Positive Camber

[xxxbadfishxxx]

I just had my axle replaced on my 2005 karavan trailer that holds my 13' Boston whaler. Upon pick up I noticed that the tires appeared pitched outward at top of tire (positive camber). I questioned this and he said this is normal. I confirmed that the axle was installed with the correct position up as I did read that axles are built with some positive camber to counter the boats weight.

Does this look like excessive positive camber? If so, what should I do? Can I have anything done? Is it safe to tow? Is the only effect excessive wear? Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks

Jeff

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Positive Camber

Build shelves under the boat to hold about 40 cinder blocks. J/K. Looks like your boat just isn't heavy enough to put a load on the axle. Maybe need a lighter axle?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Positive Camber

Toss an angle guage on there and report back. Doesn't seem like that much camber to me.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Positive Camber

Your picture is just slightly off center, towards the center of the axle. Even without taking that into account, I don't see anything close to excessive.

Boat trailer tires very rarely wear out from actual use...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Positive Camber

Axles come with various amounts of camber built in unloaded and level out when loaded. If you installed an axle that is rated a lot higher than your actaul load, this could be the reason for what you see.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Positive Camber

Who chose the replacement axle? What is the replacement axle ratings? If i was the shop that did the work chose the axle what criteria did they use?

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Re: Positive Camber

First thanks everyone for your response. Turns out the axle is rated for 2000lbs, my boat weighs roughly 1500lbs boat, motor, gear, trailer. I don't think that's necessarily overkill, but could be causing the slight positive camber. One second I look at it, then I look at it again and think its not that bad.

Does everyone agree that it's not excessive and safe to tow? Or should I bring it back? My main concern is safety. On a side note, how often should you change your tires for age reasons? I do not have any gauge to measure the angle of the camber. Below is a few more pics

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Re: Positive Camber

This is the broken axle

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Positive Camber

I wouldn't call it overkill.

Change your tires if they are 5 years old based on the date code stamped into the side of the tire.

Take it to an alignment shop and they can tell you right away if you have a camber issue.

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Re: Positive Camber

Like an automotive shop?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Positive Camber

sure

they have a device that clamps onto your wheel with bubble levels on it. You could do the same thing yourself with a level. Just don't do it to the outside of the tire. Do it to the wheel itself.

 

[batman99]

Re: Positive Camber

.

A few questions….

What was weight number of previous (broken) axle?
Why did that axle break?
What is weight number of new axle?
Is your boat (loaded on trailer) have full tank of gas and its "usual" loaded items?

With above in mind, what is variance from old to new axle details?

If wondering, one of my previous trailers was 3,200 lbs axle and I replace with a 3,500 lbs axle. The new axle had slightly more arch (camber) in its beam. But, tire wear on new axle was good. re: Even tire wear - like previous axle. If wondering, my old axle broke because it was "within weight loads" but got nailed by double railway tracks. Down she went. The 300 lbs "stronger" axle beam upgrade was worth it - for my one utility trailer...

Hope these "things to consider" help as well.

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Re: Positive Camber

I believe it was also a 2x2 tube trailer which I believe makes it a 2k lb trailer as well. The old one rotted out where the drain holes were, really bad. I never noticed it before and am lucky it broke at launch and not on highway. I purchased it used 2 years ago, it was previously a saltwater boat.

Boat is pretty close to fully loaded, maybe another 50-100 lbs. the new axle says 2000 lb rating on it.

I think I am just being paranoid. Everything I read online says excessive camber will result on weird tire wear and not much else, some race cars change camber on purpose. I just want to be sure it's safe. My buddy is a mechanic and will see if be can take a look at it.

Side that snapped

Other side

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Positive Camber

It should be just fine. Like others have said 5 years is about normal tire life. and I personally have never had a set last that long mine normally start showing signs of cracking and I replace them. Drive it like you stole it and watch the tires.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Positive Camber

The contact patch in the photo's of the new axle looks pretty good to me. Your tires are beginning to show the wear bars and should replaced soon.

 

[lokonn]

Re: Positive Camber

We align a fair amount of trailers every year. Excessive camber will wear your tires. Your pictures don't appear to show excessive camber but getting a set of gauges on them will tell for sure. It is important to have cambers as close to equal side to side and to make sure toe is somewhere around 1/16" in. The other thing to have checked is to make sure axle is tracking with the centerline of the trailer. Not usually as noticeable on shorter trailers but important for even tire wear. Some automotive shops may still have equipment to align your trailer, with the advent of new alignment machines the ability to easily align a trailer may have been lost. You may find a truck repair shop might be a better bet as they may have the equipment used to align trailers pulled by semi trucks.