trailer tire/axle alignment

I don't consider bent axles a maintainence item.
If the axles are bending without a catastrophic event such as a crash, or being substantially overloaded, then they are not heavy enough for the job.
I would install larger ones...If something is not working to my satisfaction,,,, I don't keep doing the same thing over and over.
I upgrade equipment until I get satisfactory performance under my use.
That's just the way I roll.:B

YMMV

I agree a properly equipped trailer should be able to handle rough roads. However after encountering many miles of rough roads, it might seem reasonable that some maintenance might be needed.

This posters experiences on these very rough highways stands to reason that suspension components and axles, wheels have developed some wear/fatigue, or need some adjustment .

While the OP reports the trailer not being overweight. Many miles of SEVERE bouncing, with a trailer loaded up to capacity, could have as much the same effect as being overloaded.

Vulcaneer wrote:
you all may want to read this

Probably why new axles needed?

I saw that previously. IMO, this is nothing that a properly equipped TT shouldn't be able to handle. Not all TTs are pavement queens.
Nor should they be.
Every trip I go on involves many miles off the pavement on rough roads...It is a camping trip, not a motel trip!:B

you all may want to read this

Probably why new axles needed?

I asked yesterday and the OP never responded, so I can't give a more specific answer without all the pertinent info. I'll bet they are leaf springs, but rubber torsion axles are also very popular.

69 Avion wrote:
Unless I missed it, the OP never stated what kind of axle suspension that he had. I think everyone was assuming he had leaf spring axles.

OK. Guilty as charged.

But it is a pretty safe bet.:B

Unless I missed it, the OP never stated what kind of axle suspension that he had. I think everyone was assuming he had leaf spring axles.

mosseater wrote:
As you sound like you know what you're talking about, I assume you understand there is a locating pin which allows very little movement of the axle independant of the perch. Where the spring meets the shackle, so follows the axle within +/- 1/16" per perch. And that's before you retighten the u-bolts. Creep is sure to follow, given manufacturing tolerances. Nothing Lippert makes will ever fly on the shuttle. Just an observation..

When my axle was 3/8" out of parallel...after having springs replaced...the alignment shop was able to move one end of the axle back 3/16", and the other end forward by 3/16". I remember commenting to the tech, "I am surprised you have enough clearance on the locating pin to make that much of a change." He said, Oh yeah there is plenty of clearance. Those holes are quite a bit oversized around the pins. They have to be for making accurate adjustments needed due to the stack up of tolerance when everything is mounted up in manufacturing." Maybe my trailer was different than most. But his reasoning made good sense to me.

I assume the OP's original axles were located correctly at one point. But at some point, for some reason, he needed them replaced. And they did not replace them in the exact same position. So a simple adjustment could be made to get them to that original location.

My line of thinking is that if all was right at first, there should be no need to cut and re-locate spring hangers now. UNLESS his spring hangers were somehow damaged over time.

He can do all the measuring he wants to. But he knows his tires are not wearing evenly. So he knows he has a problem. He also knows he has had new axles installed. And he knows they did not align them. I see no reason, to expect the spring hangers are mis-located. They could be. But I would be concerned if he has them relocated, then he might find the problem gets worse. Because then all he knows is his spring hangers are in the right place. But has no idea where his wheels are located, in relation to his ball socket. And it is that location that gives you tire wear. Along with off camber position. All other component measurements are for reference only.

Unless I missed it, I don't recall the age or general condition of the OP's trailer. Could be some things we don't know about.

You can do a quick check yourself. Just crawl under the TT, have someone hold a tape measure at a point on the coupler. Measure the front spring hanger on both sides of the TT, taking care to measure the same place on each hanger. You're creating a triangle with two equal sides. Then if they are the same, hook the tape on each front hanger and measure to the equalizer hanger then to the rear hanger. If anything seems out of the ordinary then the hangers need moved. If not them it's more than likely a bent axles. Your axles are attached to the springs in a predetermined location and can only be moved slightly, not enough to warrant alignment. The axle hangers have to be exact as the you can't move the axles on the springs enough to change anything. Your axles need to be squared to the front coupler as that is the point where the equal sided triangle starts. When alignment shops set your TT up for axle bending they set their lasers up with the starting point off the coupler.

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