[A/S] Re: Wheel Bearings and Tires - maintenance in general

["Richard McFarland" <estatewagons@xxxxxxx>]

David - once a vehicle goes into the hands of an owner - there
are so many variables - a manufacturer can only go so far - and
then the owner has to step in and participate.

Also - a bearing can go bad irregardless of the type or quality of
the lubrication.  There might be a design flaw in the bearing or it
might have been installed improperly or set-up improperly etc..etc.

A trailer that sits and a trailer that is used both have maintenance
issues - different ones - and if an owner cares about his rig - there
will still be maintenance costs irregardless.

A vehicle that sits excessively and is not run can often develop fuel 
system problems - that is not the manufacturers exact problem - as
a vehicle is designed primarily to be used.

A trailer that sits for years and is not used may suffer from all sorts
of woes - pipes and tanks just to name a few.  The owner figures
into this scenario - as to how they winterized the unit etc.

Tires - that is another topic - they are designed to be used - if they
sit too long without rolling that can be a problem.  Not just the
damage from sun and heat - but tires are meant to roll periodically
to keep themselves in shape (no pun intended).  Here is a link on
tires that I find very interesting.  (I learned about tire uv protection
and "blooming" from the trailer e-mail lists)

(I just did a fresh search and put in "tire care uv protection" into
Google - there are many different places that offer similar info - this
is just one of them)

http://www.autoeducation.com/carcare/tires.htm

Interesting to read about "blooming" under the "protection" heading.

So - maintenance issues - and "what's right" - can be many different
things to many different people (and trailers)  Do you use the trailer
in a dry area, wet area, hot area, cold area, dusty area, etc...etc...
all these figure into what type of maintenance schedule is best for a
particular unit.

Then there is the driver...fast..slow...careless...
and then the type of driving surfaces...
smooth new freeways...rough old potholed freeways...
gravel roads and on and on.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter how well made
something is - it's going to need service - and you need to
allow for all the variables - and then put together your own
plan - along with all the "advice" you get along the way...

Safe and Happy Travels.  RL