Trailer frame out of square 6x10

[smokeless]

Have a 6x10 trailer frame made from 2x3 tube. Axles/hangers mounted and tongue on. Just measured front of hitch to each tire, nearly 1/4" difference. Measured corner to corner, same 1/4" difference. No decking installed. I hate to cut tongue off to straiten main frame, lots of work. Would it work to grind one side axle hangers off and adjust 3/16????? Appreciate thoughts

 

[yomax4]

Put a trailer ball in the coupler and measure from bottom center of stem to center of each axel stub. Might be right on. It has to be right on to be right on so what ever makes the most sense. I think you are on the right track. Good Luck.

 

[kthompson]

If I have this correct in my mind it is out of square 1/8 and inch, right? On a 10 foot long trailer you may be fine. If not much work to do so, get axle and tires on it and pull it to see how true it tracks. I do know they make trailers with one side that has setup where you can loosen the axle mount and get the alignment correct with a bolt setup that can push it backwards or forwards, sort of line adjusting the belt on multi pulley mower.

 

[tookielee]

you'll never notice it... but if it bugs you enough, make the adjustment by redrilling
the spring mounting plate center hole, or turn the hole into a slot.

 

[jaxs]

Before cutting or grinding anything,I would put a properly distributed load on trailer and take it for a spin to see if it really matters. I've towed trailers with bent tongues that didn't give me a problem while other did. In my experience,caster, camber and tow-in are as critical as tracking.

 

[smokeless]

If I have this correct in my mind it is out of square 1/8 and inch, right? On a 10 foot long trailer you may be fine. If not much work to do so, get axle and tires on it and pull it to see how true it tracks. I do know they make trailers with one side that has setup where you can loosen the axle mount and get the alignment correct with a bolt setup that can push it backwards or forwards, sort of line adjusting the belt on multi pulley mower.

Correct, i understand some outfits build trailers to .125 tolerance from coupler to the axle hubs. Mine is .250, each side out 1/8". Concerned excessive tire wear.

Just appears easier to adjust axle hangers versus remove tongue, square frame and reinstall tongue. Albeit thats probably best option.

I dont see any axle adjustment but will double check. By the way, slipper springs. Kinda like suggestion below to adjust hanger holes, that could put me in the .125 tolerance fairly easy. Did not really wanted to burn old hangers off and weld new on. Maybe redrill and weld stout washer over holes. Make sense??????

 

[Redlands Okie]

Yes it does

 

[jaxs]

Kinda like suggestion below to adjust hanger holes, that could put me in the .125 tolerance fairly easy. Did not really wanted to burn old hangers off and weld new on. Maybe redrill and weld stout washer over holes. Make sense??????

Too little contact surface,washers aren't enough bearing surface and will soon wallow out.

 

[smokeless]

Too little contact surface,washers aren't enough bearing surface and will soon wallow out.

I thought bout that, may just weld some plates or hangers adjacent and work from there. Guess i could split one hanger and weld 1/2 on each side, front and rear.

Still have not completely rulled out removing tongue, but thats a heap of work for a small adjustment. Thanks for posting

 

[aczlan]

Too little contact surface,washers aren't enough bearing surface and will soon wallow out.

Something that would work much better is a weld washer such as this one:
https://www.amazon.com/RuffStuff-Specialties-Weld-Washers-Repair/dp/B0155QMZ5Q/
They're intended to be welded in for a situation such as this, or if your bolt holes are all chewed up.

Aaron Z

 

[smokeless]

Something that would work much better is a weld washer such as this one:
https://www.amazon.com/RuffStuff-Specialties-Weld-Washers-Repair/dp/B0155QMZ5Q/
They're intended to be welded in for a situation such as this, or if your bolt holes are all chewed up.

Good suggestion, i will keep these in my repair "idea" basket. Am going to take another look tomorrow at the frame. Will report back later and much obliged to all who posted

 

[yomax4]

I bent a tongue slightly one time and I just took a cutoff and put a slit in the side and bent it back then welded the slit closed. That may work for you here to true it up if you have that option.

 

[the old grind]

Drive through a puddle & onto dry pavement beyond it to see what the tire tracks say about how far off center it pulls with a decent load, as suggested.

Any more than an inch of offset could be fatal, .. btw, for a rusty pickup 'dog-tracking' the guideline is more like 6".

 

[4570Man]

Does the trailer pull right? If so I wouldn’t bother with it.

 

[smokeless]

Does the trailer pull right? If so I wouldn稚 bother with it.

Have yet to pull the trailer. Built it couple years back, took ill and put it in the shed. I knew it was off some, did not think this much, thanks for posting

 

[smokeless]

Drive through a puddle & onto dry pavement beyond it to see what the tire tracks say about how far off center it pulls with a decent load, as suggested.

Any more than an inch of offset could be fatal, .. btw, for a rusty pickup 'dog-tracking' the guideline is more like 6".

Will do when i get it road worthy

 

[smokeless]

I bent a tongue slightly one time and I just took a cutoff and put a slit in the side and bent it back then welded the slit closed. That may work for you here to true it up if you have that option.

I've been thinking probably too much on this, but believe i will tackle the axle hanger adjustment somehow. Will study it some tomorrow and maybe post some pics. Thanks

 

[rangerfredbob]

Unless it's a dual axle, I doubt it will do anything odd, I'd just leave it... I'm sure all my trailers but maybe my HFT trailer (didn't measure it, but it's the newest I have... who knows) are off and only one of the dual axle trailers wears one tire goofy but I'm betting that's from the "custom width" axles that was done in the '80's by one of the previous owners... I have a 7x12 trailer that used to be a camp trailer before I got it for free, it was all bent to heck, got it straightish (eyeball) and welded in some random scrap metal supports, put nearly matched used car tires on it and put a deck on it, tows great!

 

[pmsmechanic]

Ten years ago or so I welded new axle hangers under my small tandem trailer. I don't know what I did wrong but one axle was spaced wider on one side than the other. I took it to an alignment shop and they they tweaked the axles until all the tires were tracking properly. One axle still is spaced wider on one one side than the other. It has never given any issues.

When ever I install a new set of tires on a trailer the trailer goes in for an axle alignment. It used to cost about $100/axle. It is money well spent.

 

[smokeless]

Unless it's a dual axle, I doubt it will do anything odd, I'd just leave it... I'm sure all my trailers but maybe my HFT trailer (didn't measure it, but it's the newest I have... who knows) are off and only one of the dual axle trailers wears one tire goofy but I'm betting that's from the "custom width" axles that was done in the '80's by one of the previous owners... I have a 7x12 trailer that used to be a camp trailer before I got it for free, it was all bent to heck, got it straightish (eyeball) and welded in some random scrap metal supports, put nearly matched used car tires on it and put a deck on it, tows great!

Reason i am some concerned is i use to know a trailer shop that would not accept any axle alignment to coupler greater than 1/8". Mine is a good 1/4 an i have no idea what happened. I will not pull it much, mower and mulch trailer, so running it as is makes a good case. Thanks