[Delta0]

... And to close the loop (packing bearings? this is boring - and I know it).

I pulled the seal off the back of the hub assembly/brake drum, and the bearings just fell right out (as expected; as they should). I cleaned out the old grease from the hub assembly, and used my new bearing packer (worked great!) to pack the two new bearings. I put in the larger/inside bearing first, tapped in the new seal to keep it in place (tight fit), then flipped it over and put in the other (smaller) bearing. Then I covered the two ends with duct tape to keep it all clean, put the whole assembly in the box the hub/drum assembly came in (along with new nut/washer/cage thingy), and now it's ready to go back into the trailer in case I ever need it. Since I had a spare castle nut/washer/cotter pin, I put that in there too in case I ever need to help someone else out.

Again, PLEASE!!! no matter what kind of axle you're running on your trailer, you need to carry a spare hub assembly with installed greased bearings & seal (I call it a "loaded" hub), and a spare nut/washer/cotter pins (or a spare nut/washer/ cage thingy if that's what your spindle takes) in/on your trailer. And a large enough socket to get the nut off (my pipe wrench wasn't cutting it) and a small roll of emery cloth. The nut for both of my 3500lb axles needs a 1.5" socket. And when my bearing went bad (and it also ruined the hub where the small/front bearing seats so the whole assembly was now toast) it put some small grooves/burrs on the axle's spindle so the new bearings wouldn't slide over it. So I had to use some emery cloth to smooth it out. A roll of emery cloth is just a couple bucks at Home Depot or Lowe's.

Don't leave it all at home. A fully loaded hub to match your trailer isn't that expensive and doesn't take up that much space - especially if you're not running electric brakes. A spare nut/washer/cotter pin (or cage thingy) is cheap. A 1.5" socket (or whatever size your trailer's axle nut takes) can be picked up at most any auto parts store or hardware store (or you or they can order it online). You'll be so glad you've got it if you ever need it on the trail.

I wish I had taken a picture of myself in that parking lot swapping out my hub. But it was hot out (summer in the south), I was tired, and I still had a long way to go to get to my destination. I just wanted to get it done so I could get back on the road. It would have been SO much worse if I hadn't had the parts and tools on hand or available.

I found what you said interesting, thanks Army.

 

[NMBruce]

Picked up the new axle today, a 6000lb axle with brakes,still need to have the mounts welded on.

 

[NMBruce]

Wood box getting refinished and new doors

 

[armyRN]

Wood box getting refinished and new doors

What's your next adventure?

 

[NMBruce]

What's your next adventure?

There are some guys doing the AZ peace trail around early next year which I might do, but my friends and I are looking at doing the Continental Divide off road trip sometime next summer. We are looking at maybe doing a few day travel and then a day just hanging out and then back on the road.

I need to start doing some nice 3-5 day weekend trips around CO, NM, UT

I still want to get back up to Tok & also go up to Deadhorse, but that looks like 2023. Then I really want to do the Trans-Labador highway. I spend about 25 days TDY to Goosebay-Happy Valley back in the late 70's and I want to go back, plus just see the upper NE.

what are your plans ?

 

[armyRN]

Yeah; I need to start doing some shorter couple-day trips here around the PNW.

My next big trip? I still need to get to Tuk and toss a kayak into the Arctic Ocean. Maybe/hopefully this summer. A few years ago I got about half-way (about a half-day's drive south of Whitehorse), and then issues came up so I had to turn back.

And... (this might sound weird) I might do it in my 2008 Toyota Yaris (& no trailer). Just got a 1.2" lift kit for the Yaris in the mail that I hope to install within the next week or two. If I remove the passenger front seat I can sleep in the car (think stealth camping). Put a roof rack on top, slightly larger and more aggressive tires... it'll be interesting. It'll save a lot on gas (figure 5,000 miles round trip from SW WA up and back is a lot of gas for the Jeep). Other than the Dempster Highway, it is all pavement. And as I recall, the Dempster is a fairly compacted gravel road (I've been as far as Inuvik).

Check this out: https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/overlanding-in-a-small-economy-car.37846/

But back to the Jeep and trailer. I didn't get to finish the TAT this past summer. We started the TAT in WV, and the Jeep's clutch started acting up in CO, and it got worse in ID. So I sprinted (if you call about 700 miles a sprint) home from ID to WA and got the clutch replaced, and did some repairs/upgrades to the trailer (posted previously in this thread). So maybe next spring I'd like to go back to ID about where I left off, and then finish the TAT to the OR coast.

I'm not really interested in leading any big trips this winter, but I'd be happy to participate in one. The Northwest Overlanding Society (NWOL) is pretty quiet right now.

The NW Overland Rally was cancelled this past summer. They think they'll be a go next summer. I'd like to attend that (I've been twice). It is held near Leavenworth, WA. Or even better, they also have an overlanding rally in BC that I haven't attended yet. Provided entry into Canada isn't blocked this summer, that is also on my short list.

https://www.facebook.com/NWOverlandRally
https://business.facebook.com/BCOverlandRally/?__xts__[0]=68..&fref=nf

The TJ could use some new tires, but the trailer's got a new axle and new tires; it is just itching to get out there somewhere on an adventure.

