"Zombie of Woodstock" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:35:44 -0400, Gene
wrote:

I feel your pain. When mine crapped out I replaced the whole unit,
rather than fight it. I now have a spare, as yet unrebuilt, but
winter's acomin'.....

I'm thinking about rebuilding it, but to tell the truth, the parts
cost as much as a brand new one. I will probably take it apart and
keep and/or salvage what I can out of it, but it's probably only going
to be the ball hitch, emergency brake actuator and the master cylinder
- plus the bushings. The emergency release spring is heavily corroded
and not salvagable either.

Ten years old - seems like it should last longer than ten years.

My trailer is 18 years old, and seems to have more problems than I want.
Mostly bearings. I have replaced the coupler, as you say the parts were
near the cost of a new one. I replaced an Attwood coupler with a Tiedown
from Champion trailer parts. Nice coupler and no shock absorber. They have
an extra chamber in the master cylinder that acts acts as the shock
absorber. I think my trailer flexes too much in its old age, so am ordering
a new trailer with torsion axles, etc. All welded trailer, as opposed the
the EZloader than is bolted. And may go with oil bearings. Tricker
Trailers out of Roseburg. OR will probably be the supplier. But Gateway
Materials of Lewiston, ID makes a really nice trailer also. Looks like all
charge in the $4400 range. Looked at a coupler like yours last week, on a
ski boat that is stored near my boat. Thought was a nice package.

On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:53:20 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Zombie of Woodstock" wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:35:44 -0400, Gene
wrote:

I feel your pain. When mine crapped out I replaced the whole unit,
rather than fight it. I now have a spare, as yet unrebuilt, but
winter's acomin'.....

I'm thinking about rebuilding it, but to tell the truth, the parts
cost as much as a brand new one. I will probably take it apart and
keep and/or salvage what I can out of it, but it's probably only going
to be the ball hitch, emergency brake actuator and the master cylinder
- plus the bushings. The emergency release spring is heavily corroded
and not salvagable either.

Ten years old - seems like it should last longer than ten years.

My trailer is 18 years old, and seems to have more problems than I want.
Mostly bearings. I have replaced the coupler, as you say the parts were
near the cost of a new one. I replaced an Attwood coupler with a Tiedown
from Champion trailer parts. Nice coupler and no shock absorber. They have
an extra chamber in the master cylinder that acts acts as the shock
absorber. I think my trailer flexes too much in its old age, so am ordering
a new trailer with torsion axles, etc. All welded trailer, as opposed the
the EZloader than is bolted. And may go with oil bearings. Tricker
Trailers out of Roseburg. OR will probably be the supplier. But Gateway
Materials of Lewiston, ID makes a really nice trailer also. Looks like all
charge in the $4400 range. Looked at a coupler like yours last week, on a
ski boat that is stored near my boat. Thought was a nice package.

Two things - I never had a oil filled bearing fail - they were changed
because I just don't believe the 300,000 mile guarentee. :)

Second, the coupler/actuator does work. When I jacked it up on 395 a
couiple of years ago, it bunny hopped when the brakes locked, but it
kept the trailer on the straight line to the truck - that was a
pleasant surprize.

It I had to do it over again, I'd go with a aluminum trailer instead
of the heavy galvanized steel. And rollers - no bunks.

"Wizard of Woodstock" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:53:20 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Zombie of Woodstock" wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:35:44 -0400, Gene
wrote:

I feel your pain. When mine crapped out I replaced the whole unit,
rather than fight it. I now have a spare, as yet unrebuilt, but
winter's acomin'.....

I'm thinking about rebuilding it, but to tell the truth, the parts
cost as much as a brand new one. I will probably take it apart and
keep and/or salvage what I can out of it, but it's probably only going
to be the ball hitch, emergency brake actuator and the master cylinder
- plus the bushings. The emergency release spring is heavily corroded
and not salvagable either.

Ten years old - seems like it should last longer than ten years.

My trailer is 18 years old, and seems to have more problems than I want.
Mostly bearings. I have replaced the coupler, as you say the parts were
near the cost of a new one. I replaced an Attwood coupler with a Tiedown
from Champion trailer parts. Nice coupler and no shock absorber. They
have
an extra chamber in the master cylinder that acts acts as the shock
absorber. I think my trailer flexes too much in its old age, so am
ordering
a new trailer with torsion axles, etc. All welded trailer, as opposed the
the EZloader than is bolted. And may go with oil bearings. Tricker
Trailers out of Roseburg. OR will probably be the supplier. But Gateway
Materials of Lewiston, ID makes a really nice trailer also. Looks like
all
charge in the $4400 range. Looked at a coupler like yours last week, on a
ski boat that is stored near my boat. Thought was a nice package.

Two things - I never had a oil filled bearing fail - they were changed
because I just don't believe the 300,000 mile guarentee. :)

Second, the coupler/actuator does work. When I jacked it up on 395 a
couiple of years ago, it bunny hopped when the brakes locked, but it
kept the trailer on the straight line to the truck - that was a
pleasant surprize.

It I had to do it over again, I'd go with a aluminum trailer instead
of the heavy galvanized steel. And rollers - no bunks.

Steel bunks with uhmw covering. The Aluminum trailers are way more
expensive here in the West than the east. And since the trailer and boat
scale about 4500#, my diesel pulls it with ease.

On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:43:08 -0400, Gene
wrote:

On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:38:40 -0400, Zombie of Woodstock
wrote:

On Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:35:44 -0400, Gene
wrote:

I feel your pain. When mine crapped out I replaced the whole unit,
rather than fight it. I now have a spare, as yet unrebuilt, but
winter's acomin'.....

I'm thinking about rebuilding it, but to tell the truth, the parts
cost as much as a brand new one. I will probably take it apart and
keep and/or salvage what I can out of it, but it's probably only going
to be the ball hitch, emergency brake actuator and the master cylinder
- plus the bushings. The emergency release spring is heavily corroded
and not salvagable either.

Ten years old - seems like it should last longer than ten years.

I agree.... and while you are at it.... and this was my first
component(s) that failed.... check the (axle) springs VERY
carefully....

WAY ahead of you dude. :)

Shackles are fine and there is a little rust on the springs, but
overall they look fairly clean.

I might change the bolts though - those are rusted pretty bad.