Adjusting axle load with hitch?

[Johnc3211]

I have a 1993 Sea Ray 250 Express Cruiser on a Load Rite aluminum tandem axle trailer. I picked it up 2 years ago, about this time. I live in Akron Ohio and bought the boat at a RV dealer in Syracuse NY. I ended up renting a U-Haul truck to get it home with no problems. I tow it with a 2021 Ram 1500. I use a 12000# 2" drop, 1" rise mount. I towed it to a local lake (10 miles away, rural roads) several times last summer with no trouble. I towed it to Lake Erie this summer (turnpike and interstate) and noticed the front axle tires were much warmer than the back axle tires. With the hitch at 2" drop the trailer sits pretty level. I don't want to move the boat back and mess up my tongue weight, it tows like a dream. Anybody have any idea how much weight would change on axles if I raise the ball 3"? Would it do any good? Thanks

 

[keokie]

If the front wheels are warmer on the trailer, I would assume it either only has brakes on the front axle, or those are the only ones working. Axles with properly functioning brakes should be warm after stopping.

Only a very severe axle overload would cause wheels to get warm. I doubt that is the case here.

You could also have a lack of grease, bad bearings/spindle,etc., but I'm guessing this is just properly functioning brakes.

Also, you said tires, but I am assuming you mean wheels. If the tires are significantly warmer than the rears, they are either under-inflated or overloaded.

 

[Blueone]

I say brakes or bearings as well….a small tongue weight change isn’t going to cause or fix heat

 

[Halfhitch]

To get your hitch height correct, you need to put a level on the trailer frame back near the axles and get the ball height set so the trailer frame is level. Then your tires will all be carrying similar weight.

 

[Johnc3211]

I guess I will tow it to a level area and check with a level and not my eye. It is the tires getting warmer. not wheels or hubs. The tires all had the proper pressure. The brakes are on the front axle but I let off and pretty much coasted into a rest stop on interstate to not heat up brakes when I checked. My trailer has torsion axles. Could there be a problem there?

 

[keokie]

I guess I will tow it to a level area and check with a level and not my eye. It is the tires getting warmer. not wheels or hubs. The tires all had the proper pressure. The brakes are on the front axle but I let off and pretty much coasted into a rest stop on interstate to not heat up brakes when I checked. My trailer has torsion axles. Could there be a problem there?

I don't think you have a problem. How much warmer are the tires? Warm rims will warm tires, and brakes will warm rims, even if you go easy on them. Do you have a temp gun? If so post some readings for us.

 

[Blueone]

When ever I stopped…. I always touched the hubs….never bothered touching the tires. I would think you would need an out of alignment problem to heat up tires…. Keep an eye on wear patterns

 

[Johnc3211]

Maybe I am jumping the gun a little. The boat is put away till next spring. Hoping when I check with level it is low in front which would explain it all. After an hour at 65 on highway, front tires were warm to touch and rear were not cool but not warm at all. All hubs were barely warm at all. Thanks all

 

[Blueone]

Maybe I am jumping the gun a little. The boat is put away till next spring. Hoping when I check with level it is low in front which would explain it all. After an hour at 65 on highway, front tires were warm to touch and rear were not cool but not warm at all. All hubs were barely warm at all. Thanks all

I think your hands might be too sensitive….that might be the whole problem here

 

[Bill Curtis]

Torsion axles on a tandem don't self level axle load between the axles like springed axles do and "will probably" cause some uneven loading if trailer isn't dead level. That being said, "slightly warmer" isn't a big problem as long as load limits on axles, wheels and tires are well within limits and tire pressures are set to side wall specs.

For torsion axles, trailer lower in front will cause the front axle to have more load on it and visa versa.

 

[Thornton69]

Are the tires wearing evenly? If your boat lives on the trailer and is stored with the tongue as high as possible, the bushings will likely fatigue faster in the rear axle than the front. As Bill mentioned, the weight is not evenly distributed.
I would not overthink it if the tires were wearing evenly. The trailer frame should be level when towing. Raising the front of it can lead to other problems. Safety would be the biggest in an emergency braking situation.