bent trailer axle

[rbrau]

I just put my boat on a new "used" trailer and bent the axle while trailering it down the road. While making adjustments to the trailer before loading the boat I never thought about repositioning the axle. When I got home and unhooked the trailer the back of the boat and trailer went straight down to the ground. It took my 200lbs on the front of the boat to get it back down and level to the ground. The trailer was (in my opinion) in excellent shape. It's a continental aluminum single axle trailer that according to the original owner was only used 4 times and it looked it. My boat is a 18 foot hydrasport cc with a evenrude 150 and a 45 gallon gas tank (should weigh in around 2500lbs). The trailer could handle a 20 or 22 footer so its plenty strong enough for my boat. My question is; would the improper positioning of the axle cause it to bend (right side of trailer just behind hub) or is it just time to replace the axle. The axle seemed to be in excellent shape, not one spec of rust on it...

 

[wire2]

Re: bent trailer axle

How did you bend an axle by towing???
Did you hit a big pothole or something on road?
Just having it too far forward or back won't bend it.

The negative tongue weight implies the boat sits way too far back on the trailer. Can you move the bow winch post ahead and still have rollers supporting the transom? Or is it on bunks?

 

[rndn]

Re: bent trailer axle

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like something odd happened as just by placing the boat on the trailer and going down the road should not have done what you stated. Is it possible it was like that first and because it didn't have any weight on it you didn't notice it? As mentioned above the tongue weight should be about 8-10% of the load so the boat needs to be moved forward quite a bit. Axle's really never need to be replaced unless they have been abused or damaged in some way. Rusted through, overloaded, poor maintenance , etc. If you really only towed the boat and did not hit anything then something was wrong when you bought it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: bent trailer axle

What size tires does this trailer have? There should also be a sticker on the frame that indicates what the load rating is with the various tire sizes. Axles are normally mounted on a sub frame that can be slide forward or backward to adjust tongue weight. If the spring perches are welded to the frame rather than a moveable sub frame, moving the winch post is the only option. It may be this trailer was custom built for a specific boat and is not adjustable.

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

You guys are great, thank you for your help. In regards to your questions the boat is on bunks. I moved the bow winch back 36 inches so that my boat would sit right on the trailer but I didn't know about moving the axle back to compensate for the negative tongue weight. When I bought the trailer it came with a 19' boat and a 120hp outboard. I just wanted the trailer and junked the boat and motor. I pulled that boat a total of about 80 miles or so without any problems. When I inspected the trailer I took a good look at all the components including the axle and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary (doesn't mean that I didn't miss something). The tires are 14's or 15's and rated for 1750lbs on each side. The axel is monted on a sliding subframe which I can and intend to move into proper position now that I know about tongue weight. When I put my boat on the trailer I towed it about 4 miles. I never hit anything or ran over any pot holes. I spent two hours today lifting the boat and removing the axel (in the rain of course). As I said before, the axel looks great not a speck of rust I would go as far as saying that it looks new although I know its not. I just don't know why it bent. I hope it wasen't my fault for not moving the axle back... at least that would make me feel better. I'm taking the axle to the trailer place tomorrow to see what they have to say. I will keep you posted. Thank you...

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

What size tires does this trailer have? There should also be a sticker on the frame that indicates what the load rating is with the various tire sizes. Axles are normally mounted on a sub frame that can be slide forward or backward to adjust tongue weight. If the spring perches are welded to the frame rather than a moveable sub frame, moving the winch post is the only option. It may be this trailer was custom built for a specific boat and is not adjustable.

14's or 15's rated fir 1750 on each side. The axle is mounted on a sliding frame. I didn't know about adjusting it untill it was too late. do you think that is what my problem was. I took the axle off today. It's in great shape. looks new.

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

How did you bend an axle by towing???
Did you hit a big pothole or something on road?
Just having it too far forward or back won't bend it.

The negative tongue weight implies the boat sits way too far back on the trailer. Can you move the bow winch post ahead and still have rollers supporting the transom? Or is it on bunks?

I didnt hit anything that i know off. I moved the bow winch back 36 inches from where it was originally since my boat is a little smaller than what was on it before. I didnt know about negative tongue weight and never moved the axle back to compensate. the boat is on bunks. I think I have to move the bow winch forward about 12 inches and the axel back to get it right. I'm just wondering if my mistake caused the axle to bend.

