Trailer tire cupping

[Mother]

Troops-

I need to gleen some info from your collective brain.

I've got a single axle trailer that has one tire cupping badly on the
inner half I noticed upon returning from the cabin this past weekend approx. 500mi. Both tires are three seasons old and were in great shape before I left, checking pressure and a giving each "bearing
buddie" a shot of grease.
I have yet to look into it further, I feel it could be a loose
wheel bearing, worn bearing or a mis-aligned axle, caused by
launching and loading on bad ramps.If anyone had a similar
wear pattern issue and how it was fixed or anybody that could offer
some info would be greatly appreciated.


Mother

PS - Leech Lake 1 - Mother 0 the score as usual.

[Richoc]

Losse bearing on that wheel or you are you out of alingnment.
My bet is losse bearing.
Had it happen to me 2 years back.

[perchjerker]

I doubt if its anything you mentioned except maybe the axle being out of alignment. Usually cupping is from the wheel being out of balance or a worn shock (on a vehicle, which obviously you dont have)

Maybe you lost a wheel weight somewhere along the road.

[Charlie Williams]

Are they bias ply or radials. What size wheel?

[Charlie Williams]

Are they bias ply or radials. What size wheel?

[ironguts]

Have your axle checked and the alignement. I had to take in my shorelander a couple of years ago for the same thing. The axle ended up being slightly bent, I guess 70mph+ and bumps probably isn't the best on the trailer.

[bountyhunters]

do the balance thing first.

[Non logged in Mother]

Bias ply - 14in wheel The exact size ?

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

Mother

[Ia Walihntr]

Mother,
A year ago in May, I pulled the rig to LOTW. Tires were in great shape when I left. Even while occasionally greasing the bearings, I didn't notice that the tires were wearing badly. When I returned home I noticed one tire had almost no tread left on the outside edge. The other tire was in better shape but was starting to cup. Just before I went to LOTW this spring, I took the trailer in and had them bend the axle to be realigned. The cost was $98 dollars but I haven't noticed any more additional wear on the tires. Well worth the cost.
If your are towing a rig that has a good deal of weight, it can be easy to put a bend in an axel. (bumpy roads-high speeds, boat ramps that drop off the end, or even just turning in a gravel lot that has enough of a hump or obstruction to catch a wheel can be enough to put a slight bend in an axel) Take the rig to someone who has the capabilities to realign the axel. If it is something simple like a wheel weight, he'll find it and the cost will be much easier to live with.
Marv