Alum Wheels on boat Trailer in Salt?

[Skipper]

I am wondering if aluminum wheels are OK to use on a boat trailer that gets dunked in saltwater?

Anyone, Anyone??

[Jedcraft]

Fine. Make sure you grease your lugs at least once a year. I just use heavy wheel bearing grease. If yours have those chrome center hub covers be sure to knock those out. While they look nice they just hold saltwater and make a rusty mess of things in there after awhile.

[baitsauce]

Uh, you will want to use a marine grease on the wheel bearings. I didn't think there was a difference, but I learned there was the hard way.

[1pump]

Make sure you grease your lugs at least once a year.

Yeah, at least put some anti-seize on the studs. And corrosion will likely form between the hub and the wheel, making it stick hard. Especially if it's a piloted wheel. In my truck driving days I used to see aluminum wheels stick to steel hubs like they were welded together.

[Jedcraft]

Thanks Baitsauce for pointing that out but I'm referring to the lugs nuts & studs not bearings.

[rbates]

I had aluminum wheels on my previous boat trailer, only problem they were clear coated. After awhile salt got in between coating and the aluminum. Made them look bad.

[baitsauce]

Thanks Baitsauce for pointing that out but I'm referring to the lugs nuts & studs not bearings.


Uh, now I feel like a real dumb......well, never mind. Thanks for your patience Jed.