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Anyone Work on Boat Trailers?

dhcomp

dhcomp

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So, anyone currently work on boat trailers?

My UFP Vault bearing system is just out of warranty, and am having some issues.

Its a pain in the ass for me to get it to a shop.

My dust cover has fallen off. What i've found online is order the dust cover part, pack with magic hybrid grease, locktite mating surface, and pound it on.

Anyone work with these before?

Other suggestions?
 
Folks who use these systems a lot might tell you different. But for me, its one of those ideas whose time will never come.

The "vault" system is great until it isn't. Basically you are running an oil type system.
Lots of Semis do this and have great luck. But they are much more heavier built than the boat trailer systems.
Boat trailer bearings have such closer tolerances and turn at such a higher speed than the big rigs, that failures seem to occur often.

Do a search, and you will find lots of problems with that system. To fix it correctly, you have to follow their procedure, and use the magic grease you mentioned. If there is any chance of dirt or contamination, you need to pull the hub, clean out all the grease and inspect/repack the bearings.

Their main claim to fame, is that you have no maintenance or inspections. Just hop in the truck, hook to the trailer and go.
Everything is sealed, no way for water or dirt to get in.

Great theory, but if you do it that way, you will find yourself on the side of the road one day.

Personally, I would pull the hub, clean and inspect the bearings. Repack them with some good synthetic grease and install a bearing buddy.
1.980" is the size I believe.

Supposedly the best system is the one that has the axle bored with an exit hole between the back bearing and the back seal.
After the system is packed, every year you can put a grease gun on the fitting on the center of the end of the axle.
Force grease down the axle, out between the back bearing and the seal.

Then the seal holds, and all the old grease is forced out the front.

Personally, I just clean and pack the bearings, use a bearing buddy to keep the system under pressure, and pull and repack them at the beginning of each boat season.
 
Sounds like you are pretty familiar with them.

Its closer to an oil/grease hybrid system though.

And with only a few issues, and one missing dust cap, i'm going to try reinstalling a new cap.

This link shows filling instructions.
http://www.pacifictrailers.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.download&fileId=5001

It shows putting locktite on the press fitting surface. This is clearly where mine have come apart in the past.

What product would be best here?

I've got a couple dust caps, grease, and replacement O rings on their way already.

THanks!
 
I haven't read any of the links, but for any "race" "straight clearance fit" kinda deal, you can't beat green Loctite.. that sh*t is super mega sealing glueing strong..
 
ryoken said:
I haven't read any of the links, but for any "race" "straight clearance fit" kinda deal, you can't beat green Loctite.. that sh*t is super mega sealing glueing strong..
Click to expand...


Also good in high temp situations? Or is there a better one?
 
I have never actually worked on one, but have had some discussions about them on other forums.
Plus one of my local boat guys has repaired some and replaced some with the buddy system.
He runs the buddy system on his own trailer..........

The idea behind the hybrid grease, is that its thick grease when cold, and an oil when hot.
Mentioned, here. http://www.ufpnet.com/Portals/0/PDFs/VAULT Brochure.pdf

Supposedly even when thinned out, its still thick enough to keep it from leaking.

My main complaint is its failure mode. A bearing buddy system might leak some grease around the seals, but you can continue on fishing or getting home.

This system, if a seal blows, all the magic runs out and there you are. Of course, if you catch it in time, and have some regular grease and a cap, you can just pack some grease in there, put on the cap, and repair it right later.
 
Fordum said:
I have never actually worked on one, but have had some discussions about them on other forums.
Plus one of my local boat guys has repaired some and replaced some with the buddy system.
He runs the buddy system on his own trailer..........

The idea behind the hybrid grease, is that its thick grease when cold, and an oil when hot.
Mentioned, here. http://www.ufpnet.com/Portals/0/PDFs/VAULT Brochure.pdf

Supposedly even when thinned out, its still thick enough to keep it from leaking.

My main complaint is its failure mode. A bearing buddy system might leak some grease around the seals, but you can continue on fishing or getting home.

This system, if a seal blows, all the magic runs out and there you are. Of course, if you catch it in time, and have some regular grease and a cap, you can just pack some grease in there, put on the cap, and repair it right later.
Click to expand...

I agree with where you are going. This was a major problem on the oil bath setups, as they failed before you could detect them.

The few times mine have leaked, or the dust caps have fallen off, i've been able to drive them 1000+ miles with no issues. A bit leaks, but not enough to cause any failure. Even when hot, the grease seems to barely be thinner than normal bearing grease.

We also have to remember that this is a trailer built in 2008, so its not too old.

My parents tow this trailer some without me, so I want to keep it as "maintenance free" by design as I can.

Thanks for the input !:thumb:
 
afaik the 290 is fine for higher temps.. certainly wheel bearing temps... it's definitely stronger than red... don't expect to get it apart without heat..
 
ryoken said:
afaik the 290 is fine for higher temps.. certainly wheel bearing temps... it's definitely stronger than red... don't expect to get it apart without heat..
Click to expand...

Perfect. Don't want this thing coming apart......ever.

Is the Permatex Threadlocker brand decent enough to substitute?

Ive got some Green unopened at home.
 
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So, once i got the right parts, it wasn't that hard.

Install grease nipple, pump bearings full of grease, fill cap wiht grease, install oring, red threadlocker, install.

We'll see how it holds up. Went with Red, as that is what the shop that built the trailer says they use. They also recommended leaving the grease level a little lower in the cap when isntlaling, if i've been having issues with them falling off when hot.

We shall see!

And, for the record....the hybrid grease/oil is pretty thin.

End caps are actually taped on the grease tubes so they don't leak.

Its a bit less viscous than most of the oily natural peanut butters i've seen out there.
 
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