Hi. I need some suggestions and information. I have a 18.5 fish and ski bass boat from very well known bass boat manufacturer. I bought the boat and trailer brand new in 2005. The trailer has one axle.
Earlier today, I was driving on freeway in the far right lane traveling about 55 to 60 mph. I was coming down a hill when my wife said something did not seem right. About a 1/2 second later I felt a thump and felt something dragging. I looked in my driver's side rear view mirror and saw my boat and trailer skidding sideways in the next lane over to my left. The trailer swung back around behind me and I pulled over to the side of the road. I got out of my van and expected to see a flat tire. Instead I saw the axle and the two wheels about 100 yards behind me in the shoulder of the road. The wheels were still attached to the axle.
There were alot of cars nearby and thank God no one got hurt from the trailer or the axle. As far as i know, no cars were hit by the axle.
I am not mechanically inclined so bear with me. The welds that attach the axle to the trailer frame were sheared off. The brackets to hold the axle to the frame had broken off sometime ago unbeknownst to me (there was rust covering the breaks).
The boat appeared to be okay and the 150 Optimax engine appeared to be okay (from a quick inspection). The boat, trailer and detached axle are sitting at a tow yard right now. My boat trailer warranty expired four years ago.
I called my insurance company to make a claim. they hired a marine surveyor to look at he boat and trailer. I should hear something late this week or early next week.
How common or uncommon is it for an axle to come off? Am I right to believe that an axle should not come off while driving especially since I did not crash the trailer into anything? Would you consider it normal wear and tear for the brackets and welds to break?
Any information or insight is appreciated.
Earlier today, I was driving on freeway in the far right lane traveling about 55 to 60 mph. I was coming down a hill when my wife said something did not seem right. About a 1/2 second later I felt a thump and felt something dragging. I looked in my driver's side rear view mirror and saw my boat and trailer skidding sideways in the next lane over to my left. The trailer swung back around behind me and I pulled over to the side of the road. I got out of my van and expected to see a flat tire. Instead I saw the axle and the two wheels about 100 yards behind me in the shoulder of the road. The wheels were still attached to the axle.
There were alot of cars nearby and thank God no one got hurt from the trailer or the axle. As far as i know, no cars were hit by the axle.
I am not mechanically inclined so bear with me. The welds that attach the axle to the trailer frame were sheared off. The brackets to hold the axle to the frame had broken off sometime ago unbeknownst to me (there was rust covering the breaks).
The boat appeared to be okay and the 150 Optimax engine appeared to be okay (from a quick inspection). The boat, trailer and detached axle are sitting at a tow yard right now. My boat trailer warranty expired four years ago.
I called my insurance company to make a claim. they hired a marine surveyor to look at he boat and trailer. I should hear something late this week or early next week.
How common or uncommon is it for an axle to come off? Am I right to believe that an axle should not come off while driving especially since I did not crash the trailer into anything? Would you consider it normal wear and tear for the brackets and welds to break?
Any information or insight is appreciated.
