I was down in florida last week to move the sailboat again to have it put back in the gulf. This boat is extremely heavy at around 10 tons which I have been told exceeds our 2500 trucks towing capacities haha. Anyways, I had just goten the trailer hooked up in the bed and I started down the gravel road on my way out of the boat yard when I had to come to a stop. To say the least it barely stopped. I freaked out and backed the boat back up the road and unhooked and headed straight to a brake shop. They disassembled the rear drums and told me that both right and left oil seals were blown. Apparently the drums were way above spec too. They wanted $223 each for the 13" drums and $200 a seal. I had them put it back together..... Now I gotta do it myself. Where to get decent prices on drums? The oil seals are basically just take off the shoes, takes out the drive shaft, pop the seal out, pop the new one in, clean oil off everything and ut new shoes and springs on right? Ive never done this on a truck before so any heads ups would be nice.... oh yeah and check rear diff oil level

 

First off, referring to a "rear oil seal" usually implies talking about the engine. Axle seals are called...axle seals. Second, did you really mean 10 tons? That's 20,000 lbs. and way over what even my truck can tow. Did you try to do this without trailer brakes? I hope you get a serious IQ boost before your next trailer outing.

 

i'd guess your mechanic was talking about rear wheel cylinders. those only cost about $10-20 each. your brake drums are probably fine, but if you want to replace them, check rockauto or autozone. i'm sure you can get them from a lot less than $200 each, probably more like $50-75.

i'd avoid that brake shop in the future.

you need to also understand your trucks towing capacity and the trailers weight. i doubt that its 10 tons, but if it doens't have working trailer brakes you could be in deep ****.

 

10 tons....ahahahahaha!

 

He's full of it. The best frame-mounted hitch is rated up to 12,000 lbs. You have to go to a fifth wheel or gooseneck to tow heavier than that.

In case anyone was wondering about what their truck can tow:

Model Engine Transmission Axle Ratio GCWR lbs Maximum Trailer Weight, . lbs.(b) GVWR lbs.(c)
1500
3.9L V-6 Man. 5-Speed 3.21(d)/3.55 6,400 3,500 7,800
3.9L V-6 Auto. 4-Speed 3.55/3.92 6,400 3,300 7,600
5.2L V-8 Man. 5-Speed3.21(d) 6,400 3,300 7,800 3.55 6,400 5,000 9,500
5.2L V-8Auto. 4-Speed3.55/3.92 6,400 7,950 12,500
5.9L V-8Auto. 4-Speed3.55/3.92 6,400 7,950 12,500
2500
5.9L V-8Man. 5-Speed 3.54/4.09 8,800 8,800 14,000
5.9L V-8 Auto. 4-Speed 3.54/4.09 8,800 8,900 14,000
5.9L I-6 CTD Man. 5/6-Speed 3.54/4.10 8,800 14,150 20,000
5.9L I-6 Auto. 4-Speed 3.54 8,800 10,200 16,000 CTD 4.10 8,800 12,200 18,000
8.0L V-10Man. 5-Speed3.54/4.10 8,800 13,350 19,000
8.0L V-10 Auto. 4-Speed3.54/4.10 8,800 13,400 19,000
3500
5.9L V-8 Man. 5-Speed3.54/4.09 10,500 9,400 15,000
5.9L V-8 Auto. 4-Speed3.54/4.09 10,500 9,450 15,000
5.9L I-6 CTD Man. 5/6-Speed 3.54/4. 10 10,500 13,900 20,000
5.9L I-6Auto. 4-Speed 3.54 10,500 9,950 16,000 CTD 4.10 10,500 11,950 18,000
8.0L V-10Man. 5-Speed3.54/4.10 10,500 13,100 19,000
8.0L V-10 Auto. 4-Speed 3.54/4.10 10,500 13,150 19,000

 

Ive pulled this boat before. Exact weight with the trailer is 19,450lbs. Truck is a 2500 with v10 and 5th wheel and no **** it has trailer brakes. And yes Ive heard that it's stupid but this truck is all i have and it actually does really well except for the stopping. I'm only going tops 50 on back roads and small two lane highways.... So get off my *** about capacities... I was asking about tips for drums and rear axle oil seals!

 

That's like saying 'this plane flies well except for the landing.'

 

lol this is true why do something so unsafe

 

No kidding, and not just marginally unsafe. That load is 7,000 lbs. over the rated capacity. That's more than the weight of the truck and well beyond the rating of any frame-mounted hitch. "Stupid is as stupid does."

 

I havent been able to find the drums for less than $200 and they can't be turned. I guess I'll replace those later. I have to replace the seals though because the shoes are soaked in oil and the front brakes are doing most of the stopping. LOL... I just saw that you wrote that "that's even more than my truck can tow". Well lets see. You have a quad cab with 4x4, no 5th wheel and 4.10 gears. I have single cab 2wd a dana 80 axle with 4.56 gears and helper springs on the rear suspension and electronic brake controller. My truck was modified JUST for towing. A lot less weight with bigger gears and a sturdier axle and suspension. You do the math.