Crack across the floor

[funhouse]

We put a new axle on our '65 Caravel last year. We've only had the trailer one year, but DH said the underneath looked pretty good. We had a small area under the sink in the back, but nothing major. We just took it to Arkansas for a week and when we came back we now have a crack that runs across the floor just above the axle. The floor is still solid when I walk around on it, but this crack has even cracked the old linoleum (which is very brittle I should add). We also just put on two new tires as we lost the tread on one of them on the road. I will also add that our little trailer bounced around alot during our trip. In fact, I told DH that I thought the road was going to shake it to pieces. Everything inside was in disarray when I opened the door. Any ideas as to why this is happening? I've read something about pulling a trailer with too big a tow vehicle. We have a 2500 Suburban. Any thoughts?

[Wazbro]

Did you use an axle the same weight rating as the original?

[funhouse]

We purchased the axle from Colin Hyde and I know my dh talked to him on the phone when he ordered it. How would we know what to get?

[Wazbro]

The axle should be rated for about the same weight as the gross weight rating for the trailer plus or minus about 500lbs. GVR minus tongue weight is the actual minimum axle rating needed. If the axle is too heavy it wont give.

[RickDavis]

If the floor covering is old and brittle you might want to stick a probe in the crack and see if it lines up with a joint in the plywood floor. These joints will expand and contract with both motion and weather.
I personally would not be concerned about towing with a 2500 unless you are using a really stiff weight distributing hitch.
Keep an eye on it but don't panic

[overlander63]

I40 in Arkansas is brutal. We towed our trailer, with new axles, across Arkansas, and the road was so bad the toilet tore loose from its mounts and ended up in the living room.
With that in mind, I'd watch for popped rivets in the interior, hinges working loose, etc, on subsequent trips. Don't look for a problem that isn't there, or that you can do nothing about. I would stay off the bad roads if I ever have to go back through Arkansas again.

[05ModPod]

Quick question - did you install the same type of a axel as well as weight rated - ie. a leaf spring as opposed to a torsion axle?

Also there is merit to the TV suspension being way too stiff for the old trailers as well as people using too high a rated load leveller bars, all things to check and consider.

Or it could simply be that your floor is OLD. Some floors go spongy and others just britle and with the new suspension it just could not handle the flex and split on you.

Remove the flooring and cut into the split and replace it with a new piece of plywood - resin fiberglass that has some give - forgot the name of the stuff but it works great in patches.

In time you will get to the bottom of the dilemma - the key is getting your hitch set up maybe a little softer than it is. Good luck.