Triton trailer axel mounting failure

[DVW]

My five year old Triton trailer had a axel mounting failure. The axel had relocated to the back of the trailer (see photo). Upon examination the front two axel mounting bolts where gone and with a jerky application of the brakes the axel flipped and tore out the rear bolts. I repaired the damage except for the bent fenders. I called Triton thinking that if they had a failure of this magnitude they might want to know. I also hinted that I would like new fenders for my troubles. The quality assurance person at Triton wrote back to me saying my failure was ‘due to improper maintenance’ so tough luck. Before all this my dealer had stopped selling Triton Trailers because of warrantee issues. Considering lack of support Triton Trailers are not worth their higher cost.

 

[maim]

how old is the trailer?

i see the hangers/mounts torn off all the time around here on enclosed trailers and travel trailers over 5 years old on average. i check mine every year or every time i hit a big hole (witch is almost every trip)

 

[DVW]

how old is the trailer?

i see the hangers/mounts torn off all the time around here on enclosed trailers and travel trailers over 5 years old on average. i check mine every year or every time i hit a big hole (witch is almost every trip)

My trailer failure at year 5 was caused by missing bolts. So it is common to see axels torn off?

 

[mtcooler]

Is that the tc-167?

 

[Brotherdan]

My trailer failure at year 5 was caused by missing bolts. So it is common to see axels torn off?

I live in maine&they use very very corrosive products on the roads in winter.(when we haul our trailers the most).almost every one I know with a sled trailer has either repaired,replaced or had to strip&refinish their axles due to broken torsion mounts,tubes&hardware,it is a very common problem here.most people don't have access to a heated area to wash&dry their trailer after each trip so they sit&corrode.best to clean,repaint&apply a rust preventative coating every couple of years up here or they will do just what yours did.

 

[maim]

My trailer failure at year 5 was caused by missing bolts. So it is common to see axels torn off?

yes it can be. just did one at work last night for a damaged hanger and earlier this month we did an open deck one frame as i was crushing it with my fingers.

repair it and paint/undercoat it every year if you want it to last. get mine done every year as i gave up on my old enclosed when the frame started flexing 4" when i would jack it at the rear to service it.

 

[SumpBuster]

I just sprayed (soaked)all the steel under my triton with used rotella synthetic from our diesel tractors, cut with kerosene. Even my 95 ram isnt rusted out like much newer trucks. Seems to really reduce it. They salt so much here it's like driving on marbles. Dumb. The old girl is old enough to drink...and then some..lol!

 

[DVW]

I have seen many trailers on the side of the road but my trailer is the only trailer that had its axel separate from its frame. When I remounted the axel I noted that the axel mounting surface of the aluminum frame was still pretty solid. The axel was also solid but rusty. The two missing bolts must have been gone for awhile because they left no mark on the axel. I estimate the miles on the trailer to be about 25,000 miles.

 

[maim]

sounds like they where really cheap bolts to do that in that amount of time.

 

[DVW]

sounds like they where really cheap bolts to do that in that amount of time.

The two remaining (hanging in the aluminum frame) were grade 5 with lock nuts having nylon inserts. These are all things that should interest Triton Trailers but no.

 

[Turtle]

WOW - This makes me nervous as I have the same trailer - TC167. This is my second season with it and I bought it brand new. Being it's relatively new, I'm probably OK. But you can bet I'm checking mine out ASAP and will monitor it closely.

 

[maim]

yup, looks like you are a victim of chinese manufactured bolts. when we could no longer get north american manufactured grade 5 bolts we had to switch everything to grade 8 bolts at work as we where having too many come backs with broken or stretched bolts with the grade 5's even when double checked on the torque. i work in a suspension shop that does pretty much anything to do with trailer and truck suspension.