I have been doing trailer repair for 15 years here in wisconsin. You wouldn't believe the things i have come across with bent axles, bad frames that look like a roller coaster. When i replace frames and replace axles, its all about measuring,measuring, measuring before you weld or bolt on axles. Not to mention, i have not came across a trailer that square yet. So its frustrating when trying to measure from cross members to axle brackets when you cant count on it being square. So once again, measure, measure.
Very good info. My dad's utility trailer is wearing the tires unevenly, so this will help find out why. Also, I am going to save this as "watch before buying a used trailer".
Great video. I have a RV that has an axel alignment issue. I did not know where to start; this will give me a starting point to determine the next step. Thanks
Best video i have seen on u- tube. I have a dump trailer wearing tires out on both axles, one on the front axle right side and one on the rear left side . Getting ready to look at it . I subscribed your channel!
Had your measurements been equal on the rear axle to the hitch, would you have then suspected a camber problem with the left rear? Many times ignorant tire changers place a roller jack under the axle tube to far in and bend it jacking it up, resulting in the camber will be off on the hubs.
Fantastic explanation! As an RV owner my top priority is safety as we travel. Thank you for the visual of a cracked frame and what to look for with tire wear and how you take measurements of the axle and frame. Well done Sir!!
Great Video!! As always your explanations are clear and informative. Quick question, what is the best procedure to prevent or what do you do if the shackles flip when you lift the trailer completely off the ground?
I’ve enjoyed your videos very helpful. I’ve worked in a collision shop for over 42 years and we used to measure our frames the exact same way I would suggest putting rows of 2 inch tape on the floor depending on how often you do that you could end up with a Lot of marks on the floor I would love to see a video on how to diagnose the electric brakes, correct any possible problems? I have a 25 foot enclosed car trailer with tandem axles and electric brakes and over the years they just seem have gotten soft. I tried moving gain making physical break adjustments didn’t seem to be the problem Thanks and have a great day
Great video . I see so many trailers that are scary! People don’t have a clue. They buy a 12000 lbs trailer and then they put a 20000 lbs machine on it!
Unfortunately, I see so much of it, too! It doesn’t help that I do this for a living so stuff like that sticks out like a sore thumb for me. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching! I would have loved to do that follow up, however when we are dealing with actual repairs and not mock ups, it’s hard to make the timing work. This customer actually had an out of state job to be on with that trailer, so they took it with them. We had to order a set of axles for it and he brought it back when they came in. We swapped it out for him on his days off and he was quickly back on the road.
I have horse trailer with one tire wearing.... now I know at least how to measure it! Perfect video, well done and cracked frame seems obvious as stated.
Thanks for this video. I recently picked up a Bravo scout that has issues. It worked as is for the reason we bought it. But will be fixing it when we get home to Idaho. Over 4k miles, it destroyed the front right tire, wearing the inside down the belt.
Thank you for the information! M new trailer. Making me think twice about my leaf springs Making a noise, haven't had a chance to inspect it, trailer is 2 yrs old, a year to me!😮
Great videos! How does one determine if axles are bent?? Not sure if you’ve done a video on that already. Also please explain terms for those who don’t do this for a living😎. Fish plate??
Will this method work the same for welded on torsion axels? We have been having a lot of bent axels come into our work lately, all with torsion axels, just wondering if the results would differ from using this method on a torsion vs. Leaf sprung set up
Good question! I honestly don’t have a clue. Several of my customers found me by contacting their trailer manufacturer. You could possibly start there.
Hello, I have watched several of your videos. Like always, when you think you pretty much know something, you learn something new or better! Thanks! Also I wish you were here in the Denver area so I could have you look at my utility trailer. 8X12 single axle. The driver side wheel tilt inward at the top towards the trailer only when loaded. wondering what’s the issue. Thanks again
It is possible to do the axle measurements solo. As in the video, use a plumb bob on the coupler. Where the plumb bob points, drive a nail or spike into the ground. Obviously that work on asphalt or gravel, but not concrete. Double check the position of the nail head with the plumb bob again. I can't seem to drive a nail straight. Attach the lead of the tape measure to the nail/spike and you can then get the measurements at the other points on the suspension. It's sometimes possible to drive the nail through an opening in the tape measure lead. If your tape measure supports this, it is the most accurate way.
Videos pertaining to the construction and proper planning of trailer builds would be interesting. I see a lot of trailers that cannot possibly be arranged properly to balance the intended loads. Trailer manufacturers simply make a one size fits most and folks just use them until they break. A proper thought out trailer build lasts much longer due to weight distribution and structural choices early in the build.
Wish this video would have dropped a month ago. Just finished replacing all suspension components on my tandem 3500 axle travel trailer. The right rear spring center bolt had sheared off and U-bolts shifted rearward. The alignment is much better now after replacing everything but I doubt that it's perfect.
