Well POOP !

Bud Kennedy · May 07, 2017, 11:16:58 AM

Went to the storage lot to pick up the boat and discovered that one of the trailer tires is flat. Gonna take the compressor over to see if that helps but most likely gonna have to put on the spare so I can really check into why the tire went flat. What a pain in the butt.

Bud Kennedy · May 07, 2017, 02:26:39 PM

Spare tire is now on the boat trailer. The tire with the flat has a leak in the valve stem. Did not see any other damage. I however do note that the inside edge of this tire has worn quite a bit. Bit of a surprise since the I don't tow all that much and when I do it is only a couple miles at a time. Got to figure out what is causing that. Seems like an obvious alignment deal.

Donald Garner · May 07, 2017, 02:45:40 PM

Trailer flats aren't fun even when they're in your drive way. I had a friend that owned a 1987 370 Ranger and he was always having worn trailer tire issues. It always seems that it was the inside of the tire that wore out the fastest.

Good luck getting the tire issue squared away.

Pacific NW Ron · May 07, 2017, 04:20:34 PM

Better at home then on the road for sure. At least you had a spare. We've all seen a lot of boats setting along side the road with a flat and no spare

Ron

Oldfart9999 · May 07, 2017, 06:05:21 PM

Good thing it happened there and not at 55 or 60 on an X-way. It sounds like it may be a camber issue Bud, if you have it checked out I hope it's something simple.
Rodney

Thornback · May 07, 2017, 07:12:07 PM

I keep a can of Flat-Fix in my boat. I don't know if it will work but it's worth a try. Regarding uneven tire wear -- Very important to keep tires well inflated to the max and pressure checked every six or eight weeks. I do my truck and trailer tires at the same time and I always have to add a few extra pounds. So far all the tires are showing even wear.

merc1997 · May 07, 2017, 08:19:15 PM

boat trailers are the worst in the world to get to wear tires evenly. since the spindles are welded in place, and the axle mountings are welded on, it is not too hard to see that things do not always come out square to the world.

in our part of the world, we have nothing but curves, and that alone will wear the heck out of the tire edges.

bo

Mike Cork · May 08, 2017, 09:26:51 AM

Bud is just the one side of both?

Bo is right in that even with jigs and alignment tools during welding, things get catty whompus.

If it's just one side, do you have a hard turn you have to make into your storage?

My father had an issue. After several years backing his boat into the drive way the exact same way and having to replace the same side tire repeatedly. He discovered that changing the direction he approached the house doubled his tire life span. But now he has to buy two at a time $:-\$

Bud Kennedy · May 08, 2017, 10:16:22 AM

I am heading back to the storage lot in just a bit. I am for sure gonna check the other tire to see if it is wearing as well. I don't have to make any sharp turns to get into the storage area but the turn getting into my drive is a bit sharp. Tire shop just called and my tire is ready for pick up so it looks like the boat will be here at the house today to get ready for the river tomorrow.

Yesterday I used the scissors jack from my expedition to change the trailer tire and that was a real pain in the butt. I now have a 6 ton bottle hydraulic bottle jack and that should make this whole thing easier. Sure makes you think about what if this happened along the road somewhere. Gonna keep the new Jack in the boat or the truck just incase this happens again and it probably will.

I'll let you know if the other tire shows the same wear.

Mike Cork · May 08, 2017, 10:20:38 AM

Just after getting my current boat, I was fortunate to have a flat in the carport. I say fortunate because the fancy wheels they put on the trailer have very small lug nut insets. My four way would not fit in them to get the nut off. I have to use a socket... had it happened onthe road, I would have been screwed. Now I carry what I need.

merc1997 · May 08, 2017, 10:38:18 AM

Quote from: Bud Kennedy on May 08, 2017, 10:16:22 AM
I am heading back to the storage lot in just a bit. I am for sure gonna check the other tire to see if it is wearing as well. I don't have to make any sharp turns to get into the storage area but the turn getting into my drive is a bit sharp. Tire shop just called and my tire is ready for pick up so it looks like the boat will be here at the house today to get ready for the river tomorrow.

Yesterday I used the scissors jack from my expedition to change the trailer tire and that was a real pain in the butt. I now have a 6 ton bottle hydraulic bottle jack and that should make this whole thing easier. Sure makes you think about what if this happened along the road somewhere. Gonna keep the new Jack in the boat or the truck just incase this happens again and it probably will.

I'll let you know if the other tire shows the same wear.

bud, i am going to doubt that you can get a bottle jack under the axle when you have a flat tire. this is the reason that i always carry a scissor jack to get under the axle when dealing with a flat on the boat.

bo

Bud Kennedy · May 08, 2017, 12:22:11 PM

Bo the bottle jack worked out just great. You are correct you cannot get it under the axle when the tire is flat but placed it on the trailer frame next to the axel and got the job done. The scissors jack worked just fine yesterday but could not get it under the axel either and had to put it on the frame. Certainly not my preference but it is secure and it worked.

merc1997 · May 08, 2017, 02:37:13 PM

Quote from: Bud Kennedy on May 08, 2017, 12:22:11 PM
Bo the bottle jack worked out just great. You are correct you cannot get it under the axle when the tire is flat but placed it on the trailer frame next to the axel and got the job done. The scissors jack worked just fine yesterday but could not get it under the axel either and had to put it on the frame. Certainly not my preference but it is secure and it worked.

good deal. my scissor jack is an old walker and it collapses to nothing. the screw on it is very fine threaded and is supported with bearings and will raise anything with very little effort.

bo