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Do Not Wait Too Long When You Notice Something Is Not Right!

larrygonlarrygon Member Posts: 255
edited August 2016 in Tips & Tricks
Getting my T@B ready for the Durango get together, I took it into the shop due to the brakes grabbing and squealing. Good thing I did. Even though my unit is only a year old and about 3000-3500 miles on it, I had a bad wheel bearing seal and the bearings needed to be repacked. The brakes were a simple adjustment. I had a boat trailer have a wheel bearing fail and cost a fortune in a new trailer axle. If I was not going to go through a mountainous area, I might have waited for the brakes but good thing I did because the wheel bearing issue was found! Watch out Durango, here I come!
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." Albert Einstein
2015 T@B M@X S White with Grey trim | TV 2021 Ascent Touring | Flagstaff AZ.
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    ericnlizericnliz Member Posts: 4,437
    Bearings can be a nightmare waiting to happen. Keep 'em packed and properly adjusted. not something to ignore, they will leave you stranded. Noises are usually a warning sign, not to be ignored. Really glad you found the problem before your trip! Happy trails, and have fun!
    2016 T@B MAX S-aka: WolfT@B
    TV: 2006 Chevy Avalanche LT Z71 aka: WhiteWolf, or 1972 Chevy Custom10 P/U aka: SnarlingWolf
    Spokane, Wa.
    Eric aka: Lone Wolf  


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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    A seal on my passenger side was leaking the first time I had them repacked - 6-7k miles.
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    NormfunNormfun Member Posts: 285
    Just replaced my bearings @20k miles. Lubed every 5k along the way. Bearings and cones looked new. No wear. I replaced anyway. Seals had both leaked slightly. It was time. 
    Norm & Pat. 320 S Outback Utah or somewhere else.

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    GrandmasKidGrandmasKid Member Posts: 160
    Whoa! I'm leaving on a long (5 week) 6K mile camping trip with a new Outback. I figured I might get an oil change for the TV, but I hadn't considered any maintainence for the T@B. Do I need to rethink that?
    2021 400 Boondock/ 2021 Toyota Tacoma Off Road
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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Maybe bearings greased when you get back. Have you had the tires balanced? They come from the factory unbalanced.
    Since it's new, shouldn't need anything. Mine didn't, did 9k direct from the dealers lot, had bearings greased at 6 on the road.
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    GrandmasKidGrandmasKid Member Posts: 160
    Thanks PXLated, We leave in three days and are very excited. I'll call my local mechanic we've gone to for 25 years and get the balancing. I just read about brake adjustment. My dealer didn't tell me. I don't see how I'm going to get the brakes adjusted before we leave unless my local guy can do it. We've only driven it about 25 miles to drive it home.
    2021 400 Boondock/ 2021 Toyota Tacoma Off Road
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    PhotomomPhotomom Member Posts: 2,217
    We had our brakes adjusted at around 400 miles (later than we ideally should) and the trailer guy said they were REALLY loose.

    I would think most mechanics could adjust the brakes and your guy will have the wheels off anyway to do the tires. (Make sure he knows not to put the jack under the axle!)

    Brake adjustment info is in T@B owner manual if your mechanic needs it. Our dealer didn't tell us anything about maintaining the trailer.
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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    PhotomomPhotomom Member Posts: 2,217
    Oh, and if you've adjusted your brake controller you will need to repeat the process after the brakes are adjusted. 
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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    GrandmasKidGrandmasKid Member Posts: 160
    Thanks folks. I would have been really messed up bad without this forum. I plan on listing my mistakes as a new owner and hopefully make a contribution for the next newbie.
    2021 400 Boondock/ 2021 Toyota Tacoma Off Road
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    PhotomomPhotomom Member Posts: 2,217
    GrandmasKid said:
    Thanks folks. I would have been really messed up bad without this forum. I plan on listing my mistakes as a new owner and hopefully make a contribution for the next newbie.
    I had the advantage(?) of waiting 7 months for my trailer to be delivered so I had plenty of time to read the ENTIRE forum!
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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    fiddlefootfiddlefoot Member Posts: 62
    Oh, so where do you put the jack, if not under the axle?  And I was told there is no owner's manual, just component manuals.
    Denise, Rea and Ruby
    2016 CS S, 2008 Toyota Tacoma
    Somerset, VA


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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    You put it under the frame....Here getting bearings greased...

