trailer tire temps

[JRS]

I have a 1996 Mainliner 32 foot gooseneck enclosed race car trailer. I'm running four 15" Greenballs, Load Range E. I have owned the trailer since 2003. Ever since I purchased the trailer, the front left tire runs noticably cooler than the other three. This happens whether the trailer is empty or full, and it doesn't seem to matter how I load it. I have replaced all the wheel bearings, brakes, etc. , it didn't change anything. The trailer tracks and brakes straight and this doesn't seem to effect anything. Any ideas?

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

I was told by a trailer mech. that most will have uneven weight distribution, and some will settle, or change a bit with time. have you weighed the trailer on a truck scale by tire, and not by axle? see what the loading is, and go from there.



Good luck.

 

[JRS]

Thanks, I figured that's what it was. Everything seeks it's on level.

 

[WestTN]

That triangular spring mount that supports the rear end of the front axle spring and the front end of the rear axle spring distributes the weight equally to both axles. This assumes the trailer is level front to back when hitched. If your truck is raised to where the trailer is much higher in front than in back the rear axle will be carrying more weight, including the weight of the front axle. The other possibility is insufficient air pressure.



Most trailers seem to run their axles and tires pretty much at their maximum ratings. You should run the tires at maximum rated pressure avoid speeding while towing.

 

[JRS]

hhhmmm, I have torsion axles. wonder what that does to the equation? I have had good luck with using nitrogen in the trailer tires. I have a small nitrogen bottle in the trailer that I use for the race car tires. Much less of a pressure rise due to heat.



I agree on the speed, I limit mine to 60-65 mph. Unless, I'm passing a Ford or Chevy going uphill in a head wind!

 

[jelag]

I own several trailers. . work trailers as well as a 5th wheel... I've found with a digital infrared temp gauge that all the tires need to run within +/- about 20*F. and we usually find them in the 120-140 range..... I also check the wheel hubs and they range in the 90-120 range and should be +/- 20*F between them... The brakes seem to range +/- 50*F based on how much work they have done and if I coast into a rest area they are the same temp as the hubs... If I've just used the brakes we might see them 350-500* based on how hard they've been used.....

I've found tires that were bad because they ran 50* warmer than the rest...

Hope this helps... Oh BTW I've been doing this for the last 4 years... . easily 300K miles with the work suff...

 

[JRS]

I have towed this trailer all over the country, and never had any problems. At first, I thought I had too much weight on the other side. I tried moving the race car over several inches and put my three level tool box on that side. No change in temps.

 

[Grizzly]

Other possible reasons that one tire may be running hotter then the others is that one wheel could have a bearing that's too tight or brake shoes that are too tight.

 

[MAshley]

you said you have torsions axles... . maybe that spring on that tire is weaker so it load is less then the others. and then the other tires on that side take up the slack. I agree with others try and weigh each tire seperate