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Jim & Susan · 08-24-2006, 06:45 PM

Nah, I just think your avatar is cool. Looks real similar to the 8th Air Force patch from WWII.

One more thing, thank you for your service to our contry. Aim High.

Jim & Susan

steelbird312 · 08-24-2006, 07:32 PM

Hello from a native Maryvillian who now lives in GA and hunting a new home again in east TN.
Normally, I wouldn't say anything as you appear to be sure of your steps, although they do go against the recommendations of so many others.
Now, that I've made you mad, and I didn't mean to....

Did you know that you can order your axles in increments of 100 lbs?

Did you know that by ordering 3600lb axles, you can get the 12 inch brakes?
With the 6 lug hubs?

Do you really think that Airstream would have changed to 12 inch brakes if 10 inch ones were adequate?

Did you know the axle tubes on the #10 (what you are planning on) are 1/2 inch smaller than the #11's?

Did you know that by ordering the #11 axles, the mounting brackets and holes are almost a perfect match?

Did you know that Dexter will weld the mounting plates on reversed (just like your present ones) and that makes them SOOOOOOO much easier to mount?

Did you know that, if using a #11 axle, by trimming the square holes on your trailer by 1/8" front and back of the hole, that the Dexter axle will bolt right up through the back hole, and the front hole only needs to be elongated by 3/16" for a 'bolt on' application?

The entire application of Airstream hookup requires a very level trailer, and the manuals give very specific measurements to make them work well with the weight distributing hitches. By 'raising' the center of gravity on your trailer when raising the angle, you not only will have to come up with new measurements, but it also will change your spring rates (that is a whole 'nother discussion. Take time to educate yourself on rough riding suspensions, and what they do to cabinetry, rivets in your inside skin, etc. Andy can help you with that. I highly suggest you slow down slightly, and check out everything before you let them order/sell you these axles as you describe. The installation fees can be very high. Please be careful.
Oh, and by the way, I ordered two new 3700lb axles, that is the #11 size, 12" brakes, reversed brackets, and 22.5 degree arm locations and then installed them on a 1973 Airstream and they work so perfectly that it scared me. The price out the door at the Dexter CO in Jackson, GA was right at $900. I installed them, cutting my old mounts off the old axles, and welding them onto the new ones, and the entire project took two of us right at 8 hours.

I have a copy of my order form if you would like to see it. Also, Dexteraxle,com has multitudes of information on it.

Please, research, reconsider.....and ask the Dexter guy why he didn't tell you all the above. He should have.
Good luck.

ZoomZoom · 08-24-2006, 09:06 PM

Seems everyone has missed the point that the spindles AND bearings are nearly twice the rating on 12" as opposed to 10".

Zoom Zoom

scottanlily · 08-25-2006, 12:19 AM

Hello ,

i posted clearly that the spindles and the bearings are larger on the first page of this thread.The 12" brakes are the ones to get ,10" brakes on a 5200#
axle ? you must ask then why do they build the original axles with a 12"
brake ?The bigger stronger spindles should be enough of a good reason to
get the larger axles.There is more to the brake size than speculation of metals and such .I replaced 10" front brakes on my old IH scout with 11"
drums ,a huge improvement ,any increase in the brake size is better,
12" drums is much more than the size difference for certain.The 10" will run
hotter under braking and are not designed for any large travel trailer.Dexters
reasoning must be cost related ,cheaper to use small brakes ,cost them less .
Wider shoes does not equate the same braking ,wider shoes means their trying to make the smaller brakes work better.I would not go down in size
from what the trailer originally came with .Why ,is the question?Andy has
mentioned many times about increasing the rating of the axles ,airstream
trailers are pretty specific to what works well.Just trying to give helpful
information in your axle decision .

Scott

**Action** · 08-29-2006, 02:59 PM

By changing the height of the trailer the tongue height will change. That can have an impact on how the trailer pulls.

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

trevisgardne · 09-30-2006, 07:42 PM

I picked up my trailer on Friday. I was very pleased. The grand total cost was $1307 including tax.

That included:

Two new custom order axles
Freight
addition of shock mounts at the factory
installation of 4 new shocks that I supplied
re-routing of the LP line around the new axles
new brake assemblies
installation of everything
new lugnuts, etc.