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like something odd happened as just by placing the boat on the trailer and going down the road should not have done what you stated. Is it possible it was like that first and because it didn't have any weight on it you didn't notice it? As mentioned above the tongue weight should be about 8-10% of the load so the boat needs to be moved forward quite a bit. Axle's really never need to be replaced unless they have been abused or damaged in some way. Rusted through, overloaded, poor maintenance , etc. If you really only towed the boat and did not hit anything then something was wrong when you bought it.

You guys are great, thank you for your help. In regards to your questions the boat is on bunks. I moved the bow winch back 36 inches so that my boat would sit right on the trailer but I didn't know about moving the axle back to compensate for the negative tongue weight. When I bought the trailer it came with a 19' boat and a 120hp outboard. I just wanted the trailer and junked the boat and motor. I pulled that boat a total of about 80 miles or so without any problems. When I inspected the trailer I took a good look at all the components including the axle and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary (doesn't mean that I didn't miss something). The tires are 14's or 15's and rated for 1750lbs on each side. The axel is monted on a sliding subframe which I can and intend to move into proper position now that I know about tongue weight. When I put my boat on the trailer I towed it about 4 miles. I never hit anything or ran over any pot holes. I spent two hours today lifting the boat and removing the axel (in the rain of course). As I said before, the axel looks great not a speck of rust I would go as far as saying that it looks new although I know its not. I just don't know why it bent. I hope it wasen't my fault for not moving the axle back... at least that would make me feel better. I'm taking the axle to the trailer place tomorrow to see what they have to say. I will keep you posted. Thank you...

 

[wire2]

Re: bent trailer axle

No, having the axle in the wrong place would not bend it. Since you didn't hit anything on the road, it was already bent when you got it.
If you go any distance with it like that, it will wear the tire(s) fast.

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

No, having the axle in the wrong place would not bend it. Since you didn't hit anything on the road, it was already bent when you got it.
If you go any distance with it like that, it will wear the tire(s) fast.

i ended up having to get a new one. The guy at the trailer place said it rusted from the inside. guess it was just time to replace it. Thanks for all the info...

 

[srothfuss]

Re: bent trailer axle

Sounds like a good thing you replaced the axle if it was rusted on the inside enough to cause it to bend. Who knows what would have happend if you were driving down the highway with your boat and the entire hub went flying off the trailer.

 

[Rusty Boater]

Re: bent trailer axle

I have seen trailers where people smoked a hub and they cut it off and "pressed" and not welded a new spindle on it and when the trailer got loaded; clink...

 

[jeeperman]

Re: bent trailer axle

It seems severe that you had to move the winch stand back 36" to work with a boat that is only 12" shorter than the previous boat.
Of course it could be required due to bow design and height but 36" seems like a huge difference.

Is the transom of your boat in the same spot as the transom of the old boat?
Or even with the bunk ends?

 

[wire2]

Re: bent trailer axle

i ended up having to get a new one. The guy at the trailer place said it rusted from the inside. guess it was just time to replace it. Thanks for all the info...

Ok. That's something I wouldn't have expected, as It seemed to be in good condition, "...was only used 4 times and it looked it..."

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

im probably going to move the winch stand back in the direction it came from about 12 inches which will put the transom about even with the bunks. i already installed new axle, springs, and bearings which took care of my little axle problem. I still have to move the axle back a little though.

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

It seems severe that you had to move the winch stand back 36" to work with a boat that is only 12" shorter than the previous boat.
Of course it could be required due to bow design and height but 36" seems like a huge difference.

Is the transom of your boat in the same spot as the transom of the old boat?
Or even with the bunk ends?

im probably going to move the winch stand back in the direction it came from about 12 inches which will put the transom about even with the bunks. i already installed new axle, springs, and bearings which took care of my little axle problem. I still have to move the axle back a little though.

 

[rbrau]

Re: bent trailer axle

Sounds like a good thing you replaced the axle if it was rusted on the inside enough to cause it to bend. Who knows what would have happend if you were driving down the highway with your boat and the entire hub went flying off the trailer.

yeah, that would not be a good thing. im just glad that i noticed it while i was dropping kids off at thier grandparents house...

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: bent trailer axle

Hmmm..... No rust on the outside, but on the inside.... Odd. I'd of bet it hit somethin or hit a pothole.... Usually rust on inside means rusty outside unless it was cosmetically covered?......Just seems weird that it could bend under normal driving conditions with no hard or abrupt hits/potholes....

On the other hand,

I'm worried about mine being over stessed. The boat weighs 8k. The trailer may or may not have 2 3500s. If that is the base, I want to change them, they just dont look healthy (wheels lean).... so , What did your axle cost you?

Did you buy new hubs or just the axle?