Axle guru's wanted axle received its wrong

[saltydawg]

Okay first some specs. Over all trailer width will be 5'6 to 5'8", I want fenders on it so I want about 3 to 4 inches of tire/wheel past the wall. I want to use toyota rims which are 6 lug 5.5" and I think the rims have 4.5 from the inside of the rim offset. Tire size 31 10.5 r15.

I think I want a axle length hub to hub of 60 inches, and a frame outside width of 46 inches. Pretty sure that works out to about 2 to 2.5 inches of frame clearance from the tire. Due to tire height I am pretty sure a 0 degree angle on the arms which should give me 16 or ground clearance to frame.. I want the option for brakes, maybe now maybe later.

Okay I would love timbren axles but I would love to not spend that much. I dont want spring axles, so that leaves me flexiride or dexter torsion axle. It does not appear I can do the 6 x 5.5 lug pattern on the flexiride but can on the dexter. Well I might be able to order what ever hubs I want but I have spent the last 2 hours reading here, clicking may dead links for stuff and I am no closer to having an answer.

So the axle gurus please help me. What options do I have with the above info.

thanks

[saltydawg]

I think I will need the 3500 axle, can the rubber be down sized to a wet weight of around 1500. What should I am for for the rubber rating?

Edit i found a place that looks like I can get it with brakes for right around 500, who is the cheapest for something like this?

[Pinstriper]

Honestly, see if you can get a live person at etrailer to work with. Their prices are good and even if not the lowest, the advice will be worth the difference.


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[tony.latham]

Okay first some specs. Over all trailer width will be 5'6 to 5'8", I want fenders on it so I want about 3 to 4 inches of tire/wheel past the wall. I want to use toyota rims which are 6 lug 5.5" and I think the rims have 4.5 from the inside of the rim offset. Tire size 31 10.5 r15.

I think I want a axle length hub to hub of 60 inches, and a frame outside width of 46 inches. Pretty sure that works out to about 2 to 2.5 inches of frame clearance from the tire. Due to tire height I am pretty sure a 0 degree angle on the arms which should give me 16 or ground clearance to frame.. I want the option for brakes, maybe now maybe later.

Okay I would love timbren axles but I would love to not spend that much. I dont want spring axles, so that leaves me flexiride or dexter torsion axle. It does not appear I can do the 6 x 5.5 lug pattern on the flexiride but can on the dexter. Well I might be able to order what ever hubs I want but I have spent the last 2 hours reading here, clicking may dead links for stuff and I am no closer to having an answer.

So the axle gurus please help me. What options do I have with the above info.

thanks

Here's what I order from Dexter for a 60" wide teardrop:
#9 Dexter Torflex axle, downrated to 1600 pounds
• Start Angle: 22.5” down
• Trailer width: 59.5”
• Hub face: 74”
• Hub diameter: 6.5”
• Bolt Pattern: 5 on 4-1/2” with standard studs
• Lubrication: EZ Lube
• Electric Brakes: Yes

(I build on a 59.5" frame which leaves room for aluminum trim, if needed.)

I want to use toyota rims...

There are two types of rim/hub mating systems. Lug centric (lug nuts) and hub centric. (Google it.) The issue is that a stock Tacoma rim may or may not fit on a trailer hub. I wish I could say yes or no. I think some folks solve this issue by adding a spacer.

That 22.5 down angle gives me 18" of clearance with a 15" LT tire.





Tony

[saltydawg]

Yes I know what hub vs lug is. The center opening on toyota wheels is around 4 inches so it should clear the bearing grease cover with out an issue. So I would be using the rim in a lug centric way. Unless we are talking how far out the grease cap sticks off of the brake drum face. The toyota rim and center cover have around 2 inches of clearance from the hub face, so I could see spacers there and I have no issue with it.

As for the rest of your info while I appreciate it, it does me no good. My trailer will be 5'6 or 5'8 depending on how I do the walls to frame, rail width I think needs to be 46 inches to fit the arms on the axle and the tire size/rim, the weight range maybe right. If I was building a 60 inch wide tear drop then I would use your info but I am not, but once again it does me know good.

[saltydawg]

I just looked up spacers, I can easily find 1.5 inch spacers for toyota hubs/rims. I have a metal lathe I could make a hub centric adapter to go under the spacer to keep the spacer hub centric on the brake drum ( or idler hub if no brakes )

The good thing is this would allow me some flexibility on the axle length as well.

[saltydawg]

Okay after some full size drawings, figuring on a 2 inch spacer, just in case and for flexibility. It looks like I can make the frame 50 wide, hub to hub 64.

The rims I have are 7 wide, with 4.75 offset. That keeps me with in the specs for the dexter torsion axle limit of 4" min 9 max.

Can any one confirm this?

[tony.latham]

As for the rest of your info while I appreciate it, it does me no good. My trailer will be 5'6 or 5'8 depending on how I do the walls to frame...

