I haven't dented ours putting them on, and I can be a little ham-fisted at times. They seem to be holding up fine, but then we've only had them for a year or two and they're in the garage at the moment.
For the price I'd try the ones I recommended, you can return them if they don't fit, but make sure you measure to get the right ones.
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Ian Lomax
1966 Streamline Countess 26'
This particular rubber mallet is one we use to "drum" pneumatic tankers to check the product level during unloading; steel or aluminum. I'd be inclined to use it to install a hub cap versus a rubber hammer, but aiming blows towards/along the edges during installation rather than in center, so to speak (with experience).
Do a little shopping to find a soft face (ACE Hardware, plus the big chains) and one that seems to swing easily underhanded. Control over force. A peculiar momentum in the swing for just the right one.
There are hundreds of types/brands of "hammers". Take your time. And when it comes to tools it matters not that a particular tool has only one use. Like you, my TT is my home. "Special" tools are a part of that: one use only, but that the operation requires it.
In other words (and with other things) the price of the hubcaps also must include what is necessary to mount and de-mount. By extension then is also tool storage (chest or box) and the place for that storage. Part of the pleasure of independence is being systematic about what one needs . . even if only used once annually.
A rubber mallet costs about $3 and it what I use on the dust caps. The bearing grease on the wheel without the dust cap surely is contaminated by dust and dirt, so repack it and replace seals before you move the trailer; best to do all of them. The bearings may be good, but bearings are cheap, so replacing all of them is a good start. Each hub will have an inner and outer bearing and race. There will be a grease seal on the inside. Also replace the cotter pins that keep the castellated nut from moving.
An auto parts store will not have info on bearings or seals for your trailer and an RV shop probably won't either. You have to remove the bearings and seals and take them to a store and they will get the part numbers off of them. It probably would be a good idea to remove the races and replace them too. The races are a part installed in the hub for each bearing so the bearing rolls around into. If you can't get part numbers from them, bring in the whole hub and work from that.
There are tools to seat races and seals, though using a block of wood larger than the part will do a pretty good job. The rubber mallet is good for this too.
There are many threads on the Forum telling you how to repack and replace bearings, seals, etc.
You can also get a tool that you use to pack the bearings with grease. A lot of people do it by hand, but it is quick and a lot less messy with the bearing packer. Any auto parts store has them. Always use the same grease as some greases are incompatible with each other. Look for a high temperature bearing and marine grease as it will handle the temps of a hub in summer and is more water resistant.
I'm not sure of the name of this part, maybe someone can tell me. I'm calling it a wheel cap. I'm looking for a replacement. One was missing when I bought my Streamline Duchess. I'm getting ready to work on the axles, shocks, brakes, etc and get new tires. I thought I'd clean up the original wheels even though I'd like to have 16" eventually so I can have better tires but for now I'm going with 15" trailer tires. Does anyone have this piece or can you refer somewhere I can get it? I've written to Tom Patterson and searched the internet but haven't been able to locate anything yet. It's stamped with HADCO L.A. CAL on it. The photos show one wheel with and one without the cap piece.
I started polishing my trailer with Met-All. Never washed it in the year I've owned it - trying to get all the lights & exterior in order & waterproof. You don't have to wash the trailer to use this product. It cleans & polishes - oh boy does it ever work!!!! Just rub in in, small sections at a time, rub, then wipe & polish with soft dry cloth. Thanks to the person who posted this product for anodized aluminum. I estimate it will take two 32 oz cans to do my Duchess.
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