It’s not too late! Now that you have everything replaced and it’s all had time to settle, you can measure everything out and check it. Thanks for watching!
hi, i am building my own tandem and i have a lot of problems with the equaliser. is there many model of equaliser size,my tandem is 13 inch wheel and all 3500 leaf spring. 23.25 between leaf eye. thanks if you can show 2,3 model of equaliser ,now i installed EQ-310 and i found it to be wait to high n the center so my leaf are jumming ,,and i have to use a big screew driver to take them back in position. i need support 1 thanks in advance. Gervais. PS thanks for the video
I have a question for you. You made your marks and measured and then discovered that the problem was on the opposite side from where you at first assumed the problem existed. I would assume that the measurement on the side that was faulty was a larger number/longer distance than the side you started on. What is the logic involved? Do axles predominantly shift to the rear, which determined your repair strategy? You would think that an axle with damaged hangers might move forward as easily as they'd move backwards due to hard braking; or did the position of the spring U-bolts, which I assume were farther off center on the springs, cause you to determine that the side you worked on was the problem.
The reason I thought it was on the right rear was because there was tire wear on the right rear. When we measured axle spacing, from axle to axle, it was off as well. We don’t always have a standard axle spacing number to go off of, especially on cargo trailers so our first thought was to look at the worn out tire. This is why it’s important to take the series of plum bob measurements which immediately showed us the left rear was the culprit. The measurement from the tongue to the front axle on each side was essentially equal. But the measurement from the tongue to the rear axle was off from one side to the other. Those rear axle measurements led to further investigation to what could cause it and to figure out if the axle was too far forward or too far backward. Measuring all the suspension components helped to determine what the proper placement of the axle should have been. It’s all of these measurements for proper placement, along with viewing the damage that helped to determine what the issue was. Ultimately, the whole rear axle was out of place on both sides-too far forward in the right and too far back on the left. After completing the repairs and speaking with the customer, they confirmed they had the tires off and didn’t put them back on in the original locations when they installed them. The worn tire indeed had been on the back left, before it got to my place, which further confirms the diagnosis.
I ran off the road and hit a hole about 6 inches deep at about 50 mph and it put a dent in the frame. The trailer was not overloaded. So your load is not always the problem.
Could be the driver . I have driven to Alaska the last three summer's . Plenty utility and camper's with broken springs, hangers and frames. Drive slow and read the road. Some lost control and went off the road. Stay safe.😊
@@TheTrailerSmith let me back up. Tire is leaning in at top and wearing on the inside. If the suspension is okay how to determine if it’s bent axle bent spindle etc.
I had a single Lippert torsion axle rated for 3500# that was bent. Spindle checked out OK. The driver side wheel was tipped in at the top. Today I replaced it with a new 4400# torsion axle, torqued the bolts to spec, put the wheels back on, lowered it to the ground and the same dang wheel is still tipped in! I had run tires for 6+ years on the old axle and never had an uneven wear pattern so I never fussed with it. I dunno what the heck is going on. Bent frame? The fridge/galley is in the driver side slide-out. The galley/slide weight?
Just an idea for marking with plumb bob...dip the tip in ink just enough so a drop forms at the tip and when you get your plumb with the bob about a 1/4 above the floor just lower it and the drop of ink will mark the floor perfectly every time. Might take a bit of getting used to.
![HOW TO ACCURATELY PLACE AND SQUARE TRAILER AXLES ] Step by Step instructions](/img/n.gif)
With the quality of your video episodes I am really amazed that you do not have a larger subscriber base. “Keep on keeping on!” Tim and Northern TN.
We really appreciate that vote of confidence! Thanks for taking the time to watch! Keep on keeping on!
I have been doing trailer repair for 15 years here in wisconsin. You wouldn't believe the things i have come across with bent axles, bad frames that look like a roller coaster. When i replace frames and replace axles, its all about measuring,measuring, measuring before you weld or bolt on axles. Not to mention, i have not came across a trailer that square yet. So its frustrating when trying to measure from cross members to axle brackets when you cant count on it being square. So once again, measure, measure.
Those hutch suspension setups are SO nice. We put about 1/4 million miles on a 12k tandam axle set that tires would wear perfect on.
Very good info. My dad's utility trailer is wearing the tires unevenly, so this will help find out why. Also, I am going to save this as "watch before buying a used trailer".
It’s never a bad idea to do a thorough check on any used trailer you intend to buy. That’s a great idea! Thanks for the feedback and for watching!
