Wheel balancing weight

[gonefishie]

I just noticed that my new Marine Master tandem trailer has no balance weight on any of the wheels. I look on the back side and didn't see any either. I can't remember if there were any on my last boat either. Do you guys have balance weights on your trailer wheels?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Nope,... I don't have trailer tires balanced...
if they're So Bad they need it, I replace 'em....

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

How is it that brand new tires on your truck still need to be balanced?

 

[Shrike]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Yeah. I balance 'em. Being unbalanced can cause faster wear. Tires can be perfectly round and still be heavy on one side.
Almost all new tires are heavier on one side.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Yeah. I balance 'em. Being unbalanced can cause faster wear. Tires can be perfectly round and still be heavy on one side.
Almost all new tires are heavier on one side.

I balanced the wheels on my 5' X 10' utility trailer because it bounced so much when it was empty. Doesn't do it now.

I didn't bother with the boat's trailer because it seems to pull fine as it is. Both tires and rims are new.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

All my tires require balancing, especially the trailer tires, which will bounce a lot at 70MPH, especially since there's no shock absorbers on my trailer to dampen the bouncing. Even high-end Michelin tires will be an ounce or so out of balance.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

I spoke to the manf. Marine Master Trailers. They said that they have found out that their trailer doesn't require balance unless it carries a real heavy load. Balancing doesn't do anything for a load less than 10k lbs so they quit doing it. My boat weights less then 2k lbs. It must be true because my trailer tows like a dream. Learn something everyday.

 

[2300max]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

All my tires require balancing, especially the trailer tires, which will bounce a lot at 70MPH, especially since there's no shock absorbers on my trailer to dampen the bouncing. Even high-end Michelin tires will be an ounce or so out of balance.

Wow! I'm afraid to tow my boat past 55 mph....I don't balance my tires on any of my trailers.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Absolutely I balance trailer tires to prevent cupping. As pointed out, having no shocks on trailers makes this doubly important to aviod premature wear.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

I don't bother. I put maybe 25 miles on my trailer tires in a year, and most of it is relatively slow speed short hops between my house and my boat slip.
Never even occurred to me to have it checked. Tires will probably bio degrade before the tread will go. I suppose it's not a bad idea for long haulers.

 

[Shrike]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

I spoke to the manf. Marine Master Trailers. They said that they have found out that their trailer doesn't require balance unless it carries a real heavy load. Balancing doesn't do anything for a load less than 10k lbs so they quit doing it. My boat weights less then 2k lbs. It must be true because my trailer tows like a dream. Learn something everyday.

Pure Hogwash

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

^+1. Anytime you're dealing with rotation, balance is critical. The wheel weighs 20-24 lbs depending on 14-15" and the tire another 25-35#. While 1-4 oz. doesn't seem like a lot, try spinning it on a 15" rope at 1500-2500 rpm and realize that it's now pulling a 50#+ weight into an elliptical pattern. At this oscillation, the weight of the trailer is static but the elliptical rotaion is hammering at the tire at highway speeds. Thus cupping occurs and premature tire failure. Balance the tires!

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Pure Hogwash

Do you have anything to back up such strong claim?

I can do 70mph with 2 fingers on the steering wheel, no shake, no swerve and straight as it can be. That is the fact and I would be glad to show you.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

If your 2000-6000 lb car/truck feels it, why would you assume your boat doesn't?

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

I regularly tow at pretty fast speeds (not going to make anyone mad at how I speed)and have always had my trailer tires balanced. I don't have any evidence to support why other then it just seems to be the right thing to do, besides you get charged for mount and balance why give them half free? I know plenty of people that don't and thats fine, who cares do what you want to as long as it gets you to and from the water thats all that matters isn't it?

 

[Shrike]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Maybe you got lucky and your tires aren't too unbalanced.
But in reality any tire that rotates over 30 mph should be balanced to prevent cupping (flat spots) and vibrations. You just dont feel it on a trailer unless they are really badly out of balance.
The trailer manufacturer quit balancing to save money and cane up with the ridiculous 10000 lb. story.
If that were true no passenger cars or pick ups would need balancing.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Pure Hogwash

+1 !!

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

nope none on my boat or my camp trailer. In general just a waste of money for most trailers.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

I spoke to the manf. Marine Master Trailers. They said that they have found out that their trailer doesn't require balance unless it carries a real heavy load. Balancing doesn't do anything for a load less than 10k lbs so they quit doing it. My boat weights less then 2k lbs. It must be true because my trailer tows like a dream. Learn something everyday.

how does he reason that one out? i agree with the hog wash comment.

thats a pretty dumb statement for a manufacture to make. the tire is what is out of balance not the load. our sleds and matching trailer weigh a fraction of any one of our boats with there trailers. yet the sled trailer benefited most from balancing the tires.

have a little time pulling trailers. balancing the tires defiantly make a difference. well wort the time and trouble.

 

[Shrike]

Re: Wheel balancing weight

Just because you can't feel the trailer tires vibrate while seated 20 feet ahead, doesn't mean your boat and trailer won't feel it. More vibration means more wear and tear on all the equipment, more wear on tires & bearings.