General Maintenance Procedures

Refer to the scheduled maintenance page for frequency

 
Wheels and Hubs

Check lug nuts

Before each use, check torque on all lug nuts. With trailer wheels blocked to eliminate the chance for accidental movement, tighten each lug nut to 85 foot-pounds. 
If replacement nut/nuts are required, ensure you replace with the correct size and type. 

Grease Bearings

There are three widely available types of bearing covers. Some trailers have a cap (painted or galvanized) on the end of the hub that protects the bearings. To add grease to this hub assembly, you must disassemble the hub. With this system, a semi-annual inspection and repacking the bearings is recommended. 


The second type of bearing system is a Posi-Lube spindle. On the end of the spindle is a small ZERK fitting which allows grease to enter the spindle and get routed to the bearing surfaces. To lubricate this bearing, perform the following steps:

Remove the dust cap from the hub exposing the ZERK fitting. 
Using bearing grease, secure the grease gun to the posi-lube ZERK fitting. 
Gently add grease. 
When grease comes out around the outer edge of the bearing, stop pumping grease. 
Reapply the dust cover. 
The third type uses Bearing Buddies to easy lubrication of the bearing assembly. Bearing Buddies keep a positive pressure of grease on the bearings limiting the potential intrusion of water and debris into the bearing assembly. To correctly lubricate a bearing equipped with Bearing Buddies, complete the following steps:

Remove the protective bearing cover from the hub exposing the Bearing Buddy. 
Attach a grease gun (with bearing grease) to the ZERK fitting at the center of the Bearing Buddy. 
Gently add grease. 
When the center plate of the Bearing Buddy starts traveling forward, stop adding grease. With experience, you will be able to feel the additional pressure against the grease gun when the Bearing Buddies are close to being filled. NOTE. If your trailer is not equipped with Bearing Buddies, you can purchase these components at your dealer. Never apply Bearing Buddies over Posi - Lube Spindles. The two systems are not compatible when used together. 


CAUTION: Never use a pneumatic grease gun. The force of the grease gun can damage or destroy the rear seal. If your rear seal is damaged you must get it repaired before using the trailer. Even without a pneumatic grease gun, too much pressure could damage the rear seal. 


WARNING: If you destroy the back seal of the hub assembly and have
drum brakes. The grease can enter the brakes and erode the 
performance of your brakes. 

Repacking Bearings

At least once a year when equipped with Buddy Bearings or Posi-Lube spindles (and semi-annually when these lubrication systems are not installed) your trailer should have the bearings repacked by your dealer. Your dealer will perform the following:

Remove the tire 
Remove the dust cover or cap from the hub. 
If present, remove the Buddy Bearing. 
Remove the cotter pin from the spindle. 
If equipped with a tang washer (some torsion axles and posi-lube spindles), bend the ears of the washer and remove.

CAUTION: Never re-use a tang washer. Never use anything but an actual tang washer. Reusing the tang washer or using a part other than a tang washer can cause the wheel to become separated from your trailer. This could cause serious property and personal damage. 


Back off the axle nut (the large nut on the threaded spindle). 
Remove the hub assembly from the axle. 
Disassemble the seals and bearings in the hub assembly. 
Carefully clean the bearings and hub with mineral spirits (or other parts cleaning liquid). 
Clean the spindle where the hub is seated on the axle. 
Perform a careful visual inspection of the spindle face, bearings, hub compartment. If you notice any cracks, scoring or voids, replace the damage part. If metal shavings are evident in the grease, replace all bearings and seals. Rocket International strongly recommends replacement of bearings at this same time. 
Replace (do not reuse) grease seal. 
Reassemble hub assembly with repacked bearings. Grease should be applied liberally to all surfaces. 
Place hub on spindle and secure with axle nut. While making sure that the bearings properly seat, never over-tighten axle nut. 
Insert new cotter pin or new tang washer. Do not reuse either cotter keys or tang washers. Bend securing device to lock axle nut.

WARNING: By failing to use or improperly using an axle nut securing device (cotter pin or tang washer) you jeopardize your property, your safety and the safety of others. Always ensure that cotter pins or tang washers have been properly applied. 

Re-apply Bearing Buddy and protective bearing cover. 
Secure tire to wheel (with 85 ft-lbs of torque per lug nut). Tire should spin but not wobble when bearings have been properly packed.
This procedure may have to be slightly modified if the trailer is equipped with brakes. 
Tires 

WARNING: Keep tires properly inflated. Failure to maintain correct pressure will result in tire wear, potential tire failure and possible loss of control of your trailer. Improperly maintaining tire pressure will void your warranty but more importantly creates a very dangerous road condition. 

NOTE: The most common cause of tire wear and tire problems is under inflation. Verify the tire manufacturer’s requirements by reading the tire sidewall. Even tires of the same size can have different recommended tire pressures. Always check tire pressure prior to each use (when tires are cold). 


For tire maintenance remember the acronym PART:

Pressure: Under inflation is a tire’s #1 enemy. It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat. Tires do allow for some leakage of air to occur, especially when stored for extended periods of time. 

Alignment: is your vehicle pulling to one side or shaking? A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can put your vehicle out of alignment and damage your tires. Check your alignment periodically to ensure your vehicle is properly aligned.

Rotation: promotes uniform tire wear - only required on very large trailers.

Tread: measure it and inspect it. Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. For most trailer tires, Rocket International recommends replacement at least every five years.

CAUTION: Driving your vehicle in an overloaded condition is dangerous. 
This can cause excessive heat to build up in your tires. This can lead to 
sudden tire failure and/or serious personal injury. 


Brakes

Checking brake fluid

Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap on top of the actuator. 
Refill as necessary using DOT 3 heavy-duty brake fluid to 3/8 inch below the top of the reservoir. 
Reapply cap. 

