Trailer Alignment

[xd2005]

So I've got my boat and finally got it out on the water last night...everything looked to work well, so that's a relief.

I’ve noticed a couple things about the trailer, however.

1.)   The tongue points one way, wheels point a slightly different way (towards the shoulder/passenger side).
2.)   One of the tires (driver side) is smaller than the other.

I assume this is not normal (gotta start somewhere, right?). 

While driving, the trailer does seem to track pretty well, however, it does favor the shoulder side some (I can see it clearly in the passenger mirror, I cannot see it in driver-side mirror). My guess is it's 1-2' towards the shoulder side.

It does look like the wheel is a bit further towards the front in the wheel well on the driver side, while the passenger side looks a bit more centered.

The bracket holding the axle to the springs does look centered on both sides, however, it looks like the bracket for the springs is a bit more forward on the driver side…maybe 1/2”…I do not know if that’s enough to completely explain the difference, but probably at least a significant part of the issue.

Finally, I do see that it looks like the bracket for the springs does have a slot for the screw, and a little room to slide the driver side back…again, not sure if I can get it back to get it completely centered, but could probably make progress. If I can get the bolts/nuts loose (gonna be fun!), I can try moving it back to see how much it helps...I suppose if it's not enough, I could also take the bracket off and see if I can elongate the slot.

As for the smaller wheel, I do see the spare is the same size as the larger tire. I’m thinking it may be that the bigger wheel was rubbing on the wheel well on the other side because it is further front than the other side…haven’t confirmed. It's also possible the larger tire was causing it to track wrong and found the smaller wheel compensated to even it out. 

Anyway...thoughts? Would the appropriate approach be to try moving the bracket back on the driver side and swapping the current wheel for the spare, then take her for a test drive?

Thanks!

[Come Get Some]

The axle being farther forward will make it track slightly crooked. Sounds like that is why there is a smaller tire on 1 side. There is a pin that holds the leaf springs and the axle from moving. If the trailer is old it may have been damaged. It can be replaced and centered.

[whacker1]

I bet you could get it aligned for $70-90.  And depending on the style, they should be able to move the axles slightly to get it aligned and yes you need to address the one odd tire out.

[norsepete]

Bend the tongue back.

[xd2005]

I was able to get the axle even on both sides, still a bit of a turn. Will probably just take it somewhere to let them work through it.

It looks like the trailer frame may be what's misaligned.

Stupid question, I know, but where does one take it to get aligned?

[Special T]

Some commercial tire outfits or Semi truck repair facilities do trailer alignments. If it were me i would just measure it out bees as you can and double check it a few times... Unless its a really heavy boat it shouldn't matter too much. 

[whacker1]

Some commercial tire outfits or Semi truck repair facilities do trailer alignments. If it were me i would just measure it out bees as you can and double check it a few times... Unless its a really heavy boat it shouldn't matter too much. 

If you can get it close you should be o.k. as long as you are not towing it very far.  If you are towing it a long ways or if it is heavy it may eat tires if not aligned closely enough. 

[Special T]

While what whacker says is true there is also this to consider. Single axle traile is more forgiving in mis alignment. I know because i have had both kids single and double mis aligned. He is correct that long distances, and or heavy loads should be of concern. In my cases they axels became misaligned because i either hit something, submerged rock with the trialer tire, OR i had a U bold loosen and shift back. In both cases for me re aligning it to the closest 1/8" or so made it ride like new.  IF you don't use the trailer that much then "Exact" alignement isn't really tat important. 

[Bofire]

  Have someone look at it, sounds to me like it was damaged.
Carl

[xd2005]

Got it pretty straight this morning. Frame was a couple inches out of square but got it down to within 1/4". Might actually be ever-so-slightly off the other way now.

Regardless, it now has the same-size tires on both sides and tracks more in line with the truck than before.

Sent from my ZTE-Z990G using Tapatalk 2

[Bofire]

 :)good for you, recognize the problem and fix it!!

[CAMPMEAT]

Hold on with all the commercial shop stuff.

Your trailer is off tracking and if it's new, take it back to where you bought it. Something wasn't aligned or something is bent. You have a straight axle and it's not properly aligned with the frame and wasn't built/aligned right from the factory.

I pulled dump truck pup trailers and some would off-track like crazy. The axles weren't square with the frame to put it in laymans terms.