Trailer Axle Anatomy 101

[Shahram]

As a complete and total layman in the area of trailer parts, I find I have some difficulty searching for the right parts for my off-road utility trailer project. Frankly, I don't know what parts are under the trailer, much less how to find replacements for them.

This is what I do know:

--The axle housing is a 2"x2" square tube, with a flat, four-bolt plate on either end. It is leaf sprung.

--The hubs are four-lugs.

I'd like to, if at all possible, replace as little as I can to get some larger wheels and tires on this thing. Optimally, I'd like to have the same lug pattern and tire size on the trailer as I do on my Cruiser (OEM 6-lug 16" wheels with 285s), but I don't know if it's possible without replacing the entire axle, something I'd rather not do. I know I have to replace the hub and possibly the spindle assembly, but what parts should I be looking for?

Also, what kind of axle is this, and how much capacity could it possibly have?

Sorry for the child-like questions, but I'm completely clueless here.

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[Degnol]

Here is a place to start......................

http://abctrailerparts.com/axles.html



Pilfered from someone else's post


Ed



"Child-like questions?"..............Hell we are all about "Child-like " questions;>)

 

[sirenmoses]

here's where I window-shop for my utility trailer parts. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatDsp2?storeId=6970&N=166839+166843&Ne=2

4 lugs prolly around 2000lb capacity.

depending on how heavy a load you'll be carrying, you'll prolly wanna put the right axle/hub combo under the first time, then you can match the rig wheels, and get brakes on the trailer too.

 

[Waorani]

http://www.etrailerpart.com/ is another source. I've bought several axles from them with no problem. I've also bought stuff from Northern Tool (used to be Nothern Hydraulics) for many years. Be careful though, a lot of the stuff Northern sells is pretty low quality.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

'Nother trailer parts supplier... http://www.redneck-trailer.com/

Nick

 

[Waorani]

'Nother trailer parts supplier... http://www.redneck-trailer.com/

Nick

Another source that I've also had good luck with.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Looks like a lot of sources are already posted so I'll share what I have discovered about trailer axles.

The temptation might be to simply flip the axle over re-attach the springs and replace the hubs, this does not work. Why? Because the axles is built with a slight bow that flattens out under load to get the correct camber on the wheels. If you flip the axle you will have a negative camber which will ruin the tires.

Right now I am convinced that a torsion axle is the best type for an off road trailer. There are a few that allow you set vary the preload to match your payload. But with no first hand experience I could be swayed in this opinion.