Magic-Tilt trailer - curve to axle?

[JMC]

I'm getting ready to tow my recently-purchased CP 16 on it's original Magic-Tilt trailer about 500 miles through some mountain passes and have a question about the axel.  When I purchased it, I noticed that the axle had a slight upward deflection or "smile" if you will, of about an inch total.  Is this standard for wheel camber and tracking or is it a result of 30+ years of bouncing?  If not standard, lacking any evidence of catastrophic failure, is it likely OK, should I u-bolt some I-beam to stiffen for the trip, or is replacement warranted?  All opinions are welcomed and thanks in advance.
 

[Rick Klages]

My 1990 "Hutch" axle is dead straight.  I will guess yours might have been overloaded at some point. Check for uneven tire wear.  Have a reputable trailer shop take a look before things get ugly. 

ick

[arw-16]

I have a 1981 CP16 on an original Magic-Tilt trailer.  There is no curve in the axle.  I would be concerned about the weight of the boat overstressing a weak axle if you hit a dip with some speed at the bottom of a hill.  I would also be concerned about uneven tire ware on such a long trip.  The bottom line is the repair is relatively easy in light of the potential for catastrophe.  "Fix it and forget it."  If there are no weak points in the axle, simply remove it and use a good bottle jack against a couple of solid objects for a counter force.  If that doesn't work, most machine shops will have a press that can handle the job.  A piece of angle iron welded to the outside should be more than enough reinforecement.  While you have the axle and wheels off, go ahead and repaint the axle and springs, replace the u-bolts, and repack the wheel bearings.  Sorry for the long to-do list, but working on a sailboat is almost as much fun as sailing it.

Good luck,

Ricky

[JMC]

Thanks for the tip guys - I'll have it checked out before I roll.  Looking forward to Summer!

Cheers,

John

[beames]

I replaced my axle with a new one from Northern (1" axle approx $75)along with complete hub assembly's (approx $28 each)on both sides and new u bolts. It's a fairly cheap and simple fix for peace of mind.

Brooke