Thanks for the welcomes, again! As far as widsth - massive typo! The tear is a 'normal 4 X 10...a snug 46 inches wide inside, but a comy 896 inches long - plenty of room for the hubster.
We are looking forward to some drier weather. Much as I love the rain and gray, it's always a mood upper to hit the desert in the springtime!
Axle update: we don't know any teardopeers over here, but plenty of boat owners and welders. Many have seen the revised axle (with just one riser, new Ubolts, and good welding) and think it's stout and safe, albeit not elegant). The extension is actually a pipe that exyends quite far into the axle - the welds just keep it from moving sideways. We're going to ride with it as is, for now. I'll post new pics pretty soon on the construction topic - we're adding clearance lights (there were none) and making some minor changes to the galley so the cooler fits. Major remodel later this spring...