Can you extend trailer axles? you can “only” widen an axle if it is a straight axle. Some axles are cambered, the factory puts a bow in them for loading purpose’s. Straight axles are no problem to widen as mentioned. To see if you have a cambered one just stand behind your trailer and look at the axle, you will be able to tell.

Can you add a second axle to a trailer? You could add a second axle to a trailer that doubles its axle capacity but this does not ensure the other parts of the trailer, such as its frame or coupler, have that same doubled capacity.

Can a trailer axle be straightened? With welding skills and attention to detail, axle repair is possible. It is, however, important to weld the axle after straightening it in a step-by-step manner to prevent the axle from warping. Repairing less durable, square-tube axles is not recommended.

Should trailer axle be bowed? Helpful Expert Reply: A trailer axle should actually be bowed upwards in the middle and not downwards. When the trailer is loaded with your boat, that upward bow will flatten out and your tires will make even contact with the ground. I recommend replacing your axle and ensuring you stay under the axle capacity.

Can you extend trailer axles? – Related Questions

Can I add a third axle to my trailer?

Just want to add another axle to the back of the trailer. To add your third axle, you cannot simply add a hanger spring and axle. You can keep your 35 inch spacing but you will need to relocate your hangers.

What is a torsion axle?

Torsion axles have a straightforward, attached construction with adjustable ride height and a rubberized suspension system. As each wheel moves up and down, the rubber cords compress offering an even wheel suspension system for a smooth ride.

How do I know if my trailer axle is out of alignment?

You can check axle alignment by measuring from the center of the coupler back diagonally to the center of one of the wheels. Then take the same measurement to the other wheel center. They should be identical or within 1/8 of an inch, give or take 1/16 of an inch.

How do I know if my trailer axle is bent?

If there are larger gaps between the bulges & the straightedge, it indicates a bent axle, a bent spindle, or a bent wheel. (Check for a bent wheel by jacking the tire off the ground and giving it a spin. If it’s bent, you’ll see it wobbling) You can sort of read those gaps to identify what the problem is.)

How do you know if your axle shaft is bent?

Shaft/axle wobble and vibration – When your vehicle has a bent or broken axle shaft, one of the clearest ways you’ll notice is how at lower speeds the car might seem to wobble. At higher speeds (over 20 mph), the wobble may turn into what feels more like a general vibration.

How far back should a trailer axle be?

The distance from the front of the trailer coupler to the axle center is 96 inches. Check out the equation below to see how much further back the axle needs to be moved.

Do all trailer axles have camber?

Both Sprung axles and Torsion axles typically are built with a slight positive camber but custom axles can be specified with or without camber. A trailer that runs long distances without a load may be better without axle camber. An example of this might be a long distance boat transport trailer.

What causes a trailer axle to bend?

The reason axles have an upward arc to them is so that when a load is placed on them they straighten out and your tires run evenly. When the inside of the tread on your tires wears on the inside that is a good indication that you are overloading the axle which is causing it to bend down too much.

Are trailer axles straight or curved?

Most trailer axles are designed with a “bend” in the tube that will deflect when the load (weight of the trailer) is applied. This will theoretically bring the trailer wheel camber toward a 0 value that is the best setting for most trailer applications.

Are trailer axles curved?

Trailer axles are built with a slight upward curve in the middle. When the trailer is unloaded, the tops of the tires lean slightly outward (toed-out, or duck-footed). When they are carrying the weight of whatever’s loaded, the axles straighten to a flat position and the tires come to a straight up-and-down position.

How do you know if your trailer spindle is bent?

Assuming your tires are in good shape without any bulges the easiest way to determine if you have a bent spindle is to take a straight edge that is longer than the tire and lay it across the tire parallel with your trailer frame and then measure the distance from the frame to the straight edge in front and back of the

Where do you put axles on a tandem trailer?

For example, if the trailers frames length is 18 feet, then the center-line location for the equalizer hanger will be 10.8 feet from the front of the trailer and 7.2 feet from the back. This is where to start with when picking out axle locations for a tandem axle trailer.

How do you adjust a tandem axle?

To shift weight off the drive axles and onto the trailer tandems, you slide the trailer tandems forward toward the front of the truck. With 6 inch spacing you’re moving 400 pounds per hole so you need to move 4 holes to shift a minimum of 1,400 pounds (400 x 4 = 1,600).

Do trailer torsion axles wear out?

Helpful Expert Reply: It is certainly possible for any axle to wear out enough over time to need replacing. Since the suspension is built into a torsion axle if the suspension part was to wear out pretty much the only solution would be to replace the axle.

Are torsion axles better than springs?

Torsion trailer axles offer a smoother ride and less maintenance. Leaf springs are more durable, less expensive and far easier to replace parts on. Whichever you choose, you’ll see the best results by properly loading your trailer with the aim of getting the most wear out of the system you pick.

Can a torsion axle be repaired?

Torsion axles use internal rubber cords to provide the suspension motion and they really are not practical to repair/rebuild. Certainly any axle that was damaged in an accident should be replaced purely for safety reasons.

Why does my trailer tire look slanted?

It sounds like your trailer has been overloaded at some point which might have bent the axle or the spindles. If the inside edges of your tires are more worn than the outsides, it’s a sure sign the axle is bent. While you’re at it, also check the suspension components, making sure there’s no broken or worn parts.

Why is my trailer tire wearing on the inside?

Tire wear on the inside generally indicates an overloaded trailer. When a load is placed on it, the bow helps support some of the weight, the axle straightens some and the tires will wear evenly. Make sure that your tires have ST in front of the tire size. This indicates it is a special trailer tire.

Is a car totaled if the axle is bent?

If the crash results in a broken axle, dented or tweaked pillar (the parts that “hold up” the roof, including the front windshield frame, the part between your front and rear doors, and the rear roofline), or extensive damage to the drivetrain or under-hood components, you could be looking at a total loss.

How long can a single axle trailer be?

The length depends on state. In California, the total length is usually 65 feet. The trailer length is 28 feet 6 inches and the motorized house length is 40 feet (38 feet if the trailer has a single-axle fifth wheel, and 40 feet if there are two or more axle fifth wheel).

What is the dot weight limit per axle?

In addition to Bridge Formula weight limits, Federal law states that single axles are limited to 20,000 pounds, and axles spaced more than 40 inches and not more than 96 inches apart (tandem axles) are limited to 34,000 pounds.