A lot of opinions about what kind of axle to use for an off road teardrop trailer. A lot of people told me in no uncertain terms that the drop axles / torsion axles were the newer design, and better all around for everything.
Me, I'm still partial to the simplicity of a leaf sprung straight axle. Something I can fix on the trail if need be. When we were building, I was going to get the 2000 pound rated axle, but after talking with the famous Larry Sorensen who bent his 2000# axle running the washboard dirt roads in Baja Mexico, he convinced me that the 3500 lb axle was a better, stronger choice.
It doesn't actually weigh 3500 pounds, that's just the amount of load it can carry. The 3500# axles are a lot sturdier than the 2000# axles. If you are an offroader, this matters. If your TD never leaves the pavement, and never known how brutally tough a few dozen miles of washboard road can be, then you're probably fine with any axle.
But we are here in the Offroad TD forum, and for us folks who are in here - I'm strongly recommending a 3500# axle. With electric brakes, even if your local laws don't require them. Here's a link to a photo of our axle. You can even read the numbers.
http://td.roughwheelers.com/OurTearDrop ... tml#3.htmlWe bought the axle from Mighty Mover Trailers in Corona, CA 800-920-2233. It was $312 in Nov of 2003. They had to special order it. The receipt says:
51-3500# Axle w/ Elec Brk.
74" HF- 56SCB. 5-4.5
(that's the lug nuts; 5 on 4.5 to match the Jeep). the trailer is about 5 feet wide.
Anyway, we're real happy with it, and it's holding up great. I feel that I made a good choice of axle for this purpose.
-- However If I had known that I could have ordered the same axle with electric brakes and also with a parking brake, I would have. --