Drift Boat Trailer Help

[kjox21]

Hey guys, 

I bought a used drift boat this spring and have put around 2k miles on the trailer and last week I noticed something odd. Both tires have a section of the tire on the inner half that is wearing different than the rest of the tire. Meaning its more bald

I took it to a shop and they said my axel was bent/twisted due to the boat riding too far back on the trailer causing not enough  weight. So when I was going over bumps and roads the bot wasn't centered over the axel. 

I had a buddy say that doesn't sound right. Can anyone confirm if this is a likely cause. Thanks!

Kyle

[doitall5000]

Can you tell how much  weight it has? What size are the tires? What is the axle shaft made of? Sorry for the emoji not my doing.

[Gone Forever]

I don't know about positioning of the boat on the trailer but it should be placed so that the weight is within ratings. The weight on the is what makes the trailer tow straight. To much or to little (little is worse) and the trailer will swing back and forth.

As far as the axle being bent, it happens, more than you think. Put a straight edge on it and see for yourself. The tire wear is indicative of a bent axle.
Use a piece of string for the straight edge. Have someone hold one end at one end of the axle and you hold the other. Work your way around the axle and at some point the string will be away from the bend and opposite that it will touch.

If you use a 1" block on the ends to hold the string 1" away from the axle, at one point it will be farther than 1" and one point be closer. Measuring the difference from the block thickness will tell you how bent it is.

Replacing an axle is not that hard and not as expensive as you may be thinking. State Trailer Supply or better yet, Henderson wheel and trailer supply.

[wiperhunter2]

Hey guys, 

I bought a used drift boat this spring and have put around 2k miles on the trailer and last week I noticed something odd. Both tires have a section of the tire on the inner half that is wearing different than the rest of the tire. Meaning its more bald

I took it to a shop and they said my axel was bent/twisted due to the boat riding too far back on the trailer causing not enough  weight. So when I was going over bumps and roads the bot wasn't centered over the axel. 

I had a buddy say that doesn't sound right. Can anyone confirm if this is a likely cause. Thanks!

Kyle

Trailers come for the factory like that all the time. They are not like a car where they can be aligned easily, so IMO they get them close at the factory but not perfect but it's rare to get a boat trailer that doesn't wear a little unevenly, at least on one side. Instead of replacing it, just take it down to an boat trailer alignment shop and have it aligned. Not all alignment shops do it though because it requires bending the axle.

[PAC12_AfterDark]

Quick question of clarification - is this this what you are seeing or somthing else?

[Gone Forever]

My dad and I have straightened (aligned) them before. First you have to do as I said above and mark where the bend is and which way it's bent. Then you have to have an anchor point or 2 to chain the axle into place on.
Then using a floor or bottle jack you jack the bent point until the axle is straight. DO NOT APPLY HEAT, as this will weaken the axle and it will bend again.

This is where shops have the advantage. They can put the trailer on a rack and chain it into place much easier than having no rack is. My dad had a big eye bolt cemented into the floor of the garage. I cannot tell you the number of times I wanted to cut that thing off after having tripped over it, but we promised ourselves we never would, as long as it held when we needed it. Made the garage like a giant press if you used it right.

[kjox21]

Quick question of clarification - is this this what you are seeing or somthing else?

No the wear is just on one part of the tire, meaning there is a section about the size of a softball that has more wear than the rest of the tire. It's not the entire inside of the tire as your picture shows.

---

Thanks for all the input! I'm glad the trailer shop I took it to wasn't trying to gouge me. It does sound like its going to take $400 to fix, plus I'll need to buy new tires.

A good learning experience for sure. Really appreciate everyone's expertise!

[PAC12_AfterDark]

Ok understood, I cant see how that would be caused by axle alignment?

It sounds more like a one time rub that gouged it? Can some one explain if I have this wrong?

[Kent]

It has been my experience that often they don't balance trailer tires. I would think that is something that should be checked out if you have a tire/wheel that needs to be balanced.

[lifeshort]

Even with a new axle you may have alignment problems. I had a boat trailer wearing tires weird and someone recommended these folks to me. They align trailer tires from small utility all the way up to semis. They are fair priced and will explain the problems to you. I had a problem with a 3 place atv trailer. Took it to them they hooked it up yo their computer, bent the axle to the right shape. Put on new tires problem solved.
Alignment Specialists
2141 S 1260 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 · ~7 mi


(801) 972-1105

[kjox21]

Even with a new axle you may have alignment problems. I had a boat trailer wearing tires weird and someone recommended these folks to me. They align trailer tires from small utility all the way up to semis. They are fair priced and will explain the problems to you. I had a problem with a 3 place atv trailer. Took it to them they hooked it up yo their computer, bent the axle to the right shape. Put on new tires problem solved.
Alignment Specialists
2141 S 1260 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 · ~7 mi


(801) 972-1105

Thanks a ton! I actually took it to Williamson Ocean and they did the same thing. It wasn't cheap though, $600 for everything. 