 

[NMBruce]

Yeah; I need to start doing some shorter couple-day trips here around the PNW.

My next big trip? I still need to get to Tuk and toss a kayak into the Arctic Ocean. Maybe/hopefully this summer. A few years ago I got about half-way (about a half-day's drive south of Whitehorse), and then issues came up so I had to turn back.

And... (this might sound weird) I might do it in my 2008 Toyota Yaris (& no trailer). Just got a 1.2" lift kit for the Yaris in the mail that I hope to install within the next week or two. If I remove the passenger front seat I can sleep in the car (think stealth camping). Put a roof rack on top, slightly larger and more aggressive tires... it'll be interesting. It'll save a lot on gas (figure 5,000 miles round trip from SW WA up and back is a lot of gas for the Jeep). Other than the Dempster Highway, it is all pavement. And as I recall, the Dempster is a fairly compacted gravel road (I've been as far as Inuvik).

Check this out: https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/threads/overlanding-in-a-small-economy-car.37846/

But back to the Jeep and trailer. I didn't get to finish the TAT this past summer. We started the TAT in WV, and the Jeep's clutch started acting up in CO, and it got worse in ID. So I sprinted (if you call about 700 miles a sprint) home from ID to WA and got the clutch replaced, and did some repairs/upgrades to the trailer (posted previously in this thread). So maybe next spring I'd like to go back to ID about where I left off, and then finish the TAT to the OR coast.

I'm not really interested in leading any big trips this winter, but I'd be happy to participate in one. The Northwest Overlanding Society (NWOL) is pretty quiet right now.

The NW Overland Rally was cancelled this past summer. They think they'll be a go next summer. I'd like to attend that (I've been twice). It is held near Leavenworth, WA. Or even better, they also have an overlanding rally in BC that I haven't attended yet. Provided entry into Canada isn't blocked this summer, that is also on my short list.

https://www.facebook.com/NWOverlandRally
https://business.facebook.com/BCOverlandRally/?__xts__[0]=68..&fref=nf

The TJ could use some new tires, but the trailer's got a new axle and new tires; it is just itching to get out there somewhere on an adventure.

In 2017 or 18 when we did the trip up to Tuktoyaktuk, we stopped to help a older lady and her friends in a Camry. She had an oil light on and was leaking a little oil. Her dip stick showed about 1/4 quart low, so I was thinking she must of had something hit a sensor and that's what was leaking and giving the oil light.
The road north of Inuvik is not bad, but there where places where the road was soft. Going along at 45 and the road would slow you down to around 30, but there are a lot of cars used up there every day. Also a friend in his JLUR with 4 ply tires, had a rock rip the tread, which would be one of my biggest concerns.

I really want to do the TAT with you this past year, but time just got away from me with the new Tacoma and now the trailer is taking my time. I really hope to be ready for trips come spring.

 

[armyRN]

In 2017 or 18 when we did the trip up to Tuktoyaktuk, we stopped to help a older lady and her friends in a Camry. She had an oil light on and was leaking a little oil. Her dip stick showed about 1/4 quart low, so I was thinking she must of had something hit a sensor and that's what was leaking and giving the oil light.
The road north of Inuvik is not bad, but there where places where the road was soft. Going along at 45 and the road would slow you down to around 30, but there are a lot of cars used up there every day. Also a friend in his JLUR with 4 ply tires, had a rock rip the tread, which would be one of my biggest concerns.

I really want to do the TAT with you this past year, but time just got away from me with the new Tacoma and now the trailer is taking my time. I really hope to be ready for trips come spring.

Yeah... HD tires for the Yaris I'm sure are hard to find in the small sizes. I'm looking at E-rated 10 ply tires for the TJ. Between the truck, two Jeeps and the Yaris, I'll drive something up there.

And not to dis the TAT, but (sad to say) it is kinda overrated. Glad I did it; want to finish the end that I didn't get to do; in no rush to do it again.

 

[NMBruce]

Yeah... HD tires for the Yaris I'm sure are hard to find in the small sizes. I'm looking at E-rated 10 ply tires for the TJ. Between the truck, two Jeeps and the Yaris, I'll drive something up there.

And not to dis the TAT, but (sad to say) it is kinda overrated. Glad I did it; want to finish the end that I didn't get to do; in no rush to do it again.

It's a great trip no matter what you take.

Overrated is how I feel about the Pony Express trail, but I am glad I did it

 

[NMBruce]

Everything is going back together. I feel good about the axle setup, I have basically duplicated the rear suspension of my old Lexas GX470, but replaced springs with airbags and that system work really well. Plus I will be adding brakes with the new axle.
The box has been re-varnished, doors redone, made one a little too big but that just stopped me from moving the box back another inch. Made the inside drawers and a table, now working on a box for the ARB fridge and battery power. The drawers can be lock in, they are just sliding on wood, the table stores just above the draws. I made a table, because I couldn’t find to fit where I wanted it. The table legs are adjustable up to another foot taller and stores on the bottom of the table.

