Forum Discussion

KimandChris's avatar
KimandChris
Explorer
Sep 19, 2017

Help with tire wear

I have an AF 1140 with a 48 inch Torklift Superhitch/truss system to pull a 7x12 tandem axle cargo trailer. Also use a wd hitch. The trailer sits just slightly nose high when parked on a level surface. Here is the best pic I could find:



I am getting wear on the outside of the tires on the front axle. Passenger side is worse but also happening on driver side. My thought is a bent axle. With the odd(for everybody but people in this forum) setup I am wondering if maybe it is a combination of the heavy TC/long extension/wd hitch. I know I use much of my suspension travel going over bumps on the highway. No bottoming but my guess is the deeper into the suspension the truck goes the more the WD hitch is removing weight from rear axle of truck and front axle of trailer.

Any thoughts on what to do?
Truck Campers
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Sep 19, 2017
    Front axle of the truck or the trailer?

    If the trailer, lower the hitch head so it tows level.

    If the truck, you're way light on the front.
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Sep 19, 2017
    The truck camper puts almost all the weight on the rear axle of the truck. It adds almost insignificant weight on the front axle. Your trailer's weight distribution system will add at most a minimal amount of weight on the front axle of the truck. Some of the redistributed weight is put on the trailer's axles as well. You should look at alignment issues first. Best to take the combination to the scales and determine what the axle weights really are and take it from there.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Sep 19, 2017
    Think I'd get it aligned and have the toe and caster and camber checked with the camper on the truck.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Sep 19, 2017
    If he is, the axles aren't running at 90 degrees to the frame, or one side is bent or if torsion ride (rubber ride), the end is shot. They are replaceable, at least Dexters are.
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Sep 19, 2017
    I think he is referring to the front tire wear on the truck. It would help if the OP clarified which axle and tires.
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Sep 19, 2017
    You need to drop the hitch height on your extension so the trailer rides slightly nose down. Currently, you are biasing the rear trailer axle more and getting tire scrub and roll on the front axle on every turn.
  • brholt's avatar
    brholt
    Explorer II
    Sep 19, 2017
    If referring to the truck this came up in a previous thread. A number of people had this problem and it didn't seem to be easily tied to alignment (at least unloaded). I looked at my trucks front tires and found the same thing (AF350, DRW F350). My solution is what,others had done, I had the tires flipped on their rims.

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