Buoy-Master
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2006
- Messages
- 10,855
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</div><div>Lord...Ive seen it all in 21 years building boat trailers. This one just hit my top 5. Probably a close 1st to people that ram their boats on trailers enough to break winch stands and bow stops.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span></div>
Heres the deal.... Installing axles yourself is really quite simple but if you don't use the proper parts then do not expect the axle to hold up and perform the way it should!.</p>
Below is a series of photos I took to "see" if the manufacture would warranty the end units. I knew when I walked up to the trailer that there was NO WAY IN HELL this was going to happen. The "failed" axle was purchased in 09 and was completely installed wrong. The man argued with me that he had 5 years on the axle and that we better take care of him. First off, don't run car tires on a boat trailer. Thats just dumb! Sidewalls on trailer tires are stronger and thicker than automotive. Secondly, make sure that you don't have the shackles resting on the frame. This guy had them on the frame for years and it started embedding its self into the frame!</p>
Equalizers and shackles, along with the springs and built in camber carry the entire load. IF they DO NOT have room for movement then the entire load rest completely on the end of the spindle causing stress and more heat than usual. Typically, there should be 1 1/2 to 2 inches of room between the shackles and frame. You'll see that this guy made sure there wasn't! The end unit failed and pretty much totaled itself. This guy is also a local commercial fisherman. With that said, there's not telling how much was riding on this thing through the years. Heck, I think the end unit and axle did VERY WELL under that many years of stress! I need to also add that he purchased 6 leaf springs last year and never installed them. Really wouldn't have matter either because with out a larger equalizer, the space between frame and shackles wouldn't have changed. ALL the weight was crammed into the frame and straight to that spindle. Sad!</p>
Oh yea...Lug nuts should be tight too!!!! Sorry but people like this don't need to be driving rigs around town.</p>
Please do yourself a favor and also try to take repairs like this to a marine dealer in town. This guy is pissed yet he is the only one to blame.</p>
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</div><div>Lord...Ive seen it all in 21 years building boat trailers. This one just hit my top 5. Probably a close 1st to people that ram their boats on trailers enough to break winch stands and bow stops.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre"> </span></div>
Heres the deal.... Installing axles yourself is really quite simple but if you don't use the proper parts then do not expect the axle to hold up and perform the way it should!.</p>
Below is a series of photos I took to "see" if the manufacture would warranty the end units. I knew when I walked up to the trailer that there was NO WAY IN HELL this was going to happen. The "failed" axle was purchased in 09 and was completely installed wrong. The man argued with me that he had 5 years on the axle and that we better take care of him. First off, don't run car tires on a boat trailer. Thats just dumb! Sidewalls on trailer tires are stronger and thicker than automotive. Secondly, make sure that you don't have the shackles resting on the frame. This guy had them on the frame for years and it started embedding its self into the frame!</p>
Equalizers and shackles, along with the springs and built in camber carry the entire load. IF they DO NOT have room for movement then the entire load rest completely on the end of the spindle causing stress and more heat than usual. Typically, there should be 1 1/2 to 2 inches of room between the shackles and frame. You'll see that this guy made sure there wasn't! The end unit failed and pretty much totaled itself. This guy is also a local commercial fisherman. With that said, there's not telling how much was riding on this thing through the years. Heck, I think the end unit and axle did VERY WELL under that many years of stress! I need to also add that he purchased 6 leaf springs last year and never installed them. Really wouldn't have matter either because with out a larger equalizer, the space between frame and shackles wouldn't have changed. ALL the weight was crammed into the frame and straight to that spindle. Sad!</p>
Oh yea...Lug nuts should be tight too!!!! Sorry but people like this don't need to be driving rigs around town.</p>
Please do yourself a favor and also try to take repairs like this to a marine dealer in town. This guy is pissed yet he is the only one to blame.</p>
