I had something very odd happen to me last week while trailering my boat to Beaufort. Both of my trailer brake lights broke off at the back of the plastic housing along the way down. This happened at separate times on I77 and I95. They cost $40 from Northern Tool so they were not cheap. At first I reasoned it must have been the HUGE pot holes on 77 and 95. 95s right hand lane is terrible between Walterboro and Hilton Head exits. North and south bound included. However I now think my trailer may not be set right and could possibly be causing internal damage to my boat!
The reason I say this is because my trailer has a shock absorbtion design that I have never seen before. It is not the typical layered steel spring where the wheel center hub and axil are aligned. My suspension shock design is offset from the center axil with a pivoting arm on each end that flexes up and down as the tire travels. The bearing hub slides on other end. I suspect the arm is “bottoming out” causing a shock to the entire trailer and boat. Its an aluminum trailer single axil. I am running 40 PSI in the tires. My description is probably not good enough so I am going post of pictures of the broken lights and my suspension tomorrow. Any help or suggestions where to start will be much appreciated.
This has really got me worried?..BTW - no fish were caught but I got to attend a great Cobia class with Captain Danny Rourk.
You’ve got torsion axles. They are really good and easy to work on. I have the same setup under my boat and love it. I’m not sure of the life of those axles, but I’m pretty sure its longer than leaf springs. The main reason I like them so much is the whole hub/spindle assembly is easy to change out on the side of the road. I keep a spare in the truck all the time just in case. Mine is a lot easier on the boat than leaf springs are.
40 psi is probably at least 10 lbs too low. Check your tire and inflate to maximum cold inflation pressure.
If the trailer is under-rated for the boat, you may indeed be bottoming out. If there is adequate clearance between fender and tire, the axle likely isn’t the culprit.
If the road is that bad, slow down or find an alternative route.
Even Chinese lights shouldn’t snap off due to trailer ‘shock’ loading. One cause, however, could be over-torquing the mounting bolts. Crack the housing and all bets are off.
I had trouble with pole lights breaking off while enroute. Hd them glued they broke the pipe (2 inch sch 40) and the light bracket itself so I know my glue joint was good. Had the PVC screwed to the bracket after first set broke because I thought it was bouncing too much. Defies physics…anyhow I replaced them with low profile led’s. My trailer has torsion axles also.
If your trailer is bottoming out hard enough to destroy your lights, I’d be less worried about the lights and more worried about how hard the rest of the rig is getting rattled. That would be hard on everything.
If the axle is bottoming out you are also using your tires as your suspension. Have you had or have any excessive tire wear? I’ve had this issue in the past it took me two sets of tires before I figured it out. Replaced the springs and haven’t had a problem since.
“Work is for people who don’t know how to fish”
2005 180 Flats Fox w/115 Yamaha 4 stroke
1996 1436 War Eagle w/25 Evinrude 2 stroke
At some point you may have caused damage to the torsion axles. Take it in and have them look at it.
Your light mounts may be flexing to much for the plastic to handle causing cracks and failure. Replace light brackets with something stronger. (Pics would help)
Overtightening the mounting bolts can also cause the plastic to fail or weaken the plastic around the bolts leading to fatigue and eventual failure.
Buy american made lights: www.sierraproductsinc.com
I got sick of replacing my lights every season and have been running the dry launch lights for 2 years. No rust, no problems. Lights work every time. Connections are made inside the light in the “dry” area so your wires/connections dont corrode.
Correct tire pressure should be posted on the trailer label. Tire pressure should coincide with the weight the trailer is hauling not just the max pressure of the tire. If each tire is rated for 2000lb at 80psi and your boat and trailer weight 1000lbs with the tiresat 80psi, that boat and trailer would bounce so much Tigger would be proud. now, if each tire is rated at 2000lbs and your boat and trailer weight close to 4000lbs then you should be running the max pressure of 80psi. These examples are just made up so dont try and use them. Just making a point.
I run 75psi on a single leaf pring axle trailer hauling a 20ft CC.
40lbs does sound a little low. Are the treads wearing evenly?
I don’t think the trailer is bottoming out. I would think if it was I would have tire wear and other items in the boat would be disturbed during travel. I don’t see any of this.
you need to run at least 50psi on the tires. they will tell you on the side of the tire. i went through a set quick when i first got my rig thinking that it was too much air. not a problem in the past 10 years once i smarted up.
Well it took all day but I have my brake lights repaired. I found some information from Tie Down Engineering that helped me determine if the torsion axles were in good shape. Looks like both side are fine. My trailer is rated at 3500 GVW. I am estimating my equipped boat at 2500 so I don’t think I am overloaded Unfortunately I ended up with the same lights but I have added and layer of rubber between the light and mount. I think I have to blame a combination of poor quality lights and poor road conditions?.we’ll see!
Can anyone recommend an alternate route from Fort Mill to Beaufort?
Below are some pictures of the light and boat/trailer
Well to answer your question Palmer here is a summary of the trip?.Heading down I77 after Catawba bridge pot holes I noticed the left light hanging by the wires. I repaired it at North Tool at the next exit. While getting a burger in Walterboro I notice the other light had done the same thing…
Well to answer your question Palmer here is a summary of the trip?.Heading down I77 after Catawba bridge pot holes I noticed the left light hanging by the wires. I repaired it at North Tool at the next exit. While getting a burger in Walterboro I notice the other light had done the same thing…
That would’ve had to have been one fast miscreant.
