Cracked trailer fender

[khe]

The curbside fender on my boat trailer has a stress crack. The only thing I can think would have caused this issue is a tire that is out of balance causing vibration that eventually caused the fender to crack. Typically trailer tires aren't balanced but I think I may have all four trailer tires balanced even though I don't feel any vibration when I tow the trailer.

I am going to put my boat in a slip, drill a hole at the end of the crack, then weld it up, grind, fill and paint to match.

Any other ideas on what the cause may be?

 

[jlh3rd]

standing on it?

 

[Scott Danforth]

looks like the fender has been repaired and repainted once.

 

[airshot]

Metal/ plastic ?? Have saw fenders that are not well attached and will vibrate rapidly going down the road, that rapid vibration can cause material fatigue and cracking. Just a thought.....

 

[khe]

Metal/ plastic ?? Have saw fenders that are not well attached and will vibrate rapidly going down the road, that rapid vibration can cause material fatigue and cracking. Just a thought.....

Metal fender. Welded to the trailer frame. The only thing I can come up with is the tires are causing vibration since they are not balanced and the vibration is causing the metal to fatigue and crack.

 

[airshot]

Balancing the trailer tires are easy, most any tire shop will do it. If they were that bad, I would think you would feel it going down the road.

 

[khe]

Balancing the trailer tires are easy, most any tire shop will do it. If they were that bad, I would think you would feel it going down the road.

I agree - if the tires were that bad, it would be obvious but I just don't know what else it would be.

 

[Alumarine]

Can you see the fender shake in your mirror when on a smooth road?