Post here about anything or anyPLACE you know of that can test trailer alignment, it could be a serious issue, and although it is basic to automobile and truck performance, when I thought about it I had absolutely no idea where you could go or who to see to have a thing like that looked at.

When trailer tires are mis-aligned (especially when used only periodically and under near maximum load) it can lead to catastrophic tire failure at speed.

I think we can all agree that such a thing is nothing we want to happen to a rig of our own...

Lets get some information together here. We have done it before, and I think this is important to follow up on.


Any tire, under even a normal load will wear hopefully in a gradual way - but if one or more tires/wheels/axles are skewed to the direction of travel what results is premature or even RAPID damage to the tires. Which we know are not designed the same as regular auto or truck tires, they aren't built for a great deal of torsional stress.

A mis-aligned tire in a set of four will actually rip the tread off of itself and sling it into the coachwork. At highway speeds, this can be very expensive indeed. By identifying facilities where alignment can be checked and made true - trailers can also be made much more ergonomical to pull.


We should definitely look into this.

 

I have a shop that I use in Kearney NE, its call Bear frame and alignment. He uses a modified 4 wheel computer alignment setup and a bending tool he made. For my 7K Dexter axles it was just under $400 but when he's done they are running true to the trailer and have the right tow and chamber. My tires are over $300 each so it's worth it to get it aligned when it looks like one is wearing funny, I had it done again last summer.

Denny
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Can torsion axles be aligned ? Isn't the axle housing or bracket welded onto the frame of the trailer ? I understand that springs and axles can be out of alignment as a result of hitting something or even just as the result of road use, does the same occur with torsion axles ?

Thanks

Dan

 

Excellent trailer shop in NJ

Hecht Trailers 800 392 6829 or Trailers, Storage, Containers, Trailer Parts, Mobile Attic, Office trailers, sales & rentals NJ, PA, NY - Hecht Trailersgohechtshop.com

They have shops in Toms River - route 9 and in Mount Holly - route 38.

 

Here's a pretty neat product used for correcting out of alignment axles. Pretty simple to install yourself once you've determined an issue and measured properly.

 

What is especially interesting about that is that the bushings (metal part) can become worn and need replacing.

When was the last time you really looked at your rolling equipment? All of the stuff that keeps your springs aligned....


Keep it coming, we need all the help we can get!


What concerns me the most is that axle stubs can become bent under certain conditions. How do you tell? Who can check it?


Many trailer axles are a forged steel or iron I-Beam, with an axle stub welded onto the end of it, or a forging with a machined stub axle.
These are connected to the leaf springs with U-Bolts, and the stub axle can be bent if impacted badly.

In practice, a damaged one is replace entirely with a straight one. They are similar in many ways to "DROPPED AXLES" used on early forties cars and trucks on the front end.