Epiphany Gets new Axles

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by azfiredog300

Are the hubs and drums balanced on the new axles Andy?

New hub and drums, today, are "unicast," (one piece).

The casting today is far superior than several years ago.

The machining process, today, is far superior as well.

The hub and drums are not balanced, but, are much closer to being in balance, than ever before.

When using most of todays large suppliers of hub and drums, if you can only balance the tires and wheels, you are not in too bad of shape, usually.

Andy

[goransons]

4 hours? wow, yeah did mine in less than an hour of actual work, and only had a friend help me carry the axles out to the trailer. That seems way over the top for labor (and mine is 2 axles)

[azfiredog300]

I agree, took me about an hour by myself. for the first axle that is. Haven't got the second one in yet.

[HiHoAgRV]

A quick update, Dexters down angle offering that's between 22.5 degrees and 45 degrees is NOT 35 as has been posted (by many, including myself) but instead 32 degrees.
What's 3 degrees among friends

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

What's 3 degrees among friends

Answer: One-half of 6 degrees of separation, so you are not all that far apart.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

Answer: One-half of 6 degrees of separation, so you are not all that far apart.

The Misses has been known to give me the 3rd degree from time to time now that I think about it

[HiHoAgRV]

Ok
Lets backup 109 posts to #18...
New axles have been ordered, the old ones returned to former dealer of choice
I made 2 changes from the 1st round- 32 Degree down angle and 3500 lb rating. I did send a request via the new dealer (only 297 more to go ) to swap the bonus side hanger brackets that none of us need for a set of unwelded shock brackets. Hey, if you don't ask, you'll never receive huh?

[TOM CRUMP]

Good to hear you resolved the ordering issue and you're back to square one. Determinaton pays off, I know, my old Overlander is in the best shape she's been in for years. I plan on heading out to Northern AZ in May.

[fotochop]

good idea, vern, asking for the bracket swap... is the 32 degree down angle a "special order" type of thing? a local dealer told me I could only get 22 or 45, but I'm thinking of calling Dexter to get it straight from the source... glad to hear the original mix-up has been somewhat resolved..

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by fotochop

good idea, vern, asking for the bracket swap... is the 32 degree down angle a "special order" type of thing? a local dealer told me I could only get 22 or 45, but I'm thinking of calling Dexter to get it straight from the source... glad to hear the original mix-up has been somewhat resolved..

The 32 degree is not on the forum that Dexter sent me but I did see it on Safari Tim's documents on THEVAP blog. In speaking with Dexter I understand why the 22.5 degree is the only angle that they will install the shock option, all of their drawings and fixtures are dimensioned off of the end of the trailing arm in a 22.5 degree position.
FYI - I really thought had about going with a #10 axle and 10" brakes because of the price, $160 cheaper per axle!

It's time to go camping - the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival this weekend

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by TOM CRUMP

... I plan on heading out to Northern AZ in May.

Whoo hooo! There is an above average chance I'll head for a 2-3 week western loop about the same time, thus the push to get axles...
'Head West Young Man'

[fotochop]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

The 32 degree is not on the forum that Dexter sent me but I did see it on Safari Tim's documents on THEVAP blog. In speaking with Dexter I understand why the 22.5 degree is the only angle that they will install the shock option, all of their drawings and fixtures are dimensioned off of the end of the trailing arm in a 22.5 degree position.
FYI - I really thought had about going with a #10 axle and 10" brakes because of the price, $160 cheaper per axle!

It's time to go camping - the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival this weekend

I see, so you just ordered (asked for) the shock bracket to be sent loose and you will install it yourself on the 32 degree down axle....pretty clever. I found a shop in Covington La, Trailer Outlet, who has Dexter experience and good prices and I think I'll ask them to do exactly the same thing.. They were of the "you don't need shocks" school, but I think I want them just the same after reading up here... thanks

[HiHoAgRV]

To keep things in perspective--
Todays unplanned Root Canal cost more than the axles

I hope to see if the 'Airstream spoke - shocks are required' is fact or fiction.

