Advice needed ..... first tow in 5 years

Mxgeldar · Jul 3rd, 2014, 10:58

Hi

I have had my Bailey Senator Louisiana in Germany for 5 years and am about to bring it back this summer.

The tyres are currently being replaced as it it stored outside and they were falling apart. It is moved to and from a pitch a couple of times a year so isn't completely static (but almost as good as!)

I don't have the manual but will be looking for grease points on the axles and running gear

Is there anything else you would do to it before setting off on the 800 mile trip home ?

Thanks in advance

FullEnglish · Jul 3rd, 2014, 12:17

Besides the obvious, lights, breakaway cable, bitch integruity etc, this is what I check when I tow an unknown trailer/caravan..

Look for bits that will fall off, trim, windows, anything that could be loose or insecure. Also anything loose on the underside and on the roof. Glue degrades over time and screws can become loose.

Make sure the wheels spin freely, and the brakes work. A sticky wheel can be caused by the brakes binding, but I've also seen it caused by a bearing where the grease had totally dried out and had become rock solid. This was on an old trailer that had been parked for 12 years, so probably not that common.

Make sure you have a spare wheel with a good tyre and a jack. Lifting a caravan (as opposed to stabilising it) with the jacking legs is a bad idea.

Depending on the design, it may have grease nipples in the brake wire sheath by the axle, and will almost certainly have grease nipples on the hitch. The axles *probably* won't have grease nipples.

Torque the wheel nuts, drive 20 miles (ish), then re-torque. At the same time, make sure the hubs are not heating up too much. A little warmth is to be expected, but one significantly hotter than the other indicates a problem that needs to be investigated.

I'm not a caravanner, so I don't know anything about the interior aspect of things. Probably stuff to check there too.

FullEnglish · Jul 3rd, 2014, 18:58

Bwahahahahahahahaha!

I meant, of course, HITCH integruity, not, erm, bitch integruity.

But I don't know, maybe you have a shagpile carpet and a disco ball in your caravan??

Mxgeldar · Jul 3rd, 2014, 23:12

It's ok...i know the integrity of my bitch already!

Jul 3rd, 2014, 10:58	#1
Mxgeldar Member Last Online: Mar 5th, 2015 20:14 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Liverpool	Advice needed ..... first tow in 5 years Hi I have had my Bailey Senator Louisiana in Germany for 5 years and am about to bring it back this summer. The tyres are currently being replaced as it it stored outside and they were falling apart. It is moved to and from a pitch a couple of times a year so isn't completely static (but almost as good as!) I don't have the manual but will be looking for grease points on the axles and running gear Is there anything else you would do to it before setting off on the 800 mile trip home ? Thanks in advance

Jul 3rd, 2014, 12:17	#2
FullEnglish Senior Member Last Online: Apr 24th, 2016 08:02 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dalkarlsberg, Sweden	Besides the obvious, lights, breakaway cable, bitch integruity etc, this is what I check when I tow an unknown trailer/caravan.. Look for bits that will fall off, trim, windows, anything that could be loose or insecure. Also anything loose on the underside and on the roof. Glue degrades over time and screws can become loose. Make sure the wheels spin freely, and the brakes work. A sticky wheel can be caused by the brakes binding, but I've also seen it caused by a bearing where the grease had totally dried out and had become rock solid. This was on an old trailer that had been parked for 12 years, so probably not that common. Make sure you have a spare wheel with a good tyre and a jack. Lifting a caravan (as opposed to stabilising it) with the jacking legs is a bad idea. Depending on the design, it may have grease nipples in the brake wire sheath by the axle, and will almost certainly have grease nipples on the hitch. The axles probably won't have grease nipples. Torque the wheel nuts, drive 20 miles (ish), then re-torque. At the same time, make sure the hubs are not heating up too much. A little warmth is to be expected, but one significantly hotter than the other indicates a problem that needs to be investigated. I'm not a caravanner, so I don't know anything about the interior aspect of things. Probably stuff to check there too. Last edited by FullEnglish; Jul 3rd, 2014 at 12:21. Reason: Addition.

Jul 3rd, 2014, 18:58	#3
FullEnglish Senior Member Last Online: Apr 24th, 2016 08:02 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Dalkarlsberg, Sweden	Bwahahahahahahahaha! I meant, of course, HITCH integruity, not, erm, bitch integruity. But I don't know, maybe you have a shagpile carpet and a disco ball in your caravan??

Jul 3rd, 2014, 23:12	#4
Mxgeldar Member Last Online: Mar 5th, 2015 20:14 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Liverpool	It's ok...i know the integrity of my bitch already!

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