Axle Relocation

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Axle Relocation

Postby Jimbo » Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:49 pm

I just wanted to see of those that have used the Kuffel Creek plans, what are your thoughts on the axle relocation described in the plans for the HF trailer? Did you relocate or not and why.
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Postby Arne » Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:18 pm

Someone mentioned a total trailer weight of 1200 pounds and a tongue weight of 240 pounds... Normally, a tongue weight is 10% of trailer weight, so it would be 120 pounds... I usually aim for about 75# max on my smaller utility trailers.

I am a newbie to tear drops but have wondered about the trailer wheel placement being so far back. It seems to be the way they have been designed, but it seems a bit out of whack to me, putting way too much weight on the hitch and tow vehicle rear suspension...

I hope others chime in if there is some explanation I'm missing....
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Postby mikeschn » Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:47 am

The axle location is determined by the door location, and also by tongue weight.

And there are benefits of having the axle further back. It's easier to tow, and you won't have the kind of sway problems that the bigger rv's with the more centered axles have. Believe me, you don't want a sway problem. I saw an RV get destroyed on the highway right in front of me because he couldn't control his sway!

Now, how is axle location determined? One guy came up with a formula that starts with the axle 34.5" from the rear, and moves forward 6" for every 1' in length. That's actually a pretty good starting poing, except that if you have a heavy teardrop, your tongue is really heavy.

You can tweak your axle location with the spreadsheets that Rik and Andrew have... they are stored on Andrews web site, and are really easy to use.
http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear45.htm

As an example, my Weekender is going to be 117" long or 9' 9". Based on the formula my axle should be 45" from the rear of the teardrop. Using the spreadsheet, I decide to put it 49" from the rear of the teardrop, to take some weight off the tongue so I can tow it with the Jetta. I still have 68" from the front of the teardrop to the axle, so sway should not be an issue.

As it so happens I took a photo of exactly that yesterday... Here ya go... hope it helps!!!

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Postby beverlyt » Sun Aug 15, 2004 6:21 am

We relocated ours just as the plans called for. Not knowing a darn thing about trailer building...we did as we were told :wink:

Seems to have worked. No sway, tows great...tongue weight of about 95 pounds.

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Postby Denny Unfried » Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:38 am

Unlike trailers that have the galley inside a teardrop is located in back and that will be where most of the weight is. If you use a foam mattress they weigh next to nothing up front but in the back where the food is there are canned goods, 50#'s of ice and a heavy deep cycle battery plus stove etc. which all act as ballast. Only after determining the axle placement and choosing the fenders could I determine the side door locations.

Mine loaded weighs approx 900#'s with a tongue weight of about 100#. What's fun is when I unhook it and can push it into a camp site where the truck can't back. When the tongue is lifted about four feet it is almost weightless because of the weight transfer and it's very easy to push around.

PS. If the tongue is too heavy put another case of beer in the galley.

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Postby Jimbo » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:28 pm

Well, I made the decision this afternoon not to relocate it. I figured I could go back at a later date and do it if it became necessary. I measured the plans and decided that the 6" axle wouldn't make that much of an impact and it would allow me to carry some more gear inside the TD without affecting the tongue weight.

I found an incredible drill bit for drilling through steel. It is shaped like a cone with steps. Went through like butter.
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Postby RC » Mon Aug 16, 2004 11:28 pm

I found an incredible drill bit for drilling through steel. It is shaped like a cone with steps. Went through like butter.[/quote]

Aw yes, the Uni-Bit. An excellent tool.
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Postby Jiminsav » Tue Aug 17, 2004 5:33 pm

Bud, when you read the post about Galley weight, you must not have understood...when you put all the wood in and all the stuff in your gallery, it will make the tongue WAY too light if you don't relocate the CG of the trailer by moving the axle back..learn from the board, grasshopper!
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Postby mikeschn » Tue Aug 17, 2004 5:40 pm

I must have said something wrong. Someone else try.

Thanks, JiminSAV

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Postby R Keller » Tue Aug 17, 2004 6:00 pm

The donkey and the cart photo always seems to get the job done...

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Postby mikeschn » Tue Aug 17, 2004 6:11 pm

Ah yes, good idea...

Jimbo, your trailer will look like this if you don't move your axle back...
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Postby Jimbo » Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:48 pm

Na, what I meant was that I could pack gear inside of the cabin of the TD to equalize the weight better. Either that or put a tongue box with the battery in it. I love that pic of the donkey cart. ;)
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Postby angib » Sat Aug 28, 2004 7:43 am

It used to be standard practice for small powerboat trailers to have the (torsion) axle fixed to the trailer longitudinals with U-bolts - the U-bolts clamped an angle to the longitudinal and the angle was welded to the axle cross member (diagram required?)

This system worked fine though it has disappearded recently. I have driven thousands of miles with a U-bolted boat trailer axle, without problem.

It would seem that the same idea could be used by trailer builders here. Once the trailer is finished, adjust the axle position to get the desired tongue weight and use U-bolts to clamp it for a couple of experimental camping trips. When you're sure it's right, bolt or weld the axle in place permanently.

This system would be quite bit more difficult to use with a leaf spring axle.

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Postby Chip » Sat Aug 28, 2004 7:57 am

Hmmmm,,I am visualizing some set up like on the rear tandoms on a 18 wheeler,,pull pins out and slide axle forward or rearward as needed ,,,just kidding of course,,,It seems more and more that the final axle placement actually should be one of the final things done,,,if possible,, to get the best placement for ballance and tongue weight,,,,I guessid and lucked out but it could have gone the otherway also

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Postby Mark Mckeeman » Sat Aug 28, 2004 9:09 pm

The Dexter torflex axle is available with an optional side mount bracket. This would allow the builder to clamp the axle to a lenghth of inverted angle iron welded to the bottom rail of the trailer frame. At any stage of contruction you could check your tounge weight and slide the axle along the angle as required. When you finnish just drill the holes through the angle and bolt the axle in place. Check the Dexter web site for diagrams.

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