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hex · 10-18-2002, 08:45 PM

Does Henschen have a website? or even a telephone number?
How about a customer service dept?
Where are they headquartered.

I exhausted Google to no avail.

BobbyW · 10-18-2002, 09:17 PM

Henschen Industrial
522 N. Main St.
P.O. Drawer "T"
Jackson Center, OH 45334
tel: (513) 596-6125
tax: (513) 596-6809

JW84345 · 10-18-2002, 09:34 PM

First you drive into town (Jackson Center)

JW84345 · 10-18-2002, 09:37 PM

Past the Airstream plant. Stop in and take the tour!

JW84345 · 10-18-2002, 09:39 PM

You take a left on one of the side streets past the plant and there it is!

Silver Bullet · 10-18-2002, 09:59 PM

Ya reckin' that tractor has the tow rating for an AS???

Sorry, couldn't resist! Oscar

Inland RV Center, In · 10-19-2002, 02:42 PM

Henschen has a new web site under construction. May take another 6-8 weeks to complete.
However, it will be directed to other O.E.M. manufacturers, and not the retail market.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com

hex · 10-19-2002, 03:29 PM

Thanks for the tour I'm calling my travel agent asap!

Was / Is Henschen owned in whole or part by Airstream/Thor?

Seems co-incidental both in Jackson Center.

I have read that they rebuild their axles, unless there is rust present.What is the cost approx. of a rebuild?

Are we talking external rust or internal?

No used axle more than 6 weeks old is completely rust-free in my opinion.So how much rust is enough to cause un-rebuildability?

Is there a way to determine build date of the axle?
i.e a 74 Airstream was very likely built in 73, Did Henschen change the design on Jan.74 or with the 74 models come-out-datecirca Sept/Oct 73?

Finally does any other axle manuf. use the rubber rod system and
Is there an alternate brand ever recommended or used under an airstream trailer?

BobbyW · 10-19-2002, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Finally does any other axle manuf. use the rubber rod system and

http://www.dexteraxle.com
http://www.al-ko.com/vehicle/index.html

I tried chasing down who owned who back in June/02. Thor (Airstream) does not own Henschen any longer.

http://www.airforums.com/forum...highlight=axle

-BobbyWright

Pahaska · 10-19-2002, 10:43 PM

My International has Dexter axles according to the parts catalog and according to the tags on the axles. The sheet that came with the trailer says they areHenschen and gives a Henschen number. I'm guessing they are both the same company at some level.

Chas · 10-21-2002, 07:35 AM

The Henschen axle I got from Inland RV had Dexter brakes on it so go figure. I am not sure Henschen will sell direct to the end user. I had tried and gave up. As a business owner myself I can understand why. At any rate I felt better getting it through Inland so if anything wasn't right I could give Andy some grief as he seems to handle it pretty well.

wyhjr · 11-12-2002, 04:38 PM

I dealt directly with Henchen back in Mar. of 2000 to have the axles of my 1997 Safari 25 reconditioned and upgraded. The cost was approx. $100 apiece. They would have sold me new axles for approx. $200 apiece.
I delivered the axles directly to their plant in the morning and picked them up that evening (5:00pm).

Inland RV Center, In · 11-12-2002, 06:50 PM

That's exactly the reason Henschen made a change.

They "LOST" big money on every one they sold or rebuilt at those prices.

Their parent company put an end to it, quickly as they are an "OEM" supplier, only. Henchen's new web site, will clearly point that out.

"O. E. M." only.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com

Silver Bullet · 11-12-2002, 08:32 PM

I'm going to put their "OEM only" attitude to the test! If they can't supply me with the same bracket system on my '62 Overlander without modifications, then the OEM talk is out the door. That also means "at no extra cost". The bracket system is simpler than todays system of mounting. Oscar

11-13-2002, 12:13 AM

well..... is it possable to get parts from Henschen so you can rebuild your own axles? so you can just replace the parts that are wore out........just asking?

i realize you may need special tools, i havn't tore one apart or anything. can you take one apart and put it back togeather?

Inland RV Center, In · 11-13-2002, 08:07 AM

Silver Bullet.
Current style axles will not fit a 62, without some modifications, which, if done, make the axle attachment superior to the original.
Making one axle of a specific outdated design is not what "OEM" suppliers have in mind. Your requirement does not fit the "OEM" category.
No need to "test" Henschen, as they will not accomodate your request.
I am not aware of any axle that will "exactly" fit your 62.
If you do not wish to modify the axle attachments, then perhaps you should call Southwest Wheel.
They make a "universal""universal" axle, that one can tinker with and "maybe" have something that won't too soon, fall apart.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com

Inland RV Center, In · 11-13-2002, 08:12 AM

Overlander.

My 37 plus years with the Airstream product, is inadequate for me to consider myself technically qualified to answer your axle questions.

Perhaps some other challenger can help you.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com

Silver Bullet · 11-14-2002, 07:48 AM

Andy,
"Superior" is a relative term, I mean, the axles have been mounted for 40 yrs without any problems!

No sense in in using Southwest Wheel, if I'm going to have to "tinker" I may as well do it with the appropriate product. Can't blame me for being a tad miffed, what would have been an easy weekend job (dismount and remount) will now take more time and surely more expense for new bracketry. Guess I'm going to have to get under a newer model and see what all will be involved with replacement parts. Oscar

Inland RV Center, In · 11-14-2002, 08:28 AM

Oscar.

Adding the "axle mounting plates" to your Airstream, is not a big deal, nor is it that expensive.

Removing two axles, installing new axle mounting plates, installing the new axles, with shocks, takes less than 8 man hours.

When it's done, you can sit back in your lawn chair and enjoy the new look, and profile. Adding a cool one, will add to the smile, and pleasure.

Your Airstream will love you for it.

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com

Forrest · 12-29-2002, 10:12 PM

I called Henchen direct from a number I found on the Internet. The man I talked to wasn't too pleased to hear from me. I imagine that with all the Airstreamers rebuilding vintage units the man has had so many calls that it distracts him from his regular job. I told him he couldn't blame me for trying! Afterall the prices I'm reading that some postings say they got their axles for direct from the factory are quite the savings. I finally just bit the bullet and ordered mine from Inland.

The install was not as hard as I thought it would be, but if you do it alone it will take more than the 8 hours Andy says (unless you're a professional mechanic). I was a little distressed Andy that the axle didn't arrive on a pallet. It made unloading it from the Yellow Freight truck unwieldy and it arrived with minor damage (mostly to the dust caps on the ends of the axle). One cap was crushed and I had to hammer it back into shape. For the money it ought to be better prepared for shipment other than having duct tape wrapped around it!