How do I know if I need new axle?

[Raysilvio]

How do you know if you need a new axle?

I can see a tilt in my trailer tires. I have read all the posts I can find about remedies but is a little tilt ok or should your tires be perfectly vertical during storage on a flat surface?

How do you know when you have over loaded your trailer? Am I in trouble? or worrying to much?

I have a 17 foot bowrider with a 3.0 4 cylinder in it. (can't find anywhere on the trailer what it is rated for)

Thanks for the help -- site is great.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How do I know if I need new axle?

if you have a belt axle your tires will be wearing badly on one side. also check your bearings.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: How do I know if I need new axle?

It would help if you could post a picture. What are the tires rated for? How many leaves in the springs, width of them and their length? What size are the inner and outer bearings?

Some times the tires could be tilted in at the top from the manufacutrer, though it is rare. Tilting out at the top is far more common.

 

[Raysilvio]

Re: How do I know if I need new axle?

I will get a picture posted this weekend and try to provide some additional information about the wear and the tire ratings.

Also think I may need to move winch forward as a help for weight -- I can pick it up from tongue with one hand pretty easy.


Thanks again -- will get pictures and more info posted tommorrow.

 

[Sod Farmer]

Re: How do I know if I need new axle?

Several years ago I saw the same thing with a trailer I had at that time. The tilt on the tires was almost imperceptible, but the tires quickly started to show extreme signs of wear. I took it into a Truck/Trailer repair business and they found that the axle was bent. They straightened it and beefed it up so it would not happen again. The dealer that had sold me the boat and trailer new had sold me the very minimum size trailer. With the boat empty, it might have been adequate, but with a full fuel tank, trolling motor and batteries, anchor, etc. it was simply over loaded. Hope you turn out better than I did.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How do I know if I need new axle?

You can generally tell if an axle is bent by parking in a large level parking lot. Walk 30 -40 feet back from the rear of the trailer and squat down so you can eyeball the axle. If it is bowed slightly up in the middle the axle is probably not bent as that is called a "cambered" axle. If it is bowed downward in the middle the trailer is either severely over loaded or the axle is bent. Next eyeball the wheels. If they are tilted in at the top AND the axle is bowed down, you definitely have an issue with loading. If the wheels are tilted in at the top but the axle is bowed upward in the middle, there may be two bent spindles. Although the spindles themselves generally don't bend, the bend occurs between the point where the spindle is welded to the axle and the spring perch. It is not uncommon for a perfectly good axle to have the wheels tilted in slightly at the top if this is a straight axle (not factory cambered or bowed up in the middle). Regardless what conditions exist, you need to know the weight capacity of the trailer and the weight of the boat. Depending on the age of the trailer, there should be a capacity "GVWR" tag somewhere on the frame. This rating may be stamped into the frame so look carefully. That information is usually on the trailer tongue. Axle capacity may be indicated on a metal tag that is spot welded somewhere on the axle.