[HiHoAgRV]

A few more Calculations---
Remember back in post #60 there were some relative 'Ride Quality' charts? I finally got around to crunching the data to see how much energy was being passed through to the interior of the vehicle. For the first chart, the bare truck, the amount of energy passed from the road, through the suspension to the truck equates to about 3.04 kwh on my test loop. The actual calculation is in 'Joules' but who can actually relate to that unit? I view kwh as 'my 1 kw generator ran for 1 hour at full load = 1kwh'

For the Airstream with wd the amount is 8.31 kwh, without wd it's 9.03 kwh
There is lots of room to shoot holes in the actual values but the scale between the values tells me the suspension of the camper is passing 3x the energy into the shell as would a 3/4 truck chassis!

[Action]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

There is lots of room to shoot holes in the actual values but the scale between the values tells me the suspension of the camper (The Airstream Trailer) is passing 3x the energy into the shell as would a 3/4 truck chassis!

I would agree with your evaluation. I would also expect the truck to ride (or isolate the energy from the driving cab) better than the Airstream. The truck has a full frame with body mounts that the Airstream does not. And the technology for the truck is such that it is being constantly updated and this cost is spread over many thousands of units. Not so for the Airstream. Lastly the ride in the Airstream does not have to be as high a standard as the truck. The Airstream is not designed for passengers when the unit is moving. So as long as there is no damage to the trailer when traveling the design is working well.

I wonder what the numbers would be in my Airstream with used up running gear.

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

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by Action

...I wonder what the numbers would be in my Airstream with used up running gear.

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

Mine are pretty stiff as expected for 30 years old...
I hope the new axles will improve this some...

[slowmover]

HiHoAgRV, I've really enjoyed reading this thread tonight, and wish to thank you for sharing all the details. Never easy being "the guinea pig". Didn't expect to read about the datalogged ride motions, I hope that in the future you might consider a thread on that subject alone.

Good luck!

[HiHoAgRV]

THE AXLES ARE HERE! THE AXLES ARE HERE! And according to the Pick Ticket, they were built almost correctly this time...
I specifically ordered 3500 lb and the ticket shows 3600 and the dealer was kind enough to add a surcharge we never discussed...

Here is a status of some things pending- Don't bother asking for shock brackets as loose piece, Dexter won't do it. I got a lame excuse I'm not going to post but I said I'd try then update everyone with the outcome.

Suggestion - when it's time to place your order. Sit down with the dealer, fill out the paperwork and have them charge your credit card at that time. Don't wait for the delivery and surcharges, this will keep $1,220 axles from turning into $1,333 axles. If things go bad the credit card company will assist if you are in the right.

[Inland RV Center, In]

We guarantee that the Henschen axles will fit, regardless of the year from 1961 up.

No surprises with prices.

No surprises with shock absorber brackets. From 1961 to 1968 models, they are shipped loose. From 1969 up, they are welded in place.

Proper rated brakes. 12" brakes are replaced with 12 inch brakes, not 10." In fact some 10 inch brakes are upgraded to 12 inch brakes.

Starting angle is 35 degrees.

The spindle ratings far exceed the axle ratings.

No need to provide any measurements of any kind.

Providing the trailer serial number gets you exactly what you want, the first time.

Some owners have had to order the Dexter axles, not once, but sometimes twice, and still did not get exactly what they wanted, or ordered.

The difference in costs, becomes a mute point, when it takes hours to order the Dexters. In fact, in some cases, the Dexters costs have exceeded the Henschen costs, when a person considers how many phone calls they made, how many visits to a dealer they made, getting their credit card company involved, etc.

To order Henschen axles, it takes "one" phone call, period.

We know the Airstream market. Dexter and it's dealers, do not.

Then of course why does the Airstream factory send axle requests to us??

They know, without question, that we get it right, the first time.

Andy

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

... Then of course why does the Airstream factory send axle requests to us??

They know, without question, that we get it right, the first time.

Andy,

You "da man" in my book. I bought my axles from you, and was happy with the second shipment. I will buy from you again. In fact, I am constantly buying from you. I need to order a couple of bin latches now that I think about it.

But

You are the only dealer of Henschen axles. Where else could the factory send anyone?

Tom