NCporsche

I was not pulling a trailer with a race car, I was towing a Sundowner 3 horse trailer with dual axles and two horses on board. I hit something and still do not know what I ran over. My thoughts are the tire dropped into a missing drain grate.

The passenger side front rim on the trailer was severely bent. The truck/trailer shook significantly on impact but then it seemed to be fine. Stopping about 30 minutes later, I notice the tire was flat the the rim was bent. The spare was used and it appeared everything was fine.

This weekend, I noticed the spare we put on was losing air and while inflating it noticed this tire now has the steel cord showing through on the inside. This wheel is obviously not in line and something is amiss.

The front of the wheel is pointed out. We pulled the trailer forward and the wheel does not wobble but keeps this front outward alignment.

Any suggestions on diagnosing the problem?

smlporsche

If the dealer you bought your horse trailer is nearby I would go see them for suggestions. I know that the ones around here repair them (when possible).
Good Luck.

dave morris

What you've described could easily bend the axle.

lawjdc

I had one tire on a dual axle boat trailer that began to show dramatic wear. In fact, the tire was bald after about 250 miles of towing over several weekends. It turned out to be a bent axle, which was easy for the trailer shop to replace. No other symptoms, just one quickly wearing tire. You may have the same problem.

Professor Helmüt Tester

You've bent an axle.

The good news is that it's not a big deal to replace an axle on a trailer. Labor can get expensive if you pay somebody else to do it, but you can do it yourself in a couple of hours, if you have a reasonable assortment of tools.

First thing to determine is "What brand of axle is it ?" If your lucky, it'll be a Dexter axle. Next step is to find a source of parts. Trailer supply places can get $$$$ for this stuff, so consider calling around to independant "truck & trailer" parts suppliers...the guys who supply parts to repair shops and fleet operators. There is one locally here that I use since they have all the Dexter stuff in stock, or can get it in a day or two.

Tom W

I bent an axle on my open trailer a few years ago and I think it cost about $800 to replace it at the local trailer place.

Crazy Canuck

You're more likely to bend the spindle than the axle by hitting something.

It is safer to replace the axle than try to repair the spindle. FYI Dexter axle won't sell replacement spindles.

magnetic1

You most likely bent an axle. I had this happen to me with my car trailer a while back. SCARY. I ran over a dead deer carcass. Cleared the truck ok but then WHAMMO.. trailer jumps in the air!

Bent BOTH 3500# axles. Had to get a tow truck to some, then I removed the wheels off the most severely bent front axle and towed the trailer home with the slightly bent rear axle.

You can replace the axles fairly cheap. Depending on the axle size, the axles should cost between $200-400.

http://www.trailerpart.com/trailerax...FQECGgodIjb-Iw

va122

+1 axle. Cost about a grand for the featherlite

A930Rocket

How do you know you have the new axle aligned properly? Measure off the existing one?

Do axles come with camber or are they all straight?

magnetic1

They are straight.

MUSSBERGER

We buy axles from these guys

http://www.ringohill.com/ProductCart...idCategory=315