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

[gus-gus]

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.

WOW so many couch residing experts here, like rebels without a clue. I can swear IT WILL wear out the center if the tires are the right kind, the right inflation and the toe out is enough to wear the center. Read my post about going through 12 tires, all of them wore the centers, NOT the edges. It may not be alignment, but it also may be alignment. It could be pressure as well, but above all I am not an expert, I am just trying to help the guy. Not argue with self proclaimed experts.

Or be chastised by the same.

 

[dockwrecker]

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).

With 4.80X12's on that trailer your ball height should be down around 16-18! Sorry if it looks bad but your big A** truck is the problem not the trailer! That's gonna be a long drop draw bar to get that right.

 

[roscoe]

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

I'm with you gus-gus.

And also agree that the trailer frame should sit level.

But most importantly, the tires should be run at recommended pressures, not 20 or 40 or 60 if the recommended pressure is 90.

Unless all you anecdotal experts want to change his tires on the roadside.

 

[marshmaster]

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

I hope these pics are good enough. I may get a set of bigger trailer tires to offset the lack of drop. I must say I appreciate all the posts. This is the only boat I have ever owned and can't contribute much to other members posts but anytime I have a question this is the place I come Thanks guys!!!

 

[dmoriarty51]

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

fenders look tight on the tires do they rub or touch on bumps?

 

[sschefer]

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

That third pic is the one that to me says all the weight is on the tires and not much if any on the ball. With that light of a boat and motor it probably doesn't look like it's swaying when you look in the rear view mirror but I'd bet it is. I bet it also swings out on turns. The person that said to air the tires up full and not adjust didn't read the label on the side of those tires. 90 lbs is used for max load, and I think it's 800lbs on those. You might be hitting 500lbs fully loaded, I doubt if its much more than that. 50lbs should be sufficient. That's what I ran mine at on my 14' western with a 18hp Nissan 4 stroke. I towed that behind a 2008 Tahoe and used a 6" drop. Like I think I said before, I've got 35's on my 08 F350 with a 8" lift and I run a 8" drop. My trailer has 13" wheels so maybe a 9" is about right for you. You can buy one of those adjustable setups, maybe it would be easier to get the right height.

 

[jacoboregon]

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

Maybe my eyes aren't seeing something, but even though I agree the trailer should be as level as possible, that should not be enough height at the hitch too cause any problems. To know if you have enough tongue weight is easy enough: place a bathroom scale under the tongue and see if the weight is 10% to 15% of the total weight (the scale should be at normal towing height).
BTW, the following IS from some real experts (from Taskmaster trailer tires website), and center tire wear IS from over-inflation.

Wear Pattern -- -- Cause ---------- Solution

Center Wear --- Over Inflation ----- Adjust to manufacturers recommended sidewall pressure
Edge Wear --- Under Inflation ---- Adjust to manufacturers recommended sidewall pressure
Side Wear --- Loss of camber or overloading ---- Ensure load doesn't exceed axle weight rating. Correction is 3/4 ? 1 Degree positive
camber (top of wheel rim is 3/16" further out than bottom).
Toe Wear --- Incorrect toe-in ----- Correct toe-in is 0 - 1/2 degree.
Cupping --- Out-of-balance ---- Check bearing adjustment and balance tires.
Flat Spots --- Wheel lockup & tire skidding ---- Avoid sudden stops when possible and adjust brakes.

Tires should be checked frequently for indications of abnormal wear. Once a wear pattern established itself, is difficult to stop, even if the root cause is corrected.

 

[gus-gus]

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

I hope these pics are good enough. I may get a set of bigger trailer tires to offset the lack of drop. I must say I appreciate all the posts. This is the only boat I have ever owned and can't contribute much to other members posts but anytime I have a question this is the place I come Thanks guys!!! View attachment 121270View attachment 121271View attachment 121272

I don't see anything wrong with your set up. Like I said I am far from an expert, all I have done is tow trailers back and forth from the lower 48 to Alaska like 30 times. Plus owning 1 place, 2 place, 3 place and 4 place snowmobile trailers for decades. Pressure never made a huge diff. I had a few single tired trailers which had unbelievably low and outrageous high pressures (thanks son) and the wear was exaggerated but nothing like you describe. Try the grease trick to trouble shoot your alignment, in other words rule that out. The top piece must be super clean so the tire holds traction with it. Where are you? Fill out your information, so a local might be able to stop by.

 

[marshmaster]

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

I live in Delaware. I have often wondered about the tongue weight issue. I get the bathroom scale idea. The tongue is very light. Would a lighter rated tire be more of a match for my load, to get away from heavy tire/ light load. That may allolw me to run reccom. pressure. There is deffinately alot of opinions here. I am going with overinflation and probly need to get a tire not rated so heavy.

 

[roscoe]

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

The heavy tire/light load is a myth. Stop thinking that way.

Many many trailers are driven with very light loads, or no load at all, without tire problems.

For example, a 2800# trailer carrying 500# one way, and empty on the return run. 10,000 of miles a year.


