Al-Ko Trailer Tongue failure

On Friday, July 8, 2016 at 6:14:51 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
On Friday, July 8, 2016 at 2:13:45 PM UTC-7, Casey wrote:
On Friday, July 8, 2016 at 4:08:38 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Rather than drifting this thread on into principles of bolt engineering, instead lets focus the on the real problem. The new Al-Ko tongue design again leads to concerns of possible tongue failure. The old style Cobra round tongue also has a history of failures and also generated the same concerns. As Cobra trailer owners, we should be campaigning Spindelberger to provide better engineered tongue components. A new, well optioned, Cobra trailer can easily cost $20,000 or more. The last thing I expect to do after taking delivery of a new trailer is upgrading tongue bolts.

Right On. I can't believe they are still using steel wheels with hub caps. Nice aluminum rims are not even an option. Not sure if current hubs come with bearing buddy/quick lube fittings. But if not that is amazing as well. A shot of synthetic grease every couple of years and one would never need to replace bearings or have to open bearing cap.

Has anyone checked if their fuel tank is within the range of motion the chains will allow?

To get an idea of what the trailer tongue has to deal with behind an RV, try riding in the back seat of one of those shuttle buses built on a truck chassis, AKA "short bus". Enjoy a glass of something colorful if you dare. After that, the idea of loosening or breaking things shouldn't come as a big surprise.

Casey, you've probably noticed when replacing the steel wheels on your own trailer that AlKo have used sealed bearings for more than a decade.

Jim

Jim,
Wow. I did not realize that. My trailer is a 1975 Pfeiffer but probably does have the Alko axle. The bearings are not sealed of course. I pulled the bearings out, inspected, cleaned and re-greased with synthetic grease. I'm so use to re-greasing trailer bearings that I did not even know/realize that they were using sealed bearings. I never had a trailer with sealed bearings. I guess not common in the US. I just wonder why they are still using steel wheels and hub caps without a upgrade to aluminum wheels.

Casey