Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

[pfunk42]

I'm taking my boat on a ~5 hour trip or so in another week. I thought I had read somewhere that you need to let your trailer sit and cool down after towing like that before launching the boat, as the cooler water/temperature change could cause some sort of damage. I don't really remember where I read it, or if it applied to only specific type of trailer/wheels or was general advice. Where we are going doesn't really have a great place to park the boat before launching; it'd be easier to just drop it off right away then get to unpacking the car. If it's a big deal though, it might be a little hassle but maybe I could find a place to let it sit for a while. Is this something I should be concerned with or is it ok to just get to launching right after the drive?

For what it's worth mine is a 2006 boatmate single axle, surge brakes & oil bath hubs.

 

[Evinbuck]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

I can't think of any reasons to allow a cool down time before launching? Tires and hubs heat up from friction but not enough to be concerned unless there is something obviously wrong. Maybe I'm missing something but I've never heard of this being a problem.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

I`ve never heard of a "cooling off" period either.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

I have heard this before as well, something to do with warm hubs being submersed in cold water can create a slight vacumme and want to pull water into the hub past the seal. I dont know how true this is or not or if it even applies with the oil bath type. Maybe someone else will chime in. I always dunk pretty shortly after arriving, some trips are 6+ hours through the desert to lake powell...

 

[pfunk42]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

Thanks guys, sounds like it's nothing to worry about.

 

[partskenn]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

I would imagine they are talking about bearings and hubs getty real hot. I've never waited, no matter how long of a drive.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

If you need a cooling off period to let your hubs cool down, you have more pressing issues!!

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

Never heard of a cooling off period and I've trailered boats all over.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

I have heard this before as well, something to do with warm hubs being submersed in cold water can create a slight vacumme and want to pull water into the hub past the seal. I dont know how true this is or not or if it even applies with the oil bath type. Maybe someone else will chime in. I always dunk pretty shortly after arriving, some trips are 6+ hours through the desert to lake powell...

+1 for "Utah". Just 10-15 minutes usually will do the trick though, assuming you've towed an hour or more.

 

[cribber]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

The time in the staging area taking the straps off and getting prepped to launch should be sufficient. If your wheels or hubs are sizzling when they hit the water you've got bigger issues going on.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

Yup, the 'cooling off' folk lore is from the old hub days. Water would tend to get sucked into the bearings with the rapid cooling of the bearings, etc. Modern hubs with 'bearing buddy' type of caps maintain pressure on the grease within the bearings, so it does not suck water in.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

At the beginning of summer, I bought an infrared thermometer to measure the temps of my exhaust manifolds. The device is nothing cosmic-- $39 at Lowe's. Anyway, I've found it to be a very handy gadget. One of the things I measure are the temps of my hubs while towing. I've found that it doesn't take long to get the hubs up to their normal max temps. They get to that temp and stay there, regardless of length of tow.

So to answer the OP's question, if a cool down is required after a five-hour tow, one is also required after a 30-minute tow-- the temps of your hubs are the same.

 

[Cincyrunner]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

If you need a cooling off period to let your hubs cool down, you have more pressing issues!!

Agree! If your hubs need this much cooling off, you need to take a look at your bearings/hubs. Something isn't right with them.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

Although the general concensus is 'why?', that applies to hubs... If you have a trailer with brakes and have a path to your ramp that puts those brakes to use hard, with lots of stop and go &/or lots of relatively steep hills, a little cooling off time wouldn't hurt.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

Maybe you were thinking of unplugging the trailer lights so the bulbs cool down and "hot bulbs don't hit cold water", and pop?....I've always done this, but not sure if it's really necessary with modern sealed trailer lights. Regarding the trailer bearings, they're not supposed to be hot anyway!

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

...there was a post last week in the "trailer & towing" forum where the OP was shorting out bulbs as he backed in due to faulty light housing, etc.........perhaps that's what this OP had heard....

 

[bigdee]

Re: Wait to drop trailer in water after a long trip?

bearing buddies are supposed to negate the vacuum that is created when warm hubs are submerged by keeping positive spring loaded pressure on the grease......I believe in them.