How much were your situations? If you don't mind sharing of course. I'll look into them next time, maybe get two bids

Kyle

[up2nogood]

Even with a new axle you may have alignment problems. I had a boat trailer wearing tires weird and someone recommended these folks to me. They align trailer tires from small utility all the way up to semis. They are fair priced and will explain the problems to you. I had a problem with a 3 place atv trailer. Took it to them they hooked it up yo their computer, bent the axle to the right shape. Put on new tires problem solved.
Alignment Specialists
2141 S 1260 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 · ~7 mi


(801) 972-1105

You beat me to it, yes Alignment Specialists. Have seen tire wear the same because of alignment . Would be the first thing I would do, before anything else. Friends Montana fifth wheel did the same thing when it was new, nearly wore the tires right off in a few miles, took it to them ,they aligned the axles ,and his tire troubles were gone.

---

Even with a new axle you may have alignment problems. I had a boat trailer wearing tires weird and someone recommended these folks to me. They align trailer tires from small utility all the way up to semis. They are fair priced and will explain the problems to you. I had a problem with a 3 place atv trailer. Took it to them they hooked it up yo their computer, bent the axle to the right shape. Put on new tires problem solved.
Alignment Specialists
2141 S 1260 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 · ~7 mi


(801) 972-1105

Thanks a ton! I actually took it to Williamson Ocean and they did the same thing. It wasn't cheap though, $600 for everything. 

How much were your situations? If you don't mind sharing of course. I'll look into them next time, maybe get two bids

Kyle

The cost would have been a fraction of that if it was two tires ,and just alignment . What did they do for $600.

[lifeshort]

Even with a new axle you may have alignment problems. I had a boat trailer wearing tires weird and someone recommended these folks to me. They align trailer tires from small utility all the way up to semis. They are fair priced and will explain the problems to you. I had a problem with a 3 place atv trailer. Took it to them they hooked it up yo their computer, bent the axle to the right shape. Put on new tires problem solved.
Alignment Specialists
2141 S 1260 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 · ~7 mi


(801) 972-1105

Thanks a ton! I actually took it to Williamson Ocean and they did the same thing. It wasn't cheap though, $600 for everything. 

How much were your situations? If you don't mind sharing of course. I'll look into them next time, maybe get two bids

Kyle

If my memory serves me right it was just under $100 to align the single axle

[Coldfooter]

often its caused by bad balance, i dont think its the case here,, or due to the tire separating/coming apart.

[kjox21]

Even with a new axle you may have alignment problems. I had a boat trailer wearing tires weird and someone recommended these folks to me. They align trailer tires from small utility all the way up to semis. They are fair priced and will explain the problems to you. I had a problem with a 3 place atv trailer. Took it to them they hooked it up yo their computer, bent the axle to the right shape. Put on new tires problem solved.
Alignment Specialists
2141 S 1260 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 · ~7 mi


(801) 972-1105

You beat me to it, yes Alignment Specialists. Have seen tire wear the same because of alignment . Would be the first thing I would do, before anything else. Friends Montana fifth wheel did the same thing when it was new, nearly wore the tires right off in a few miles, took it to them ,they aligned the axles ,and his tire troubles were gone.

---

Even with a new axle you may have alignment problems. I had a boat trailer wearing tires weird and someone recommended these folks to me. They align trailer tires from small utility all the way up to semis. They are fair priced and will explain the problems to you. I had a problem with a 3 place atv trailer. Took it to them they hooked it up yo their computer, bent the axle to the right shape. Put on new tires problem solved.
Alignment Specialists
2141 S 1260 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 · ~7 mi


(801) 972-1105

Thanks a ton! I actually took it to Williamson Ocean and they did the same thing. It wasn't cheap though, $600 for everything. 

How much were your situations? If you don't mind sharing of course. I'll look into them next time, maybe get two bids

Kyle

The cost would have been a fraction of that if it was two tires ,and just alignment . What did they do for $600.

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They just had axel work on there pretty much. Sounds like I got fleeced, poor job not calling around to other shops I guess. Thanks for the input.