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Frank's Trailer Works · 03-12-2014, 05:36 PM

I have a 04 with a bent torsion arm in my shop. Has anyone experienced this? The owner said he hit a pot hole. Upon inspection of the axle build plate I was taken by the #3500 rating. Three axles at #3500 is #10500 capacity. That is the dry weight of the trailer. Add two propane tank you are #80 over rated. Travel with a full water tank @ 8 lbs /gallon you have over load the axles a lot. Am I off here?

HiHoAgRV · 03-12-2014, 05:47 PM

When I was doing my homework to buy a 34, I also noted that some years had very marginal axle capacity. Being a few years back I don't recall WHAT years but I'm not surprised. My street side rear is slightly out of alignment now, probably from the brutal twisting that happens in a tight backing turn. Watching the tires is freaky as they drag in those maneuvers. Mine are 2800lb rated on a 8900gvwr trailer

On EDIT: Keep in mind that part of the weight of the trailer is carried on the ball, not the axles, so that doesn't go against the axle weight. Only by hitting the scales can you really see what is on the axles. You are correct though, not much room for 'stuff' on that particular trailer!

HowieE · 03-12-2014, 06:32 PM

Airstream builds to the limit when it come to tires, and axles.
I replace the 2800 lb axles on my 34 to 3200 and replaced the wheels and tire to 16 in. Total current weight on the axles 8400 lbs.

If the axle is bent it may require replacement. However if the bend would fall with the define of misalignment I would take it to Gaumer Industries in Chambersberg Pa, a truck shop that can realign those axles.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-12-2014, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62overlander

I have a 04 with a bent torsion arm in my shop. Has anyone experienced this? The owner said he hit a pot hole. Upon inspection of the axle build plate I was taken by the #3500 rating. Three axles at #3500 is #10500 capacity. That is the dry weight of the trailer. Add two propane tank you are #80 over rated. Travel with a full water tank @ 8 lbs /gallon you have over load the axles a lot. Am I off here?

Frank.

The torsion arm is cast metal.

It's extremely rare that it will bend fron a pot hole.

Perhaps there is another reason for the bend.

Also a 10 year old axle that is a part of a 2 or 3 axle trailer, cannot be replaced by itself.

All 2 or 3 will have to be replaced.

Andy

Frank's Trailer Works · 03-12-2014, 07:36 PM

Howie, the torsion arm is 1" off center. I do not think it can be realigned. I am going to replace the axle. I am just surprised the three axles add up to the dry weight.

HowieE · 03-12-2014, 07:45 PM

That far off is the frame also bent at the attachment point?

Silvertwinkie · 03-12-2014, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62overlander

I have a 04 with a bent torsion arm in my shop. Has anyone experienced this? The owner said he hit a pot hole. Upon inspection of the axle build plate I was taken by the #3500 rating. Three axles at #3500 is #10500 capacity. That is the dry weight of the trailer. Add two propane tank you are #80 over rated. Travel with a full water tank @ 8 lbs /gallon you have over load the axles a lot. Am I off here?

Nope, you are not off Frank. Airstream addressed this issue later in the 2005 model year. Most Airstreams I've seen pre mid-2005, 25' or larger are in the same boat (including my 2004). It seems so ridiculous I know. Guess someone finally got the memo because in mid-2005 model year, upgraded axles and higher GVWRs were found. You can normally tell the 25' or larger 2005s with the upgraded axles by the taller rock guards. Taller rock guards I found to have the upgraded axles. Short, was a 1st half 2005 build, similar to all pre-05 trailers, and thus had the lower rated axles, NCC and overall GVWR.

When I asked a similar question, the answers I got were "Well yea, anywhere between 500 and 1000lbs will sit on the hitch." Then I followed with "Ok, I hear you, but, what if you use a weight distribution hitch that puts some of the weight back on the trailer as well as the tow vehicles front tires?"

There was never a response, about a year and half later, upgraded axles started to appear....along with disc brakes, taller rock guards, etc.

Putting more robust axles is really the best plan for the long haul. When they are newer they may take a bit more abuse, but as they age, they may fail sooner than later IMHO. Now, I'm not suggesting getting overzealous and put 5k axles on, but 3800, 3900 wouldn't be out of the question.