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    ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,449
    edited September 2016
    fiddlefoot said:
    Oh, so where do you put the jack, if not under the axle?  And I was told there is no owner's manual, just component manuals.
    Don't believe everything you are told.

    The owner's manual--such as it is--can be downloaded from the T@B home page under the "Customer Resources" link.

    From the section on electric brakes: "Elevate the camper by positioning jacks under the frame 12” to 20” behind the axle. Use the jack stands under the frame to support the camper any time it is elevated."

    In addition, the component manual that comes with the AL-KO axle says, "Never use the axle or any portion of the suspension to lift or support the trailer."
    2015 T@B S

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    GrandmasKidGrandmasKid Member Posts: 160
      said:
    Oh, so where do you put the jack, if not under the axle?  And I was told there is no owner's manual, just component manuals.

    The dealer didn't give us an owner's manual. I was told I could "Google it." I did download and print it, at which point I found out my expensive Epson printer was lousy even after using a lot of ink going through the maintenance steps. Then on the Sunday before Labor Day, by luck I came across the requirement for a brake adjustment at 200 miles. I drove into the North Georgia Mountains on Labor Day to attain the mileage, and hope I can find someone to do the adjustment today. We head out in the morning to camp and catch a train at the Grand Canyon. The dealer could have saved me a lot of worry by mentioning the brakes and battery maintenance when they sold me the trailer. I hope my local mechanic can do it. I really don't want to drive through our horrible Atlanta traffic to beg our dealer to do the maintenance today, but I will if I have to.
    2021 400 Boondock/ 2021 Toyota Tacoma Off Road
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    RatkityRatkity Member Posts: 3,770
    PXLated said:
    You put it under the frame....Here getting bearings greased...

    What's nice, is the mechanic has taken "Just say NO to crack" attitude :lol:
    2017 820R Retro Toy Hauler from 2015 Tabitha T@B from 2009 Reverse LG Teardrop (but a T@Bluver at heart)
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    NomadNomad Member Posts: 7,209
    Grandmaskids - Some dealers are knowledgable, some aren't (mine wasn't) - Some dealers do service, some don't (mine didn't). I'd not do the drive thru traffic unless you verify your dealer can/will do it.
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    PhotomomPhotomom Member Posts: 2,217
    If I were a dealer I'd offer a maintenance program. Give the customer a maintenance schedule, bring em back periodically, stay in touch and keep them coming back for not just service but accessories & supplies, etc.

    Do any dealers actually do this?
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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    fiddlefootfiddlefoot Member Posts: 62
    Thank you so much, PXLated and ScottG, I'll see about the download and read more.
    Denise, Rea and Ruby
    2016 CS S, 2008 Toyota Tacoma
    Somerset, VA


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    ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,449
    Glad to help. Unfortunately, there is no single simple comprehensive go-to reference for these kinds of things. You learn by piecing together info from various sources (including this forum) over time.
    2015 T@B S

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    ChanWChanW Member Posts: 3,158
    Photomom, I'm pretty sure that Camping World does that.
    Chan  -  near Buffalo NY
    2014 S Maxx
    2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah! 

     A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
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    PhotomomPhotomom Member Posts: 2,217
    ChanW said:
    Photomom, I'm pretty sure that Camping World does that.
    Interesting. That may be because they are in the business of selling service and accessories, not just trailers.
    John and Henrietta, Late 2016 T@B S Max in Western New York
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    ChanWChanW Member Posts: 3,158
    Imagine that! B-) 
    It's too bad that a huge corporate chain is setting the bar higher than the small independent dealers. But at least the bar is being set!
    Photomom said:
    ChanW said:
    Photomom, I'm pretty sure that Camping World does that.
    Interesting. That may be because they are in the business of selling service and accessories, not just trailers.

    Chan  -  near Buffalo NY
    2014 S Maxx
    2011 Tacoma 4cyl ... edit: 2022 Tacoma 6cyl - oh yeah! 

     A_Little_T@b'll_Do_Ya
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