All those small trailers behind motorcycles are using tires rated to carry 800-1000#, but the trailer and contents are usually less than 250-300.

Also, you are running ar dangerously low air pressures, but you will find that out when you hit something at speed someday.


THe photos are deceptive, as the driveway seems to have quite a pitch to it.

Get the tongue level when the truck and trailer are level.


Does the trailer track in a perfectly straight line behind the truck, at all speeds?

 

[marshmaster]

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

Good point roscoe. Yea the trailer pulls straight no "crab walking" to speak of. My other thought my spring condition. Could the springs be shot? After bumps and what not the trailer seems to act if the springs are working either that I'm just getting the bounce outta the tires. They are still arched but after dirt track racin for a few years arched springs don't nescarily mean they rate at what they are supposed to be. The springs are what I call the slipper type with a solid eye on the front and a hook over the back end.

 

[gus-gus]

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

Marsh, you could weld the axle solid to the trailer frame and not cause your issue. I recently sold a solid axle trailer (zero suspension), that I really liked. I used 3/4 ton truck axels/tires on it and never carried more than a thousand pounds of stuff on it. I owned it for 25 years, never, ever changed the tires. Pulled it down the Alcan at least 4 times. I used it a lot.

You could put any tire rated above the true load weight and not cause wear troubles. It could be tires rated for 3000 pounds, so what? Other issues might result, but wear wouldn't be the largest or most obvious trouble.

Like I said I could be wrong, but your trouble must be associated with alignment. Ball height and tongue weight are handling issues, causing weaving, bouncing or pushing the tow vehicle around. Tire wear should only be a secondary issue associated with height or tongue weight.

I'm done.......I'll keep watching to see what you find. Good luck.

 

[roscoe]

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

That third pic is the one that to me says all the weight is on the tires and not much if any on the ball. With that light of a boat and motor it probably doesn't look like it's swaying when you look in the rear view mirror but I'd bet it is. I bet it also swings out on turns. The person that said to air the tires up full and not adjust didn't read the label on the side of those tires. 90 lbs is used for max load, and I think it's 800lbs on those. You might be hitting 500lbs fully loaded, I doubt if its much more than that. 50lbs should be sufficient. That's what I ran mine at on my 14' western with a 18hp Nissan 4 stroke. I towed that behind a 2008 Tahoe and used a 6" drop. Like I think I said before, I've got 35's on my 08 F350 with a 8" lift and I run a 8" drop. My trailer has 13" wheels so maybe a 9" is about right for you. You can buy one of those adjustable setups, maybe it would be easier to get the right height.

Bought 8 trailer tires in the last 18 months, 5.3x12 , 175 13's, and 205 14's.

All bias ply.

All ST trailer tires.

Every one of them had a sticker from the manufacturer that said to run them at max pressure.

Go to their websites and reread this labels.

 

[roscoe]

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

Good point roscoe. Yea the trailer pulls straight no "crab walking" to speak of. My other thought my spring condition. Could the springs be shot? After bumps and what not the trailer seems to act if the springs are working either that I'm just getting the bounce outta the tires. They are still arched but after dirt track racin for a few years arched springs don't nescarily mean they rate at what they are supposed to be. The springs are what I call the slipper type with a solid eye on the front and a hook over the back end.

Low air pressure will cause bouncing. Also causes the sidewalls to flex, not good for a bias ply trailer tire.

 

['78 Crusader]

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

I've recently had bizarre tire wear issues and the resultant fix was replacing my trailer suspension components......she runs and wears straight and even now.

 

[marshmaster]

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

I checked the tongue weight and it came to 65lbs, then moved the boat forward and got about 85lbs. I'm probably gonna take it to get the alignment checked at a local shop to get a more accurate measurement. Thanks for your input Gus.

 

[sschefer]

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

Bought 8 trailer tires in the last 18 months, 5.3x12 , 175 13's, and 205 14's.

All bias ply.

All ST trailer tires.

Every one of them had a sticker from the manufacturer that said to run them at max pressure.

Go to their websites and reread this labels.

Oh, I don't question that. As you said, one of the reasons for that is because of sidewall flex. If you don't get it right, an underinflated tire can effect the side wall flex and the center of the tire can crown at high speed. This is sometimes mistaken for overinflation which causes nearly identical wear patterns. I happens a lot with boats because like the op's because they are light to begin with but also tend to provide a certain amount of lift at highway speeds. Not a lot because of the vehicle draft but there is some.

If the load is light and max pressure is used it could to cause the trailer to bounce and make it difficult to control. This was the case with my 14' tinny. I adjusted the pressure back and forth until I had it where I wanted it and didn't have any problems with tire wear after that.

 

[cyclops2]

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

Wind is lifting the boat at highway speeds ?

 

[cyclops2]

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

BINGO !

Your trailer gets lighter at high speeds. Center of tire wears out.

Your trailer gets heavier at slow speeds. Outside of tires wear. underinflated tire now.


YOU CAN NOT WIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!