BOB skewers--do they break?

[vanick]

Folks, Do I need to carry an extra BOB skewer on my transam trip?  Seems like this is about the only thing that could go wrong with BOB (other than tire issues), anyone every had one of these break?  I'll be keeping the load under 40#, mostly on paved roads.

Nick

[Peaks]

Well, UPS bent mine while shipping the bike.  The bike shop in Anacortes straightened it out, but said no guarantees on how long it would last.  

It made the distance (coast to coast), and I'm still using it.  So, I'd say that a spare should not be necessary.

[vanick]

Thanks for the input, the thing looks pretty beefy, I'm not going to bother carrying a spare (unless 10 other people chime in with tales of disaster)!

Nick

[driftlessregion]

I've lost a couple of the cotter pins that hold the trailer to the skewer. One problem is the rubber strap wasn't very strong initially but is stronger on newer models. Take extra pins! Old spokes work great as replacement cotter pins.

[roadrunner]

I've toured several thousand miles with a BoB, including 850 miles this month along the Chisholm Trail route, and never had a problem with the skewer.  I did lose a connecting pin on one trip, so now carry a couple of spares duct-taped on the BoB.

[dchristofili@hotmail.com]

Hey there,

I cycled 4,700+ miles in 2009 from New Jersey down to southern
Virginia and then across the the United States along
the Transamerica bike route, ending in Oregon.
I used a B.O.B trailer, only needed one skewer the entire
way and brought extra pin(s) but never needed them.
Unless you're mailing the trailer/skewer, I would say you don't
need an extra one, but having it couldn't hurt either, except for
a little extra weight.  I'll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail this year,
hopefully covering the entire 2,665 miles as long as I don't get injured
and what not.  Good luck on your journeys . . .
Dave Christofili "Synaptic Flow"  dchristofili@hotmail.com

[indyfabz]

Crossed the country with 3 people pulling trailers.  No breakage.  My girlfriend's trailer has about 700 loaded miles on it and all is well.

[driftlessregion]

Almost 10,000 miles on mine without any problems. Now, the little rubber tethers are another story. Carry spare cotter pins or spokes to bend.

[cgarch]

Agreed. No problems with the Bob skewer, but the securing pins are an issue (they're not cotter pins). Make sure the pivot bolt is tight too.

Craig
Santa Ros, CA

[driftlessregion]

Maybe not, but BOB himself calls them cotter pins: "Secures trailer fork to BOB Quick Release and BOB Nutz attachments.
Available in two styles for new and original Yak trailers.
Available in Original Cotter Pins, Current Pins and Lanyard combo's."   (http://www.bobgear.com/trailers/pins)

[Tourista829]

Like an umbrella, if you take two skewers with you and a small bag of other parts, then you will never need to use it and have peace of mind. I have never had one break either. If someone by chance breaks down, and should happen to need a trailer part, as unlikely as that may be, you would be a bicycle hero. LOL

[PeteJack]

Don't know about skewers but you may want to put a Mr Tuffy in the BOB tire. Guy I did the Transam with kept getting flats until I gave him a Mr Tuffy I'd brought just in case. I think but don't know that the small tires they use are made for kids bikes and not very puncture resistant.

[Westinghouse]

That pretty much says it for skewers. You cannot argue with that. However, bringing an extra is a kind of insurance.

[MidSouth]

You can get quality tires like the Schwalbe Marathon with Kevlar protection in the 16" size to fit the Bob.