Crooked Trailer Tire? Bent Axle?

Goldsmithnb

Cadet
Joined
Apr 22, 2013
Messages
12
I think the axle is bent on my trailer. I had a blowout on the passenger side at 65 mph on the highway...drove for a hundred yards to get off the road on a shredded tire. Ever since then, the driver side has been "crooked" (toe out, if i understand the terminology?). I have been reading about this but want to get some opinions on here.

Safe to drive? Need a new axle?
 

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rallyart

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 7, 2008
Messages
1,188
An alignment shop will often 'bend' a trailer axle to get the tire in to spec. It is hard to tell from the picture but I am assuming that it is taken from the front looking back. Is the tire feathered? That is, are one edge of the tire tread ribs wearing quickly and the other edge seems flared up. It looks like the outside edge of the ribs in the photo are worn more, but I might be mistaken. If so then it has toe in. Run a tape measure across the front from the center rib on one side to the center rib on the other. Do the same with the back. If the front is a shorter distance than the back you have toe in. Camber can also be affected. That is the tilt of the tire.

Any alignment problem will wear tires quickly and increase the chance of a blowout. If you have toe out you are towing an unstable trailer and it is more dangerous and unpredictable. The cost of an alignment is less than the cost of replacing an axle and less than the cost of new tires. If the axle has other problems too, then replacement might be a good idea.
 

SOG3

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 24, 2015
Messages
78
The spindle appears to be partially broke away from the axle ,possibly bad weld .
 

SOG3

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Aug 24, 2015
Messages
78
Just noticed you have a torsion axle if I'm not mistaken ,and the rubber may be worn.
 

jimmbo

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 24, 2004
Messages
13,695
Your bend seems to be here. SOG3 may have got it image_269279a.png
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
Sure looks like the spindle is coming loose from the axle. I would have the looked at and fixed before doing any more trailering with a boat. I would also check and repack the wheel bearings on both side too! JMHO
 
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