Boat trailer problem

  • buckeye
    Posts: 105
    June 22, 2012 at 8:05 pm #1277810

    I have an 03 Shorelander trailer under my 03 Mr. Pike. Trailer has started bouncing (vibrating) badly as I go down the highway. One tire is cut a bit on the one edge but not nearly as bad as I’ve seen on other trailers over the years. Dealer thinks that there’s a broken belt but would that make both tires vibrate going down the road? Started kind of suddenly and is now to the point that you can feel the vibration in the truck. Tires are constantly bouncing. Current tires are Goodyear Marathons. New tires are going to be something different. Anybody seen this before? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, R

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18625
    June 22, 2012 at 8:15 pm #1078124

    You could always cycle the spare through both spots and test drive. Lot of time and trouble but you would know for sure.

    minnesota_tom
    Grand Meadow, MN
    Posts: 204
    June 22, 2012 at 8:15 pm #1078125

    Change tires before you go any further. I had one do that last year. Of course it blew on I-94 at 70 mph. Changing the flat isn’t a big deal, but when you consider the damage it did to the fender, lights, and wiring, new tires are cheap.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    June 22, 2012 at 8:34 pm #1078131

    If the tires are original from 2003. They are shot anyways. Replace now. Trailer tire life is only 6 years regardless of miles.

    And X2 on the fender damage prevention!

    -J.

    Geerdes
    Brandon, SD 57005
    Posts: 791
    June 22, 2012 at 8:36 pm #1078132

    I would agree probably a broken belt. Try with a different tire before proceding.

    socaljim55
    Posts: 19
    June 22, 2012 at 9:27 pm #1078146

    I also have a 2004 Lund Mr.Pike w/ shorelander roller trailer. I had the exact same problem last year. Changed the tires and it went away. But now at 50-57mph it starts to shake again. Only at those speeds. When I had the new tires put on we notice my rim was slightly bent. The tech bent it back straight. I have wonderd if that’s the issue. I’ve had the bearings replaced in the meantime and its done nothing. Have you notice a bent rim? I’m going to swap my spare on each to see if it fixes the problem.

    buckeye
    Posts: 105
    June 22, 2012 at 10:56 pm #1078167

    Swapped out spare, problem solved. Thanks guys!! R

    barebackjack
    New Prague, MN.
    Posts: 1023
    June 23, 2012 at 1:24 am #1078185

    Just out of curiosity, are you actually able to see the vibration in the front of the frame when you look out your side mirror? If so, this post will answer a question I have had since last year.

    Castaway
    Otsego,MN
    Posts: 1573
    June 23, 2012 at 2:25 am #1078197

    If it only vibrates at a certain speed it is probably just out of balance and needs to be balanced. If it vibrates at all speeds then it is probably a broken belt or bad tire.

    buckeye
    Posts: 105
    June 23, 2012 at 3:12 am #1078201

    The fender was jumping like mad and I could see in my mirror. R

    buckeye
    Posts: 105
    June 23, 2012 at 3:14 am #1078202

    Frame was shaking like mad also and could be seen on mirror. R

    BBKK
    IA
    Posts: 4033
    June 23, 2012 at 3:48 am #1078209

    Quote:

    If the tires are original from 2003. They are shot anyways. Replace now. Trailer tire life is only 6 years regardless of miles.

    And X2 on the fender damage prevention!

    -J.

    Really? I have a 91 ranger with stock tires, less than 5000 miles on them, perfect condition. I also have a 98 lowe duck boat with stock trailers, been stored outdoors for its entire life, tires are in great shape.

    What tires are you using that go bad after 6 years? I think I would switch brands ASAP!

    onestout
    Hudson, WI
    Posts: 2698
    June 23, 2012 at 4:00 am #1078211

    all tires break down over time and this can happen from the inside out causing tread seperation. After 6 years your chances increase greatly that the tires could fail. If you want to chance it go for it, a lot of people do. I don’t want to chance it and change my tires out regularly.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    June 23, 2012 at 1:50 pm #1078229

    Quote:

    What tires are you using that go bad after 6 years? I think I would switch brands ASAP!

    Google it. (Trailer Tire Lifespan) General consensus from many sources is in that 6 year period. Lot of articles have been written on the topic.

    Have you ever seen the damage a blown tire can do to a custom Ranger trailer?

    -J.

    BBKK
    IA
    Posts: 4033
    June 23, 2012 at 3:13 pm #1078234

    Does this go for the big tires too? My ranger has some big tires on it, just like car tiers, where as most trailers I have seen have little skinny tires. I dont think I would trust the skinny trailer tires after about 5 years, but these tires on the ranger are damn near the same as the ones on the truck. I sure as hell dont change out the tires on the truck every 6 years unless they need it, and the truck gets about 200X more miles a year.

    barebackjack
    New Prague, MN.
    Posts: 1023
    June 23, 2012 at 4:32 pm #1078237

    Thanks for the response Buckeye. I am going to opt to replace the tires, they are likely 10 years old as is the boat.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    June 23, 2012 at 7:06 pm #1078265

    Quote:

    Does this go for the big tires too?

    Yes.

    -J.

    iceman35
    upstate New York
    Posts: 423
    June 25, 2012 at 10:26 am #1078454

    6 years?? I’d go more like 3 or 4 to replace… get them to a tire shop, replace with TRAILER tires. balance and check the rims. Sounds to me this guy just put a 9 year old spare on…

    big_g
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 22456
    June 25, 2012 at 3:23 pm #1078508

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Does this go for the big tires too?

    Yes.

    -J.

    If you parked your truck for 7 months a year & used it sparingly the other 5 months (not a daily driver), you’d be buying tires every 6 years on your truck too. It isn’t that the tread is gone, the tire compounds begin to break down and sitting in one postion under load, causes stress cracking (IE dry rot) (the best thing for a tire is to be spinning regularly under proper inflation)

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