Q1: what capacity rating should a replacement axle for my boat trailer have?
I think I need a new axle rated at 2,500-lbs.
Q2: Or, should I get a new axle rated at 3,500-lbs?
My OUTRAGE has a Mercury 115-HP FOURSTROKE engine.
BACKSTORY
While trailering my Outrage home this week one of the wheel bearings failed. Thankfully, I had just gotten off the interstate highway and I found a safe place to stop. The left side trailer wheel was inches from coming completely off. The bearings on that axle were completely destroyed.
To get the trailer and boat home without serious damage took quite a while.
After I inspected the axle and the hub, l decided I will purchase a new axle and get new wheel hubs.
I looked for axles and wheel hubs at a vendor called Etrailers; there were many options available.
Rating for Replacement Axle
Rating for Replacement Axle
Rich
1991 Outrage 17
115 Mercury 4-stroke
1991 Outrage 17
115 Mercury 4-stroke
Re: Rating for Replacement Axle
You should contact the manufacturer of your boat trailer and inquire with them what the axle rating was on the trailer when it was built. You should identify if the axle is a straight axle or has a drop. The closer you can get to the exact OEM replacement the easier the replacement will be. If the trailer has tandem axles, then it would be really important to get as close as possible to the exact OEM replacement axle.
Usually a trailer will have a VIN placard attached to the frame that will list the trailer capacity and the trailer weight. The axle rating should exceed the weight of the trailer plus the stated carrying capacity of the trailer. If the capacity is not listed, the trailer will usually have a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Again the axle should be rated for at least the GVWR weight.
If you don't have an intact VIN placard, you can estimate the axle capacity by looking at the tire rated maximum capacity. The axle rating should be close to that value.
Regarding buying a new axle, that is probably a good approach. Buying new hubs is also a good approach.
There are various designs for the axle and hub that relate to how the grease can be refilled into the hub. A very interesting approach that is now available requires that the axle SPINDLE have a hole drilled into the center of the axle where a grease fitting can be fitted. The hole continues into the axle and then terminates at a second hole drilled at 90-degrees. This allows grease to be pumped into the axle spindle and to flow out between the inner and outer bearings. In this way you can push out old grease toward the outer bearing. This product is sold under the branding of E-Z-Lube Spindles. Whether there is a suitable axle available with those special spindles for your trailer is unknown to me. But you might want to investigate that option.
Also:
Q3: What is the length of the OUTRAGE boat?
When mentioning your Boston Whaler boat, please give the year and the length. An "Outrage" could be anything from a 17 to a 42-footer these days.
When asking about your boat trailer, please mention the brand, the year, and the model number, number of axles, weight rating, and so on.
ASIDE
Re ETrailer: Several years ago I ordered an important part for my trailer, but they shipped the wrong part. The young lady customer representative was collegial on the telephone, apologized, and paid for the return shipping of the wrong part. However on the second try, they shipped me the wrong part, again, but this time they removed the tag on the part that would have identified it as the wrong part. (The first part has a sticker attached that said "Disc Brakes Only"; the second part has evidence that there was a sticker of similar size on the part at some time in the recent past.) Eventually they admitted they did not have the correct part in stock. At that point, I got in contact with the OEM manufacturer of the part, and fortunately my inquiry was transferred to a really knowledgeable engineer at the factory. He told me how to verify exactly which part I had on hand, and as I suspected, it was the wrong part. Trailer offered to take back the second part, and give me a full refund.
But the factory guy was so gracious that he offered to sent me the particular portion of the assembly that I needed to switch out in order to get the correct part. (The part was a surge brake actuator and hitch, and I was able to change the brake master cylinder to be the necessary model (for drum brakes, not disc brakes which was what Etrailer kept sending me). Absent this amazing good luck with the OEM engineer, I don't know what I would have done next.
I have ordered a lot of trailer replacement parts from Eastern Marine. They are also known as "Trailer Parts Superstore."
Eastern Marine or Trailer Parts Superstore
https://www.easternmarine.com/
The guys that answer the telephone there are experienced trailer people, know what they are selling, and know a lot more about boat trailers than polite young ladies.
As for the bearing failure: I know exactly what situation you were in with the failed bearing. I had the same failure occur on my trailer in 2023. I stopped just before the entire wheel and tire were about to come off the trailer, as I saw it in my rear view mirror. The failure was also on the driver-side of my tandem axle trailer. What saved me was we were about 27-miles from home, and only a mile from a launch ramp. I limped on three-wheels to the launch ramp, got the boat off the trailer and into a transient slip, and was able to get the trailer back on the road in a few days.
