Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

[marshmaster]

I have an older 14ft alum. v. bott. with a 30 hp outboard on a trailer the is eating tires recently. I go through a set of 4.80x12 every hunting season. The trailer is wearing the tires in the center and leaving the the inside and outside rib almost untouched. I have tried airing down but saw no change (either that i'm airing down too late). The previous owner cut the tongue and pieced in a length of box tubing and had it re welded to lengthen the trailer. I cut it down because it took 40 acres to turn it, and replaced the coupler. I have measured the axle to the center of the trailer in the center and both sides, hub to coupler both sides and everything seems to be square. My tires are rated for 90psi I have aired down to 40 and still seem to be wearing the centers. I am wondering if air is getting under the trailer and lifting the trailer unloading the tires. My truck is lifted and never had a problem when the trailer was longer but now i'm not even getting 300 miles out of a set of tires. ANY IDEAS?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

what brand of tires? not all trailer tires are created equal.

I would also look to ensure that the wheels are not towed in too much, however you are not reporting feathering. I know that if I have a tire that is wearing in the center only, I would first check air pressure like you did. have you tried a different gauge? maybe your gauge is off?

 

[marshmaster]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Yea, I tried a few different brands, my uncle has a tire/trailer repair business. He even called carlisle to check if they had a bad batch or any other probs. We tried 2 different brands carlisle and whatever is on there now. Tires and trailers is all hes done since he was a youngin' and even he's stumped. Theonly idea he had was air getting under the boat. It KINDA makes sense since the problems started after I shortened the trailer which moved the boat closer to the back of my truck. No feathering just wearing the centers out except for the inside and outside rib. It's been suggested some weight added to the boat may help while trailering. Could the boat just be too light all together?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

What were you running them at before you lowered them to 40 psi ?

 

[gus-gus]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

I have an idea the trailer has a camber issue. Picture the tire contact patch when the long tongue was used, then shortening the tongue moved that contact point aft so the tires are now literally riding on the backside from where they weren't wearing. It has got to be a scrubbing issue, caused by alignment. I have used aluminum plates with grease between them a few times to guess'timate the alignment of trailer tires. The trick is to lower one tire on the beginning (in the line of travel) edge of the two plates and slowly pull the trailer across the plates and see if the top plate is pulled in or pushed out. Then you should be able to see the issue.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Cambered axle or straight??? Towing tongue-high???? Since the truck is lifted, ae you using a dropped ball mount so the trailer sits level. If it is tongue high and using a cambered axle, the alignment would be greatly affected (towed out) thus scrubbing the center. The tires are not heavily loaded so the contact patch is small and concentrated on the center of the tire.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

I have an idea the trailer has a camber issue. Picture the tire contact patch when the long tongue was used, then shortening the tongue moved that contact point aft so the tires are now literally riding on the backside from where they weren't wearing. It has got to be a scrubbing issue, caused by alignment. I have used aluminum plates with grease between them a few times to guess'timate the alignment of trailer tires. The trick is to lower one tire on the beginning (in the line of travel) edge of the two plates and slowly pull the trailer across the plates and see if the top plate is pulled in or pushed out. Then you should be able to see the issue.

Caster or Camber is outside wear, inner or outer depending upon which it is. The only thing that wears the center is TOO MUCH AIR PRESSURE FOR THE LOAD. PERIOD. BTDT (My credentials for my answer).

Mark

 

[marshmaster]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

I am using a dropped ball mount, however the tongue is still high as the drop is not enough, but it's never been an issue until I shortened the tongue. I think I recall running about 60psi then trying 40. I like the idea of the plates, but alignment seem good as they are both wearing equal. I may adapt that idea, smear some grease on a flat board or something and pull the trailer over it to get an idea of contact patch. Or say heck with and throw 200 lbs worth of sand bags in the boat over the axle and go from there. Do they make soild trailer tires??

 

[gus-gus]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

I am using a dropped ball mount, however the tongue is still high as the drop is not enough, but it's never been an issue until I shortened the tongue. I think I recall running about 60psi then trying 40. I like the idea of the plates, but alignment seem good as they are both wearing equal. I may adapt that idea, smear some grease on a flat board or something and pull the trailer over it to get an idea of contact patch. Or say heck with and throw 200 lbs worth of sand bags in the boat over the axle and go from there. Do they make soild trailer tires??

I don't know about solid trailer tires but they make tires which would fit smaller trailers for baggage carts on airports. A buddy acquired a few and bragged and bragged about his flat days were over. They broke the axles off!

