Bent axle

[gwood]

I have a 2006 trailstar trailer purchased from new along with a Tracker Pro190 boat. I have a bent axle and at this point have no idea how it became bent other than it must have been something I had inadvertently done!! The axle is bent upwards or like a rainbow and the tires are wearing on the outside edges and only lasting at best 6 months and i cannot find any damage along the axle to provide any further details as to how the damage happened.
I am about to take the trailer in and have the axle replaced and was hoping to place it with heavier duty axle but unfortunately I believe its the largest axle available (5200lb 3.0" dia) in respect to dimensions is already installed, so it appears i will be replacing like for like.

What I would like to achieve at this point is change/repair all items that will make my towing experiences more comfortable as I tow with a Toyota Tacoma V6 with a towing capacity of 5500lbs which is well within my boat/trailer package weight and the only problem i am having beside the bent axle is the swaying of the trailer whilst driving, and that is my question at this point, is there anything I can do to limit the swaying of the trailer? The trailer hitch is original Toyota product installed from new.

If anyone can shed some light on my axle mystery i would appreciate the insight as I really don't want to replace the axle as much as i changed wheels!!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bent axle

To help with your sway you can add more tongue weight. Do you know what you have now? You can have them move your new axle back a little bit to add more. That may be tough if the spring mounts are welded on your trailer.

Is your trailer level?

 

[gwood]

Re: Bent axle

To help with your sway you can add more tongue weight. Do you know what you have now? You can have them move your new axle back a little bit to add more. That may be tough if the spring mounts are welded on your trailer.

Is your trailer level?

Trailer is level but unsure of tongue weight.
Are sway bars of any use?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Bent axle

... Tracker Pro190 boat. ... The axle is bent upwards or like a rainbow
...
believe its the largest axle available (5200lb 3.0" dia) in respect to dimensions

So apparently you have a very heavy axle on a relatively light rig... Some/most axles are designed to bow a little without a load, and once you get them close to their rated weight, they will straighten out. It kind of sounds like you are essentially dragging around a nearly empty trailer, compared to what that axle is meant for. Its never loaded enough to straighten.

 

[gwood]

Re: Bent axle

So apparently you have a very heavy axle on a relatively light rig... Some/most axles are designed to bow a little without a load, and once you get them close to their rated weight, they will straighten out. It kind of sounds like you are essentially dragging around a nearly empty trailer, compared to what that axle is meant for. Its never loaded enough to straighten.

My estimate of the axle right now is based upon the dimensions I took including diameter of axle and compared to axle sizes available at online stores and the 5200lb version was closest, its possible it could be different but I would think mass produced trailers would use std axles. But I was very surprised when I came to the axle size conclusion especially as the GVWR is 2700lbs.

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Bent axle

I'd bet that smokingcrater is correct. The axle under your boat currently is over sized for your needs. It may already have been replaced once, prior to your purchasing it.
When you think about replacing it, you might want to go to a lighter weight axle. One more in line with the weight of you boat and trailer needs.
This will help alleviate the need for replacing trailer tires so soon after install.
Also, next time you go out, you might want to move your tackle and coolers to the bow area of the boat during towing to add tongue weight and smooth out the swaying of the trailer.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bent axle

What size tires are you running on this thing? Are they 6 or 5 lug? If they are only 5 lug, its doubtful you have a 5200# axle.

You can't judge an axle capacity from the axle diameter, by the way. For example, you could have a 2"x3" 3500# axle or a 2"x3" 6000# axle. You can tell more by your spindle diameters.

 

[gwood]

Re: Bent axle

Most of my tackle is as forward as possible, approx. 4ft from axle & approx. 6 ft from ball very little to the rear of boat.
If I go with appropriate axle is a sway bar worth it or not?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bent axle

If I go with appropriate axle is a sway bar worth it or not?

Not if you are using surge brakes.

 

[gwood]

Re: Bent axle

Not if you are using surge brakes.

No brakes on trailer.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bent axle

That would help then. Your bent axle may be contributing to your sway so wait until you get that taken care of before you worry about the sway.

If you don't have brakes, there is no way you have a 5200# axle unless someone put it on there later.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bent axle

you don't have a bent axle. You have a cambered axle and it is manufacturered with an upward bow. Because of that, and because it is apparently heavier than it needs to be for the given load, it can't straighten under load and hence the tires wear on the outside.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bent axle

you don't have a bent axle. You have a cambered axle and it is manufacturered with an upward bow. Because of that, and because it is apparently heavier than it needs to be for the given load, it can't straighten under load and hence the tires wear on the outside.

I bet he just has a bent axle. No way his trailer came with a 5200# axle.

 

[gwood]

Re: Bent axle

What size tires are you running on this thing? Are they 6 or 5 lug? If they are only 5 lug, its doubtful you have a 5200# axle.

You can't judge an axle capacity from the axle diameter, by the way. For example, you could have a 2"x3" 3500# axle or a 2"x3" 6000# axle. You can tell more by your spindle diameters.

It's a round axle with a 3" diameter, 64" spring center, 78" hub face length
Tire size is ST175/80/13D. 5-4.5 bolt pattern

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Bent axle

Unless it is a home made axle, it should also have a capacity tag tack welded on it. But judging by the tire size, it is a 3500# axle if all is original.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Bent axle

I bet he just has a bent axle. No way his trailer came with a 5200# axle.

100% positive it didn't come from the mfg like that, but nobody can be sure what the previous owner(s) did...

 

[Pelletmonster]

Re: Bent axle

generally a 5200/6000 # round tube axle IS 3" diam ( pending what your outter bearing number is for gvw) but never seen a 5 bolt wheel ESP with 13" t/w's on these size axles.. generally the 5200/6000# axles have a 6 or 8 lug hub with a 205or 225/75 15" tire..

You sure this isnt a 2 3/8" round tube axle ??? if it is then it is a 3500# axle..

BEST bet and way to find exactly what capacity is,is to pull off a hub and see what your bearing numbers are..
like someone previously said 90% of axles are cambered in the center...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bent axle

I doubt you can even buy a 5 lug hub that would fit a 5200# axle either.

OP doesn't exactly state this yet but almost sounds like the tires didn't wear like this until recently. Is that true gwood?

Bottom line, he needs to buy a 3500# axle.

 

[gwood]

Re: Bent axle

I doubt you can even buy a 5 lug hub that would fit a 5200# axle either.

OP doesn't exactly state this yet but almost sounds like the tires didn't wear like this until recently. Is that true gwood?

Bottom line, he needs to buy a 3500# axle.

Issue started about 2 - 3 yrs ago, that's when I started ensuring 50psi in tires before then I was inflating 40-45psi but losing tires due to deflation i think cos of tires releasing fron hub either from sway or under inflated, probably latter as I have not lost a tire since..

 

[Pelletmonster]

Re: Bent axle

gwood - What kind of tires are you running on this trailer ?

Bias or Radials? ( before the 13 on the tire itll have a d for bias or r for radial, if u arent sure bud )

And when u say wearing on the outside are they a smooth wear or looks choppy like some one took a hatchet to the outter treads?