Help solving tire wear pattern please

I know I'm late to this. Just looking at the photo, it almost looks like the axle is bent. Axles have a factory set camber in them and the axle should be slightly higher in the middle compared to the outer ends of the axles. Easy to check with a straightedge or string line. Might even be obvious just by looking. If an axle is bent, they are surprising inexpensive to buy and installing a new one would be better than trying to get one re-cambered. You might consider getting a higher rated axle too.

As mentioned, worn suspension parts can cause that wear - worn bushings, worn shackles, spring hangers bent to one side, springs have partially collapsed. The cheap plastic bushings they use can wear out in just the trip from the factory to the dealer. Get a pair of good equalizers (Dexter or Mor/Ryde) and wet bolts or at a min. the Never-fail bushings.

If those are 5 year old tires, it's getting to around the time to think about replacing them based on age.

Thanks again. Since we leave tomorrow on a 700 mile round trip, I switched it with the right rear and will keep an eye on things. When we return I'll look for a shop that can handle trailer alignment as I can't see anything obvious.

I had the same situation except I could visibly see the wheel was off vertical. I took the TT to a local heavy-duty frame shop and they were able to bend it back in place. And they corrected the toe and thrust angle on both axles.

Thank you all for the possibilities. I'll look into them.

I agree on starting with a wet bolt kit and neoprene bushings. Then get it to a frame shop for an alignment and you should be good to go. Some trailers come with wet bolts and the rest need them in my opinion.

I had the same problem and my back rear tire looked exactly the same as yours and a Goodyear Marathon also.
My problem was a bent axle and it happened twice, once the axle was straightened properly after the second time I have not had a problem at all with this type of wearing. The only cause that I could come up with for the bent axle was that it was the way that we had to back our 5er into our parking area beside our house which required a sharp drivers side back in over a roll over curb into our parking area.
Try checking your back axle it possibly could be bent as mine was.

Since it's only the one tire exhibiting the problem, possibly the end of the axle tube may be bent up. That would cause the tire to have negative camber and wear on the inside edge. The tire could have hit a curb or dropped hard off a curb or something that bent the axle tube.

Your trailer isn't all that old but it seems you put some miles on it. It has been my experience that when the suspension gets sloppy from worn bushings the tires get some funny wear like you are experiencing. If you have those cheap nylon bushings, they will not last a couple of seasons. If you get a lot of popping and cracking while backing and turning, that is a good indicator. Replace those plastic bushing with something bronze and the hangers with heavy duty ones. Dexter has heavy duty kits and they aren't overly expensive. There are kits available for the Moryde as well.

As far as alignments go, you need to have the suspension system in good shape before you attempt an alignment. Most RV dealers etc. are not equipped to handle such a task. You need to find a Truck Trailer place. As in Semi Truck. You'll feel like and will be a light weight but they will do ya. Not overly expensive either.

I think you will find that rebuilding your suspension will cure most of your problems. If you are really handy, you can do it yourself.

I would take the tire off the rim, turn it inside out, then watch it again. Likely something has caused the wheel not to be flat. Broken spring, shackle, lots of reasons. Take it over a scale and weigh each wheel if you can.

drmopar wrote:
Axle out of alignment.

+1 but fixable.