trailer alignment.

[hdtramp]

I have a 2007 Bass Tracker boat with a Tracker Trailstar trailer under it. I noticed a small rumble while towing and am now seeing the tires cupping on the inside. I measured from the ball to each axle and from the axle to the back of the trailer beams and noticed there was a 7/16" difference. The axle is square and bolts to the leaf springs with u-bolts. I can't see any way to adjust it other than grinding off the leaf spring mounts and re-welding then on to straighten it out. Am I overlooking an easier way to straighten the trailer out? Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[batman99]

Re: trailer alignment.

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For good tire wear chart, surf: http://www.specialtytire.ca/info-trailerwear.html

As seen within above diagram, your trailer is either over loaded or the axle camber (bend) needs to be reset. Rest by a professional shop.

To view who chamber bending done at axle alignment shop with computer, surf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS0na5TsDws

Suggest taking your trailer to shop that does axle alignments. They will make it right using brute force & computers.

Hope this helps...

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: trailer alignment.

The rumbling is coming from the cupped tires or a bad bearing.
It is time to open it up.
The cupped tires will only get worse so new tires are in your future after you confirm the bearings are all in good condition.
How long has it been since you pulled the hubs and inspected the bearings?


A single axle trailer with an offset axle will not wear out the tires.
The trailer will just follow the truck off to one side.
If you look in both mirrors and notice the trailer is following more to ones side than the other that is the axle offset.
It is a cosmetic issue unless it is riding in the oncoming lane or over on the shoulder.

If you have not already noticed the trailer isn't following directly behind; the offset axel is not an issue.

A 7/16" error across an 8 ft axle is just a hair over 1/3 of a degree off.
With a hitch ball 10 feet ahead of the axle, this would cause the trailer to track just a little under 3/4 of an inch to one side.

The axle is not the problem!

 

[Bondo]

Re: trailer alignment.

The rumbling is coming from the cupped tires or a bad bearing.
It is time to open it up.
The cupped tires will only get worse so new tires are in your future after you confirm the bearings are all in good condition.
How long has it been since you pulled the hubs and inspected the bearings?


A single axle trailer with an offset axle will not wear out the tires.
The trailer will just follow the truck off to one side.
If you look in both mirrors and notice the trailer is following more to ones side than the other that is the axle offset.
It is a cosmetic issue unless it is riding in the oncoming lane or over on the shoulder.

If you have not already noticed the trailer isn't following directly behind; the offset axel is not an issue.

A 7/16" error across an 8 ft axle is just a hair over 1/3 of a degree off.
With a hitch ball 10 feet ahead of the axel, this would cause the trailer to track just a little under 3/4 of an inch to one side.

The axle is not the problem!

Ayuh,.... Agreed,.... unless it's bent, 'n the hub faces aren't parallel.....

 

[jestor68]

Re: trailer alignment.

The cupping could have been caused by one or both tires being out of balance, since trailer tires of that size are rarely balanced.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: trailer alignment.

and the 7/16 difference could easily be a spring eye bushing worn.

 

[joebob14]

Re: trailer alignment.

I would beleive the most common cause of the tires cupping on the inside would be worn bearings. once worn they would basicly cause the hubs to be loose allowing the tops of the tires to lean in towards eachother causing cupping on the inside of the tire. The only other cause of this cupping would be an overloaded trailer or bent axle but if the bearings are anything but new that is were I would start. The alignment on a single axle trailer would have nothing to do with tire wear only the position af the trailer behind your truck.