Correcting Camber on a Trailer

[Captain Caveman]

I've got a 2008 Karavan single axle boat trailer with a nasty positive camber. I do tow a lot of miles since it is 500 miles round trip to my cabin, and we go probably 8-10 times per season, so 4-5k miles annually. I got 1.5 seasons out of the stock Goodyear tires before they were slippery smooth on the outside only. The middle and inside treads looked showroom new. I flipped my tires over and got another season out of them but had to buy replacements last spring since metal was starting to show. They had worn smooth on both sides.

The boat dealer said that the manufacturer "loads" the trailer anticipating a certain amount of boat & motor weight in addition to on-board gear. That gear supposedly helps equalize the camber. In the meantime, I asked around at local tire and auto shops but nobody had any experience or desire to align a trailer.

Has anyone ever dealt with a trailer tire camber issue, and if so, how did you rectify it?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

Redneck method would be to heat up the center of the beam and bend down.

Correct method would be to buy a different axle.

Which one I would do would depend on my mood and on the trailer..... for a small lightly loaded trailer I'd probably get out my torches..... If you choose this method DO NOT quench the steel ... just let it cool naturally

 

[Snowfish]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

Can you physically see the positive camber? If so, I'd like to see a picture. I'd also like to see a picture of the trailer hooked to the tow vehicle. If you're towing excessively tongue down, that will wear outer treads.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

This is a nice trailer so I have zero interest in trying to bend the axle myself.

You can't physically see the camber, but it was extremely apparent from tire wear pattern. The trailer is pretty flat in tow with a slight tilt to the rear for drainage - no trailer wag.

 

[dave60]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

This is the first time giving an opinion for me. The correct thing to do is replace the axle with one that has a weight capacity closer to your boat weight plus gear. I worked in the axle industry for 8 years and can tell you that the camber gives the axle a good amount of its strength. Most axle manufacturers laser stamp the capacity on the tube of the axle, this will give you a starting point. The axle should flatten out as it is loaded but you have too much axle for your boat and gear. If you heat the axle at the camber it will eventually fail and you will start wearing the inside of your tires, we used to sell a lot of axles to folks who corrected the camber by heat.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

Hmm. Our Sea Ray trailer- the left side rear I believe it is, has always been splayed out from the bottom, it's bad enough that it's totally obvious from the rear view mirror while towing it. Not sure how it happened, been like that since we bought it in '95. But that tire has never worn faster on the inside as it looks like it should, not sure why.

If you can't see the angle of yours, I have to wonder if part of your problem isn't a tracking problem due to alignment--

I would let a trailer shop check the alignments, and if the camber angles are bad they may be able to straighten the axle in a press. Cost would probably be less than a new set of tires?

 

[skyking897]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

Something I found on a trailer we had was the axle had spring locating perchs top and bottom , I guess for flipping the axle over or under the springs. When I looked at the axle you could see the bend was down and the tires were drastically tipped out at the top. I just rolled the axle around to the other perch and now the bend of the axle was up and the tires literally were vertical. I was amazed how much they moved just by rotating the axle. Three seasons later and the tires are still wearing evenly.

 

[mrlassi1]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

I had the opposite problem. Not enough Camber and inside tire wear. I took my axle off the trailer and took it to a local body shop with a frame alignment jig. For a $100 they cold bent the axle to add the Camber I needed. Seems to me a shop could do the same for you - just bending it in the other direction to remove Camber.

 

[SWD]

Re: Correcting Camber on a Trailer

Time to take it to an alignment shop. They will fix it for you.