Serious Trailer Axle Issue 1996 Shoreland'r 23.5' Trailer

[jimper]

I noticed my rear wheel on my 23.5' twin axle Shoreland'r trailer leaning out at a strange angle. Looking underneath I discovered that the metal at the end of this offset axle was tearing (see first photo showing the failure). The mechanic who did the conversion to electric brakes cut away the bottom portion of the axle because it interfered with the back plate of the new electric brake assembly. This seems very wrong, but he claims he has been doing it that way for 40 years and that is what everyone does. The second photo shows the front axle, which is supposed to be identical to the rear axle, (fully intact). You can see how much of the axle structure was cut away to accommodate the back plate of the new electric brakes.
My questions is: Is there a way to install electric brakes on this type of axle without mangling the axle and creating a hazardous situation? is there an electric brake plate that will accommodate this type of offset axle?

Any insight that you seasoned folks would have is truly appreciated.

Jimper

 

[jimper]

The second photo of the way the axles should look did not post with the original post

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[alldodge]

Never heard of anyone cutting part of the axle to install brakes. Guy might have been doing this for 40 years but he's a moron. The axle needs to be changed to another type

 

[briangcc]

That's definitely not right - accident waiting to happen. Personally, axle replacement and I'd be speaking with some different folk who are more in tune with legal matters as to who's actually paying for the repair.

 

[ahicks]

I would make sure that whoever did that saw this picture. Makes no difference if he's been doing it for 40 years, he needs to STOP doing it that way before somebody gets hurt.

You're going to need a new axle. Thankfully they aren't too expensive (150. or so). That axle is known as a "drop" axle. Dexter will likely be the supplier, but they don't sell direct. You have to go through a dealer. If you have no favorite that you can trust nearby, or you want to do the work yourself, these guys have been my "go to" supplier for quite a while. Call them and ask for some help getting the dimensions required to get the right one out to you.

https://www.easternmarine.com/dexter-trailer-axle/

 

[Scott Danforth]

go thru your local shoreland'r dealer

you got shafted by a shady hack calling himself a mechanic

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard, jimper.

The backing plate wouldn't clear the axle? What a hack - The so-called mechanic and the axle! The other side probably looks the same or will be. SMH

And for 40 years he's been splicing brake wiring like this? Not electrically intelligent either.

 

[Maclin]

My comment about the axle-hacker... "I can't even with this guy."

 

[porscheguy]

Electric brakes on a boat trailer? Cutting the axle to make components fit?

Whose idea were the electric brakes that will be regularly submerged in water?

the “mechanic” cut the axles because he installed the wrong parts and had to make them fit.

 

[alldodge]

Whose idea were the electric brakes that will be regularly submerged in water?

If your not in salt water this is not an issue, also get controlled breaking. Bought new tri-axle equipped with electric, and removed surge off my other tri-axle and installed electric

 

[jimper]

All good info folks. a different type of axle is an option, like a straight axle, but if i make that change, my boat is up another 4 or so inches above the ground.
is anyone aware of an electric brake that has a back plate that would accomodate a drop axle?

Jimper

 

[alldodge]

Just search "boat trailer 3500# drop axle" and several come up

 

[JASinIL2006]

Electric brakes on a boat trailer? Cutting the axle to make components fit?

Whose idea were the electric brakes that will be regularly submerged in water?

the “mechanic” cut the axles because he installed the wrong parts and had to make them fit.

Electric brakes work fine on a boat trailer. Great, in fact. I love mine. What's wrong with them? Our trailers also have electric lights...

 

[alldodge]

Sorry, I should have looked into your issue a bit further before last post

After looking at your issue(s) further, your going to need a better plan then just looking for a 4 inch drop axle. Your springs are very close to the brake face plate. The normal drop axle extends past the shackles, but just barely.

Scott may have the best answer to ask Shoreland to see what they do. The faces on the original axle is not designed for the regular backing plate. Most sell round axle tubes but there are square, just harder to find

 

[Bt Doctur]

Call and get that guys tools revoked, that is criminally negligent work

 

[TyeeMan]

Yeah your boy done went and cut out all the structural steel. As previously mentioned, if the other wheel doesn't look like that it probably will soon.
I'd go back and demand he buys you a brand new Shorelander axel and just go with the surge brakes.

Quite frankly, I don't see what the big hang up on surge breaks is. I have your exact trailer one year older, rebuilt the actuator and installed new loaded backing plates on the rear axle. Works like a million bucks, couldn't be happier.

On a side note - make sure all your tires are fairly new and in good shape. Blow a tire and you'll be looking for two new fenders, marker lights, and you'll have to fix that fancy electric brake wiring you now have.

 

[M2HB]

I would look at replacing the axle with a straight axle which is mounted on top of the spring.

Is this a single axle or a tandem axle trailer?

 

[H20Rat]

That thing is near failure, I wouldn't even tow it to a repair shop. If it were me, I'd be lining up a flatbed and the previous mechanic would be paying for it.

 

[M2HB]

It appears that the trailer is a tandem axle trailer by the second picture without brakes. Therefore a new axle isn't as easy. Besides, I'm not sure the spring clearance has enough room for a straight axle above the spring.

That axle can be fixed with a proper fabricator. I'm not suggesting that because I don't know who would be doing the work.
If it were mine, I would fish plate both sides, put a plate on the end of the tube, tack it with MIG and weld it out with 7018. It would be stronger than it was originally. Not knowing who is doing the work, I wouldn't recommend it. Having said that, years ago, I used to build most of my own axles with spindles that I bought. Now, you can buy axles so cheap that it doesn't pay. If you were to have it fixed, (and I'm not recommending that) the hard part is lining up the spindle properly.

 

[ahicks]

All good info folks. a different type of axle is an option, like a straight axle, but if i make that change, my boat is up another 4 or so inches above the ground.
is anyone aware of an electric brake that has a back plate that would accomodate a drop axle?

Jimper

Don't let the other's make this a bigger deal than it really is. Dexter makes both the axles and the brakes, and there's a 99.999% chance they can set you up with an exact replacement - that works. A direct bolt it together and move on project....