.uk/

If you want to DIY they will sell you anything you need, they also do servicing and repairs.

Cheers

Chris

butty · 13 August 2009, 19:37

i have just serviced a trailer for one of the boats my boss owns, its a double axle unit and i had to buy the parts from the place you are talking about, i was amazed by the prices of everything!!!

exremally expensive, i had to buy from that oulet as we are on a deadline, so i would recommend shoping around for parts.

it is all quite easy the servicing, nothing that complicated about it. if i can do it.......

good luck

Rogue Wave · 13 August 2009, 20:05

why do we call insespension major retailer in paek gate?

David G · 13 August 2009, 20:38

I would also look at www.western-towing.co.uk and http://www.rphleisure.co.uk

for parts too.

I have an Indespension 3.5 and routinely service it.

Also look at specialist bearing companys and buy bearings individually for a lot less than the indespension price for a pair.

www.bearing-king.co.uk is one off the top of my head but there are others too.

HTH

Orve.

chris123 · 13 August 2009, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

why do we call insespension major retailer in paek gate?

Well he started it ^^^

PeterM · 15 August 2009, 01:39

Said retailer is well known for being chuffin expensive ......... much cheaper ways of doing work . Trailers are pretty simple really - just the brakes are fiddly - but simple in real terms .

Rodan · 15 August 2009, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orville

I would also look at www.western-towing.co.uk and http://www.rphleisure.co.uk

for parts too.

I have an Indespension 3.5 and routinely service it.

Also look at specialist bearing companys and buy bearings individually for a lot less than the indespension price for a pair.

www.bearing-king.co.uk is one off the top of my head but there are others too.

HTH

Orve.

This may seem really dumb but for a roller coaster 8 from same place, how do you know which bearings?

David G · 15 August 2009, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodan

This may seem really dumb but for a roller coaster 8 from same place, how do you know which bearings?

It will depend on which size hubs are installed.

If you remove a wheel you should be able to see the make and size cast on the hub somewhere....or measure the diameter and depth.

Possible options, if they are Knott brakes, are likely to be:
160*35
200*50
203*40 (this is what is on my 3.5)
250*40

If you can work out the hub then this page shows you the bearings used, however, better pricing can be achieved than shown here elsewhere:
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acat...sion_hubs.html

If you can leave it all dismantled then the bearings themselves will have the part number on them for definitive identification.

HTH

markg · 16 August 2009, 23:56

just to give a little help on saveing a few quid i have been doing a refurb on a 20ft low loader trailer this week, knott 250.40 brake shoes were about 60 quid per axle we got both axle sets relined for 48 quid, bearings were ok, just washed out with diesel and repacked with fresh grease, new split pins and all is ok,
our local bearing suppliers are bearing man limited, bml or goldline bearings, i did have to buy an 8ft piece of 4x2 5mm steel channel for the chassis and make up a new rail, that added £40 to the job but still less than £150 including 2 new tyres

Mbryant · 31 August 2009, 16:58

Did the job myself in the end, not without a few hitches, brake adjusters seized up etc

Finally got everything back but I am concerned that the wheels will not spin freely. I guess the new brake shoes I fitted stand a bit proud of the old ones but even with the adjusters fully closed the hubs rub on the shoes and although we can move the trailer, I would have thought there should have been clearance?? Is it OK to just expect these to wear down after a few miles, strangely the trailer rolls backwards fine, its going forward the rubbing starts.

Also I replaced the bearings, the ones provided by Trailertek (who really seem to know what they are doing) were not the same as the ones I took out. Those removed were fitted flush on the inside whereas with those I have now fitted (and hammerred home) there is a 1/16th inch gap all round the rim, is that just a different fitting on a different make of bearing (they were also a lot cheaper than those sold by Indespension).

Grateful for any advice please?

Nasher · 31 August 2009, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mbryant

strangely the trailer rolls backwards fine, its going forward the rubbing starts.

Grateful for any advice please?

Forgive me for asking the obvious, but did you fit the shoes the right way around?

The auto reverse mechanism only works one way.

Nasher

Mbryant · 01 September 2009, 09:18

I fitted them on the same as I took them of, but in all honesty that one crossed my mind. How would I know? There is no handbook, the seatings into the handbrake mechanism at the bottom and the brake adjuster at top appearred to fit well so I assumed it was OK.

Maybe I should try turning the front shoe which moves the other way up and see if that helps?

markg · 02 September 2009, 00:14

have you backed the adjuster off on the cable , i forgot when i did our car trailer and the brakes were binding a bit on new lineings

Roy Smith · 15 September 2009, 19:39

I took the hub to BRT bearings in Portsmoth
they checked the numbers and new bearing £17.50 each
going slighty off tack
why do we have to have Brake shoes
why not brake pads like the Americans do
it seam that in most case its the brake shoes that swell and rub the drum
the heat melts the bearing and we all know what happens next
cant find any law thats says drums only
Is it cost at the point of sale ?