Check Your Axle Mounting Plates On Your Trailer

[Trulyvintage]

For the past several months I have

been pulling an all aluminum custom

built enclosed car hauler trailer

on a dally basis.

 

This warning applies to all trailers ⚠️

 

Check your axle mounting plates ✅

 

My trailer had less than 50K miles

on it when the following occurred …

 

On my tandem 5200 pound torsion axle 
trailer - the passenger mounting plate
on the front axle completely broke
and separated the axle from the trailer.

 

This happened in a two hour span 
over 100 miles without any noticeable 
prior warning signs - although the axle
plate probably was cracking for awhile.

 

Prior to this - I didn’t consider

axle mounting plates a necessary inspection

item for trailer maintenance

 

Now I do.

 

The axle plates are aluminum and are
welded to the aluminum square tube
frame - but this can happen with steel
axle plates as well.

 

 

If you own a trailer - check each axle plate 
to make sure they are not cracking ….

 

Jim

Edited March 1, 2023 by Trulyvintage (see edit history)

[Avanti Bill]

I have a 2010 Featherlite with 6000 lbs dexter torsion axles.  I was adjusting the brakes and saw a crack from the elliptical mounting hole in the axle pad.  Pulled both axles and found all for holes on both axles had crack to the edge.  Talked to Featherlite and they blamed it on the terrible roads (trailer had about 60K miles) and I said BS.  They said they fixed them all the time by welding a 3/8 plate on top of the pad which I had done by a local shop.  I seems to me Dexter is using substandard steel in the mounting pad but easier to fix it then try to get them to do anything about it.  Everyone should inspect this area of their trailer. 

[Trulyvintage]

Dexter uses foreign components like

most manufacturers - final assembly

of components may or may not be 

in the states - quality control lies

with the person pulling the trailer.

 

Be Diligent !

 

Here is a YouTube video detailing

my problem that I took with the

excellent mobile welder I found

that made the repairs:

 

@ 

 

 

Jim

 

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by Trulyvintage (see edit history)

[stretch cab]

I work at a major trailer companies parts department and we see lack of maintenance every day.  I just got off the phone with a man asking how to grease his bearings.  I asked him how long it had been since he inspected and greased the bearings and his response was, 4 years.  I don't think anything mechanical should go near that long without inspection!

[Avanti Bill]

Cracks on all 8 mounting points, bolts were all tight.  Poor quality steel I think.