Great video. I have a RV that has an axel alignment issue. I did not know where to start; this will give me a starting point to determine the next step. Thanks
Best video i have seen on u- tube. I have a dump trailer wearing tires out on both axles, one on the front axle right side and one on the rear left side . Getting ready to look at it . I subscribed your channel!
Thanks for the sub and for watching! Hope this video helps you to diagnose your trailer’s issue.
how do you check for a bent axle? I have a 6" dropped axle. Also I have about 1.5 postive camber. I s that normal for a straight axle?
Had your measurements been equal on the rear axle to the hitch, would you have then suspected a camber problem with the left rear?
Many times ignorant tire changers place a roller jack under the axle tube to far in and bend it jacking it up, resulting in the camber will be off on the hubs.
Fantastic explanation! As an RV owner my top priority is safety as we travel. Thank you for the visual of a cracked frame and what to look for with tire wear and how you take measurements of the axle and frame. Well done Sir!!
Great Video!! As always your explanations are clear and informative. Quick question, what is the best procedure to prevent or what do you do if the shackles flip when you lift the trailer completely off the ground?
I’ve enjoyed your videos very helpful. I’ve worked in a collision shop for over 42 years and we used to measure our frames the exact same way I would suggest putting rows of 2 inch tape on the floor depending on how often you do that you could end up with a Lot of marks on the floor I would love to see a video on how to diagnose the electric brakes, correct any possible problems? I have a 25 foot enclosed car trailer with tandem axles and electric brakes and over the years they just seem have gotten soft. I tried moving gain making physical break adjustments didn’t seem to be the problem Thanks and have a great day
Good thing the owner brought it in to someone who knows what they're doing
Great video . I see so many trailers that are scary! People don’t have a clue. They buy a 12000 lbs trailer and then they put a 20000 lbs machine on it!
Unfortunately, I see so much of it, too! It doesn’t help that I do this for a living so stuff like that sticks out like a sore thumb for me. Thanks for watching!
Jay I'm assuming you meant a trailer rated up to 12k. Because if the trailer weighs 12k then it should handle a 20k machine no problem.
Nice Job !! How about a Video after making proper repairs to that trailer ?
Thanks for watching! I would have loved to do that follow up, however when we are dealing with actual repairs and not mock ups, it’s hard to make the timing work. This customer actually had an out of state job to be on with that trailer, so they took it with them. We had to order a set of axles for it and he brought it back when they came in. We swapped it out for him on his days off and he was quickly back on the road.
I have horse trailer with one tire wearing.... now I know at least how to measure it! Perfect video, well done and cracked frame seems obvious as stated.
Thanks for this video. I recently picked up a Bravo scout that has issues. It worked as is for the reason we bought it. But will be fixing it when we get home to Idaho. Over 4k miles, it destroyed the front right tire, wearing the inside down the belt.
Excellent how to and information.
Hope it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the information! M new trailer. Making me think twice about my leaf springs Making a noise, haven't had a chance to inspect it, trailer is 2 yrs old, a year to me!😮
Geez! This was so educational, thanks!
I have a brake controller with two control knobs. What are they for and how to adjust them. Thank you, Ron
I use Lucas high temp red grease what is your opinion on that grease?
Do Trailer Spring Shackle Bolts that can be greased make a difference?
What do you think of the comfort ride suspension on a RV trailer?
Great videos! How does one determine if axles are bent??
Not sure if you’ve done a video on that already.
Also please explain terms for those who don’t do this for a living😎. Fish plate??
Will this method work the same for welded on torsion axels? We have been having a lot of bent axels come into our work lately, all with torsion axels, just wondering if the results would differ from using this method on a torsion vs. Leaf sprung set up
Where can I go in the Tampa Florida area to get a trailer pro like you? Any idea thanks Harry Erhart Erhart landscaping
Good question! I honestly don’t have a clue. Several of my customers found me by contacting their trailer manufacturer. You could possibly start there.
Hello, I have watched several of your videos. Like always, when you think you pretty much know something, you learn something new or better! Thanks! Also I wish you were here in the Denver area so I could have you look at my utility trailer. 8X12 single axle. The driver side wheel tilt inward at the top towards the trailer only when loaded. wondering what’s the issue. Thanks again
You’re the best! About time someone did a video like this!
Thanks. Great video.
Your videos are great! I personally don’t like the music too much as I just want to enjoy listening to your tips!
Great videos! Thanks for the great content.
It is possible to do the axle measurements solo. As in the video, use a plumb bob on the coupler. Where the plumb bob points, drive a nail or spike into the ground. Obviously that work on asphalt or gravel, but not concrete. Double check the position of the nail head with the plumb bob again. I can't seem to drive a nail straight. Attach the lead of the tape measure to the nail/spike and you can then get the measurements at the other points on the suspension. It's sometimes possible to drive the nail through an opening in the tape measure lead. If your tape measure supports this, it is the most accurate way.
