trailer tires wearing on insides

[mspring]

I have a 20 footer on a single axle trailer. Both tires are wearing on the inside
about a inch wide. The rest of the tires still look new. The springs are not bent flat. What could cause this?

 

[rndn]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

If both tires are wearing evenly on the inside only then you may be overloading the trailer. Other things is maybe the axel is bent or something else out of whack causing the tires to be tilted when going down the road.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

Park the rig on a large flat parking lot. Then stand back from the rear of the trailer about 15 - 20 yards. If you are not "dimensionally challenged" like my wife, you may notice the top of the tires are tilted slightly inward and the bottoms (where the rubber meets the road) are tilted outward. If so, the trailer is overloaded or the axle is bent as was mentioned. I suspect a 20 footer on a single axle trailer is pushing the limits of the trailer.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

You failed to mention what kind of 20'er you have and what you have on it, but yea, a 20'er on a single axle trailer is right there at it's limit as Silvertip says.

 

[wire2]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

With the trailer on ~level pavement, place a sight level vertically against the wheels. Are they cambered in at the top?
What size are the tires?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

Tell us what your set up is and the weight. A photo would help as well. I also suspect excessive weight for the trailer.

 

[mspring]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

Thanks for the info. Overloaded is what I was afraid of. Like several of you said if parked on pavement I can see the tires cambered in at the top. Right now I have it stripped down to bear hull so I can sand and paint it so a picture wont help. I wanted to address this axle problem while I have it stripped down and am not using it. The boat is basically a 20 ft v-hull runabout with a walk thru windshield, 90 hrs Johnson.

What is the best way to add an axle?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

Probably would be ok if you replaced the axle with one thats rated for a higher load.I had the same problem with a trailer a couple years ago.It would wear the inside tread only.It was not overloaded but must have been at one time and bowed the axle down in the middle.It was not the original trailer for my boat.

 

[wire2]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

Ah, a 90 hp outboard? Then it's not all that heavy.
Your axle may be rusted from the inside and weakened, (the pitfall of repeated submergings)

I have a 19 ft walk-thru with a 350 V8 I/O, 35 gal tank, and it's on a single axle EZ Loader, 5.5 metre. The axle is a drop design, with heavy wall 2" square tube, 15" wheels. No camber whatsoever.

Are you anywhere near a trailer shop? They will pull your axle off and put a proper one on in ~30 minutes.

 

[mikey.himself]

Re: trailer tires wearing on insides

No big deal, really. If the trailer's solid, but the axle is out of par...Get a heavier axle.