trailer axle bent, pics included

[rookie456]

I bought a used 17 foot blue fin with a continental trailer back in July. I pull the trailer with a Pontiac Montana. It trailers nice, doesn't wag. A few weeks ago I noticed the tread on the tire was worn on the inside of the tire, kind of in a saw tooth pattern. After investigating more, I noticed that both tires have extreme negative camber, which explains the tire wear, I also noticed that the axle looked bent in the middle, which would cause the negative camber. There is a mark on the top of the axle, right in the middle, it looks like maybe the bottom of the boat hit the top of the axle and bent it downward. Right now, with the axle bent, I have about a 2" clearance from the axle to the bottom of the boat. If I put a new axle on the trailer I think it would be hitting the bottom of the boat. The only thing I can think of that would cause this would be worn out leaf springs. They don't seem to be worn out, but I dont know a whole lot about boat trailers. I know I need new tires, and an axle.

 

[NYBo]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

I think you're on to something. Those springs look awfully flat. But it could be the bunks are set up incorrectly (too low). How is the clearance between the tops of the tires and the fenders? Any signs of rubbing?

 

[Failproof]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Hard to tell from pics. Your axle may be flipped to the wrong side of the leaf springs. You have an axle over set up now, and if you were able to flip it, the "bend" in the axle would be going the "correct" way, your hubs would not be rubbing the bunk boards, and the axle would not be ramming the boat. But like I said, hard to tell from pics. I can see somethin ain't right!

 

[rookie456]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

the bunks are fixed mounted, which makes me think that when the trialer was new, the bunks were high enough. no signs of the tire hitting the fender, there is about 1.5" of clearance between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender.

 

[DonHof]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

In the first picture looks like the boat did hit the axle, looks to be a dent inthe bottom.

 

[zopperman]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

 

[NYBo]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Is that you in the pic, Zak? I guess school (Temple U?) isn't keeping you busy enough!

 

[zopperman]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Is that you in the pic, Zak? I guess school (Temple U?) isn't keeping you busy enough!

hahaha it's someone clearly fixing a bent trailer axle...

Well, with my recent billion posts a day I'd say iboats is giving school (UPenn) a good run for its money

In all seriousness, that's how you fix a bent axle. These guys can help too. http://www.abctrailerparts.com

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

In the second pic I see a couple of things. Looks like you need new seals and is the bunk also hitting or riding on the axle? I'm wondering if a PO flipped the axle for low water launches because everything just looks so close.

 

[rookie456]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

In the second pic I see a couple of things. Looks like you need new seals and is the bunk also hitting or riding on the axle? I'm wondering if a PO flipped the axle for low water launches because everything just looks so close.

the piece that is hittin the axle is a carpet covered plywood piece that is mounted to the backside of the fender, kinda like a wheel liner, but 2 of the screws that hold it up are missing, so its leaning down. as far as axle over leaf, or leaf over axle, is that just personal preference, or is one better than the other.

 

[j_martin]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

the piece that is hittin the axle is a carpet covered plywood piece that is mounted to the backside of the fender, kinda like a wheel liner, but 2 of the screws that hold it up are missing, so its leaning down. as far as axle over leaf, or leaf over axle, is that just personal preference, or is one better than the other.

It's setup. Depends on the trailer, load, and tow vehicle. Many camper trailer instruction manuals tell you to put the axles under the springs if you use a tall tow vehicle, for instance.

Whether you can invert the axle itself depends on the axle. Perhaps with brakes it'd be a no-no.

You can add spring leafs, or get new ones if those just lost their bend, or mount the axle under the spring. If the wheel to fender clearance is less than the possible travel of the sprung axle, then it's too close.

Normally, axles are installed with a bit of an upper bend in the middle. Loading to spec. straitens them out. It looks like your setup might be just plain overloaded for the design.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

I have a feeling the axle was flipped in the past to lower the trailer, and what you are getting is the result of it , yea the springs show the load , but thier not that bad and yes the axle is bent from a hit of some sort looks like on the bottom of the boat I would get a new axle and put it under the springs

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Just my 2cents and I could be wrong but,

I don't buy the boat hitting the axle and bending it as much as I buy the boat being too heavy for the trailer and bowing the axle.