 

[armyRN]

I finally got a rotating pintle hitch! It is a Dixon Bate hitch, aka Nato Hitch or NRC2051. I had to order it from England, and it actually got here pretty quick. Total cost including delivery: $300.16 US dollars.

The mounting holes are the same as the pintle hitches you buy here in the states. So now I have the option of having the pintle in the upright fixed position, or by pulling the pin (the one with the cotter pin in the bottom of the picture) it allows the fork thingy to drop, and then it can rotate 360-degrees.

As far as I know, I've never overextended the limits of my non-rotating pintle hitch and lunette ring, but now I have the option to give it even more flexibility (as far as twisting left and right).

Comparison between my old military surplus pintle hitch (left), and my new Dixon Bate hitch (right):

Jeep and trailer in action (with fixed/military surplus pintle hitch) TJ and trailer - YouTube

If you're interested in getting a Dixon Bate hitch, send me a PM and I'll put you in contact with the Ebay seller in England I got mine from. I'm not in the biz, and I'm not in any way making a penny from this. I do it for the glory and admiration.

 

[armyRN]

I came across this the other day:

Space Trailers - The compact, tough, go-anywhere, utility trailer.

I didn't look to see how much they cost (really... I didn't). I just like the fact that someone else out there is selling a small(er) light weight trailer. Too many on the market are overbuilt and their weight shows it. With a spring swap-out and maybe an axle change (neither are expensive) this thing might be able to tackle some serious off-road overlanding.

You know you want to check-it-out the link and see how much it costs. Once you do (I'm sure it isn't cheap), then start to consider building one of your own based on a little HF type trailer frame. This thread will walk you through it. Ask questions if you have them. Summer is coming up, hopefully travel restrictions (especially into Canada) will be lifted, and it'll be time to go on an adventure! Get ready now! I know I'm itching to head-out on an adventure.

 

[NMBruce]

I came across this the other day:

Space Trailers - The compact, tough, go-anywhere, utility trailer.

I didn't look to see how much they cost (really... I didn't). I just like the fact that someone else out there is selling a small(er) light weight trailer. Too many on the market are overbuilt and their weight shows it. With a spring swap-out and maybe an axle change (neither are expensive) this thing might be able to tackle some serious off-road overlanding.

You know you want to check-it-out the link and see how much it costs. Once you do (I'm sure it isn't cheap), then start to consider building one of your own based on a little HF type trailer frame. This thread will walk you through it. Ask questions if you have them. Summer is coming up, hopefully travel restrictions (especially into Canada) will be lifted, and it'll be time to go on an adventure! Get ready now! I know I'm itching to head-out on an adventure.

Looked at the high raise trailer, starts at $3499
I got over $6000 really quick

lite, but not that lite;
Weight and Capacity
» Weight is approximately 625 lbs depending on options
» 1000 lbs load capacity
» 1650 lbs total load capacity including trailer

 

[NMBruce]

Took mine to the scale today, sitting at 1200lbs and I still need to add stuff. I am sure the new 6000lbs axle with the brakes added some of that weight. Estimated I will be around 1500-1700lbs total when done. I am still happy with the weight since I am over building it after break so many times.

 

[armyRN]

I need to weigh mine. Thanks for the prompt.

Years ago I weighed it (for a DITY Army move) and it was like 1250lbs fully loaded and "wet" (gas cans full, cooler full, etc.).

 

[armyRN]

I'm sure this person was glad to have had a spare tire for their trailer.

There's no plug or patch kit gonna fix this one.

 

[NMBruce]

Wonder if it was a retread?

 

[armyRN]

If i were to guess, I'd say "No".

 

[armyRN]

Jeeps and trailers are made for adventure! What's my next adventure with the trailer?

Originally my plan was to run the Dempster to the Arctic Ocean this summer. Unfortunately, currently the northern providences in Canada are essentially closed to non-resident travel. So...

This July/August I'll be running the IDBDR (Idaho Back Country Discovery Route) from the ID/NV border up to the Canadian border. Then back down south/southeast on mostly four-lanes to Arco ID (where I left the TAT last summer d/t clutch issues), and from there will be running west on the TAT till we get to the Pacific Ocean Spur of the TAT, and will take that west across ID and OR to the OR coast (Port Orford, OR).

I think it'll be about a 2700 mile trip overall, and other than about 600 miles on pavement to Arco it'll be mostly mild off-road. That doesn't include the almost 700 miles to get from my house to the start of the IDBDR, or the 325 miles to get from the end of the trip at the OR coast back home to SW WA.

So just a little bit under 4000 miles to put on the trailer this summer.

US Northwest - Idaho BDR (and then some!) | OVERLAND BOUND COMMUNITY

 

[NMBruce]

Made some improvements to the trailer. Made a lift out of wood and a welder made it from steel for me. Sits low going down the road, but can be raised to fir the annex on my RTT. The lift is raise by an electric actuator. Also added a battery pack, 1400 watt hours, charges from the truck or solar panels. They supply power for lights inside and out and more if needed.