SmartTote Front Double Caster Wheel Failure

[edatlanta]

This is my 27 gallon SmartTote's 3rd year in service. I volunteer at a state park for 4 months each summer so we are talking 10 months service to date. It is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 miles to the dump and I have to dump every 1-2 weeks.

One of the front wheels failed with the rubber "tread" splitting. I looked up the part on Thetford's site:

40528 Double Caster Wheel Kit for 18, 27 and 35 gallon

and then tried to find a "Dealer" that had it in stock with no luck. The best I could find was one source that could order it with shipping in 4-6 weeks for $59.95 plus shipping. 4-6 weeks might as well be totally unavailable since I use this unit a couple of times a month. I talked direct with Thetford with no luck other than I would have to order from one of their dealers (that obviously don't stock replacement parts).

I went to Home Depot and found just what I needed. I had to buy the bracket along with the new 5" wheel, but removed it from the bracket and installed on the existing SmartTote bracket. Since the new wheel is just slightly larger than the original, I replaced both wheels. Total cost was $19.32 for both.

Installation took less than 5 minutes after I had the SmartTote up on a table and had two wrenches in hand. I included a two completed pictures one of which shows the location of the washers that were already spacing the original wheels.

It works perfectly with parts available locally.

[Heady]

Nice Job!!

[Threebutchers]

Very resourceful, Ed. Thanks for sharing....

I have a smaller SmartTote and I dont use the front caster. I lash the handle to the hitch and let it ride on the rear wheels only. Been many places where the roads are too rough for a castor that small!

[Seann45]

I was going to suggest Harbor Freight but you already got it cased... I have a maciator pump from camping world so what I do is put the blue boys in the back of my truck and pump up to them... take it to the dump station and dump from right in the bed of the truck... never have to worry about those tiny wheels...

[tls001]

Originally Posted by Seann45

I was going to suggest Harbor Freight but you already got it cased... I have a maciator pump from camping world so what I do is put the blue boys in the back of my truck and pump up to them... take it to the dump station and dump from right in the bed of the truck... never have to worry about those tiny wheels...

x2 on pumping to the blue tote in the back of the PU, this works great.

[clutch]

You can also get larger wheels for the rear that have air in them for a better ride.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by clutch

You can also get larger wheels for the rear that have air in them for a better ride.

and mag wheels so you are the coolest dumper at the dump station.. Good to see you back Clutch

[edatlanta]

I will be replacing the rear tires also as a preventative measure, but I can assure you mag wheels won't be in the picture. I do have Cragar mag wheels on my golf cart however.

[Threebutchers]

Originally Posted by clutch

You can also get larger wheels for the rear that have air in them for a better ride.

You cant put wider / pnuematic tires on a SmartTote....they have a wheel well and special axle because of the bottom feeding hose. I looked into it....[ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[clutch]

Originally Posted by Seann45

and mag wheels so you are the coolest dumper at the dump station.. Good to see you back Clutch

You are correct Seann, coolness at the dump station is very important. A friend of mine at the La Paz park was the envy of the park with his shinny wheels with the large diameter aired up tires. You couldn't even hear his tote as he rolled by at twice the speed of everyone else. People could hear my tote coming a block away with my hard rubber tires.