Opinion on these axles please

[Bex]

Hello there
I checked out an '81 Excella today. In overall good condition, 3 owners only ever parked in a trailer park (9 years), farmyard (8 years) and rv park/storage until now.
I wonder how much life is left in the suspension?
The torsion bars are pointing upward/rear just above horizontal
Any opinions please?

Cheers

Bex

[overlander63]

If the trailer is empty, the axles don't looks so good. If you jack up one side of the trailer, do the trailing arms drop down 2-3 inches? If they do, the rubber still flexes like it should. If they don't drop much, or at all, the rubber has petrified and the axles will need to be replaced.

[Jim Foster]

I would say that the rubber is shot and the axles need replacing. You can go through all of the tests you will find on this forum, but in the end you will be replacing your axles. Better than beating up your Airstream.

[Bex]

Thanks Guys
I was hopeful there was some time left in them but completely neglected to consider the additional weight of our stuff.
So yes the axles will need to be replaced, which now makes the trailer a not so good deal as I originally hoped. My budget will not stretch to the negotiated price plus axles.

Thanks again

Bex

[Action]

Save it for the morning after category, cuz those are toast.

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

[Mikethefixit]

I will agree with the posters above,I know you didn't want to hear that,but I'm sorry its true. Mine we not even that bad. I thought I could get another year out of them WRONG.! On 3 short trips I found the TP unrolled in the bathroom(thats behind the axle),roll towel in the galley unrolled(ahead of the axle, rivets popped in the axle area outside and little grey rings around the interior rivets.All signs of severe bottoming and transmitted shock to the shell and I knew there was going to be expensive damage. So I bit the bullet and bought new. It raised the trailer 4 inches and all the afore mentioned things stopped.
I opted for OEM(Henshen) axles(which bolt up exactly where the old ones are) because at 70 years old I didn't want the hassel of redrilling holes and rewelding shock mounts,ect. I did change them myself on the driveway here. NO BIG DEAL. I went with Andy from Inland Rv's recommendation of a little higher starting angle and a heavier load bearing capacity.
A little costly compared to other brand axles but worth every penny.
Roger