Need Help / Advice

[Gryphon]

We traveled from Minnesota to Maine this week with our 267 BHSW. Late yesterday we hit a pothole and now stranded in Waterville, Maine. At first it sounded like a flat tire, but all four tires holding air and none feel loose when you push/pull on them. Nothing looks broken or out of order as far as wheels/axles. The hubs were not getting hot while we limped to our current location.
The noise changed to a grinding squeal over a few miles and clearly something that wants to be turning freely is now grinding away. Stuck in place with family and dogs waiting for businesses to open so I can arrange some repair help.
Any recommendations for service providers in this area?
Thanks

[russellrhinesmit]

Do you have any road side assistance. AAA good Sam.

[Gryphon]

Unfortunately no. Forgot to renew AAA...

Actually, I have some coverage through insurance carrier - need to look up those details.

Yeah, l`m a dumbass.

[russellrhinesmit]

You can try cjs trailer repair and towing in Fairfield Maine maybe they can help.

[Cosmik Debris]

My bet is either a bad wheel bearing or a brake shoe came detached. Raising one wheel at a time and turning by hand may isolate the problem.
Good luck.

[russellrhinesmit]

Originally Posted by Cosmik Debris

My bet is either a bad wheel bearing or a brake shoe came detached. Raising one wheel at a time and turning by hand may isolate the problem.
Good luck.

Agreed

[Gryphon]

Wheel bearings were all just serviced before the trip so unless one was damaged by the impact I would lean toward the brake shoe issue. I've made a lot of calls and finally found someone to take a look at it. I agree that with a proper Jack it shouldn't be too hard to isolate the issue.
For the record, C&J only does tractor/trailer work. Thanks for your replies.

[Oklahoma Dan]

I too think wheel bearing.

[russellrhinesmit]

Glad you were able to find help.

[Screwby]

Hope you get this sorted out! We are on a trip to the Dakotas and are currently in Minneapolis. The potholes on the way from Indiana to here were unbearable. Stuff in the cabinets were upside down and everywhere. I’ve never had such a terrible time towing, highways shouldn’t be like this. I’m thinking of avoiding highways altogether on the way back. It may add time to our drive but smashing my TT over these ridiculous roads makes me angry.

[John from Central Florida]

Gry,

I’m interested in hearing what you find out. Thx.

[Tunce the traveler]

[QUOTE=Gryphon;657331]Wheel bearings were all just serviced before the trip so unless one was damaged by the impact I would lean toward the brake shoe issue. I agree that with a proper Jack it shouldn't be too hard to isolate the issue.

With double axles you don't need a Jack if you use The Lego's or blocks of wood just place them under a tire and drive up on them and it will raise the other axle off the ground. Do that one at a time till you find the bad one and super easy to work on.
If it is a shoe you can disassemble and drive to a service center.

[Gryphon]

It seems roads are only made to last until the next construction season anymore. What I hit was like a minefield... no warning sign and no way to avoid hitting one. We went through Canada to avoid the soul-sucking interstate...

[Gryphon]

Great tip - Thanks!

[RAurand]

Makes me wonder what they do with all the highway tax money collected on fuel purchases?
Pennsylvania has a lot of bad roads as well.

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by RAurand

Makes me wonder what they do with all the highway tax money collected on fuel purchases?
Pennsylvania has a lot of bad roads as well.

We went through a toll booth and I was so tempted to ask what the heck this money was going toward and point to the huge pothole 800 feet from the toll booth in my lane I was about to swerve around. I’m so glad I put on the tire pressure sensors before this trip, I watch it closely every time we drive through a moonscape.

[Gryphon]

UPDATE: when the repair service tech arrived with a full size jack we quickly determined the front left wheel had a notable hop in it - probably a broken belt. Further disassembly revealed the bearing was a bit loose so we tightened that up and the brakes were rubbing a little too much so we adjusted them, too.

In my mind, none of these items fully explain the grinding noise we heard last night. However, after putting it all back together, including the spare tire, the noise was not audible during a quick test drive. We are now at yesterday's destination.

I've learned that I probably need to travel with a better jack than the bottle type in my truck's tool box. The 4 ton rating does no good if it is too small to be useful. I also need to get more familiar with drum brakes and the wheel bearings on this trailer. It's helpful to get outside input when facing these problems. Thanks.

On side note, I used a different grease on my WDH connections and that crap rinsed right off in the first rain storm. Gone. I'm going back to what I used previously - which worked great.
Happy 4th of July.

[Tunce the traveler]

We're soo glad your back on the road and it didn't cost you a ton of money and totally disrupt your travel plans.

[TCNashville]

Best of luck in your remaining travels!

[russellrhinesmit]

Btw what was the name of the company that came to the resq