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marrowoflife
member (46)member
  
04/06/2021 12:05PM  
Preparing for some upcoming summer trips (including one big one to the BWCA, nearing 1000 miles total) with the kayak trailer. The trailer is a malone micro sport that has served us well for many years, but hasn't gone on any really far journeys yet. The trailer currently has "Load Star" 4.8x12 tires from the previous owner.

Searching around I see Carlisle has a Sport Trail LH that are $35/tire (rated to 87mph) and a Radial Trail RH $49/tire (rated to 81mph) or a Taskmaster 4.8x12 6 Ply Taskmaster Bias Trailer Tire for $48/tire (87mph)

What tires do you guys recommend? Other good practices you follow for trailering?
 
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cyclones30
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04/06/2021 12:32PM  
I'm not a tire expert....no real comment there.

But for trailering in general, I'd suggest trying to find a spare rim/tire you take along in case of an issue you can just swap out and keep going until you can get the original fixed/replaced.

Also, I'm not sure what your trailer setup looks like as far as bearings, but I'd check into their maintenance as much or more than the tires. Jack one side up, see if rim has any side to side wobble...same for the other side. If it has standard bearings, when was last time they were repacked or replaced?

On your next shorter trip, right when you stop at your destination get out and feel the hub/bearing on both sides? Nice and cool or warm/hot?
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
04/06/2021 01:18PM  
All I can add is buy the best tires you can get. Get as much information as you can (like you're looking for here) and buy top end. You'll never look back after a successful road trip and wish you had paid less.

Definitely agree on the comments about wheel bearings from cyclones. Just as important as the tires - probably more so.
 
04/06/2021 01:48PM  
I would definitely get the radial over the bias ply tire. Much better over a long trip and the life of the tire in general.

And as stated before, make sure you get a spare of the same and check your bearings, and if not already, you should install bearing buddies.
 
thegildedgopher
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04/06/2021 02:38PM  
I bought a set of 4.80X12 Loadstar's in an old 4-bolt pattern from Recstuff.com for my last trailer. Nobody locally had anything in a 4-bolt pattern, so I wasn't being picky. They performed well enough for me, I had them 2 years before selling the trailer.

I heartily echo cyclones30's advice about getting the bearings packed and also being sure to have a spare. I have literally lost a wheel while in transit. Easily avoidable. It's not a tough job, but it's dirty and time consuming.
 
marrowoflife
member (46)member
  
04/06/2021 06:13PM  
Thanks for all the replies so far. Luckily I do have a spare tire with the trailer and now it looks like I'm going to replace all three when I do (they don't get much use but are way beyond average suggested lifespan). With the bearings maintenance is this something I can spend a Saturday watching some youtube videos and reading some articles and complete safely?
 
thegildedgopher
distinguished member(1659)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/06/2021 07:03PM  
marrowoflife: "Thanks for all the replies so far. Luckily I do have a spare tire with the trailer and now it looks like I'm going to replace all three when I do (they don't get much use but are way beyond average suggested lifespan). With the bearings maintenance is this something I can spend a Saturday watching some youtube videos and reading some articles and complete safely?"


Definitely. It’s not difficult, it’s just a pain in the butt and takes a while. I had my boat in the shop already this spring to get some work done and I was feeling lazy enough to have them pack my bearings. They billed me for 1.5 hours of labor for the two wheels. So if it’s your first time maybe expect to spend a little less than twice that amount of time?
 
cyclones30
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04/06/2021 08:34PM  
Yeah you can do it yourself as long as what's there is in good contition. It'll be a bit of a mess but not too bad if it all comes apart like it should.
 
LeeBee
  
04/08/2021 06:36PM  
While not cheap look at the Kenda brand. Load range C (In general load range B 12" tires are very prone to vibrations.) I had mine balanced at a tire shop and the trailer runs like a dream at up to 70 MPH compared to the cheap tires it was supplied with.
 
marrowoflife
member (46)member
  
04/10/2021 07:21PM  
I had time to repack the bearings today, watched some videos, printed out the owners manual (far less useful) and got down to work. Had a friend learning alongside, two sets of eyes definitely helped. All in all with a short lunch break and a run to the local hardware store to get new seals/cotter pins took from about 11 to 4:30. (Definitely was a little bit of a pain to complete but glad I understand how it all works now if I ever have an issue). Took it for a 15-20 mile test drive, seems to work great. Total cost came out just shy of $30, (could have saved $10 buying seals online but oh well). Thanks for the advice and see you guys on the water.

MarrowOfLife
 
blackdawg9
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04/12/2021 07:11AM  
i would go ahead and have someone replace the bearings and repack them. especially on a single axle trailer. you dont want to be doing this on the side of the road.

if you jack up the trailer and feel any wiggle , at minimun the internal nut needs tightened. wipe out any old grease,blow it out with a air compressor and repack with the same type of grease.
 
ppine
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04/19/2021 11:52AM  
I have used a trailer for years for my cedar and canvas OT that weighs around 90 pounds. I take it on long trips once or twice a year. Canoe trailers don't carry much weight so the tires last okay. Make sure you replace them every 5-7 years or so. Carry a spare, grease the hubs and watch the tire pressure. Most are not speed rated, so don't go over 65 mph.
 
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