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Posts: 52
| I have a 2013 Ranger 621 which has a tandem axle trailer. I just noticed quite a bit of wear on the inside half of one tire. I took it to a truck and trailer repair shop yesterday and they recommend replacing the entire rear axle. They are checking on the price of getting an axle from Ranger but are thinking it may be about $5,000 to replace just one axle. Anyone else had problems with this and are there any other options? | |
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Posts: 1039
| Before you do that, check the date on the tire. If you can't, take it to a Tires Plus or something like that and have them check the date.
I've burned a lot of tires over the years, it seems like those trailer tires just go fast when you are pulling 2+ hours on the highway and they heat up.
Recently I had a bald spot on a tire. Rest of the tire was fine. Took it to Tires Plus and I was pretty ticked as I thought it was a tire that I got from them 1 year ago.
That was not the case, it was from 2010. Must have been an old spare that I put on the trailer the last time I replaced tires. Since it was old, it kind of rotted from the inside out and caused that bald spot.
I now replace my back two tires every two years. Back tires get moved to the front, front ones get recycled, new ones go on the back. | |
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Posts: 431
| Before replacing the axle take the trailer with boat to a shop that can check alignment. If axles are in align it would be a tire issue. Axles are easy to replace, I did both on my 2005 620. Also check the point where the torsion knuckle is press fit into the axle tube. This should be tight and close if there is a gap the torsion knuckle is pulling out of the axle tube and this is a warrentee issue. Ranger replaced both of my axles for free. I just had to install them. Ranger knows that there is an issue with this, trust me I have had several conversations with them. | |
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Location: 31 | Juhas - 6/19/2020 4:43 AM
Before replacing the axle take the trailer with boat to a shop that can check alignment. If axles are in align it would be a tire issue. Axles are easy to replace, I did both on my 2005 620. Also check the point where the torsion knuckle is press fit into the axle tube. This should be tight and close if there is a gap the torsion knuckle is pulling out of the axle tube and this is a warrentee issue. Ranger replaced both of my axles for free. I just had to install them. Ranger knows that there is an issue with this, trust me I have had several conversations with them.
I remember my 08 trailer wheels would bow out differently on the same side when turning the trailer tightly, bet it was a problem with the torsion knuckle you mentioned because I ended up having to replace 1 of the axles. I also had a problem with the inside tread on the tires wearing out prematurely too.
I can't remember if that happened after replacing the axle on the 08, because I sold the boat not long after. However, although there is still a slightly different angle between the wheels on the same side when turning in tight places with my 15, it's nowhere near as severe as I remember with the 08.
Juhas, I found your post be very informative (thank you), can you please elaborate on what you watch for, and what you do now to troubleshoot. For instance, the the amount of angle between the wheels when turning tightly.
BTW, although I can't remember the exact price of the axle replacement on the 08, we ordered it from Ranger and the total for parts and labor was no where near 5k.
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| Most likely an axle but several other things to check first. Lift trailer so that wheel is off ground. Grab top and bottom of tire and push/pull wheel to check bearing play. 1/8 inch is acceptable. Check C bolt on hub/axle trailer arm to see if bolt is torque 150lbs. Check for negative camber and toe out on worn wheel axle. Measure distance between the same tire groove on left and right same axle tire. Measure both front and back of tire. A difference of 1/8 inch is acceptable.
The axle is pretty easy to replace if you choose to do it yourself. 4 bolts hold it to trailer. Cost is around $400. As Chris said, call Ranger warranty first. They have new procedures now so you may have to go through dealer. | |
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Posts: 431
| Jerry
The engineer at Ranger asked me to look at where the upper portion of the torsion knuckle was pressed into the axle tube and to see if there was a gap. The knuckle should be tight against the tube. Mine was out about a quarter of an inch, which meant that the knuckle assembly was pulling out of the axle tube, thus throwing the trailer out of alignment. Basically in my first 4 years of owning the boat I went through several seals and three sets of tires! Once I replaced the axles, which had the new Votrtex hubs no more tire wear! I loved that boat but the trailer was crap. 2005 was the first year they went to the armor coat. I also had several places where welds developed rust because the coating did not stick to the weld. I also had the problem with the pivot tube on the swing tongue split because it was too thin,another issue Ranger knew about. Now, the torsion knuckle in press fit into the end of the axle tube into a rubber bushing. The longer the bushing the more weight the trailer will handle, but its still a pressed in application no mechanical pin or fitting. When this starts to slide out it throws the whole trailer out of alignment. Now I can't speak to the angles of the wheels when making a tight turn. All I know is that when backing the trailer into my drive it made me sick how those wheels twisted and looked. Now its my opinion that one of the reasons Ranger had so many issues with those older liquid oil bath hubs was due to the play in the torsion system they used. I believed that the seals could not handle the twisting forces. Just my two cents, but I will tell you I will never own a torsion style trailer! | |
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Location: 31 | Juhas - 6/19/2020 6:12 PM
All I know is that when backing the trailer into my drive it made me sick how those wheels twisted and looked.
That's what I was talking about with the 08. I move my boats around my place with a ball on a skid loader bucket and could really see the 08 wheels twisting... it just never looked right. Like I said, the 2015 wheel don't move or twist much, it has oil bath hubs... no issues yet.
Not sure if they improved on knuckle assembly between 08 and 15... anyone know?
Oh, and 5k sounds like enough for an entire new trailer to me.
Edited by Jerry Newman 6/20/2020 8:22 AM
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Ranger Trailer Axle