You should be able to interpolate your axles dimensions for any width frame from these two items I provided:

• Trailer width: 59.5” (60" cabin body)
• Hub face: 74”

Thus a 50" wide frame will take a 64" hub face axle. A 48" needs a 62"...

Mathematics.

T

[saltydawg]

You should be able to interpolate your axles dimensions for any width frame from these two items I provided:

• Trailer width: 59.5” (60" cabin body)
• Hub face: 74”

Thus a 50" wide frame will take a 64" hub face axle. A 48" needs a 62"...

Mathematics.

T

Yes your math works for what you are using for your wheels and tires and their offset and width. It does not work with my wheels and tires as the rims are not zero offset and my tire will be wider.

I called e trailer and they dont sell dexter torsion axles so they cant help.

I called bend trailers in Oregon and the guy working did help confirm the lengths but he did not know the weight rating could be customized. He was in training but the only one there, it was funny when he said if they can do that he should probably know about it.

But they have the best price I have found on the dexter 10 axles with brakes in a 6x5.5 lug pattern for $501 complete.

[tony.latham]

I called e trailer and they dont sell dexter torsion axles so they cant help.

Each are custom made. You have to order direct from Dexter.

T

[saltydawg]

Okay axle is ordered, I went with 68 hub spacing 6x5.5 lugs frame spacing 52. Which I will need to change the lugs bolts for the toyota rims but I have that info, not going with spacers, but may make a ring to make the hub centric for the toyota rim the right size. From reading over at expo portal I dont need to but might anyway, I just wont be able to run the center cap on the rim with out using a spacer, oh well.

In a few days when I can get confirmation that the axle order went thru and I can confirm the frame spacing I requested works I will start cutting steel for the frame. I ordered a new welder that is mig not flux core only , but until them I will start tacking with the flux core. Also the new welder wont be here until next week...urrr

Edit I ordered from bend trailers in oregon as they where with shipping cheaper than going direct thru dexter with out shipping.

[methridge]

Out of curiosity, how much room are you giving yourself, between the tire and the trailer frame/camper wall? I'm about to order a #9 Dexter torsion axle, and my frame width is 62", and I'm going with 72" hub face-to-face. That gives me 1.5" of space between the tire and the frame. I'm wondering if that's enough.

[tony.latham]

Out of curiosity, how much room are you giving yourself, between the tire and the trailer frame/camper wall? I'm about to order a #9 Dexter torsion axle, and my frame width is 62", and I'm going with 72" hub face-to-face. That gives me 1.5" of space between the tire and the frame. I'm wondering if that's enough.

See my posts above. I don’t think that’s enough.

T


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[MickinOz]

Here in Oz, we say target 50mm clearance, which is a touch under 2 inches (1.96")
We say minimum is 35mm (1.38 inches or 1 and 3/8 inches)
So right at the limit, but should be OK with a dexter torflex type axle where the wheel can only travel straight up and down.
I'd be a bit nervous if it was a long travel setup on springs or something where the gap can get narrower as the suspension moves.

[saltydawg]

copy and past from expo portal

Okay I ordered a dexter torflex axlw thru bend trailers in oregon. I specified on the order form the weight I wanted. I spoke to 2 people there, which is a total night mare out of a few calls. I left 4 or 5 messages never received a return call.

The axle is a number 10, was supposed to be rated around 2k. I just received it and its rated 3500. I have left a message, but they are not great by my history of returning calls.

how screwed am I for weight rating?

update post

johns reply over there.

The only downside

assuming its physical dimensions work for you

is a little bit of added pulling weight

and a stiffer ride for the contents - maybe more bouncing - when loaded "too lightly".

I edited a comment to john to be polite

Its almost 100 % over weight. Trailer should weight around 1700 dry. The axle will weigh the same, its the weight rating, not the weight of the axle. It might as well have no suspension with that amount of over rating.

I looked up the owner of the company between phone calls of trying to get someone. They dont have the best reviews of returning calls or taking care of problems. So I decided to take the hard approach if I got someone. I did.

I managed to get a person ( only called about 10 times) , So I explained the issue with a polite voice. I was informed that the "axle specialist" was out until next monday. I then stated with a sternness in my voice, due to the number of voicemails with no return calls, I had left during the order process they had until tomorrow to contact me or I was filing a charge back on my card. The lady said let me look into this and I will call you right back, I said ok.

She called me back 10 mins later, and said she looked at my order and it was "all over the order for the derating". She said they messed up and would send a new order tomorrow as a rush order, but that would take 10 days. That phone call I was as polite as a preacher, and stated that would be fine, I was willing to accept that.

I have no doubt that they where looking at the order to make sure I was not ambiguous on the rating so I could be told tough luck. I also have no doubt jumping right to the charge back lite a fire under their butt.