The parables of roadside vehicles
Ask a state patrolman what roadside vehicles mean, and you'd be amazed at how many different answers you get.
Usually, if I'm going on a fishing trip, I seem to tune in on those parked rigs that are towing a boat, or maybe even a camping trailer.
I know that any vehicle can suffer the joys of mechanical breakdowns, but when you add a camper or boat trailer, there's another factor to consider. Both instances could mean that this is one of the first road trips of the year for the fishing or camping season.
That means that the trailer hasn't been serviced in some time. By ¡°serviced,¡± I mean having the axles of each wheel checked to see if they are properly lubricated.
Quite often, the broken down vehicle/trailer combination includes a missing wheel off the trailer. Sure, it could be a flat tire or blowout. But I'm going to make a guess that it also could be that an axle seized or broke, and the wheel actually came off and rolled off down the borrow ditch.
Boat trailers are more often afflicted by broken axles, because they are subjected to water submersion every time the boat is launched and retrieved after fishing.
Unless the boat trailer's wheel bearings are specially designed to be waterproof, and even when they are, some water can seep into the bearings at one time or another. Especially if the boat is launched after some time on the road, after the bearings have heated up.
The right grease will take care of things most of the time, but if some rusting occurs during the off months while the boat and trailer are in storage, troubles can develop. Bad rusting can cause the bearings to seize, freeze onto the axle, and maybe cause the axle to break.
There are other times when you have to pull off the road.
I did this recently when slush on the highway was full of sand and dirt. My car headlights got spattered and soon became significantly dim because of the layer of crud and road spit. So I stopped, got out the glass cleaner and paper towels, and cleaned them off before continuing on the trip.
That reminds me that the cleanup stuff I had with me wasn't by accident. Had my windshield fluid run dry, I'd have stopped sooner to refill the reservoir with more washer fluid. I actually did have a good half-bottle of washer fluid with me at the time. But I admit to not being completely prepared every time.
I now make it a point to carry a box with all the basic essentials for maintaining good visibility on the road while on a trip. And I check the amount of stuff I've packed to be sure I don't get caught short another time.
Using a small Kleenex tissue and spitting a lot is not the most efficient method to clean things up. While you're at it, clean off those outside rear view mirrors too. I didn't realize how much I use them until they're too dirty to see anything.
I had some friends who anticipated wheel bearing troubles on a trip to Lake Powell. They jacked up the boat trailer, took off the wheels and put on new bearings. They carefully greased up everything and tightened the wheels back down.
One problem ¡ª they apparently tightened the wheels all too well, for they forgot to back off the wheel nuts a partial turn, and the overtightened bearings heated, broke and almost totally destroyed both axles on the trailer. Needless to say, they were a lot late to rendezvous at the lake and missed out on a good half-day of fishing. And had an axle broken off and a wheel or two lost, they could have missed the entire expedition as well.
It's taken a long story to make a short point. But be sure your trailer wheel bearings are properly lubed and secured before any trips to the lake this summer. It's worth the time and expense.
Local fishing and hunting expert Dick Hess can be reached at sales@nbkbearings.com .
Usually, if I'm going on a fishing trip, I seem to tune in on those parked rigs that are towing a boat, or maybe even a camping trailer.
I know that any vehicle can suffer the joys of mechanical breakdowns, but when you add a camper or boat trailer, there's another factor to consider. Both instances could mean that this is one of the first road trips of the year for the fishing or camping season.
That means that the trailer hasn't been serviced in some time. By ¡°serviced,¡± I mean having the axles of each wheel checked to see if they are properly lubricated.
Quite often, the broken down vehicle/trailer combination includes a missing wheel off the trailer. Sure, it could be a flat tire or blowout. But I'm going to make a guess that it also could be that an axle seized or broke, and the wheel actually came off and rolled off down the borrow ditch.
Boat trailers are more often afflicted by broken axles, because they are subjected to water submersion every time the boat is launched and retrieved after fishing.
Unless the boat trailer's wheel bearings are specially designed to be waterproof, and even when they are, some water can seep into the bearings at one time or another. Especially if the boat is launched after some time on the road, after the bearings have heated up.
The right grease will take care of things most of the time, but if some rusting occurs during the off months while the boat and trailer are in storage, troubles can develop. Bad rusting can cause the bearings to seize, freeze onto the axle, and maybe cause the axle to break.
There are other times when you have to pull off the road.
I did this recently when slush on the highway was full of sand and dirt. My car headlights got spattered and soon became significantly dim because of the layer of crud and road spit. So I stopped, got out the glass cleaner and paper towels, and cleaned them off before continuing on the trip.
That reminds me that the cleanup stuff I had with me wasn't by accident. Had my windshield fluid run dry, I'd have stopped sooner to refill the reservoir with more washer fluid. I actually did have a good half-bottle of washer fluid with me at the time. But I admit to not being completely prepared every time.
I now make it a point to carry a box with all the basic essentials for maintaining good visibility on the road while on a trip. And I check the amount of stuff I've packed to be sure I don't get caught short another time.
Using a small Kleenex tissue and spitting a lot is not the most efficient method to clean things up. While you're at it, clean off those outside rear view mirrors too. I didn't realize how much I use them until they're too dirty to see anything.
I had some friends who anticipated wheel bearing troubles on a trip to Lake Powell. They jacked up the boat trailer, took off the wheels and put on new bearings. They carefully greased up everything and tightened the wheels back down.
One problem ¡ª they apparently tightened the wheels all too well, for they forgot to back off the wheel nuts a partial turn, and the overtightened bearings heated, broke and almost totally destroyed both axles on the trailer. Needless to say, they were a lot late to rendezvous at the lake and missed out on a good half-day of fishing. And had an axle broken off and a wheel or two lost, they could have missed the entire expedition as well.
It's taken a long story to make a short point. But be sure your trailer wheel bearings are properly lubed and secured before any trips to the lake this summer. It's worth the time and expense.
Local fishing and hunting expert Dick Hess can be reached at sales@nbkbearings.com .
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