CAUTION: Brakes directly affect the safety of your vehicle and everyone else on the road. No one should attempt brake adjustment, replacement or repair of brake components if they have not been trained in the repair and maintenance of braking systems. 


WARNING: Allowing your brake system to run low of brake fluid – or using fluids other than brake fluid - could degrade the brake performance and possibly lead to a dangerous road condition. 

Check Line Connections

With your boat removed from your trailer, trace your brake line from the actuator to all brake clusters. 
Verify that the brake line does not have cracks, abrasions or holes. Replace components as necessary. 
Verify all brake line connectors are secure and not leaking. Replace as necessary. 
If you have had to replace line and / or connections, you must have your dealer refill the brake fluid and properly bleed your brakes. 

WARNING: Improperly bleeding brakes could cause air to be trapped inside the brake line. This air could significantly erode brake performance or even render your brakes inoperative.


Freshwater flush (Drum Brakes Only)

Freshwater flush is only for trailers with drum brakes installed with a flush kit. Drum brakes without a flush kit cannot use this procedure.

Secure the male adapter from a standard garden hose to the female adapter located on the trailer frame. 
Gently apply freshwater. You should only apply a very gentle stream of water as more vigorous washing will not aid in removing the salt and debris from the braking system. Too much water pressure can cause the flush kit connectors to separate and render the flushing system inoperative. 
Drive the trailer around after flushing to dry the brakes. This prevents the pads from sticking and causing a lock-up. 

Verify Actuator Travel

Your actuator operates like a piston. When fully extended it does not apply pressure to the brake fluid. When your vehicle slows, the actuator is pressed in (toward the rear of the trailer) and applies pressure to the brake fluid. The fluid in turn causes the brakes to engage. Any item or debris that hinders the travel of the actuator diminishes the effectiveness of your brakes.

Annually have your dealer verify the distance over which your actuator travels between fully extended and fully engaged. 
Your dealer will compare this travel distance to information in your brake owner’s manual or published brake system operating characteristics. 
Your dealer may also apply a lightweight oil to inhibit rust from accumulating on the actuator. 
Adjust brakes (Drum Brakes)
Brake adjustments should only be done by a qualified mechanic. Rocket International strongly encourages you to return to the dealer where you purchased your boat, trailer and engine. Only this dealer understands the unique nature of your boating equipment as well as the local road conditions. 


WARNING: Failure to complete brake adjustments correctly can 
result in diminished or loss of braking. Brakes adjusted too tightly can 
cause premature failure of the brakes. Any maladjustment can 
lead to property and / or personal damage. 

Correct the adjustment of your drum brakes after the first 50 miles of operation, again after another 300 miles and then every 600 miles. Regardless of the amount of miles you put on your trailer, Rocket International recommends a drum brake adjustment at least annually. 

Adjust each wheel brake assembly separately. To perform this maintenance, the mechanic will have to safely jack up your trailer. When scheduling your service appointment, you may wish to ask the mechanic whether they can remove your boat from the trailer or if you will have to make arrangements to have the boat taken off the trailer. 

To complete this adjustment, the mechanic will do the following:

Locate the brake adjustor - behind slot at bottom of the back side of each backing plate. 
Tighten adjustor with brake adjustment tool until you cannot rotate the wheel by hand. 

Caution, only rotate the drum forward. 
Back off the adjustment ten notches (or ten clicks). 

Adjust brakes (Disc Brakes)

There is not an adjustment procedure for disc brakes. If you suspect brake problems, take your trailer to your dealer immediately. 

Checking pads, rotors, master cylinder

Annually, you should ask a mechanic to complete a visual inspection of your brakes. They will complete many of the same steps used to adjust your brakes, plus:

Visually inspect all components, looking for uneven wearing, cracking, warping or corrosion. 
With brake pads, your dealer will recommend replacing the pads when they are approximately 1/8” thick or less (new pads are usually 3/8 inch thick). 
If your dealer discovers bent rotors, inoperable master cylinders or other defective parts, the dealer will replace those parts. 
At the conclusion of the inspection, the dealer will reassemble the brake system, fill the system with approved brake fluid, verify there are no leaks and bleed the braking system. 

Electrical

Check tail lights / brake lights / verifying ground

Before attaching the wire harness from the trailer to the wire harness from the tow vehicle, trace the wiring system from the tow vehicle to the trailer and back. Look for bare wires, cracked or chafed insulation and corroded or rusted terminals. 
While tracing the system, verify the white ground wire is connected to the trailer frame. Your tail lights may have an independent grounding system (evident from a short white wire from the tail light assembly). Verify that this wire is also securely attached to the trailer frame. 
Replace any wires, wire harnesses or securing screws that are damaged, worn or missing. 
Attach the wiring harness from the tow vehicle to the trailer. If equipped with disc brakes, also attach the single wire for the reverse lock-out solenoid. 
Have another person depress the brake pedal and the turn signals while you remain behind the trailer and verify that the correct lights illuminate on both the trailer and the tow vehicle.

NOTE: It is a good practice to activate your tow vehicles emergency 
flashers whenever backing your trailer. This will cause your rear lights 
on your trailer to illuminate. 


On trailers equipped with disc brakes - to verify the reverse solenoid works correctly, gently back the trailer. 
Replace cracked, damaged or poorly illuminating bulbs. Replace crack, work or defective light shields and light covers. Some tail lights have a removable insert that can be removed through the bottom of the tail light. With these tail lights, you do not have to remove the lens cover to gain access to the tail light bulbs or their sockets. 
A small amount of electrical socket grease on plug contacts and light bulb bases will help prevent rust and corrosion. 

Top Ten Tips | Maintenance Schedule | Before Towing | General Maintenance | Storing Your Trailer | Trouble Shooting