Basic Maintenance
Our Travel Trailer just turned 5 years old. I am beginning to keep a close eye on things like tires and brakes. I have 'Trail King' (original) tires and have not looked at brakes or bearings or anyt...
Forum Discussion
Yes, the brakes are easy. I would do that and just replace the brake pads while you are in there, they are not so expensive that while u have it all apart u can pop new ones in.
At very lease get brake cleaner and clean the brakes, there will be a lot of brake dust. If pads are not worn then leave them in though.
Your brakes will need adjustment. That brake adjuster tool is worth gettin, but a flat head will work too. Youtube is your friend for how-to.
Hub bearings are very needy. You should jack up the wheel so it spins free and grab the tire and try to rock it to see if there is any play in the bearings. Adjustment is easy, and some axles need adjustments every few thousand miles. Grease is cheap as the old mechanics say, but careful not to get it on the brake pads or drums. You will adjust the hub with the wheel still on so that is a bonus
Leaks is the biggest concern. The Lap sealant made by Dicor is what you want to use on all "caulking" places. There is regular and self-leveling. Self leveling is esp good on the roof and it will flow into crevices. Regular is good on the walls as it will not run. Its about $9-12 per tube.
Scrape off the old caulk and apply new Lap sealant. 5 years is a lot to ask of the sealants, and sometimes needs it more often. Don't go 2 years without looking closely at the caulking. Vents are esp vulnerable, scrape off and re-apply. Remove the vent shroud if you have one as it will hide the vent.
For scraping a 5-in-1 tool is handy.
At very lease get brake cleaner and clean the brakes, there will be a lot of brake dust. If pads are not worn then leave them in though.
Your brakes will need adjustment. That brake adjuster tool is worth gettin, but a flat head will work too. Youtube is your friend for how-to.
Hub bearings are very needy. You should jack up the wheel so it spins free and grab the tire and try to rock it to see if there is any play in the bearings. Adjustment is easy, and some axles need adjustments every few thousand miles. Grease is cheap as the old mechanics say, but careful not to get it on the brake pads or drums. You will adjust the hub with the wheel still on so that is a bonus
Leaks is the biggest concern. The Lap sealant made by Dicor is what you want to use on all "caulking" places. There is regular and self-leveling. Self leveling is esp good on the roof and it will flow into crevices. Regular is good on the walls as it will not run. Its about $9-12 per tube.
Scrape off the old caulk and apply new Lap sealant. 5 years is a lot to ask of the sealants, and sometimes needs it more often. Don't go 2 years without looking closely at the caulking. Vents are esp vulnerable, scrape off and re-apply. Remove the vent shroud if you have one as it will hide the vent.
For scraping a 5-in-1 tool is handy.
