Conqueror Compact trip AL to ME

[Hilldweller]

When I discovered that my bearings were smoking on one side, I contacted Conqueror in SA and asked them for the part numbers, ordered the bearings, and set about replacing them. Trailer in the air, wheel off, and presto --- the bearings were way-wrong.
So my next-door neighbor (big-truck mechanic) had to go to the bearing house anyhow and took the OE's along for the ride to match up (they had no numbers stamped on).
After much head scratching and eye-strain, they came up with the parts I have now and I've been running them for about 3000 miles.

From what I've heard speculated, Conqueror may have sourced as many as 4 different axles for the Compact during this time frame.

If these go south I'm replacing the axle with something Amurrikkin, dang-it....
...and brakes would be nice too...

 

[XJBANKER]

An axle with electric brakes are definatly on my list of to do's. Just not in a hurry for it. Maybe a good winter project for me.

 

[chips95]

Well I checked on the new axle and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be 250 for a 3500 lb. axle and another 200 for the electric brakes only problem is it would be a 2 week turn around and I need it by Friday. So I ordered the bearings which should be in at 8 am tomorrow, I'm just holding my breath that they fit and i dont have any problems getting the old races out. But I'll keep everyone updated. Thanks for everybody's help this forum has saved my butt more times than I can count.

 

[Hilldweller]

...I'm just holding my breath that they fit and i dont have any problems getting the old races out.

Mine had gotten heated pretty well and I had to use a brass punch to drive them out. No scoring afterward though.
But I do look forward to axle replacement.
Tires too; these are pushing 8 years old...

 

[Hilldweller]

Chips95 and his lovely wife Rachel:

How to deploy a Compact's jumbo-tarp to withstand 60-mph winds and 2"/per hour torrential rains (focus on pitch):

Chips95's gazebo after the previously mentioned storm:

 

[XJBANKER]

I really wish that mine came with the large Tarp. I bought a 20x30 silver tarp but it is a royal pain in the #$%^ to set it up by myself. Also I had to get a couple of more poles to make it work. Still trying to figure out exactly how to rig it up the best way.

 

[Martyn]

Mine had gotten heated pretty well and I had to use a brass punch to drive them out. No scoring afterward though.
But I do look forward to axle replacement.
Tires too; these are pushing 8 years old...

Bill

Please change your tires out. 8 years old is way too long to have them on any vehicle. Tires rot from the inside out, especially if they have been sitting.

Tires need to be used so that they can heat up and the oils in the rubber start to move. If not they dry out. It's not unusual to have a spare tire deteriorate from the inside out from lack of use, and the same thing could happen to any of these original tires.

Tires should be replaced every 4 years to prevent failures due to aging.

Did you ever find out if this brand was part of the Firestone recall? I know they were listed in the recall.

 

[Hilldweller]

Bill
Did you ever find out if this brand was part of the Firestone recall? I know they were listed in the recall.

Yes, thanks; after we talked on the phone that day, I checked them out and they weren't part of the recall. Small relief at least.
...and I know that I should change the tires... ...and install a Lock-n-Roll... ...R&R the axle and hubs... ...add brakes... ...call my mother more often...

Well, this is trailer maintenance weekend; time to go out, set it up, pull some things apart, put them back together (better).
As always, thanks, Martyn. The advice is appreciated (and expensive...).
:coffeedrink:

 

[mountainclimber8]

So how did your Conquereor fare in the storm?

Did it handle the wind and rain?

 

[Hilldweller]

So how did your Conqueror fare in the storm?

Did it handle the wind and rain?

I didn't have the tarp set-up at the extreme angles at first and it collected water near the corners; it buckled under the weight on one side and pulled the stakes up.
The trailer & tent themselves jiggled a bit in the high winds but were undramatic otherwise; our main fears were the lightning and possibility of trees falling. It was a very bad set of storms...
As for water intrusion, Kenny and Rachel had buckets of water come in; they didn't deploy their tarp and the tent leaks like crazy at every stitch hole. Seam sealer is NEEDED on all of those holes and the ties that hold the windows and doors need to be covered completely or they act like wicks.
Our tent allowed a few drips to come in by our pillows where those ties wicked some water in that got by the tarp through the stitch holes.
In other words, we were soggy for 5 days ---- bought a fan at Ace Hardware to dry out and bailed on the trip early.
Going wheeling locally in a few minutes...

 

[mountainclimber8]

I didn't have the tarp set-up at the extreme angles at first and it collected water near the corners; it buckled under the weight on one side and pulled the stakes up.
The trailer & tent themselves jiggled a bit in the high winds but were undramatic otherwise; our main fears were the lightning and possibility of trees falling. It was a very bad set of storms...
As for water intrusion, Kenny and Rachel had buckets of water come in; they didn't deploy their tarp and the tent leaks like crazy at every stitch hole. Seam sealer is NEEDED on all of those holes and the ties that hold the windows and doors need to be covered completely or they act like wicks.
Our tent allowed a few drips to come in by our pillows where those ties wicked some water in that got by the tarp through the stitch holes.
In other words, we were soggy for 5 days ---- bought a fan at Ace Hardware to dry out and bailed on the trip early.
Going wheeling locally in a few minutes...

Bill,

That was the info that I was looking for. I tend to go to areas that will blow things into the next neighboring state or country. I kind of figured that some of that tent would wick a little. So I waterproofed those areas and seams on my Compact. I haven't tried it yet in any violent weather but its still early in the season.

Good to know that it is a solid setup mechanically though.

I'm making a few other preventative changes as well.

 

[Tucson T4R]

I think your tents and tarps are canvas correct? If so, they really need to be soaked and dried a few times before they truly become water proof. I have KK trailer with tons of canvas. Mine leaked at the seams until the canvas got fully soaked and dried few times. Now they don't leak a drop anywhere, even on the seems.

If you have too, set them up under a sprinkler for a few hours and fully dry all the canvas and do it again. You may not even need to do any seem sealing.

I have had mine set up for days in heavy rains and driving wind with no water drips anywhere. :victory:

 

[Martyn]

Instead of seam sealer use bees wax. Rub it over the stitching and it will seal it right up. Also has the added benefit of not effecting the canvas that seam sealer may.

 

[Hilldweller]

I think your tents and tarps are canvas correct? If so, they really need to be soaked and dried a few times before they truly become water proof.

The tent is canvas with a rubberized top; the tarp on the Compact is nylon.
My tent has already gone through several wet/dry cycles. We probably have used our tent more than any of the other "new" Conqueror owners and the repeated open/close activity has stretched some of the stitch holes; the canvas itself doesn't leak.

Instead of seam sealer use bees wax. Rub it over the stitching and it will seal it right up. Also has the added benefit of not effecting the canvas that seam sealer may.

Ooops, too late. I used a bit of seam sealer on the tent already as well as some rubber patch material. We laid the tarp out yesterday and applied seam-sealer to all of the seams that cover the tent.

 

[mountainclimber8]

Bees wax is an excellent product for canvas seams. I've alway found that canvas or its ripstop variants like getting wet and then completely drying multiple times before shrinking enough to become really water tight. Just like was mentioned above.