Trucks & Trailers - Tandem Axle Wheel not turning with empty Trailer

I've posted before about my brake issues and think they are resolved. Found my master cylinder rusted up causing locking issues. Took both drums off and cleaned the brake hardware and relubed everything. Found nothing wrong at the wheels. I repacked the bearings and put new seals. Now when backing the empty trailer down the ramp and turning one wheel skids and hops until I'm straight down the ramp. My wife said it started rolling when it hit the water. I am turning pretty hard and the trailer is going down at an angle when the wheel hops.

I checked the brake adjustment and can't duplicate it with the boat on the trailer or in the parking lot on level ground when empty. Does this sound like the wheel is unweighted due to the uneven ground and turning sharply down the ramp and not enough traction to engage the free backing mechanism in the drum brake? It's only at retrieval. The ground is wet there and also quite a bit of debris on the ground, shells etc.

Any ideas
Thanks
GP

Need more information such as: Is it a tandem axle, does it have torsion or spring axles etc.

It's probably one of two issue's: If it's torsion axle then that tire could just be coming up and hopping due to weight distribution or it's a hydraulic issue.

The backup release mechanism is electric and keeps the master cylinder free flowing when backing up. So if that had failed all of your wheels would have the same problem.

Jack the trailer back up (with or w/o) the boat on and see if the wheel turns freely; it could be as simple as you have the hub to tight.

Pretty common issue.Wet brakes grab in reverse due to the design.You can deactivate the brakes with a backing lockout,plus the angle of the trailer going down the ramp will activate the surge master.

Tandem axles with leaf springs. The wheels spin freely. I will probably jack it up again to be sure there is no issue. I checked the other day and found no issues. There is no back up solenoid, free backing drums.

GP

Pretty common issue.Wet brakes grab in reverse due to the design.You can deactivate the brakes with a backing lockout,plus the angle of the trailer going down the ramp will activate the surge master.

He said they are drum brakes which means they are free backing. No lockout or actuator needed.

Tandem axles with leaf springs. The wheels spin freely. I will probably jack it up again to be sure there is no issue. I checked the other day and found no issues. There is no back up solenoid, free backing drums.


GP

You mentioned that you where in a pretty tight turn trying to lineup with the ramp and once lined up it was okay. Now, is your wife certian it wasn't just sliding vs not turning. You have to remember that in that type of situation the inner tire when backing will slide rather then turn because the axles are close together. When the axles become more inline with the direction of travel they wiil move together. The same thing can happen going forward with a load. Thats what they refer to as scuffing

It was the outside rear wheel which wasn't turning. Only thing I can think of is the uneven ground and the other 3 wheels were on the same plane. Basically that wheel hanging and not touching with enough pressure to grip the ground. It was wet and broken shells on the ground. I have a long twisty back up into my yard and it turns fine all the way in. I will check the hub tightness again. Backing in dirt lot is fine too. Maybe the turning and hub adjustment is the issue? It spun fine when I checked the other night.

It was the outside rear wheel which wasn't turning. Only thing I can think of is the uneven ground and the other 3 wheels were on the same plane. Basically that wheel hanging and not touching with enough pressure to grip the ground. It was wet and broken shells on the ground. I have a long twisty back up into my yard and it turns fine all the way in. I will check the hub tightness again. Backing in dirt lot is fine too. Maybe the turning and hub adjustment is the issue? It spun fine when I checked the other night.

It will be just fine.