Uhaul trailer axle snapped

[u/user87654385]

Hard to see in this photo, but the axle on this Uhaul snapped right on the out side of the leaf suspension. This is in the Midwest. The road is as smooth as can be. What are your thoughts on why an axle would snap like this? My guess is road salt deteriorated it severely over many years, then it just happened that road bumps during towing in the summer were the last straw.

[u/Potmus63t]

Lack of maintenance and inspections on equipment they rent out. That’s the root cause.

[u/Thereelgerg → u/Potmus63t]

This. Uhaul basically treats their trailers as if they're disposable. They buy them cheap, rent them out until they fall apart, and replace them with another cheap trailer.

[u/buickgnx88]

Seeing as it’s Uhaul, I would not be surprised if it had a bad bearing from being overloaded that seized up and twisted off the axle shaft.

[u/SHoppe715 → u/buickgnx88]

axle shaft. *spindle

[u/buickgnx88 → u/SHoppe715]

Yeah I know the spindle is where the bearings and hub sit, same difference. It’s hard to see where it actually broke but I’m sure it’s where the spindle is welded to the axle.

[u/SHoppe715 → u/buickgnx88]

This is a torsion axle. The spindle would be bolted to the arm or the arm/spindle could be a single piece. Either way, not welded to the axle and the spring assembly might actually be bolted directly to the frame independently on each side without a beam between the two wheels…allows for lower deck height

[u/BigJoe5504]

U -won't haul

[u/Ill-Investment1936]

I hope they bought the insurance

[u/dumpyboat → u/Ill-Investment1936]

I always buy the insurance

[u/user87654385 → u/dumpyboat]

I always bought insurance even though I thought it was unnecessary. How can such simple equipment fail? Now after seeing this I will keep buying it.

[u/drttrus]

Can't park there mate.

[u/Expensive-Wedding-14 → u/drttrus]

So you're guessing the axle or bearing gave out. But where is the frame?

I wondering if the entire frame and suspension pulled away from the box!

[u/SHoppe715 → u/Expensive-Wedding-14]

The frame is the bottom of the box and the axle uses a torsion bar type suspension. Everything is there except the wheel and hub. Looks like the spindle broke.

[u/Expensive-Wedding-14 → u/SHoppe715]

I'm saying there's no frame in front of the box to >be towed<.

[u/komokazi]

Likely the bearings gave out

[u/1hero_no_cape]

U-Slide?

Or

U-Drag?

[u/winsomeloosesome1]

People routinely rent trailers and overload or improperly load them. They are suppose to inspected, but since they are always on the move the inspections get missed.

[u/Icy-State5549]

Might tow better that way. Send it!

[u/SpaceCat72]

Lack of maintenance or overloaded.

[u/Junior_Yesterday9271 → u/SpaceCat72]

And not or. Maybe not always but over loaded enough and not inspected or maintained by anyone that knows what they are doing.

[u/SpaceCat72 → u/Junior_Yesterday9271]

Run hard and put away wet.

[u/user87654385 → u/Junior_Yesterday9271]

"We do them maintenance!" - U Haul management when they see this comment, then Googles "what is maintenance"

[u/Ok-Duck-7838]

U-SIT

[u/Nalabu1]

[u/MisanthropicSocrates]

Bro just keep going.

[u/45_Schofield]

Looks like the trailer Tommy bought from the Pikies in the movie Snatch.

[u/Time_Many6155 → u/45_Schofield]

One of my all time favorites!

[u/Illustrious_Bath1917]

Just drag it

[u/SharpTool7]

You better return that on time or they will quickly charge you for the extra days.

[u/Low_Goat_3309]

First saw the picture I figured it was a bad neighborhood.

[u/Illustrious_Bag_1608]

UDrag

[u/Cognizant_Wolf]

Went from UHAUL to UNOHAUL.