All three of mine have 6-lugs on 5-1/2" diameter (not three wheels, of course, but three trailers and 10 wheels, but I wasn't sure someone of your youth would get it).
I think that's pretty standard for the 71-75 years (maybe more) for all models.
So how bad is it being over 30? Have they given you your soylent green ticket yet? Or maybe you just don't feel trusted (jees, I hope you get that one)?
So how bad is it being over 30? Have they given you your soylent green ticket yet? Or maybe you just don't feel trusted (jees, I hope you get that one)?
(in my best Phil Hartman impression of Charlton Heston) "it's made out of peeeeeopllle! It's PEEEEOPLLLLE!!!"
__________________
Cheers, Dave "Finish." AIR #4188 1994 34' Limited / 2002 Chevy 3500 CC 4x4 D/A Equal-i-zer Hitch / Jordan Ultima 2020
I received my axles from Axis this week. I put them on yesterday by myself everything fit perfect I couldn't have wanted them to fit any better. I hated to see that they no longer make axles for our trailers. I hope my axles were not the ones that made them decide to quit building axles for us.
I received my axles from Axis this week. I put them on yesterday by myself everything fit perfect I couldn't have wanted them to fit any better. I hated to see that they no longer make axles for our trailers. I hope my axles were not the ones that made them decide to quit building axles for us.
Care to share the exact description and specifications that you provided Axix, just in case they can be prevailed upon to build another set?
Don't despair, yet. I am confident that we can devise a "standard" axle for the 69-75 years that would satisfy Axis. Let's let this rest for a couple of weeks and wait until I get my "repaired" axle back and see how it works. I can say that the service has been great so far, even if the axle didn't bear the specified load. All the other parameters were dead on. The axle went into the frame perfectly, just like WOL's.
I'm not trying to exclude other year groups, but I believe that if we get together and develop three or four "standards", we can help ourselves and Axis--they've got to be losing money on these onesy-twoseys and we're spending way to much time fretting over the right measurements. We can solve those mutual problems with a little patience.
If anyone wants to see the order sheet I sent to Axis, PM me and I'll send you the Excel file.
i for one would be really into and help i could add to getting a standard together for Axis to use. It might be too late for me, since i need something now. Still a great idea.
The "standard" for Airstream axles from 1969 up to the introduction of the wide body was a mounting bracket to bracket dimension of 61 3/8" and a spindle arm down angle of 22 1/2°. The problems seem to lie in installers wanting their brackets "exactly" 61 3/16" or 61 13/32" or 61 7/16" when you put an axle up to the frame and torque a Grade 8 , 5/8" bolt down, a 1/16 or even an 1/8 of an inch doesn't make alot of difference. The real difference is in what folks add or subtract on their trailer, making a difference in the required capacity of their new axles.
Rivka, can you measure your axle plate dimension, inside to inside?
Here's what I had on my Caravel--61-5/16"
My Overlander--61-3/8"
My Sovereign--61-9/16" (at the aft end of the plates, I'll measure again in the middle and front, later!)
I think ZoomZoom is absolutely right. Since most of us do this only once, we don't have any judgement about tolerances, so we cut it as thin as possible. Now that I've been a "student" of this axle thing, I think I worried waaaay too much about the dimensions.
While out measuring this morning I noticed something that threw me for a moment. My Sovereign wheel position looked like the swing arms were down and my axle was in good shape (which I knew was wrong). Both my Overlander and Sovereign axles are up identically, about 5 degrees (by eyeball). But here's how they look, Sovereign on left, Overlander on right.
The suspension design (axle plate, shocks, axle, mounting plates and bolts, etc.) look identical, except the Sovereign has a strengthened frame aft of the axle plate.
The wheel well design is obviously different, with the skirt much higher on the Sovereign. Does anyone know if/when the design changed? Is this a "feature" of longer Airstreams, or did the skirts go up after 1973? (no, they went up in 1968, lol, that's a joke, son)
I think the odd requests that cause difficulty are pretty straight forward.
1. Shock brackets
2. 6 on 5.5 hubs on a 3500# axle
3. Taking a lot of a sales persons time to custom spec one axle
Other than that, the Airstream axle is by the books and could easily fit the Axis order form. If one can complete an order form with no special requests I am sure Axis will build it.
Some customers would take 2-3 hours of my time (when I sold Axis axles) to order one axle that Axis likely profited $30.00 - $50.00 from - you do the math!
Custom dimensions are not the problem here.
Simply two cents from a fellow that "used to could".
I have been reading, with much interest, this great axle debate. And it seems to me that, in the case of axles, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, and cause all sorts of problems when people over analyze things. Some times ignorace is bliss. Let the pro's do their job, and stay out of it.
A little less than a year ago, when Henry was a young pup, I ordered new axles from Axis. When I say "I ordered", I mean I found Henry, put him in touch with the RV repair shop in AZ, and they worked it out. I stayed out of the process as much as I could. I did have them increase the arm angle.
As far as I know, and I don't know noth'n bout axles, they came out just fine. I picked up the trailer in Jan. '06, hauled it 4100 miles around the west coast and back home to OH. Nothing droped off, the brakes worked, I'm a happy guy.
I can say, as a contractor, that the more someone hangs around me, asking questions, and making recomendations/changes, the aggravation level increases. When that happens, I don't want to be there, and I charge more. Or I don't take the job to start. Like I said, let the pro's do their job.
Just my 2 cents.
By the way Henry, I didn't know you were such an old coot, you sounded like such a young ambitious dude when I talked to you on the phone. Happy Retirement!
Retirement is for old geezers......get back in the game, Henry!!!!! LOL!!!!!
Zepp, thank you so much for taking the pics of your Overlander and Sovereign. My Sovereign fender skirts are exactly like your Overlander, and I always wondered if the axle had got er done.....seemed like it was sittin' low to me, but the measurements we took at South Jersey RV has the axle still well within specs, so I think I'll hold off on a new one for now, given the fact that the Sovereign was on jack stands for 28+ years, and it does ride smooth.
Frederic
__________________ SFC Frederic Lynes 1971 Sovereign International 2004 F-350 King Ranch EX-WBCCI # 8371 AIR # 8239
Thanks for the kind words. A lot of wisdom in your statement. Yeah - I got some energy - I'm not a "standard" old fart!!!
Frederic,
It's not the "traditional" retirement - I don't sit still very well! I'm still in the game (sort of) - attempting to educate folks about axles on the forums.
Zep,
How's Axis progressing with your axle???? Please inform!
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