Utility Trailer Axle Alignment?

[Savage308]

Seriously? Build a bigger trailer! You must have well exceeded the max and the trailer no longer suits your needs. savage308 (just because it looks like you can haul whatever fit on or it doesn't mean you can)

[greatwhite]

I'm guessing I would probably have to slightly over load it or do you think the ATV would be heavy enough?

Yup, not too heavy or you'll bend it past straight. You could stick a bottle jack between the axel and the trailer, after you rotate the axel, and jack the axel straight, as long as the trailer bead is heavy duty enough, or with a load on the bed.

MC

[mastercaster]

I thing you should try it with the arch up, it might sit level once the trailer is loaded. If your tires are leaving out at the top (when loaded), that will be an indicator that the arch is too much. I don't think the ATV will be enough weight for doing the Jack thing. Just get your girlfriend to sit on it - LOL JK

MC

[greatwhite]

Maybe ATV, Wife and a GF (I will have to find one that will get along with the wife could be touch and go when I suggest that.).

I took a good look at the axle last night and also found the straps that hold the leafs together have fallen off and the springs are a bit separated so I need to fix that. The bow in the axle is more of a slight "U" shape shouldn't it be more of an upside down "U" shape. Never worked on fixing an axle before just replace. I might need to go ask my mechanic what he thinks kinda hard to describe online. I have a feeling he will tell me to go buy a new one.

I thing you should try it with the arch up, it might sit level once the trailer is loaded. If your tires are leaving out at the top (when loaded), that will be an indicator that the arch is too much. I don't think the ATV will be enough weight for doing the Jack thing. Just get your girlfriend to sit on it - LOL JK

MC

[seabast]

Just slack off the Ubolts and turn the axle? Then just load down heavy with firewood or something?

Yes, unless you have learned from your mistake, the next heavy load should straight it up. And when it has been bent once it doesn't take much to bent it the other way.
It's pretty easy to overload a trailer with firewood, sand or rock.... I bent mine when I went to get some sand to a place that sell by the load, not per weight (X$/load).

You might live too far away but a place like Cerka could build you a new custom axle for not too much and Mike is great to deal with: http://www.cerka.ca/

[greatwhite]

I will try and take some pics tonight see if I can show everyone. But the more I think about it that axle on sale for 119 at Princes might be worth it if it lines up perfect and bolts on if I don't need to do any modifications.

[greatwhite]

My tires on wearing on the inside and the tire sit akward looking.

find a dial indicator, and run it along the trailer, find the bent spot and put a jack under that spot, will need someting to hold the trailer down though, such as a tractor loader...

but as mentioned probably be cheaper just to throw a new axle under it... be a good time to upgrade to a 3500 lb axle to prevent it from bending again... take your measurements to a trailer shop and he will have the right size axle for you, dont rely on princess auto's sizes... if not he will size it for you... my guy did anyways...

how do you know its bent? ussually a bent axle you will pop bearings pretty fast on...

[greatwhite]

This is an example of what my trailer axle looks like.

Shouldn't the Bow being the opposite?

https://www.google.ca/search?q=my+trailer+axle+has+a+bow+in+it.&biw=1920 &bih=930&tbm=isch&imgil=gJ5JYU1r7adoMM%253A%253BfI bc3JwOPocD0M%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.rv. net%25252Fforum%25252Findex.cfm%25252Ffuseaction%2 5252Fthread%25252Ftid%25252F21609645%25252Fsrt%252 52Fpa%25252Fprint%25252Ftrue%25252Fpging%25252F1%2 5252Fpage%25252F31.cfm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=gJ5JYU1r 7adoMM%253A%252CfIbc3JwOPocD0M%252C_&usg=__HJjt6wl kWhhMRn10Koz0T-vLfgM%3D#tbm=isch&tbs=rimg%3ACRupd_12DT9Y9Ijj_1-G16O4c5zICeSWFNa-2nk3Y6ZbJ04CzBm_1I2LcCBFtQSj_1h-NuWjXuzq5Jb8qTXwTRxnCYWJtCoSCf_14bXo7hznMEQ2xBVYNk 2lZKhIJgJ5JYU1r7acRtCbvHwoMEqAqEgmTdjplsnTgLBF8htz cnA4-hyoSCcGb8jYtwIEWEWDEAAD1US4DKhIJ1BKP-H425aMRDf4bgnWBO5IqEgle7OrklvypNRFl-XdH3KphECoSCfBNHGcJhYm0EUxkM9MyS_1B9&q=my%20traile r%20axle%20has%20a%20bow%20in%20it.&imgrc=8E0cZwmF ibRtGM%253A%3BTGQz0zJL8H28gM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F duckworksmagazine.com%252F05%252Farticles%252Ftrai lers%252Frock2.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fduckworksm agazine.com%252F05%252Farticles%252Ftrailers%252Fi ndex.htm%3B475%3B244

[fishy steve]

if the axle looks like that, buy a new one... be cheaper in the long run, im guessing the bearings are probably wore as well, so by the time you figure the price of the bearings you may as well bought a new axle... as someone mentioned, now that the axle has bin bent, it will be softer now and bend again... like i said, it may be worth upgradeing to a 3500 lb axle to prevent it from happening again...

[greatwhite]

Yeah I am going to agree with you on that the more I look at it. But I might have to use it temporary until I have time to change the axle. Still waiting for the Rad so I can get the ATV together, dad's taking the long way home from Florida. Also have to fix something on the Lawn mower and also build a steel garage this summer oh and go camping. But Princes has axles on sale right now so I might go grab one.

if the axle looks like that, buy a new one... be cheaper in the long run, im guessing the bearings are probably wore as well, so by the time you figure the price of the bearings you may as well bought a new axle... as someone mentioned, now that the axle has bin bent, it will be softer now and bend again... like i said, it may be worth upgradeing to a 3500 lb axle to prevent it from happening again...