Polar 1500 ATV Trailer Axle finally reached it's breaking point...after 12 years of abuse.

I've had this -POLAR 1500 TA - since 2014 and have hauled 175+ cords (twice) with it over the years. I always load the thing heavy and have been told numerous times by my neighbor that I'm going to break it.

One time from the woods to the pile to be split.


Then one time from the splitter to where I will be stacking it.



The walking arms, as time passed, gradually started to have more and more negative camber causing the tires to ride more and more on the inside. It was getting so bad that the tires were starting to leave black lines on the road when driving fully loaded down it. This past Friday, as I was exiting the road and crossing the ditch to go into the woods, the axle finally decided to check out on the one side.

You can see the bow to the axle itself along with the square tubing starting to stretch and crack where the bolts go through it and why the wheels had so much negative camber (before it failed).





The other side was well on it's way to doing the same.




I took it to a guy I know and he re-shaped it to fix the camber issue and reinforced it. So it shouldn't happen again. He did tell me that if I have any issues with it, he'll just make me new one from scratch. He took a WAG on setting the camber on the axle based on what I told him, as I only gave him the axle. I told him, if anything, to error on the side of positive camber. He couldn't have guessed any better! They both seem to have a bit of positive camber now.



More photos after it was fixed. Before the axle checked out, the distance between the walking arm and the plastic tub (circled in red below) was much less, was actually getting close to rubbing. So, guys who have this trailer and haul a lot of hardwood and load it like I do, if your wheels are starting to develop lots of negative camber, your axle may be ready to break like mine did.

 

If you don't break something, how could you know what it is actually capable of?

Those cracks *might* not have been from excessive stress...they could have been from something else that totally wasn't your fault.

Seriously though, those gussets should have extended well beyond the holes....not just 1/4" or so. If you do have a new one made, aside from beefing up the square tubing wall thickness, make those gussets go at least 1" past the holes.

 

I thought the same thing when I saw where and how it failed.

 

That's actually kinda amazing. I always thought the plastic tub would be the weak point. But no!
The good news is steel can always be replaced and better than it was. Very impressive loads in those pics!

 

That plastic is some tough stuff! I've thrown decent sized pieces into it when empty in very cold weather and it doesn't faze it.

 

How thick is the plastic? I'm seriously impressed. I looked at those a few years ago. I'm almost scared to look at the current price.

 

I don't know without measuring it. Guessing 3/16" or so. It's very pliable. When the axle broke the trailer was fully loaded. The tires were pretty much pointing straight up in the air and the top of the walking arm pushed HARD into side of the plastic tub distorting it badly. It did not crack it though and nor did it stay that way. If it was metal, the side would have been distorted badly and would have had to be hammered back in place.

When I bought it I actually liked the plastic tub. I preferred it over metal, as plastic doesn't rust. I also like the sloped back of it. Makes unloading easy by using a pick-a-roon. I can pick a piece of wood and slide it up the sloped rear right at waist height and don't have to reach or bend over. This is what I missed when I had to use a different trailer when this one was out of commission.

 

I just looked and I can buy a -BRAND NEW AXLE- for $50 + shipping. If I ever would have to replace it, I'd probably just buy a new one and have it reinforced before I put it to use.

 

A really good post thanks for the pictures, glad you have someone who knows how to fix things.

 

This "truss" setup now ain't goin anywhere!
At this point you'd hafta break/bend the axle stubs off it...next weakest link IMO, but not a likely failure.

 

Those trailers are tough for as cheaply as they are built. We have a single wheel version and it has probably hauled upwards of 20 tons of rock off the neighbor’s fields. Of course we always have to throw a few more rocks on the load after it is “full” so often the plastic tub is full and the load is up into the side screens some. I would guess the heavier loads we have hauled were over half a ton, and sometimes we are more than a mile from home. Makes the Foreman 450 really grunt pulling up the hills. Seeing what happened to yours I suppose I should reinforce the axle on our before it cracks.

 

Do you notice your wheels going negative camber? Like this.... /------\ Mine were heavily. That's a sign that the axle is straining.

Do you have the 1200 or 1500?

 

1200 I think.

Yes the axle will bow when we have it loaded heavy with rock. Unloaded it is still straightish yet so we keep running it as is. Take it easy over rough ground loaded.

 

Great repair! I have 1300 and it’s been a very nice trailer. It’s held up well; especially since it’s stored outside.