Axle Party! Would you like to help?

[memgrove2000]

Well it looks like the weather is going to be dry this weekend !! But is still going to be cold (around 45) but I dont want to wait any longer. The new axles have been here for about a month waiting for a good day to be installed. I dont mind the cold when I am working on a project and am ready for this one!! If any one wants to come over and help or just watch and have a beer come on. I am in Elkhart In. near the RV/MH Hall of Fame. You may have seen that while on the 80/90 toll road. I have never done an axle swap before but dont think it is too big a deal with all the input from these pages!! Thanks for the help. I ll try to take a few pictures but when I get in "project mode" I don't always remember the camera. MIke

[nick6930]

I wish that I lived closer, otherwise i would be there. I am going to replace mine and would love to see first hand how hard it would be to do. My wife wants me to pay someone. Hope you have a chance to take some photos. Let us know how hard it was.

Good Luck

Nick

[memgrove2000]

Well Nick we missed you today but still managed to swap out the axles with only one hitch!! Ran out of beer. I thought that I had a case in the garage fridge, come to find out it was more than half gone! And before I could run to the store my wife and kids had to run out for a birthday present. = the car was gone and the truck was keeping the Airstream from rolling down the drive with only one axle!! Any way... All is better other than Finding out that we had to remove the Gas line from the belly pan there was NO surprises!! YEAH!! It is as simple as they say with only hand tools (A good breaker bar) and some wood ramps it can be done!! I have taken some pictures and will post during the week. Thanks for all the posts here as they made my axles swap easy!! this site is awesome!!! Thanks Mike
ps; Now I have to adjust the hitch AGAIN!!

[Action]

That's awesome. Cause the commute was gonna kill me.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[eubank]

Ok, now that you're finished, you're invited this summer to come up to Angel Fire and help me do our AS!

Lynn

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by nick6930

I wish that I lived closer, otherwise i would be there. I am going to replace mine and would love to see first hand how hard it would be to do. My wife wants me to pay someone. Hope you have a chance to take some photos. Let us know how hard it was.

Good Luck

Nick

Nick.

Original equipment axles, for your year, are a direct "bolt-in". Nothing to drill, cut, modify or adjust.

The equipment needed, is some good hand tools, and some 2 X 6's, and one person to help you with part of the change out, unless you have a floor jack.

Optional equipment, is usually a 6 pack, or two.

The axle rating for your trailer can be changed, depending on how you plan to use the trailer.

The change out time, for 2, takes about 3 to 4 hours, depending on if your using using power tools or not.

Andy

[mikmilr]

Hey Nick, It's not that far from Front Royal to Swoope. If you want to come and install mine for the experience I'll drink the beer for you.
But seriously, Its not a difficult job. The hardest part of taking the old one out was breaking loose the 1964 bolts. I haven't unpacked my new axle yet but the only problem I foresee is maybe having to drill some holes. We'll see.

Mike

[memgrove2000]

Yes guys I am still planning on posting some pictures. We had a satalite plant break down and I got called to work from a 4 month lay off (very unexpectedly) and have to work again friday. But we should have things back to norm early next week. Ill try to get some picts down loaded soon. Mike

[memgrove2000]

Here are some pictures of the axle swap. It is not hard work you CAN do it. I chose to up grade to 4000# axles so I had to notch the frame rails with the rotozip and cutting wheel. It worked like a charm!! The only thing I would suggest is removing the gas line before starting (to avoid possibly crimping it while trying to get the axles out from under the trailer) Lifting the axles over the gas line was difficult (just no leverage while it was under the trailer). Other than that it was EASY with some common hand tools and a can of Power Blaster. You can see in some of the pictures the dollies that we used to move the axles around. The wood ones are from Harbor freight ( I have had for many years) the small metal one is from a snowmobile dolly set ( it was lower to the ground) these made it easy to maneuver the axles into place and run them in and out of the garage. I see Harbor freight now has a smaller version of the wood ones that would be Ideal for $9.99 each. I hope these pictures help. If any one has questions post them. I am no expert but I will try to help. If you are close to Elkhart IN. I would even drop by!! Cheers to all, Mike