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Slightly upward bent axle - can it be straightened?

Colorado_BruceColorado_Bruce Member Posts: 31
in Modifications & Upgrades
Hello T@G-a-lites...

I am the new owner of a 2021 T@G XL.  I noticed after I got home with it, that the tires had excessive wear on the INSIDES of the tires.  Investigation has revealed that the axle is slightly bent upward in the middle, causing positive camber and the inside tire wear.

I see the theory on the 'net that this can be DIY corrected: "To straighten a bent trailer axle, you can use a hydraulic jack to apply pressure at the bent area while monitoring the alignment with a level."

Has anyone tried to straighten a trailer axle?



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Comments

  • The_RiggerThe_Rigger Member Posts: 186
    edited August 14
    I suspect you'll need to put some considerable amount of heat in the axle, in addition to the pressure applied from the jack or press.
    Personally, I wouldn't bother; a replacement axle isn't all that expensive, and the steel in your bent axle was stressed beyond it's yield point (obviously) which creates a weak spot from here on out. If you straighten it and it bends again - which ain't all that hard to imagine - you're gonna end up replacing it anyway. Any trailer shop or RV center worthy of the name could whip a new axle into it in a couple of hours tops.
    YM, of course, MV...

    Dave in Michigan
    '21 T@G XL
    "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there." ~ The Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland)

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  • Colorado_BruceColorado_Bruce Member Posts: 31
    edited August 14
    Good advice @The_Rigger!  I am going for an axle inspection today, at a place that only does trailer repair (they are not an RV dealer).
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  • Colorado_BruceColorado_Bruce Member Posts: 31
    Back from trailer repair place.  Axle bent, spindles also bent.  Only remedy is a new axle.  They suggested a 3500 lb Dexter.  $1625.00 installed....
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  • The_RiggerThe_Rigger Member Posts: 186
    edited August 18
    Colorado_Bruce said:
    Back from trailer repair place.  Axle bent, spindles also bent.  Only remedy is a new axle.  They suggested a 3500 lb Dexter.  $1625.00 installed....
    Sounds like cheap insurance to me.
    If someone had attempted to straighten the old one and it failed at speed, you'd be lucky to get out of it for triple that amount of money, if not considerably more.

    Dave in Michigan
    '21 T@G XL
    "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there." ~ The Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland)

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