I even managed to get the shock mounts powder coated by having Dexter do a turn key job. I am very pleased.

American Trailer Accessories was very thorough and very proffessional. The even measured the before and after height and adjusted my hitch assembly to accomodate the new ride height of the trailer.

I did order 4 new shocks from Airstream. $154 drop shipped from my closest dealer. I ordered with a credit card on Tuesday afternoon and the we at the house via UPS on Friday Morning.

Trevis

axleman · 10-02-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevisgardne

I picked up my trailer on Friday. I was very pleased.

Trevis

Good for you man! Feels great doesn't it!

How about some pictures?

Best Regards,
Henry

Chuck · 10-02-2006, 09:18 AM

so what did you wind up getting? the #11 axle w/ 12" brakes, or what was specified earlier in the thread with the 10" brakes, etc??

TOM CRUMP · 10-03-2006, 02:27 AM

Looks like another painless axle swap out. Did you get the NevRLube bearings on your new Dexters ? And how is the ride/handling with the 32 degree down angle ? Plenty of ground clearance, I'd reckon. The Dexters I had installed on my Overlander came with the shock mounts, but I did not install the shocks. I went with the NevRLube bearings, no more repacking for me, one less maintainance chore. Get that picture link working.

trevisgardne · 10-03-2006, 08:52 AM

I actually got the 45 degree down angle and I absolutely could not be any happier. I can get in and out of high and parking lots without dragging now.

I quick study on geometry reveals that the difference in ride height between 32 and 45 deg d/a (down angle) just ain't much.

I don't have the numbers in front of me at the moment, but I did the math before I placed the order. If you compare the change in height between the various d/a options (22.5, 32 and 45)- the net change between 32 to 45 is only 1/3 the change between 22.5 and 32. I does not double between 22.5 and 45. As the angle approaches 45 the difference in hieght changes along a curve. It is not a 1:1 ratio.

trevisgardne · 10-03-2006, 08:56 AM

http://picasaweb.google.com/trevisga...Z4AgmEKwiVhfDE

3Ms75Argosy · 10-03-2006, 10:36 AM

but any shots of them on the trailer?
Marc

trevisgardne · 10-03-2006, 03:28 PM

I did get the :

easy lube
powder coat
and 10" x 2.5" drum electric brakes

trevisgardne · 10-03-2006, 03:28 PM

Please let me know if the link isn't working.

3Ms75Argosy · 10-03-2006, 05:26 PM

but they end at where it looked like you got them delivered to the warehouse. Were there pics of the "after" piece (after they were put on)? It looks like there should be a page 2, (24 pics are shown of the trailer jacked up, old ones in place, and the new ones delivered on the floor, but no others).

They do look nice sitting there though!

Marc

trevisgardne · 10-03-2006, 06:42 PM

http://picasaweb.google.com/trevisga...27735395762194

trevisgardne · 10-03-2006, 06:44 PM

I also picked up some new hubcaps on Ebay. About $38 including shipping.

3Ms75Argosy · 10-03-2006, 10:52 PM

Looks fab! Love the dog too!

Funny, after all has been said about angles, it doesn't LOOK that much higher. I think your angle looks fine!

Did anything have to be cut to make them fit? Looks pretty turnkey from the pics
Thanks for making the links work!
Marc

Chuck · 10-04-2006, 07:35 AM

just out of curiosity, have you measured the height of the coupler since the switch? I would imagine that you'd have to re-adjust the ball-height on the hitch with the trailer sitting up higher...If I recall correctly, the height to the top of the ball on the 73's was 19.5". with my saggy old axles, its dropped to 18".

McLogger · 10-04-2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck

just out of curiosity, have you measured the height of the coupler since the switch? I would imagine that you'd have to re-adjust the ball-height on the hitch with the trailer sitting up higher...If I recall correctly, the height to the top of the ball on the 73's was 19.5". with my saggy old axles, its dropped to 18".

Hey, I have been following the conversation for some time and mine is at 18" as well and in the positive position, I thought that this ment the axles were shot??? Are you not going to replace yours?? If not why and/or what are you going to do?