Boat Trailer tire alignment

[pperovich]

Any know a good place to get a boat trailer tires aligned?

[shamrock7]

Never heard of aligning the trailer tires as there is no adjustment as in a car. You can measure from the rear corners of the frame to the axle to verify that the axle is square to the frame but thats about the extent of what you can do.

[boatfixer]

I've always gone from a common point on the tongue to the spindles. I'm sure any mechanic shop or truck shop cab do this if you cannot.

[ripstick]

AS far as I know they just measure distance from axel to end of trailer and check to seeif both sides are the same.

[sparcebag]

 Originally Posted By: boatfixer

I've always gone from a common point on the tongue to the spindles. I'm sure any mechanic shop or truck shop cab do this if you cannot.

I also use the common tongue point (front center of tongue) remove tires and you should have equal measurements from tongue to front of each disc

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

I've always wondered about "Balancing" the trailer tires... (?)

[shamrock7]

Yes, they should be balanced just like your car tires.

[deacon]

Have had it done to two different boat trailers that tire wear was terrible, can make a tremendous difference. Price around $50 but need to check around as price could range from $50 to $150.

[Macgyver55]

In a case of extreme wear on tires, if an axle is bent, it can be straightened. On our straight axle vehicles, we send them to a local spring shop to be straightened and aligned. Its not really something you could do yourself though, and in the case of a trailer axle, a new one is probably a better and probably cheaper route.

[Northlander]

Dont waste your time paying to get a axle straightened. It will be a problem down the road later. Believe me I have been there. Get a new axle and you wont have to worry about eating up tires and old problems coming back. Plus from my experience I dont think a straightened axle is as strong or reliable.

[Macgyver55]

Before anything is done he'll have to determine if the tire wear is due to tire balance or axle misalignment. A good tire man can tell him that by a simple inspection.

If the axle is indeed the culprit, I would be more inclined to make my decision based on how/why the axle is out of alignment first, where the bend (or crooked weld) is second, and lastly, cost. There is NO guarantee that a new one will be right on. In most cases it will be ok, but I've seen plenty of crummy ones that were brand new. If the original is out-of-whack since new, straightening would be a viable option. If it was bent due to overloading, straightening would be a waste of effort, and will happen again with a similar load. In this case, installing a heavier rated axle would be a better choice.

If it was bent from hitting something, straightening is also an option. In most cases replacing would be the easiest option, but I wouldn't rule out straightening if it is a fairly heavy or expensive axle.

[Valv]

 Originally Posted By: Northlander

Dont waste your time paying to get a axle straightened. It will be a problem down the road later. Believe me I have been there. Get a new axle and you wont have to worry about eating up tires and old problems coming back. Plus from my experience I dont think a straightened axle is as strong or reliable.

And while there get a heavier rated axle, price won't be much more.