Excessive wear on trailer tires

[Remy A]

I have a 2007 Tracker V185 with a 150 on the back. In 2008 Tracker had to replace the trailer axcles because the inside of both tires were wearing out very quickly. The outside of the tire tread looked brand new but the inside was bald. Today the same problem has returned and I am wondering if anyone else has had, or heard of this problem? When the boat is on the trailer both tires lean from the top towards the boat. I have asked Tracker if the trailer was really capable of handling the load from the boat; they offer no answer. Looking at different web sites, it appears that Tracker does not have a heavier trailer available to fit this boat.
If anyone else has had this problem I would like to hear from you and find out how you fixed the problem. Trailer tires are not cheap and to wear them out in a thousand miles is not cost effective.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

Had the same problem with my 2007 Float-on trailer, tandem axle trailer. Float-on said they had received a group of bad axles, replaced mine. Problem solved.

Sounds to me like you are carrying more weight than the axles can carry. Only think that I can think would help is to lose some weight, or go to larger axles.

Some pictures of the axles and the trailer might help to get some insight.

 

[Remy A]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

Here are some pictures of the tires.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

I am probably all wet hjere,m but it looks like the may be wear on the outside edge as well, although not as obvious.

What pressure are you running? On my trailer, the tire guy I get my tires from suggested running 10lbs over the recommended psi that was indicated on the side of the tire. This made a positive change in tire wear for me. I run , original , 205-75-14's, but am changing to 215-75-14's for the greater load carrying ability. Both suggest 50lbs, and I run 60lb.

Paint or chalk some wear stripes across the face of the tires to check the actual wear pattern.

The other thing you might look at is taking the trailer to a trailer specialist and see if the can bend your axle to change it's camber, a kind of pre-load.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

Lets back up a little bit here.

What is the total weight of your boat/trailer/and all gear you normally carry?

What is the weight capacity of the axle?

If the axle is not of sufficient capacity, bending won't solve anything. It'll just hide the issue untill you lose a wheel on the highway.

If you have to overinflate your tires to cary the load - you NEED higher capacity exuipment. You should never excede the max pressure listed on the sidewall. Although I do admit that I do it for storage - reduces flatspotting on my biasplys.

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

almost looks like a toe problem, out in this case..... the tires are trying to get farther apart thus eating the inside edge.

could be that the axle is mounted backwards..

i would be interested in a measuremet rim to rim both in front of and behind the axle.

 

[Remy A]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

If you are standing either in front or behind the boat, You can easily see that the tires toe out. They bend from the top towards the boat and from the bottom they bend towards the street. This condition was repaired once before and now I am wondering if all they did after a month was replace the tires? I do believe that the trailer cannot handle the weight of the boat. My other idea is that the trailer frame might not be to blueprint specs. It would be nice if the dealer would actually speak to me. If I need a better trailer for this boat - I would be glad to purchase it for a good trade-in on the old distorted one.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

Looks like a heaver duty trailer is needed for the load.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

There is no TOE adjustment on a trailer - the wheels run parallel to each other.

The OP provided pictures and a description of his CAMBER issue.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

It would be nice if the dealer would actually speak to me.

We can't help you too much with that one.

Are you a BoatUS member?

You could try posting on their consumer issues forum - Caroline is/was the moderator and she has been very successful dealing with manufacturers on behalf of customers.

 

[whit71]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

The trailer should have a tag that says how much it can hold and you can find out the weight of the boat from tracker. Your local trailer guy can change to a heavier axle and tongue if needed. Good luck

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

I am an auto tire & repair shop manager. You have inside edge wear which is most likely from negative camber. That is what happens when the bottom of the tire is farther apart than the top. Your straight trailer axle should not have any camber so it is likely bent. Or it's weak & bends under the weight of your boat. You need to find out the weight of the boat and the weight of the trailer together. Plus you need to read the plate on the trailer to see if the trailer is rated for your load. It could be the wrong spec or just weak from use, corrosion, or manufacturing defect. Get it replaced or repaired, and if it's on warranty you should ask very firmly for assistance with the expectation of help. If you go to your dealer being reasonable there is every possibility you will come out satisfied. If they are unwilling or unable, go to the manufacturer. It doesn't cost anything to ask!
You need to get an axle rated for your rig's weight. Then you don't have to go through configuring a whole trailer to fit you hull etc. The boat should be off the trailer for the install, but you might be able to do the axle without taking off the boat. It depends on the way it's attached.
Look at e-trailer's and Dexter axle's website. I am sure there are other resources too. If you are past warranty it will cost a few hundred dollars but it won't even approach $1000 unless something is really botched.
Sorry to hear of your dilemma, but at least you are catching it before a blow out and possible damage that could result at speed.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

Overload either current or previously caused the issues. Time to get out the measuring stick to see just how bent things are.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

have the same problem, negative camber, on a straight axle. im talking to mfr/warranty about the issue. i don't think their axles can hold the max weight. if i can get a refund, 'i ll consider having a boat trailer shop make me one, w/rectangular tubing (imho). if not, its alot of work, time, expense and %^&* to get it right.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

Where I live there are a lot of small roundabouts which I do my best to avoid as dual axle trailers do not like turning - the tyres scrub badly during tight turns as the trailer's wheels are fixed in a straight line. If I turn tightly and look at the wheels there's noticeable amount of camber which disappears once I straighten up. I'm guessing that there's also a toe in or out issue. Do you make a lot of sharp turns while towing as even the strongest dual axle combination is going to scrub the tyres? Just a thought...

TII

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

I agree, what is the total weight of your rig, packed and ready to go to the lake, full livewells if you trailer with them full on the way home? Go to a truck stop and run it through their scales, you might be surprised at the weight.

If this happened before and returned after the axle was replaced I would suspect a defect or improper load capacity. Does your axle had a manufacturer's tag on it? The tag should have the capacity of the axle.

BTW, I installed a new 3500# axle several years ago and all the parts were $200-250, about the cost of a set of tires....

 

[Remy A]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

I really appreciate all the replies on this subject. So far, I have not heard a thing from the repair shop or Tracker Boats about the trailer. I offered Jeff Gardener (Tracker Boats), that I would pay the difference for a stronger trailer for my boat. He has not replied about anything.
But having been repaired for this condition before makes me think that the trailer simply cannot handle the load of the boat. I just don't want to have to pay more money for repairs and then be back there again next year for the same condition. They have had my boat and trailer for 2 weeks. I expect to be hearing from someone soon, I hope! Whatever they say I will certainly post their findings and what they did to fix it on this site.

Remy A

 

[eastside al]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

i have the same thing with my boat tires, its how much sway my boat does behind my truck, the faster i go the more sway, single axle trailer. it continues to tear up the inside of the tires. the only way to slow it is to slow down and go 55 rather than 65 on the freeway, it helps and also boosts gas mileage.

 

[Bravo]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

If your trailer is swaying behind you at speeds, then its most likely you don't have enough tongue weight. Adjust your trailer componets (if possible) about 6" forward on the trailer. You will be surprised at the outcome.

 

[Ganis]

Re: Excessive wear on trailer tires

With 14" tires, you probably have a 2500# axle under the trailer. Your boat probably weighs close to that with nothing in it, by the time you add fuel and gear, it's probably closer to 3000#. If you can't get Tracker to fix the problem, I would suggest that you just go the a local trail shop and have them replace the axle with a 3500# unit, around there the cost is about $300 installed. I tow a 14' enclosed trailer almost daily for work loaded with about 7000# of equipment, and originally it came with 3500# axles and i had the same problem with tire wear, swapped in a couple of 5200# and now nice even tire wear. just my .02