uneven trailer tire wear

[hemiguy]

I have a 16', 7000# tandem axle car hauler style trailer that I use to haul my JD2520 with FEL and BH which weighs about 4000#. The trailer weighs about 2200# empty so I know I'm not overloaded. I've had the trailer about 3 1/2 years and it seems to always pull fine behind my Ram 1500. It probably goes out an average of 1 or 2 days a week through spring/summer/fall.

Here's my problem: I bought a (brand new) spare tire for the trailer early last year and within 2 weeks of buying it, sure enough I nicked a curb and took a couple of chunks of rubber out of the side wall of the right front. It didn't loose air but the next day I figured I should swap it with the spare which I did. Oddly the tire I took off was almost bald but, like i said still holds air so OK as a spare. Now here we are barely 1 1/2 years later and that (new) spare I put on the right front is also now bald!!

The odd thing here is that the other 3 original tires all seem to be wearing evenly and still have good tread left. The 4 original tires are Carlisle Sure Trail ST, 205/75-D15. The now bald spare is a Mastercraft. I always keep 50 psi in all 4 tires. I jacked up both sides of the trailer and all bearings/brakes seem fine. So what gives? Bent axle maybe? Do I need to check the alignment of the axles/springs?

Any help/advice appreciated.

 

[Skyco]

The one wearing the most either has to be out of alignment or the brake on that one is working much harder than the others. I've had some trouble getting brakes balanced on my trailers so they all do equal work. What I've done is after heavy brake use I shoot all the hubs with an IR temp gun. If one is much hotter or cooler than the others then it needs adjustment to match the other three.

 

[Egon]

Cheer up Hemiguy. I have the same situation on my trailer but do not put enough miles on it for tire wear to really show up quickly.

Mine is the result of a bent axle. Mine has been overloaded and has been over some rough roads.

When funds become available the axle will have to be changed out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree with these guys. I am a trailer dealer, boat trailers, but still relevant. You have a miss aligned axle, bent axle, bent spindle, bad bearings, bad brake, bent hub, or some bent rims. The first thing I would do is what you have already done, check the bearings. You really need to take it to a tire shop and have all 5 tires spun balanced. You can then take it to a spring shop if the problem remains. When I say spring shop I am talking about a heavy equipment shop that works on things like school buses and dump trucks and have things check out.

Chris

 

[ampsucker]

a simple thing to check is the tightness of the pivot points on the tandem axle pivot where the two springs connect. if that was overtightened when manufactured, it will force one tire to always be carrying more weight than the other. it should be snug, but not overtight to the point the two tandem axles on both sides can move evenly over rought terrain and pivot freely.

a good spray lube will help keep things moving freely on all the spring mounts when the bolts are torqued properly.

another possibility is a factory defect on the tire. trailer tires get much less quality control than automotive tires.

amp

 

[akajun]

My bet is that when you hit the curb, you bent the spindle or axle.

 

[MFRED]

I agree with the bent axle. Proably right where the spindle meets the tube.

 

[SCOOBY14B]

How do you adjust the brakes? I've got a Horton enclosed tandem and the rear axle is hotter than the front.

FYI: I just had that axle replaced by the manufacturer as it was bent from the factory.

 

[Egon]

If its the same type as the Dexter drum brakes there should be a rubber plug that can be removed on the bottom inside of the fixed portion of the brake housing. Inside there will be a notched wheel that can be turned for adjusting the brakes. I can never remember which direction to go and usually pick the wrong one on the first try. There is a special built little wrench for this adjustment but a screwdriver works well.

Do a Google and you should be able to find lots of pictures which will illustrate.

Southwest Wheel Company - 8k Dexter Electric Brake

# 15 should be the adjuster.

 

[Renze]

My bet is that when you hit the curb, you bent the spindle or axle.

Also my thought. My father hit a curb on a small bridge on a farm road with our 2 ton horse trailer. Not wanting to pay 300 Euro for a new 1 ton torsion axle with brakes (at that time i worked at a trailer manufacturer, but consumer price is about 500 Euro) i tied it to a 6 ton pig feed silo, and had our 4 ton weighing 5245 spinning all 4 tires on the pavement, to re-align it.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/126302-re-setting-torsion-axle.html

It isnt perfect, but it doesnt eat any tires anymore. The new tire will hold up untill we want to trade up for a brand new one, in 5 years.