The Woes of Improper Trailer Alignment
Most weekend warriors never give a second thought to trailer alignment. Even some hard-earning haulers overlook it. However neglecting regular alignment can cause you to leave a trail of money in your wake, adversely affecting safety, performance and function.
Big Trouble from Minor Misalignments
Pre-aligned from the factory, potholes, curbs, and even everyday driving conditions slowly beat alignment out of spec. Involving the minute measurements and adjustments of just 3 components: Axle orientation, axle toe, and axle camber, ensuring the proper alignment of your trailer (or tow vehicle) will keep it tracking straight and true, as will the proper alignment of the hauler with the trailer. But what happens if alignment is off just a smidge?
Improper Alignment Can Cause a World of Woes
- Irregular Tire Wear & Increased Frequency of Replacement
When axles are improperly aligned, tires scrub and oppose one another, wearing quickly and unevenly and resulting in the need to replace expensive tires far more often. - Loss of Control
A misalignment of as little as ¼-inch can make it nearly impossible to keep your vehicle centered in the lane. In addition, excessive tire wear or uneven tread from misalignment robs steering control, particularly on low-friction surfaces such as wet pavement, making it difficult to accomplish quick, precise maneuvers, and negatively affecting vehicle stability. - Poor Fuel Economy
Dog tracking (when it looks like a vehicle is moving sideways down the road when viewed from behind – or when you look at your side mirror and clearly see one side of the car more than the other), also results from misalignment. When this occurs, drag and rolling resistance are increased, putting strain on the engine and gobbling up more fuel as the motor works harder to haul the tow vehicle down the road. - Excessive Vehicle Vibration
Axle misalignment can also cause excessive vibration in the steering wheel or operator’s seat, not only creating an uncomfortable ride, but contributing to muscular fatigue and driver stress.
Get the Most Out of Your Rig
If your trailer is eating tires and your gas mileage is giving you heartburn – and you’ve checked the obvious – it might be your alignment. Avoid unnecessary downtime, repair costs, and wear-and-tear with this simple, cost-effective service. From household boat trailers to corporate car haulers, we’ve got you covered. Schedule your alignment with Ainsworth Trailer Repair today.