Frank's Trailer Works · 03-13-2014, 05:24 AM

What I am torn about is weather to upgrade this one axle or to replace it with the same. I doubt the owner wants to replace all three after all the other work that was done.

overlander63 · 03-13-2014, 05:42 AM

If you are going to upgrade one, you will need to do them all. It wouldn't be a bad idea to do them all anyway, since the new axle will have slightly more travel and probably be at a higher starting angle than the ones that have been on the trailer for several years.
As for the weight rating, part of the GVW is not carried by the axles, and that is the hub/drum/trailing arm assemblies and tires/wheels on the axles themselves. Those parts are unsprung weight. That doesn't make having a 200# cargo carrying capacity right, but it is what it is.

perryg114 · 03-13-2014, 05:55 AM

Frank what I would do is order a 4200 lb axel and put that in the middle and then put my two surviving good axels on the front and back. This would help with turning in my opinion by taking some of the load off the other two axles that tend to drag in turns. This would keep you from having to buy three axles and maybe help with turning.

Perry

Lance M · 03-13-2014, 06:36 AM

No Frank, you are not off.

The 34' triple axle Airstreams seem to be prone to axle problems.
Might be a reason that Dexter does not recommend Torflex axles in triples.

Here are a few issues-
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f437...ml#post1392296

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f437...tml#post977161

I would recommend three new axles with higher weight rating.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-13-2014, 07:01 AM

According to Henschen, all 3 axles "MUST" have the same rating as well as being of the same ball park age.

If not, then added sresses will be placed on the frame as well as cause a sway.

Andy

truckasaurus · 03-13-2014, 08:02 AM

Not to divert the train of thought but I don't follow post #9, where does the extra 200lbs come from. The weight of the wheels etc is already accounted for as part of the axle rating and GTW whether it's unsprung or not surely?

Air-Texas · 03-13-2014, 09:23 AM

Does anyone have experience using these Dexter Air-ride/torsion axels for use on triple axle trailers?
Andy?

http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6149609/f/produ...Flyer_8-10.pdf

truckasaurus · 03-13-2014, 09:55 AM

I don't have the experience. But I think they only come in high lbs ratings, there's a thread somewhere with a Sparten Manor triple with triple air suspension but it was resto built for carrying a vintage porsche IIRC.

perryg114 · 03-13-2014, 10:47 AM

I don't think anyone has tried to mix axles because the factory never studied this. I don't think there is any data pro or con for replacing one axle. If you do it in such a way as to maintain symmetry, I don't see why it would not work. Would I do this on a double axle trailer, probably not. If I had a triple and it was my trailer I would put a slightly heavier axle in the middle and call it good. I understand the liability issues etc. and three new axles would be the way to go if money were no object.

Perry

Air-Texas · 03-13-2014, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckasaurus

I don't have the experience. But I think they only come in high lbs ratings, there's a thread somewhere with a Sparten Manor triple with triple air suspension but it was resto built for carrying a vintage porsche IIRC.

You are right; they are only for very heavy trailers...

wkerfoot · 03-13-2014, 01:00 PM

Looking for this: TheLincolnForum.Net â€¢ View topic - "Toybox" travel trailer project. Warning: pictures

Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckasaurus

I don't have the experience. But I think they only come in high lbs ratings, there's a thread somewhere with a Sparten Manor triple with triple air suspension but it was resto built for carrying a vintage porsche IIRC.

truckasaurus · 03-13-2014, 01:06 PM

That's the one. It was a really cool build.

Silvertwinkie · 03-13-2014, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 62overlander

What I am torn about is weather to upgrade this one axle or to replace it with the same. I doubt the owner wants to replace all three after all the other work that was done.

Either replace it with same axle, or better yet, replace all three with a better capacity axle similar to what the factory started to do mid-2005.

I know the owner won't wanna hear that, cause it ain't cheap, but look at it this way, you have in front of you a 10 year old RV. You go and put one new fresh and crisp axle on that rig and its most likely not going to be as broken in as the other two. Sort of like replacing 1 tire out of 4, with the other 3 having 40k+ miles on them.

As much as I wouldn't wanna spend the extra $$ on such short notice-- if it were me, I'd put three new higher capacity axles on it. IMHO, that is really the right thing to do and I say that having a 10 year old rig that is gonna be due for it in the next few years. I'll be replacing both to match Airstream's 7300GVWR found on most post 2005 25 footers.