You can see where it does look like the boat has been hitting by the way the keel is dimpled but I really wouldn't be surprised if the latter is the true problem. Without knowing the weights and ratings or even a further out "whole picture" picture its hard to say.

Either way if you replace the axle I would put it under the springs and pay special attention to boat weight and axle/spring rating.

 

[skyking897]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Oh deja-vu. I just went thru the exact same thing with my rig. 22'Sylvan on a Trail Master trailer, looks identical to what you have with the keel so close to the axle. Tires were tipped in at the top too. Springs looked as flat as yours. First the tire issue, my axle only had spring perches on one side so I had new ones welded on the opposite side so I could rotate the axle and the tires changed angle to sit more upright. Problem with that was the axle was now even closer to the keel. Next step was to replace the springs and I had a extra leaf added to each side also. I now have about 3" clearance between the axle and keel. Boat rides as smooth as before when towing and just out of curiosity, I taped a 1" thick block of styrafoam to the axle under the keel and it has never hit the foam. On a side note, I did try flipping the axle to under the springs but it raised the boat so much it made launching and retreival a problem. Also my bunks were non adjustable and my only other option was to double up on the 2X6 bunks and raise the boat 1 1/2" in the process but this would not address the tire issue.

 

[mercman2]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

To me it looks like a combo of springs and axle. I'm sure the boat weighs slightly more than it used to when it was new. I would replace all of the hardware as well. ie(bolts, u-bolts, and backing plates). The new springs will limit the travel of the axle substantially. And yes the axle should have a slight arch pointing up. It's preloaded to handle the bounce.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Agree with a lot of the suggestions. My 2c, the springs are obviously overloaded, either by the boat weighing too much, or by normal aging or damage from hitting too many pot holes. If the springs had the correct bow, the axle would be a lot farther down from the boat than it is.

Trailers track better with some toe in (Caster or Camber don't remember which is toe in). I had a locally built custom trailer that ate tires from the onset. I have seen pictures of trailer manufacturing at a boat OEM where they made their own trailers and the picture in the brochure was of a guy putting the toe-in in the axle.

Surprised that your boat didn't sustain damage if the smack was enough to bend the axle.

Mark

 

[rookie456]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

I am not sure how much my actual set up weighs. I found specs online that list the dry weiyht of a s170 blue fin is 850 pounds. my 72 johnson 50 hp weighs 200 pounds. Thats 1050 pounds, plus fuel and misc stuff. The sticker on the trailer lists 2300 gvwr, which i think means the max you could load on there. Over all it seems like the boat is half of what the trailer should handle. as far as the axle being bent from the boat hitting it, i agree, i dont think the boat did it because it is a steady bow in the axle, i think if something hit it it would have a kink where the impact was.

 

[zopperman]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

I am not sure how much my actual set up weighs. I found specs online that list the dry weiyht of a s170 blue fin is 850 pounds. my 72 johnson 50 hp weighs 200 pounds. Thats 1050 pounds, plus fuel and misc stuff. The sticker on the trailer lists 2300 gvwr, which i think means the max you could load on there. Over all it seems like the boat is half of what the trailer should handle. as far as the axle being bent from the boat hitting it, i agree, i dont think the boat did it because it is a steady bow in the axle, i think if something hit it it would have a kink where the impact was.

You're correct.

Also, as someone else said, the axle is intentionally bowed so that it is level when under load.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Looks like the boat hit the axle from the dimple on the keel. Axle may have been moved to make boat easier to launch.

 

[j_martin]

Re: trailer axle bent, pics included

Looks like the boat hit the axle from the dimple on the keel. Axle may have been moved to make boat easier to launch.

I have a different guess as to sequence. Springs got tired. Boat bumped axle, putting dimple in boat, but not hurting the axle. Axle was flipped over to clear the boat, putting the camber out of alignment under load.

Fix the springs and mount the axle with the bow up as it is supposed to be.