05/28/2026
Testimonial Thursday...aka What NOT To Do!!
The spring of 2025 started off like any other fishing season. I got my boat out of storage and towed it home. I spent the next day gearing it up to be ready for a Sunday of fishing on the river. As we were leaving our neighborhood Sunday morning, I noticed an odd sound coming from my trailer. I glanced in the rear view, didnât notice anything that looked off, and figured it was just dirt or dust from storage causing some squeaking. It wasnât. I proceeded to drive 12 miles to the boat ramp. When I backed my shiny Ranger bass boat into the water, I heard an extremely loud hiss and saw a mountain of steam rising from the water! âGosh darn it!â I yelled. (Or something like that).
Upon inspection, my wheel bearing was completely blown out. Four different pieces of metal hung on my axle, which had a deep groove carved in it from my wheel. We still went fishing but the drive home was nerve racking.
Luckily, I knew the good folks at Avalon Service Center. So I called up Matt and Sara. I sent Matt some pictures and he advised that I not tow my trailer another inch. He set me up with a flatbed tow truck and got my boat to Avalonâs shop. In the end, I needed new bearings and, thanks to my bad choices, a new axle. Avalon quoted me a very fair price and had my trailer fixed up in a couple weeks. Matt walked me through proper maintenance for my new bearings and made sure I was happy with his work. I couldnât thank him enough!
The lesson here is, donât be dumb like me! Check your trailer frequently, including wheels, axles, and bearings. Do proper maintenance and donât ignore odd sounds when towing! But, if you do find yourself in need of trailer repairs, donât hesitate to call on Avalon Service Center! They are great people that do great work.
I assure you I was not paid for this testimonialâŚbut Iâm still holding out hope!
Matt C, Dubuque, IA
