New to the club!
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Anything Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47114
Printed Date: March-09-2025 at 10:30pm
Topic: New to the club!
Posted By: SCErik
Subject: New to the club!
Date Posted: January-10-2019 at 2:58pm
I just joined the club! I joined the "trailer tire blowout" club yesterday evening. What fun!
I was picking up my new to me 2000 Super Sport, with a single axle trailer, from 1000 miles away. Made it about 600 miles back and the blowout occurred. No, it wasn't the brand of tire that failed, it was me being an idiot and not checking the tire pressure (which I usually do automatically, no matter the length of the trip). In defense of my stupidity, it was crazy cold outside when I picked up and the tires "looked good", no dry rot and inflation "looked right" (those were my thoughts). Again, what an idiot!
So I'm posting a friendly reminder that when picking up a new to you boat, make sure to test tire pressure. Also, take it easy on the road. I was going 75-80 in the the left lane in heavy traffic (I really wanted to get home). When the tire blew there was no shoulder either side, I was going down a hill and over a bridge. Fortunately the drivers around me were helpful and let me slow down to eventually get off the road. And fortunately the tire structure held up long enough (about a mile). But again, no need to fly down the road, what an idiot, Rest of my trip was 55-60, regardless of the speed limit. Also, checking tire pressure at the next gas station, my other tire was 20 psi down and my spare was 30 psi down.
Finally, a few thoughts for some of you reading. In 25 years of trailering, this was my first blow out. I thought enough to at least bring a new spare, a torque wrench, a couple of heavy adjustable wrenches, some blocks of wood and a bottle jack. I'll never use the bottle jack again, I'm getting a small heavy duty floor jack. I'll also start bringing a hammer, some vice grips and a small pry bar to deal with bent metal. I'm going to make a couple of wood wedges too, to support the jack - you almost never are going to have a blow out on level land.
Just wanted to take a second to share!
-Erik
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Replies:
Posted By: Orlando76
Date Posted: January-10-2019 at 4:41pm
Sorry to hear the troubles. We’ve all been there. I’ve been with trailers my entire life and any 200 mile or longer trip (which there’s been probably 150 or so) maybe only 3 trips have we not had a problem. Not matter how well we maintain or how prepared we are stufff still happens and I’m still needing something. I always carry at least one spare and a complete idler hub tools out the wazoo, grease. Bearings for nearly every trailer hub stashed somewhere. Had to lash The trailer of a 28’ boat Together once with tie wire and 2x4 Because the two year old trailer rotted out on the inside and buckled on a $250k boat. Another time i had two spares, two packed hubs and two floor jacks. Turned out I needed two more tires and 4 Springs. Like Bob Dole, I just couldn’t win.
I’ve found the things I appreciate the most are paper towels, plenty of cold water and if I’m towing my camper I always have the generator with me and gased up. Might as well be broke down in comfort while waiting on AAA.
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Please support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort
1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM
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Posted By: Jonny Quest
Date Posted: January-12-2019 at 1:15pm
First....welcome.
I feel your pain, Bro. I had a tire failure with a tread separation. The tire didn't blow, but it beat the crap out of the fender. A BIG crescent wrench was needed to persuade the fender to play "nice" for the rest of the trip. I agree that you need to always carry tire changing tools. I have a scissor jack that works well for trailer tire changes, Before EVERY trip, I check bearing grease level and tire pressure.
JQ
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Current
2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited
Previous
2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow
1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow
Aqua skiing, ergo sum
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Posted By: SCErik
Date Posted: January-13-2019 at 1:55am
Both of you got me thinking about bearings and grease now. I hadn't really thought about that. Now I'll carry both.
Also, no matter the time of day, if I see someone on the side of the road with a boat trailer problem, particularly a tire, I'm stopping and offering to help.
Erik
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Posted By: gt40KS
Date Posted: January-13-2019 at 2:36pm
Yes Erik I think many of us have been there .... and I agree, not fun. Before picking up my boat I was told the trailer hadn't been serviced it years, maybe decades and that I'd probably need bearings at the minimum and had him take it to a local trailer shop to check it out. Among many other things the shop called be and said I should also replace the tires if I was going very far. The tires looked like they had great tread and fairly new to me so I didn't heed his advise. Mistake. On the way back home - about 900 miles - we had not one, but both tires blow out. First, second, and hopefully the last.
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JCCI
1995 Ski Nautique GT40
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