Tires tilted

[Deere Dude]

I received for free a 2000# cap. axle with hubs. It had a bend in the center portion of the axle so during a welding class we straightened it and put a square tube over it. It is very straight.
After storing it for 15 years, I decided to dig it out and put springs on it make a small trailer, just for something to do, basically.

I put two 8" wheels and tires on it and they spun easily so the bearing are good. The perceived problem I may have is; with no springs on it, when I turn the axle while the axle and wheel assembly is on a table, the wheels tilt in and out. It seems when the axle is in the position it would be in when hooked up to a trailer, the bottom of the tires, both of them, are in about 1/2" and that would mean the tops are out about the same.

Now, I understand that bigger axles like mobile home axles are not perfectly straight, but have a higher center so when a big load is on it, the center will come down to some extent and then maybe be straight from the weight.

I would like to sort through this before I put any time into it and a weld a bunch of angle iron together. I know I can get axles at the store for $100 or so, but I already have this.

Any philosophical tidbits will help.

 

[Dell]

would seem this axle is either still bent...
or has built in castor/toe, determined by axle position(rotation)

an inch difference seems excessive to me...
tho' I'm not in the business of knowing axle specs

 

[robinhood4x4]

Having just got a pop up trailer and doing lots of research, I can say that the bend was probably supposed to be there for camber, just like you said for heavy loads. This goes for the 1500 lb axle under my little pop up. I believe it's supposed to be concave down, or in other words, the tires are supposed to be "in" at the bottom and "out" at the top.

However, now that you've stiffened it, the axle probably won't bow out like its supposed under load. Your tires will probably wear funny, but does that matter to you?