Usually a trailer will have a VIN placard attached to the frame that will list the trailer capacity and the trailer weight. The axle rating should exceed the weight of the trailer plus the stated carrying capacity of the trailer. If the capacity is not listed, the trailer will usually have a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Again the axle should be rated for at least the GVWR weight.
If you don't have an intact VIN placard, you can estimate the axle capacity by looking at the tire rated maximum capacity. The axle rating should be close to that value.
Regarding buying a new axle, that is probably a good approach. Buying new hubs is also a good approach.
There are various designs for the axle and hub that relate to how the grease can be refilled into the hub. A very interesting approach that is now available requires that the axle SPINDLE have a hole drilled into the center of the axle where a grease fitting can be fitted. The hole continues into the axle and then terminates at a second hole drilled at 90-degrees. This allows grease to be pumped into the axle spindle and to flow out between the inner and outer bearings. In this way you can push out old grease toward the outer bearing. This product is sold under the branding of E-Z-Lube Spindles. Whether there is a suitable axle available with those special spindles for your trailer is unknown to me. But you might want to investigate that option.
Also:
Q3: What is the length of the OUTRAGE boat?
When mentioning your Boston Whaler boat, please give the year and the length. An "Outrage" could be anything from a 17 to a 42-footer these days.
When asking about your boat trailer, please mention the brand, the year, and the model number, number of axles, weight rating, and so on.
ASIDE
Re ETrailer: Several years ago I ordered an important part for my trailer, but they shipped the wrong part. The young lady customer representative was collegial on the telephone, apologized, and paid for the return shipping of the wrong part. However on the second try, they shipped me the wrong part, again, but this time they removed the tag on the part that would have identified it as the wrong part. (The first part has a sticker attached that said "Disc Brakes Only"; the second part has evidence that there was a sticker of similar size on the part at some time in the recent past.) Eventually they admitted they did not have the correct part in stock. At that point, I got in contact with the OEM manufacturer of the part, and fortunately my inquiry was transferred to a really knowledgeable engineer at the factory. He told me how to verify exactly which part I had on hand, and as I suspected, it was the wrong part. Trailer offered to take back the second part, and give me a full refund.
But the factory guy was so gracious that he offered to sent me the particular portion of the assembly that I needed to switch out in order to get the correct part. (The part was a surge brake actuator and hitch, and I was able to change the brake master cylinder to be the necessary model (for drum brakes, not disc brakes which was what Etrailer kept sending me). Absent this amazing good luck with the OEM engineer, I don't know what I would have done next.
I have ordered a lot of trailer replacement parts from Eastern Marine. They are also known as "Trailer Parts Superstore."
Eastern Marine or Trailer Parts Superstore
https://www.easternmarine.com/
The guys that answer the telephone there are experienced trailer people, know what they are selling, and know a lot more about boat trailers than polite young ladies.
As for the bearing failure: I know exactly what situation you were in with the failed bearing. I had the same failure occur on my trailer in 2023. I stopped just before the entire wheel and tire were about to come off the trailer, as I saw it in my rear view mirror. The failure was also on the driver-side of my tandem axle trailer. What saved me was we were about 27-miles from home, and only a mile from a launch ramp. I limped on three-wheels to the launch ramp, got the boat off the trailer and into a transient slip, and was able to get the trailer back on the road in a few days.
Re: Rating for Replacement Axle
Thanks for such a complete reply. [The boat is an OUTRAGE] 17. The trailer was a custom build (according to the prior owner) so I don't have any information on it.
I have removed the old axle and decided to replace the springs also (they are pretty rusted). The springs have 4 leaves and from that I think I have a 3,500-lbs axle.
My brother used eTrailer for a replacement axel and thought I would do the same. Based on your experience I am rethinking that. I'm looking at trailerpartsoutlet.com for a complete setup (axle, hubs, springs, and mounting hardware).
I'll definitely will call that outfit after taking a bunch of measurements.
Thanks for all your comments.
And I definitely want those E-Z-Lube spindles.
I have removed the old axle and decided to replace the springs also (they are pretty rusted). The springs have 4 leaves and from that I think I have a 3,500-lbs axle.
My brother used eTrailer for a replacement axel and thought I would do the same. Based on your experience I am rethinking that. I'm looking at trailerpartsoutlet.com for a complete setup (axle, hubs, springs, and mounting hardware).
I'll definitely will call that outfit after taking a bunch of measurements.
Thanks for all your comments.
And I definitely want those E-Z-Lube spindles.
Rich
1991 Outrage 17
115 Mercury 4-stroke
1991 Outrage 17
115 Mercury 4-stroke
Re: Rating for Replacement Axle
See a companion article about using E-Z-Lube spindles at
E-Z-Lube Spindles
https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewto ... 264#p49924
E-Z-Lube Spindles
https://continuouswave.com/forum/viewto ... 264#p49924