Road bases
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Beginner questions
Forum Discription: Advice for those who are new to sailing
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12250
Printed Date: 10 Aug 25 at 12:59pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Road bases
Posted By: MSaxp
Subject: Road bases
Date Posted: 14 Dec 15 at 10:08pm
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Hello,
I finally got me a sailing dinghy. It came with a trolley and road Base and my question is about the road Base. It seems to be a weird not standard design and a bit tricky to work with. For example the roller is a bit too high (quite a bit higher than the wheel axle) and also doesn't seem to turn. I assume that one option is to modify it. But it's an old trailer and I'm not really a welder. So I had a look at buying one. Road bases seem to cost £600+ which I think is way too expensive, given you can get boats with trailers for not much more! Any tips? Anywhere I can find second hand Road bases? The boat is just a little RS vareo, so not too big or too heavy. Thank you! Mike |
Replies:
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 15 Dec 15 at 9:04am
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if it doesn't turn then its probably just seized, some big grips to free it and then grease the bearing should see it work fine. Yes they are higher than the wheel axle as the dinghy trolley has to go above the wheel axle as its a rigid axles between the wheels. Provided when you get the trolley on the pin locks on the stub and the front and the trolley axles are held snug by the catches at the roller all should be fine for you to tie it down to. I'd suggest though that if the roller has seized you might want to have a look at the wheel bearings too. ------------- Musto Skiff and Solo sailor |
Posted By: MSaxp
Date Posted: 15 Dec 15 at 9:13am
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Thank you.
The wheels were just replaced because they were old and the chap who brought it over had to drive it for 100 miles. And I don't really intend to move it anytime soon. I was just hoping to keep the boat on the trolley, on the road base, to save some space. But I currently need 2 people to put it on and off, which doesn't help. I will have a look at the bearing of the roller when I get a change. |
Posted By: Time Lord
Date Posted: 15 Dec 15 at 9:57am
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Just because you have new wheels does not mean that the previous owner has looked at or serviced the wheel bearings which are in the stub axle and not the wheel. The fact that the roller has seized up makes me wonder if the trailer has been in the sea and wonder what is the state of the axle bearings.
Check these and at the very minimum squirt in some grease! ------------- Merlin Rocket 3609 |
Posted By: MSaxp
Date Posted: 15 Dec 15 at 1:51pm
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Ok, I will have a look and see what needs doing to both bearings. Don't want to have a dangerous trailer (although no intention to move the boat in the foreseeable future)
Thank you! |
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 16 Dec 15 at 9:22am
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The roller can normally be removed by taking out two bolts, one at either end. If this is all seized and rusty then it's a sign of trouble. I doubt that the road base will have been in the water but the salty wet trolley being pulled over it could have brought enough salt to the bearings that they have given up, especially if it wasn't used too regularly. If you can't get the roller to turn with some good penetrating spray and a bit of brute force then I would be very surprised. Then just pack as much grease as you can into the bearings (not really bearings, just a hole in some metal rotating around a bolt) as you can possibly get away with. In the future just make sure you wash the boat down after ever sail, including the trolley, particularly if sailing on the sea.
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Posted By: MSaxp
Date Posted: 16 Dec 15 at 9:50am
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I will do, thanks.
I haven't really sailed the boat yet, I only just bought it and I sail in a lake anyway :) |
Posted By: about a boat
Date Posted: 16 Dec 15 at 1:43pm
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If the trailer is like that then the bearings would most likely be shot as well. Although a little more expensive than bearings but would be a lot less hassle on an old trailer, an option is to replace the whole indespension units. The cost around £80 a pair and you just unbolt the old one and bolt on the new one. Then you will have perfectly running bearings and suspension for a long time.
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 16 Dec 15 at 2:14pm
| Its easy enough to test bearings, don't just chuck 'em out on principle. Just lift each wheel off the ground (couple of bricks) and check that the wheel turns smoothly by hand with no hesitation (and especially no sort of "notchy" feel, and that the wheel doesn't wobble on the suspension unit. A genereous shot of grease first will do no harm. Even if the wheel wobbles it may just need adjustment. |
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 16 Dec 15 at 4:18pm
Alternatively hook it up to the car, drive 20 miles down the road as fast as you dare. If the wheels are still in place than that is stage one passed. If they didn't make a noise then this is stage 2 passed. If you can touch the bearings without burning your fingers then you're doing better than most!
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