New tires rubbing on fenders

[Bass Cat Boats]

I do not know if an 04 trailer was ever designed for the newer tire sizes that the factory uses now. You would probably either have to do an axle flip on the springs, or enlarge the wheel arches to give enough clearance.

[Bass Cat Boats]

The offsets are different though they should work. Spacers or springs should solve it. Your just trying to dress it up.

[toledobasser]

Definitely dressed it up quite a bit. I was considering shaving off some of the “lip” off the fender and putting the trim back on it but Id rather not. This will probably be a good winter project to take care of. It rolls fine on the road but like I said going over a hump I could hear it rubbing.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console

[Cajunhunter67]

Being its a 2004 model trailer, you may want to check the shackles on the leaf springs. The bolts, shackles and rocking beam all will get considerable wear causing the fenders to sit closer to the wheels.Also will cause the beam to hit the frame.I am well aware that the main issue is the wheel offset. But this may fix your problem if they are worn.

[Bass Cat Boats]

toledobasser wrote:Definitely dressed it up quite a bit. I was considering shaving off some of the “lip” off the fender and putting the trim back on it but Id rather not. This will probably be a good winter project to take care of. It rolls fine on the road but like I said going over a hump I could hear it rubbing. By trimming the “lip” . Will this weaken the lip as I figure the lip is so to speak the supports body weight. Just curious.2013 PANTERA 2MERCURY 200 PRO XSMINNKOTA 80LB FORTREX25 fury

[Bass Cat Boats]

A better thought would be to check top of the axle to frame gap (clearance) and see how much travel is there? How high can the tire come up, as the frame stops axle travel. Then you know how much wear or even damage is there potentially? There is not doubt the springs are sunk or flattened some over time. Though most of todays springs have short life cycles than these old Steelcraft springs that were made in Miami, Oklahoma. Todays springs are almost all Chinese imports and not usually what older ones were in tension and tend to loose tension sooner. Still if there is a chance of excess contact you have little option other than shortening the shackles or blocking the springs and axle further from the frame.

[toledobasser]

Thanks for the ideas. Ill start looking into it more now that I have some directions to go.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console

[FivePerBag]

Might be a dumb question but how high is your hitch point. Just wondering if lowering would put more wieght on the front axle and less on the rear.. Just a queston…? Else, I remember in the past there were spring shops who can re- arch a leaf.. They dont exist any more?

[toledobasser]

At the moment the front port side tire is the only one that has rubbed all the way through the black trim on the fender.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console

[Author]

Posts