Is it Safe for 1 Wheel to Have Offset on Tandem Axle Trailer

Updated 06/21/2022 | Published 06/20/2022

Question:

I purchased a trailer second hand and one wheel had a positive offset and the other three were at 0. The one with the positive offset is wearing the tire really fast. Can an uneven offset cause that or would it most likely be a bent spindle. The axles seem straight but the offset is pretty noticeable.

asked by: Nathan B

Expert Reply:

Using 1 wheel with an offset can cause that tire to wear differently than the others because it will be taking more or less stress compared to the other 3 tires/wheels that have a 0 offset. If the tires/wheels on 1 axle both had the same offset then that would probably make those wear at the same rate but for the best performance you want everything matching so I recommend replacing your offset wheel with one that does not have an offset like you'll find with a standard wheel, like the Dexstar Steel Mini Mod # AM20539.

If you let me know the wheel size and bolt pattern of your current setup I'd be more than happy to make a recommendation for you!

expert reply by: Jon G