Trailer Issues

[ericv09]

Info - 06 SAN with a Boatmate dual wheel trailer. I have trailer issues, and haven't figured out what is going on. To make it short, pulled the boat home from the lake Saturday night, parked on the side of road outside my house, unloaded kids and a couple things, 30 mins later went to back it down the driveway, when started to back down, it felt as if brakes were engaged (which they weren't, I have a pin I put when launching or storing the boat that keeps the tongue from activating the brake). I got out checked, it was dark, all looked ok. Same thing again, but I knew I had to get it in the driveway do I went ahead, leaving a black mark down my drive. Got up Sunday morning and checked it out, the front wheel on the driver's side was totally up against the fender well. I unbolted the fender well and the front tire looked bigger than back tire, thought maybe the tire had blown on inside and expanded. After getting fender well off, I had other stuff to do, came back to the trailer about 5 hours later, and the front tire was now off the ground a couple inches. I went ahead and put a jack and stand under the back tire on that side and removed the tire, got a new one, put it on this morning, removed jack and stand, and the front tire still off the ground. The trailer is almost level, just very slight slope on the driver's side (side with the issue).

What is going on? Did an axle bend or something when I began to back down the drive or something? I have backed down the drive many times with this boat over the last 2 years (my drive is down hill, but not drastic). Anyone ever experienced anything like this?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Proshoplv]

If your trailer has leaf springs, one of the brackets connecting the leaf to the trailer frame may have flipped over making that wheel ride high. Check all the brackets and be sure they all have the same orientation from the leaf spring to the frame. If it has torsion axles, its pretty much impossible for it to come out of adjustment since they are splined and have to be removed, rotated and reinstalled in order to be adjusted.
Hope that helps

[xrichard]

If you have torsion axles (e.g. no leaf springs...the "springs" are rubber components internal to the axle), then it is likely that the axle failed. It was a known problem in the early 2000s with UFP supplied axles and they generally were great about replacing them.

If it's a UFP axle, I'd contact them and see if they'll help out. I think the only fix is to replace the axle. (Two of mine were done under warranty.)

[ericv09]

Guys, thanks for the response. One thing I noticed yesterday when looking at the trailer, is that on the other three tires, the bracket coming off the frame that holds brake pads (has a brake line ran to it) is at a different angle than the one on the tire is sitting up high. The 3 are angled parallel to ground and the one is is probably 45 degrees more upwards.

How can I tell if leaf springs are not (I don't know alot about trailers)? Maybe I can get the serial # and contact Boatmate and they could give me some info? Also I will try to take some pics of underneath the trailer when I get home today and post them with this thread.

Thanks Again!

[ericv09]

I just spoke with a local marine place that works on Boatmate trailers and the main guy said he pretty sure it is the torsion axle, I am taking to them today so they can verify.

Richard, do you know how I can tell if it has UFP axles? I know it is out of warranty, but maybe they will help me out in some way.

[xrichard]

I'm not sure if there is a label on the axles...but you can look at the bearing protectors (the caps on the end of the axles) and see if they match up any of the ones shown on the UFP web site. Or call Boatmate and ask them if the axles are from UFP (or call UFP). UFP calls their protectors "Trailer Buddy." I know Boatmate has used UFP in the past.

http://www.ufpnet.com/Axles/tabid/55/Default.aspx

[ericv09]

Thanks Richard, after further investigating, it did say UFP on the axle. And it did turn out to be a broken axle. KUDOS to UFP, I called them up told them what happened and they sent me out TWO new axles, all I had to pay was shipping. Just hoping they get here and get them put on before the 4th of July!

Thanks all for the suggestions.

[CradGen2]

UFP Axles are famous for this. I had both replaced on my 2008 BM trailer. It was a major pain to get fixed. In fact I was backing down the ramp and the tire flipped completely backwards and crushed the fender.