I have a gooseneck trailer built over 15 years ago. The manufacturer use mobile home style axle, hub, brakes, and ring hub wheels. I have heard conflicting information that I can no longer pull this trailer on state and federal highways because of the axle. Does anyone out there no if this is true? I have been unable to find any information on this.
I guess I was a little confusing on the wheel type. By ring wheel I refered to the type similar to a 18 wheeler wheel that mounts to a a drum via the bolt clips and has no center. Not a split rim like the early pickups had (my 66 chevy 3/4 ton had them) these are 1 piece rims.
Not sure about your axle, but here is some information copied from Dexter axle website:
AXLES - Can mobile home axles be reused?
The Dexter MH (mobile home) type axle is designed for limited usage in the delivery of manufactured homes and has a one-time limit use. The axle has steel forged spindles that are not precision ground. The brake assembly is welded onto the beam and not intended to be field replaced. Additionally, the bearing package is smaller than the more expensive service type axle. Most MH axles are also equipped with a single leaf spring suspension for very heavy loads. We do not have components that would convert MH axles to servicable assemblies.
THanks for the dexter link info. I wonder about the limited use statement. Many mobile homes are moved hundred's of miles from the factory to the final set up location. In most cases the axle is removed and taken back to the factory for reuse on transport of another home. I have been inside my axles before and found the bearings to be of high quality manufacture.
Can't dispute that. I'm sure that Dexter limits their use for liability reasons, and to sell more axles. And the mobile home manufacturers send them back to reduce their delivery cost.
I have used these type of axles on many utility trailers over the years and have never had any problems of any kind except for the usual flat tire now and then. The only difficult thing about these type of wheels on these axles is getting them on to where they don't wobble down the road. This is done by carefuly tightening each lug nut a little bit at a time and going in an "opposite torque pattern sequense".
I presently have a two axle trailer that I use to tow a "Bobcat" tractor from job to job. These axles are rated at 10,000 lbs each!
Good luck.
Ernie
'58 Traveler 18ft.
If you are looking for replacement axles I would look www.etrailerpart.com They will build what you need for half the cost that we paid at Inland. Go into the link and find flexiride rubber torsion axles (it will be on the left of page going towards the bottom of the page. Hope this helps if this is what you are looking for. We found this web page after the fact.
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