Going from solid axles to independent suspension

[leere68]

I've got a new (to me) 25 ft 1981 Excella II. It sat stationary under a shed for 17 years, and the previous owner lived in it full time for 12 of those years. I'm months away from worrying about the axles, at best, but I can't help but think of options for future work. The current axles are original (~37 years old) and they use lug bolts instead of lug nuts to secure the wheels to the axles. I know the brakes will need to be replaced, and I'm fairly certain the axles do too. Should I simply replace the solid axles with modern solid axles? Is it possible to change from solid axles to independent suspension for each wheel, and is there an advantage to making that change?

[BigAl]

Your axles are independent.
Al

[leere68]

Really? I thought they were two solid axles. I'm not a complete mechanical novice, but I'm far from a gear head, so I fully admit I'm probably missing something. Am I mixing and matching terms?

[A W Warn]

The original axles are torsion type, that is a solid axle with independent movement at each end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzVVqXxbGSA

[TG Twinkie]

The axle itself is solid and does not move when load changes.
Only the torsion arm moves.
The end of the torsion arm is where the spindle is located and the wheel is mounted.
Each torsion arm is independent of the other.
You have independent suspension.

[leere68]

Ah ok. That's where I was getting confused then. Thanks.

[fwjumper]

As you state, you will probably need new axles and shocks. Replace with the torsion axles. They work just fine. As previously mentioned, each wheel moves independently, even though differently than an automobile's independent suspension. Anyway, I would stay with the original design. When/if you do replace the axles, the trailer should get a little "lift." How much lift will depend on how bad your old ones are and also how you spec the new axles. Good luck and happy travels to you!

[leere68]

Yeah, currently the axles are mounted on top of the leaf springs and I am already thinking of mounting the axles to the underside to get a couple of inches. That should at least help with hitching to my truck.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by leere68

Yeah, currently the axles are mounted on top of the leaf springs and I am already thinking of mounting the axles to the underside to get a couple of inches. That should at least help with hitching to my truck.

Whoa! If you have leaf springs, I don't think that is original. Now I understand why you asked about solid axles. Someone must have replaced the original axles with solid axles and leaf springs.

Edit: I looked at the manuals in the early 80's. Pictures of the running gear clearly show the Duratorque axles. The 1980 Excella specifications appear (copy cut off the full description) to specify Duratorque axles.

If someone has mounted the Duratorque axles on leaf springs, my opinion is that is not safe to drive.

Look on the frame above the axle(s). There should be a welded on bracket with a square cutout facing down. The Duratorque axle fits in that cutout and is bolted into holes in the bracket.

Al

[Air4563]

There should not be any leaf springs under your 1981 Airstream. Could be a previous owner modified the suspension to get higher clearance.

[Action]

Originally Posted by leere68

Yeah, currently the axles are mounted on top of the leaf springs and I am already thinking of mounting the axles to the underside to get a couple of inches. That should at least help with hitching to my truck.

I would like to see a picture of that.

Unless you have the year incorrect. About 1961 Airstream went from leaf springs to torsion springs. The type of torsion spring was a metal tube with rubber rods inside. The axle stub end is inserted into the tube in between the rubber rods.

>>>>>>>Action

[leere68]

Thanks for the video A W Warn. I hadn't heard of torsion axles before and didn't know anything about them. I just assumed what I had was solid axles with leaf springs. The link below should take you to pictures taken during the inspection when I bought the trailer.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5t94OMaYkME2iin2

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by leere68

Thanks for the video A W Warn. I hadn't heard of torsion axles before and didn't know anything about them. I just assumed what I had was solid axles with leaf springs. The link below should take you to pictures taken during the inspection when I bought the trailer.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/c5t94OMaYkME2iin2

You definitely have torsion axles.

[n2916s]

Yep, torsion axles. There should be a plate on the axle somewhere that lists the capacity. Tough to read thanks to corrosion and road grime.

Inland RV and Colin Hyde seem to be the most common suppliers but there are others. Got mine from Inland before Andy retired and they bolted right up. Don't know who is running the place now, though.