Uneven wear on trailer tire...

beatswork · Post by **beatswork** » June 19th, 2007, 8:32 am

Need a little advice. About a year ago I got in a hurry to go fishing early one morning and hit a pole getting the boat out of it's shelter. I was going slow, but hit it hard enough to dent the fender in pretty good. I unbent the fender and proceeded on my way. After a couple more trips I noticed the tire worn down to bear rubber 1.5 to 2 inches from the sidewall in. I thought maybe I just hadn't done a good enough job where I bend the fender and made sure that there was good clearence which there is, and I replaced the tire. Well I've made about three trips to Keaton, from my house 15 miles, and I see that the tire is wearing down in the same location. I talked to one of our trailer specialists in town but could not really get any specific answer. Maybe a bent spindle, axle, etc. If it's any of these problems he mentioned I would have to take it to a machine shop. Does anybody have any ideas, if it is something like this, where can I even take the trailer to get fixed, and any ideas how much we're talkin'? Help would be appreciated.

Post by **birddog** » June 19th, 2007, 8:43 am

Lucky SOB is our resident tire man. Shoot him a private message in case he doesn't see this post. He'll help you out

Post by **Chalk** » June 19th, 2007, 8:55 am

Jack it up and see if it has a visible wobble...If not is there a D in front of the rim size on the tire as in ST205 75D14...Then it might be the tire type....Lucky SOB told Birddog, which in return told me, that's how I know

DF 1860DLX · Post by **DF 1860DLX** » June 19th, 2007, 8:57 am

If you have replaced the tires a couple times i'm sure you have been checking the air pressure, the previous owner of my boat ran the pressure too low which in turn makes the inside of the tire wear quickly. Just my $.02

Post by **Chalk** » June 19th, 2007, 9:01 am

DF 1860DLX wrote:If you have replaced the tires a couple times i'm sure you have been checking the air pressure, the previous owner of my boat ran the pressure too low which in turn makes the inside of the tire wear quickly. Just my $.02

Yep

Post by **Sir reel** » June 19th, 2007, 9:24 am

Could you give us a couple of clarifications. I assume you were pulling ahead when you contacted the pole...?? is that correct? When you say the tire is wearing from the sidewall in... are you speaking of the Outside sidewall ...or the Inside sidewall?? Have you noticed if the trailer has a little bounce when trailering now ....more than before? I suppose it could also be possible that if you were at an angle when you contacted the pole that you bent something on the frame of the trailer which would make it track crooked.

Chalk's suggestion of jacking up and looking for a wobble is good. You can also find a point some where about the hitch and measure from there to the center of the hub or leading edge of the tire. The tire on each side should be equa distance from that point. The impact with the pole could have been hard enough to "shift" the shackles that hold the spring and resulted in the axle being shifted a bit towards the back.

You could also take a carpenter's framing square and place on top of the frame with the small leg pointing down next to the wheel. You can also measure from the side rail to the front edge of the rim and again to the back edge of the rim. The measurement should be the same. This would show some indication if the spindle is bent out of square with the side rail.

Post by RC » June 19th, 2007, 9:27 am

You could have just knocked the axle out of alignment slightly. In most cases the axle is just bolted on with U bolts. Measure the location of the axle from the back of the trailer on each side and see if it is the same.

Sorry I guess Sir Reel posted basically the same thing while I was typing mine.

His explanation is better.

beatswork · Post by **beatswork** » June 19th, 2007, 9:31 am

For clarification-I was pulling ahead when I made contact with the pole. It is wearing from the outside. It was my 20.5' Key West I was pulling out, I would think the trailer would be stout enough to take a little abuse. I could kick myself for getting in a hurry though, I feel it's gonna cost me.

Thanks to those who have already responded, I will take a look at I have. I recently repacked the bearings, and didn't see a wobble when it was jacked up, but will check again. Tire pressure is fine.

Post by **tin can** » June 19th, 2007, 9:45 am

If the axle, or spindle is bent, Sermons Alignment in Tallahassee might be able to straignten it. They straightened one for me. Cost me about $60. If not, Coastal Trailer, in Medart, will build you a new axle for about $120.

I would check the alignment of the trailer. Measure from the center of the spindles to the center of the front point of the coupler. The measurement should be the same on both sides of the trailer. If it isn't, take a look at the front spring shackles. It's possible you caught the tire on the post you hit, and bent a shackle.

What a mess · Post by **What a mess** » June 19th, 2007, 6:00 pm

mine was doing it too I got it lined up good to go

beatswork · Post by **beatswork** » June 20th, 2007, 8:09 am

Thanks for the suggestions. I've got some idea what I'm facing now, which is a lot more than I had a couple of days ago. Thanks.

Post by **CairoTrout** » June 24th, 2007, 9:54 pm

My dads was wearing on the inside and it was caused by a bent axle.