Cracked hub weld on axle

[ranger481vs]

The weld that holds my hub assembly on my straight axle is cracked. I’m thinking about just replacing the entire axle assembly, while I also look into possibly getting it repaired as an option too.

Is there anything special about boat trailer axles, maybe like special marine seals? It’s just a simple straight trailer with no brakes. Boat weight without gear, and gas is 2750, so would a 3500lb axle be good?

 

[dingbat]

Nothing special really.

You can get axles with speciality lubrication schemes but generally speaking, they don't become “boat trailer” axles until installed on a boat trailer

 

[ranger481vs]

Great, thank you for confirming

 

[roscoe]

Boat weight without gear, and gas is 2750, so would a 3500lb axle be good?

2750
+ gear + gas + the weight of the trailer.... puts you way over 3500#

Go with a 5000# axle

 

[Chris1956]

How old is the trailer axle? Sometimes an axle has no drain and water can leak past the weld of the spindle. When this happens the water lays inside the axle and the axle rots out from the inside. So if your axle is 10+ years old, and has no drain, it makes sense to replace it.

It will likely come with hubs, bearings and seals, which a real plus. The hardest part is matching it up.

 

[ranger481vs]

this is the original trailer, a 1996 boat mate, GAWR 3500. Axle has no drain holes, I found a local place that can get a replacement axle but three weeks out, as they don’t have my length in stock.

The rest of the axle looks solid, so I’m wondering about taking it to welder to repair it, at least for a short term fix. Thoughts?

 

[ahicks]

Do as you like on the temp. fix, but I agree it's time to go axle shopping for a long term fix. I just wanted to add that buying an axle with a capacity just over what the boat weighs may not be the best plan. At the very least, check out how much extra it would cost to go with a 4-5k trailer axle. You may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[indybleck]

I assume it's a single axle trailer.