bearings? got any play? allowing hubs to squat under load
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I recently noticed that my trailer tires are wearing badly on the inside. I have a 2005 Lowe 180w with a Lowe trailer. I hadn't noticed them wearing on the inside until yesterday. One tire is almost bald and the other one has the steel belts showing through on the inside only, the rest of the tire is fine. The axle is steel tubing with the spindles welded on. I assumed the axle might be bent so I took the tires off and measured from the top of one spindle to the top of the other and then did the same thing on the bottom and both measurements came out the same. Just curious if anyone else has had this problem or what I might check to figure out the problem. Thanks
bearings? got any play? allowing hubs to squat under load
Still could be bent from front to back....or warped.
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I have had these problems with 1993 lowe trailer. Take two straight edges and two people one on each side, hold straight edges horizontal on outside of tire, measure front and rear? Mine were off so we jacked the trailer up and welded a bead on the long side near the spindle, let cool, set on ground and remeasure. Three beads and I was running straight again. Hope that helps.
Jerkey Log
I am having the same problem with my 2001 180w trailer could you explain a little bit better about the welding a bead on the long side near the spindle.I under stand about measuring but did not get where to weld a bead. Thanks Jim C.
Could also be that the trailer and boat aren't matched....the boat is too heavy for the trailer causing the the spindle/tires to lean towards the boat, causing the inside wear. Same thing could happen if the trailer was built to handle a heavier boat, but then the wear would be on the outside of tires. You might be able to have the axle bent a little more, but I'd suggest a trailer company do it. If everything is perfect, you should be able to put a level on the tires with the boat sitting on the trailer, and the tires should be either plumb, or slightly tilted away from boat.
What we did was weld a bead on the axle, mine are square, on the long side from top to bottom starting about an inch away from the spindle. I would think you could do the same with round by welding about 1/3 of the circumference of the axel. The heat from the weld will pull that side (front or back) in. I think each bead pulled it about 3/16". There is a guy in Raytown Mo that is good with these things, let me know if you want his info.
Yes you can take the axel off and use a press but it can be several guess's of off and on before you get it where it needs to be.
Jerkey Log thanks for the info i understand it now. Jim C.
Thanks for the help. Mine just recently started doing this and the trailer is 8 years old. Also mine doesn't have what I would call an axle. It has a piece of 1.5x3 square tubing that is bent from the factory then on the end of the tubing they have welded the spindles on. The measurements from the top of one spindle to the other match's the measurements on the bottom which should me the spindle isn't toed out. I looked at the tires a little closer and the bad one has the belts showing on the inside but if you roll it over there is still tread there. I'm gonna try new tires first and watch it close. If they start wearing on the inside ill have to take it to a shop and get it checked I guess.