I bought a brand new Yacht Club galvanized trailer in 2006 and left on a 6 thousand mile trip, unloaded one way and lightly loaded coming back. I went through 12 tires and 4 wheels. I ended up in Whitehorse, YT, buying wheels and tires because we didn't catch a few blown tires soon enough. The axles were out of alignment. They literally scrubbed the tires away. the dealer admitted it and replaced a bunch of parts, it was better but that trailer never did well with tires.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Agreed that worn centers are a classic sign of over-inflation. But if all is set-up properly, not in 300 miles. Is it too much to ask for pics of the complete rig - TV and trailer side view, rear shot of the loaded trailer (not a close up) and a shot of the axle? Please. You know what they say - A picture is word a thousand words and that's all this thread is, a bunch of words and no help. It needs visuals!

Otherwise put the long tongue back on and live with 40 acre turn-a-rounds and longer tire life.

BTW - solid tires won't help.

 

[likalar]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

I too, have a 14' aluminum v hull, with a 20hp 4 stroke. on a galvanized trailer. Not a heavy rig at all. It was set up with 60psi, and when viewed stationary, only the very center of the tread (Carlisle Sport Trails) touched the pavement. At 35-40 psi, same thing. I'm using 20psi, have gone about 3000 miles, and tires are wearing evenly across the entire tread. Hope this helps.
Larry

 

[sschefer]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

When you cut it down you changed the angle of the trailer tounge relative to level. This also shifted the tounge weight back and that often causes a sway. It doesn't need to be a lot to wear the tires. Adjusting the position of the boat on the trailer might help but a longer drop so the tounge sits level is probably gonna fix it. I run a 8" drop on my lifted F350.

 

[bbstacker1]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

With your boat & trl hooked to your tow vehicle, find a smooth flat section of pavement such as a parking lot. Take a piece of white chalk, mark each trl tire from outside to inside tread (edge of sidewall to opposite edge), try to make the mark about an inch wide. Slowly pull forward in a straight line until the trl tires have had a chance to rotate a couple of times then stop and check the chalk marks. If it is only worn off in the middle you are still over inflated. Just be careful in going too low on tire pressure as you do not want to overheat the tire and cause a blowout. The ideal pressure should have almost all the chalk worn off. If you are at the right pressure and the wear is still bad then you at least know it is not a tire pressure issue. Good luck

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

You answered your own question! You didn't have the problem until you shortened the tongue. You use a dropped ball mount but the trailer still rides tongue high. IF the axle is cambered, when level the wheels be slighter closer together at the road than at the top (under the fenders). With the now shorter tongue, even a few degrees of axle rotation adds caster (tow out) as well as chaning the camber. Even just a couple of degrees can result in severe tire wear -- especially if it was borderline before any changes were made. And deflating tires to half their maximum pressure is a recipe for disaster as it reduces the load capacity of the tire.

 

[Failproof]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Trailer axles normally have slightly positive camber; so that when loaded properlt it is less positive and almost nuetral. By having the tongue lifted above level it is basically causing toe IN! Get the trailer level, make sure the axle is properly rated, and a tire that is stronger, beefier and can carry more weight/pressure is not always better. Its a suspension SYSTEM. Everything works as a team. Having one non team player causes issues.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Silvertip nailed it. If the tire were normally loaded, with even contact across the whole face of the tire, it would literally scream because the toe in is so far off. Wear only occurs in the middle because it is lightly loaded and that is the only part contacting the road.

The trailer axle lightly is likely bowed on purpose so camber is near zero at full rated load. At light load, the camber tips the top of the tires in a bit. Not a problem until...........

You lay the axle back and the camber now becomes severe toe in. Now the tires have to slide.

Put the right hitch on that rig and all will be good.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Level the trailer.

Then read the dozens of threads on trailer tire construction and proper air pressure.

 

[marshmaster]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Pics to come... phone died. I did measure the ball height at approx. 21 inches, it's my understanding that 19in. is about right. I recently swapped my 39.5in. swampers for a set of 35in pizza cutters. the axle looked to be straight. After closer inspection of the tires i did notice slight feathering on the inside and outside of the areas showing wear. Pics tomorrow (sunday).

 

[S_Laker]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Just a thought, if your u bolts on the springs worked a bit loose, you may have cut a spring center pin. I had this happen with a trailer, and it drove me crazy changing tires and settings until one day I was running down #7 highway on a straight stretch, and I could see almost the full side of my old boat in the right mirror. Cheap simple fix, once my tiny mind picked up on it.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Trailer eating tires {{{{HELP}}}}

Gotta go with the over-inflation. The other mentioned issues WILL NOT cause the center wear of the tire. I too, agree that your load is too light for the amount of inflation of the tires. As a note, trailer tires have a much stiffer sidewall then passenger car tires so they don't flex as much. A given 16' trailer may carry a 500lb boat or 1500lb, so the tires that fit the trailer have to be able to carry the weight.

You need to drastically reduce your tire pressure.