Need Help on uneven trailer tire wear

We recently had both axles replaced on our bumper pull, we're very pleased with the improvements and the tires are not showing uneven wear. We upgraded to 5200 pound axles from 4500.

Carlisle tires? Not a brand that I would choose, but it's your money.

We've been very pleased the the Maxis brand.

I'm in the bent axle or axle out of alignment crowd.

HI, I got my estimate from the Saturn Industries trailer / fabrication repair shop here in Winnipeg, both axles are bent, the front one more so.

They recommended that I go with two new #3500 pound Flex-ride axles
http://www.ucfamerica.com/flexfull.html because of the replaceable spindles.

I will also put on four new Carlisle ST205R14 tires, the tires are rated at 1760# each. I will use my existing electric brake drums.

We talked about going to 15" tires but Saturn said to stay with the 14" and see how things work out.

Project cost $2000 plus tax.

My all up weight is 5400# which is at the current sticker of 5450#.

Hi, thanks to all for your replies,it has helped me to decide to take my travel trailer to an outfit called Saturn Trailers, a couple of miles north of me, they built utility and construction type trailers and do trailer repairs.

I do have torsion axles, Al-Ko

Im suspecting I have bent or fatigued axles and an alignment problem, I recall a buddy who was following me said my trailer tracked a bit off, since my trips were short 100 miles one way, the wear seemed some what even.
This Sunday's return trip from Oshkosh of almost 800 miles really wore on the tires, time to get this checked out and fixed.

Thinking I'll need two new axles, we'll see, if I do I'll go with heavier axles, 3500# than the current 2500#.

thanks - ken

Can you confrim if they are torsion axles or leaf springs? By the closeness of the axle spindle to the frame, it looks torsion.

I agree, all 4 tires are wearing on the inside.

Over weight was listed as a possible and yes, this can do it. If they are 2,500# axles, then each tire location can only be 1,250#. In a cargo trailer off center loading may overload 1 tire while the whole trailer is not overloaded. Do you have axles weights or better, wheel weights?

Thrust angle can cause this too. Means the front axle is not true to the tow ball. (axle spindles not square to center of camper) This causes a thrust angle to the road and grinds up rubber. Most times this is caused by being mounted wrong on day one. Yes it happens more then ones thinks. Then the rear axle can be out of parallel to the front.

Lose of camber can cause this. This can be checked with a level on the wheel on level ground. The top of the tire should be pointing outward over the bottom. If the top is inward then the bottom, then you have negative camber = bad. Need to confrim torsion axle or leaf spring to know how to guide out on the check the axle

If this trailer has a real lot of miles on it, and it is a torsion axle, they have been known in some case to wear the pivot arm bushing setup and that shifts the axle spindle alignment.

Question, when you tow, is the trailer level, nose low or nose high and how high is the tow ball coupler from level? Towing a lot of unlevel on torsion axles can create a higher load on the front or rear axle.

If you want to drill into measuring the wheels for alignment yourself and you have a hard flat surface driveway, some tools and time, this can be done. Let me know I'll show you how.

Hope this helps and good luck

John

The answer would be simple for me. Get it to a reputable trailer shop and have it fixed. Probably just alignment.

All four tires show inside wear which can indicate a bent axle or worn suspension parts. Out of balance conditions are rare on a trailer but if that was the case both sides of the tire would show cupping issues all around the tire.

Marginal bent axles.

Sure looks like bent axle type wear.

1. axle out of alignment or bent.
2. tire out of balance.
3. uneven weight distribution (but I doubt it since the other tire on that side is not showing that amount of ware.)