Trailer Axle Repair/Replace?

[Hot Rod]

Ice out is just around the corner and unfortunately while doing my pre-season trailer maintenance I have realized the axle on my Stratos trailer is bent causing the curbside wheel/tire to be out of toe and wear excessively on the outside edge.  (it is a 2" by 3" tube 3500# axle)

The remedy is to have it straightened at an alignment/frame shop or replace the entire axle myself or attempt to straighten the existing axle myself.

I can buy a new axle for b/n $150 to $200 it appears.

I also read DIY instructions eHow that says you can do it fairly easily using a a tape measure, a log chain and a bottle jack.   Which would just cost me my time if it is in fact possible to perform such a repair.

Anyone have any experience with this?  Thoughts/ideas?

Thanks for your help in advance! 

[Ima Bass Ninja]

Where is the bend? If its in the middle its normal camber of a trailer axle and there is another problem causing the tire wear. If its near the hub then it a different problem altogether. I would stray away from bending it back yourself,lots of things could go wrong. The most reliable alternative would be to replace it.

[BassChaser57]

I agree that the best thing to do is replace --but-- I have used the chain and jack method and it worked surprisingly well. If money is a problem you have nothing to lose by trying to straighten it yourself and if it does not work you can always get it replaced later when you get some extra money.

[Al Wolbach]

I have never tried it, but the frame shops use hydraulics and chains to straighten them. Not sure how they measure them but I would be surprised if  its a tape measure.

I'm not sure how heavy your boat is but mine weights several thousand pounds. You could use the boat weight and jack up the center of the axle with a floor jack which would use the boat weight to push down on the outside of the axles. If you try this I suggest you hook up the trailer to your hitch first. Worth a try?

[Way2slow]

Don't replace it, unless you have it checked by a good front end guy and he says you need to.

Find one of the old time front alignment shops that can do front end alignments on your old trucks that have the solid, straight front axles. Don't bother with most of these new, computerized shops, I don't think you will find one of those that can do solid front axles.

If you find the right guy, he can align it and can actually weld reinforcements to it to help hold that alignment.

I always have my axles aligned because very few trailer companys do that, even new. Ranger used to do it, but don't know if they still do. You will find it tows better and your tires will wear even and last a helllava lot longer once aligned.

Anyone having tire wear problems should have their axle aligned. Even though it's just a trailer, the tires still have to meet the road in the proper way, just like the front end of an auto.

[Hot Rod]

Thanks all for the advice.

Well I measured it just about every way I could think in a manner I was advised by a friend who is a good auto/HD mech and also avid basser with same trailer as me.

Can't find where anything is out of align.  May tow it to the lake a few times with the new tire on it to see if the uneven wear continues.  Mechanic said sometime a tire can separate, causing uneven wear and there is no way to detect it.

If it continues with new tire after the first couple trips then I'm going to try the frame/alignment shop.  I understand any shop that can align the old Ford twin beam suspensions can do trailers too.