Videos pertaining to the construction and proper planning of trailer builds would be interesting.
I see a lot of trailers that cannot possibly be arranged properly to balance the intended loads.
Trailer manufacturers simply make a one size fits most and folks just use them until they break.
A proper thought out trailer build lasts much longer due to weight distribution and structural choices early in the build.
I have converted both of my campers to wet bolts. I don’t understand why they use those nylon bushings instead. I assume just cheaper to make?
Well done! Thank you!
Just posted a comment on another video asking about worn tire and then i seen this. I hope it helps
Wish this video would have dropped a month ago. Just finished replacing all suspension components on my tandem 3500 axle travel trailer. The right rear spring center bolt had sheared off and U-bolts shifted rearward. The alignment is much better now after replacing everything but I doubt that it's perfect.
It’s not too late! Now that you have everything replaced and it’s all had time to settle, you can measure everything out and check it. Thanks for watching!
hi,
i am building my own tandem and i have a lot of problems with the equaliser.
is there many model of equaliser size,my tandem is 13 inch wheel and all 3500 leaf spring.
23.25 between leaf eye.
thanks if you can show 2,3 model of equaliser ,now i installed EQ-310 and i found it to be wait to high n the center so my leaf are jumming ,,and i have to use a big screew driver to take them back in position.
i need support 1
thanks in advance.
Gervais.
PS thanks for the video
What’s the rough time to do this process usually?
thank you for your vidios. great help
Video idea
How to install axles on a brand new custom trailer.
Looking to build my own car trailer and I’m hung up on how to mount the axles
I straightened a bent axle on an 18 ft car hauler
😬😬
How does electric over hydraulic brakes work
excellent video,,,,Thanks !!!!!!
You are welcome! Hope it was helpful. Thanks for watching!
I have a question for you. You made your marks and measured and then discovered that the problem was on the opposite side from where you at first assumed the problem existed. I would assume that the measurement on the side that was faulty was a larger number/longer distance than the side you started on. What is the logic involved? Do axles predominantly shift to the rear, which determined your repair strategy? You would think that an axle with damaged hangers might move forward as easily as they'd move backwards due to hard braking; or did the position of the spring U-bolts, which I assume were farther off center on the springs, cause you to determine that the side you worked on was the problem.
The reason I thought it was on the right rear was because there was tire wear on the right rear. When we measured axle spacing, from axle to axle, it was off as well. We don’t always have a standard axle spacing number to go off of, especially on cargo trailers so our first thought was to look at the worn out tire. This is why it’s important to take the series of plum bob measurements which immediately showed us the left rear was the culprit. The measurement from the tongue to the front axle on each side was essentially equal. But the measurement from the tongue to the rear axle was off from one side to the other. Those rear axle measurements led to further investigation to what could cause it and to figure out if the axle was too far forward or too far backward. Measuring all the suspension components helped to determine what the proper placement of the axle should have been. It’s all of these measurements for proper placement, along with viewing the damage that helped to determine what the issue was. Ultimately, the whole rear axle was out of place on both sides-too far forward in the right and too far back on the left. After completing the repairs and speaking with the customer, they confirmed they had the tires off and didn’t put them back on in the original locations when they installed them. The worn tire indeed had been on the back left, before it got to my place, which further confirms the diagnosis.
I ran off the road and hit a hole about 6 inches deep at about 50 mph and it put a dent in the frame. The trailer was not overloaded. So your load is not always the problem.
Could be the driver . I have driven to Alaska the last three summer's . Plenty utility and camper's with broken springs, hangers and frames. Drive slow and read the road.
Some lost control and went off the road. Stay safe.😊
Would like a video on 3500 pound bent axle.
What specifically are you looking to be covered?
@@TheTrailerSmith let me back up. Tire is leaning in at top and wearing on the inside. If the suspension is okay how to determine if it’s bent axle bent spindle etc.
I had a single Lippert torsion axle rated for 3500# that was bent. Spindle checked out OK. The driver side wheel was tipped in at the top. Today I replaced it with a new 4400# torsion axle, torqued the bolts to spec, put the wheels back on, lowered it to the ground and the same dang wheel is still tipped in! I had run tires for 6+ years on the old axle and never had an uneven wear pattern so I never fussed with it. I dunno what the heck is going on. Bent frame? The fridge/galley is in the driver side slide-out. The galley/slide weight?
Well that would explain why the axle is bent!
Why do they reskin???
Just an idea for marking with plumb bob...dip the tip in ink just enough so a drop forms at the tip and when you get your plumb with the bob about a 1/4 above the floor just lower it and the drop of ink will mark the floor perfectly every time. Might take a bit of getting used to.