Trailer question

[Fisherjoe]

Is there any place in Louisville/Southern Indiana to take a trailer to check its alignment? Mine is eating tires and I haven't been able to narrow it down. I have checked for axle straightness, squareness, etc. Bearings and hubs appear ok. Wheels are balanced. Trailer rides smooth and stays right behind truck. Thanks.

Joe

[Brandon__]

You could try to call louisville auto spring i worked at the one in lexington we did it.

[kydonky]

My tandum axle construction/farm trailer was doing hte same thing a few years ago. On mine the front axle came out of the axle keeper (probably hit a big pothole). I had to loosen the axle bolts and move the axle back into place. That solved the problem.

To check (mine has leaf springs) look at the place were the axle bolts to the springs. If it looks as if it have moved (could be a place with no rust were it was riding before) loosen the axle bolts and drop the axle. On the leaf springs there will be an axle keeper that is like a rivet sticking up or may be a hole in the spring. The axle bolt assembly will have a hole or keeper pin to match up with the spring. Reassemble with the keepers lined up and tighten.

Other that this you may have a bent axle. You can get a replacement from Northern tool.

Hope this helps.

[dc chopper]

Is there any place in Louisville/Southern Indiana to take a trailer to check its alignment? Mine is eating tires and I haven't been able to narrow it down. I have checked for axle straightness, squareness, etc. Bearings and hubs appear ok. Wheels are balanced. Trailer rides smooth and stays right behind truck. Thanks.

Joe

Tonys whhel alignment on Poplar level used to do trailers of all kinds

[KYCatfish]

It's funny that this question popped up as I just put new tires on my trailer yesterday. The inside tread on both tires was very worn. I heard it's low tire pressure, too much weight for trailer, bent axle, and a couple more. I fully expect to have these ruined before they wear out too unfortunately. I'd like to get it checked before they are ruined though.

BTW: I got Michel Tire to mount them....but they didn't balance them saying trailer tires don't need balancing. Does that sound right to you guys?

[GeoFisher]

Tonys whhel alignment on Poplar level used to do trailers of all kinds

I used Tonys last year for the exact same thing...........they do good work.

I was chewing up the tires in a year...........sometimes sooner.. They fixed me up and I will find out this year if I'm good or not.

Later,

Geo

[jwatts1]

Just my thinking ; if my truck tires need to be balanced so do my trailer tires because they will be going the same speed as truck tires. We all know what unbalanced tires feel like and I don't want that on my truck or boat. Hope this helps

[GeoFisher]

It's funny that this question popped up as I just put new tires on my trailer yesterday. The inside tread on both tires was very worn. I heard it's low tire pressure, too much weight for trailer, bent axle, and a couple more. I fully expect to have these ruined before they wear out too unfortunately. I'd like to get it checked before they are ruined though.

BTW: I got Michel Tire to mount them....but they didn't balance them saying trailer tires don't need balancing. Does that sound right to you guys?

Nope..........all tires need balancing.

Later,

Geo

[Embrey]

Just my thinking ; if my truck tires need to be balanced so do my trailer tires because they will be going the same speed as truck tires. We all know what unbalanced tires feel like and I don't want that on my truck or boat. Hope this helps

better to balance, but really not needed unless they are way off or something. unless it was really off, i doubt you could feel it in the truck

[Fisherjoe]

Thanks to all. I'll start calling these guys in the next coupla days.

Joe

[kydonky]

I have never seen a trailer with a chamber/toe adjustment. So If it is out of allignment is is probably due to something bent (axle/tongue) or the axle is mounted crooked (has slipped out of axle keeper on springs).

I would inspect the springs, axle and hitch for damage, tightness or evidence of something out of place before I took it to service. It may be a simple fix. In any case you may get an idea of what you are dealing with.

A trailer axle is alligned with the axle keepers on the springs, that's were I would look first. Check the tongue with a straight edge (perhaps a 4 foot carpenters level) by placing it parallel on the tongue. If there is a gap and the straight edge does not lay flat (check top and sides) against the tounge you will know your tongue is bent. You can also check the axle(s) the same way. We have all seen trailers on the road that have tires bowed out at the bottom and bowed in at the top. Probably due to over load and time (axle bent/bowed). Finally you may also check your wheel hubs for loosness (bearing bad, wheel nut loose). If your hub has movement side to side or up and down you may need new bearing. However, I would think you would have noticed the wheel getting hot or making noise.

Just trying to save you a buck. Like I said, may be an easy fix.

[kydonky]

I used Tonys last year for the exact same thing...........they do good work.

I was chewing up the tires in a year...........sometimes sooner.. They fixed me up and I will find out this year if I'm good or not.

Later,

Geo

Geo, did they tell you the cause, how did they fix it? Just curious.