Cracked rim. Help please!

U

Underwaterwelder

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34541
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Went to go to the local lake today and realized I had a flat. Boat lives on the trailer in our driveway. Swapped it for the spare and started inspecting the flat for the cause. Soaped up the tire and rim looking for punctures, and I found an air leak at the seam of the rim where the center rim portion connects to the portion that holds the air, the little red line on the photo, (stock photo… not my actual rim). A solid but slow leak.

Last trip out was Lake George NY, about 220 miles from my house. It was about two weeks ago. No issues on the drive home, didn’t hit anything, etc. We always do a walk around before leaving and at any stops, no noticeable issues. Checked air pressure on the ride up to the lake, but not on the way back. We chock our wheels every time we park the boat/trailer with 4x4 between the two axels. So we would have seen it if it was fully flat when we arrived home (if we hadn’t noticed it earlier). So my assumption is somewhere between pulling out of the lake and parking in the driveway was the failure, and then slowly leaking until flat now.

This is the second cracked rim we’ve had. Last one was summer of 2021. That time it was on the trip to Lake George from our house, and we noticed it at the marina after loading the boat to go home. Exact same issue. Failure at the same spot. Slow leak, flat after a weekend of being parked and not used. I believe it was the opposite side of the trailer that time. But again, nothing memorable as to why or how it happened. Just a crack/air leak in the rim at the same location

Any thoughts? Things I should look out for? Is there a better rim I should be buying? Both came straight from the trailer manufacturer. Do rims come in different capacities with the same bolt patterns? Just bad luck? Any help or insights would be appreciated.

2001 245 SeaRay Weekender
2017 LoadRite trailer dual torsion axels, surge disc brakes. (attached is the sticker on the trailer with all the info) Load Star Karrier Radial Tires (came from manufacturer)
2022 Chevy 2500 custom HD

Thanks!!

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I have zero experience with trailering but when it comes to tires and rims my first concern is where are they made …

KARRIER tires appear to made in china … any country of origin labels on the rims?

I would never use tires (or rims) made by the chicoms
 
PascalG said:
I have zero experience with trailering but when it comes to tires and rims my first concern is where are they made …

KARRIER tires appear to made in china … any country of origin labels on the rims?

I would never use tires (or rims) made by the chicoms
Click to expand...
I was thinking same thing — cheap Chinese crap.

Go to a tire store and see what they suggest.
 
I've trailered boats and motorcycles with no issues for years. Always used good quality wheels and tires.

Never experienced a cracked wheel..
 
My though... remove the wheel and dismounted tire, then reweld the area that leak or just go with the cheapo way and using can of tire stop leak and see how it holds up and of course, you can also go with new rim.
 
PascalG said:
I have zero experience with trailering but when it comes to tires and rims my first concern is where are they made …

KARRIER tires appear to made in china … any country of origin labels on the rims?

I would never use tires (or rims) made by the chicoms
Click to expand...
Nothing noting where the rims are made that I can see
 
Bruce Herrington said:
I've trailered boats and motorcycles with no issues for years. Always used good quality wheels and tires.

Never experienced a cracked wheel..
Click to expand...
Bruce Herrington said:
I've trailered boats and motorcycles with no issues for years. Always used good quality wheels and tires.

Never experienced a cracked wheel..
Click to expand...
Me either! I thought the first was a fluke. And now two within 3 years. Although both did come from the manufacturer. So probably the same supplier/brand/manufacturer
 
Many years ago, I'll say at least 55, we were driving west in our plymouth wagon, and dad decided to take a quick exit to a rest area. The wagon was loaded with camping gear and people. The left rear rim split. We changed it out, and went to a shop. They welded the rim after banging it back into shape. We finished the trip from NYC to Denver and back.
I am not saying this works for everyone! But, what is the load rating of the wheel, the weight of the boat, the trailer and etc.? Is the tongue weight set correctly or is one axle over loaded?
We towed a 1990 Sundancer quite a few times and stored it on the trailer. Never had an issue. I forget the mfg and all but I would be all over the trailer company if this happened twice! I'd be really surprised if you exceeded the mfg. rating for the load but I'd look over how the trailer was set up, which wheels failed and if there is a trend.
 
boatbum said:
Many years ago, I'll say at least 55, we were driving west in our plymouth wagon, and dad decided to take a quick exit to a rest area. The wagon was loaded with camping gear and people. The left rear rim split. We changed it out, and went to a shop. They welded the rim after banging it back into shape. We finished the trip from NYC to Denver and back.
I am not saying this works for everyone! But, what is the load rating of the wheel, the weight of the boat, the trailer and etc.? Is the tongue weight set correctly or is one axle over loaded?
We towed a 1990 Sundancer quite a few times and stored it on the trailer. Never had an issue. I forget the mfg and all but I would be all over the trailer company if this happened twice! I'd be really surprised if you exceeded the mfg. rating for the load but I'd look over how the trailer was set up, which wheels failed and if there is a trend.
Click to expand...
The trailer is set up correctly. Tongue weight is 450-500lbs as it should be. Neither axel is over loaded, trailer sits level. The weight of the boat dry is 5000 pounds as I recall, trailer is rated for 8000lbs of boat (and I k ow I don’t have 3000lbs of excess weight in there in case your gonna say that next. Best guess is we weigh maybe 6500lbs with fuel and gear and everything else. The rims and tires are what came with the trailer and I don’t know their weight rating but I assume acceptable to be out on an 8000lbs trailer from the manufacturer.
 
Sounds like you just got a bad batch of rims on that trailer...
 
I would advise the trailer manufacturer they are having in-service failures of their installed rims and I would also advise NHTSA. These failures are a huge safety risk. My guess is you are not the first and the manufacturer has a replacement that is more robust that they will be willing to swap for to prevent litigation risk.
 
I've had a few different sets of galvanized wheels and never had a problem. The last set I bought a few years ago was made in Korea. Quality of galvanized wheels does vary quite a bit, I have seen some with horrible machining and galvanizing, these are pretty good. Stamped made in Korea and have the weight capacity stamped on them as well. Bought from Eastern Marine.
I would not try to repair a galvanized wheel. Call Load Rite, let them know. I have used Kenda Load Star bias ply tires for years and replaced them every 6-7 years. They have been fine for local towing, no failures or flats. I don't know how good their radials are.
 
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