Disabled Travel Trailer on a Flatbed?

I saw a device at Daves boat trailers in Glen Burnie md , unfortunatly I cant recal what the brand name was . But if you removed the drum and hub , this attached to the spindle with clamps and allowed a tire to be put back on to move the trailer . It wasnt a repair , but just a way to move it

Hi,
I just had the exact same thing happen to me. Wheel bearing seized up on my tandem 23 ft travel trailer on the side of the highway. I managed to get it off the highway and into a WalMart parking lot riding on the nut and cotter pin. The tow company sent a few trucks and a flatbed but no one would touch it. I received lots of advice to chain up the axle but like you there was nothing to attach it to as there was no clearance around the frame. I was told that a float or a low boy trailer was the only way to go but there would be an issue of getting the travel trailer on and off the float/low boy. Does anyone know about putting a TT on a low boy?
Bo

smoothsailin wrote:
We're celebrating. The trailer is in the shop! I tried to strap it this morning. There was no clearance above the fore/aft member. That was unfortunate since that was the only vertical point of attachment. Then I tried tying to a cross member but the strap was at a 45 degree angle. I made a judgment call and decided it would put too much side stress on the member. I abandoned that idea but it may have worked. After lunch we decided to just run with it. I lubed it up and we took off at 30 mph for the 10 miles riding on the axle nut. My DW followed to let me know on the cell if the wheel fell off or started on fire but it didn't. We made check stops. The hub was hot but the wheel was not so we went on.
Here is a shot of the bad wheel and another of the strapping that I decided not to use.

Bad bearing. We're waiting to hear the damage report from the shop:


Strapping not used:

This is exactly what I would have done but, was afraid to mention it because I didn't want you to do any more damage and I didn't know how bad of shape it was really in. Plus, I didn't want to be responsible for any liability type thing.

Just asking, Why not find a road service to come out and repair onsite?

Update:
The shop called and said the inner bearing was "welded" to the spindle. Needs new axle, hub and bearings. Total $700 includes cleaning and inspection of the remaining bearings. Not as bad as I thought. (Maybe I should order a spare axle and carry it along. Lol.)

joshuajim wrote:
Most "standard" tow trucks carry 4 wheel dollies

The tow dolly may have been the answer. Unfortunately, I don't think AAA could handle this situation. I went up two levels of management. It makes me wonder if 100 miles of RV towing means anything if they can't get me 10 miles. Glad I wasn't out in the desert.

A flatbed may not have been the best option. Most "standard" tow trucks carry 4 wheel dollies that are used when the axle cannot be on the ground. It could then be towed on the normal ball.

Tow dollie

All's well that ends well as they say.

Your cautious approach worked for you.

Thanks for the update.

69 Avion wrote:
I had a wheel lock up on my triple axle Avion one time. I was about 50 miles outside of the next town. I took the tire and wheel off, found some wood blocks in my truck and wedged them in the leaf spring, near the equalizer to force the good axle spring down which will lift the bad axle spring upwards. I towed it slow and made it to town without an issue. It seams relatively easy to me.

Thanks Avion. Got your post after we pulled it in. Interesting. When I get the TT back I'll try to figure out where you put the wood piece in case I have to do it again.

We're celebrating. The trailer is in the shop! I tried to strap it this morning. There was no clearance above the fore/aft member. That was unfortunate since that was the only vertical point of attachment. Then I tried tying to a cross member but the strap was at a 45 degree angle. I made a judgment call and decided it would put too much side stress on the member. I abandoned that idea but it may have worked. After lunch we decided to just run with it. I lubed it up and we took off at 30 mph for the 10 miles riding on the axle nut. My DW followed to let me know on the cell if the wheel fell off or started on fire but it didn't. We made check stops. The hub was hot but the wheel was not so we went on.
Here is a shot of the bad wheel and another of the strapping that I decided not to use.

Bad bearing. We're waiting to hear the damage report from the shop:


Strapping not used: