What should I do before moving an AS Trailer

[EricJohansen]

Just bought a 1976 30-ft Soverign that has been sitting on blocks for 12 years in Texas. I will tow it just 3 miles to my brother's for a complete restoration. The tires appear in very good shape and are holding air. My concern (hence the question) is about the axles and wheel bearings. Can I reasonably tow it just three miles without servicing, or should I pull the wheels and pack the bearings and lube the axles?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Eric Johansen

[pgr32e]

At the very least pull the hubs and grease the bearings. It doesn't take a whole lot of time and 3 miles will ruin the bearings and possibly the spindles if they're dry.....Cheers.

[FreshAir]

I would tow it slowly, very slowly. If the trailer was 'sitting' on those tires for 12 years they are toast no matter how good they look.
Neil

[Splitrock]

When I bought mine, I only had about three miles to tow it home. I called my insurance guy and got an insurance binder. I just checked that I had the right hitch ball, that the brake lights and the signals were working, and the brakes worked. Mine was licensed and had been used but not maintained. My spindles got repacked a month later and were fine. If I had it to do over, I'd do the same.

[Colin H]

The axles are finished at this point anyway so I would just make sure the wheels aren't on the verge of falling off & tow it slowly to its new location. If the bearings feel loose, open them up & figure out what the issues are. If one bearing assembly is too far gone, just leave the wheel off. Airstream's were designed to tow on three wheels for short distances.
Colin

[Ganaraska]

Make sure the trailer is level on the hitch and the tires pumped up. You are much more likely to blow a tire if the weight is distributed unevenly in other words if the front or rear is sticking up in the air.

If you can borrow a set of wheels and good tires off another trailer, all the better.

If the brakes are iffy it might be wise to hire a tow truck. Shouldn't cost much for such a short move. By that I mean the tow truck from the local garage, that they use to tow in broken down cars. Not the pro mobile home movers.

Make sure the tail lights turn signals and brake lights work. Or, if you get the tow truck he will have temporary units to stick on the back bumper.

[Ultradog]

Open a new catagory in Quickbooks.

[Aage]

Originally Posted by Ultradog

Open a new catagory in Quickbooks.

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by Ultradog

Open a new catagory in Quickbooks.

Hahahaha! Been there, done that!

[UAPachyderm]

Originally Posted by Ultradog

Open a new catagory in Quickbooks.

Made me laugh!