How to Determine the Correct Replacement Hubs for a Boat Trailer

Question

Question:

I am having trouble deciding on which wheel hubs to get for my boat trailer.

asked by: Jason

0

Expert Reply:

To determine which hubs would be best for your boat trailer there are a few things you will need to look at; the axle capacity on your boat trailer, the inner bearing number, outer bearing number, grease seal number, the bolt pattern of your wheels, and whether or not your trailer has brakes.

If you do not know what your axle capacity is you can find it located on the axle itself. It is usually located towards the middle and will typically be stamped into the axle.

The bearing and grease numbers are to ensure that the hub fits the spindle that you have. If you take off your current hub you should be able to find the numbers stamped onto those pieces somewhere. Should you not be able to locate those numbers you can measure the parts B, C, and D of your spindle (see attached picture) with a Digital Caliper # PTW80157 to the 3rd decimal place, for example, 0.725 inches. Once we know the numbers or measurements we can then proceed on to which hubs are best for your boat trailer.

I recommend getting a Galvanized hub as the Galvanized finish helps to fight against rust and corrosion. This is extremely helpful for boat trailers since they are actually backed into the water. We can use a typical idler hub for an example. The part # AKIHUB-545-35-G-EZ-K is an idler hub that is rated for 3,500 lb axles. It has a Galvanized finish and uses a 5 on 4-1/2 inch bolt pattern for the wheels. It uses the following bearings and grease seal:

Inner bearing: # L68149 (1.378" inner diameter)
Outer bearing: # L44649 (1.063" inner diameter)
Grease Seal: # 58846 (1.719" inner diameter)

Now if you were to have brakes on your boat trailer then you will simply want to use part # 8-247-50UC3-EZ instead which has the exact same properties as the idler hub I just mentioned, only this is a hub and drum assembly for brakes.

If you are still unsure as to what is the correct hub to get for your boat trailer, just let me know what bearings and grease seal you have or what the measurements of your spindle are and I would be more than happy to assist you.

expert reply by: Jon G

0

click to enlarge

Answer 1

The #84 spindle is just a common way to identify the spindle dimensions typically used for 3,500 lb axles. So instead of listing out the parts, people can just say they have #84 spindles and it's easier to know what fits it. The CE Smith Trailer…

view full answer...

Answer 2

To determine the size of the hub assembly you need to purchase you have to determine which bearings are in the old assembly. If the old assembly has L44649 inner bearings, you would use the hub you chose #8-258-5UC1. If the inner bearings are marked…

view full answer...

Answer 3

You might be able to use the Trailer Idler Hub Assembly for 3,500-lb Axles - 5 on 5 - Pre-Greased #84550BX you were looking at, if you've got 3500-lbs axles with a spindle that takes the #L44649 outer bearing and #L68149 inner bearing. The best…

view full answer...

Answer 4

I recommend using the CE Smith Trailer Idler Hub Assembly #CE13515 for your Calkins boat trailer. These have the 5 on 4-1/2" bolt pattern and is prepacked and greased for your spindle. You can add the Bearing Buddy Bearing Protectors #BB1980A-SS…

view full answer...

Answer 5

The Easy Grease Trailer Idler Hub Assembly for 3.5K Axles #AKIHUB-545-35-G-EZ-K and the CE Smith Trailer Idler Hub Assembly w/ Case #CE13515 fit the same spindle, have the same bolt pattern, and are galvanized so yes, essentially the only things that…

view full answer...

Answer 6

Hi Connor, Those part numbers unfortunately don't come back to anything, but we can still find a compatible fit by checking the bearings. To do this you'll have to remove one hub and take measurements of points B, C, and D on the diagram…

view full answer...

Answer 7

Powder coating is widely considered to be superior to acrylic paint in terms of resistance to chipping, scratching, and color retention. For a wheel application powder coat will definitely look better as well as hold up better than paint. Based on…

view full answer...

Answer 8

Brake parts are manufactured with one of several different finishes - raw metal, e-coat, silver cadmium, or Dacromet or they are made entirely of stainless steel. Parts vary in price and in the degree of resistance to corrosion, depending on the…

view full answer...

Answer 9

Galvanized metal parts are definitely better if your application is salt water use. We do offer a galvanized hub/drum assembly in the 3500-lb axle rating and with the 5-on-4-1/2 bolt pattern you need. Hub/drum kit #8-247-50UC3 includes the bearings…

view full answer...

Answer 10

For a trailer that will be used in saltwater, the best option for rotors, hubs, and calipers is those made of stainless steel. Galvanized coating is the second best option for saltwater, and then dacromet coatings, which provide extra resistance to…

view full answer...

Answer 11

I do not recommend using a leaf spring spacer (lift block) on your trailer. The reason for this is because they can cause the trailer to become extremely bouncy and rough which is just going to put more stress on your suspension and wear out the…

view full answer...

Answer 12

With square axles, neither of our over/under kits will be a fit to raise the height of the trailer so another option is to use longer hangers for the leaf springs. You will just want to confirm the hangar height. You may be able to use a hanger like…

view full answer...

How to Determine the Correct Replacement Hubs for a Boat Trailer

Products Referenced in This Question

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Continue Researching