Water in trailer axle beam...

[DDA40X]

I have a nine-year-old utility trailer with a 5200-lb. axle. It sits outside and is used infrequently.

I recently pulled the excess electric brake wire out of the axle beam and the wire was quite wet.

I am considering drilling one or two small holes in the bottom of the axle beam to drain the water. I asked this of a trailer supply company and they advised against drilling the holes thinking it would weaken the axle. While that may be technically true, I'm skeptical that drilling one or two small holes would be worse than having an axle beam full of water. (I'm not too confident in that trailer supply company's technical opinion based on questionable advice they have given to others in the past).

Besides, the axle already has two 3/8" holes in it for the brake wire.

What do you all think - drill holes or not?

Thanks

 

[jaxs]

I would drill a hole at each end and occasionall blow them clear until I was sure all water had drained.

 

[oosik]

Agree - couple small holes isn't going to hurt anything.

BTW - Welcome to TBN and the forum.

 

[DDA40X]

jaxs and oosik - thanks for your replies.

 

[Deere Dude]

Do not drill through a wire so use a stop on the drill bit. It won't hurt anything.

 

[PILOON]

Do not drill through a wire so use a stop on the drill bit. It won't hurt anything.

Agree!
Then plug all openings temporarily and pour some oil into that axle tube to further deter rusting.

 

[ultrarunner]

An old trick to keep drain holes open was to put a cotter pin in the hole... the movement going down the road jiggled the dangling cotter pin keeping the hole open... Model A Fords used this trick on the bell housing drain hole.