'67 Safari Dexter axle installation HELP!

[Jim Foster]

As far as alignment, to get the axle mounted in the right place, I would make sure the new holes that you drill are the same distance from the old holes on both sides. I would think that that should take care of that.

You might want to get an alignment when you are finished. I certainly would.

[J. Morgan]

I don't know, when I took my axles out they were tight in the frame, when I put my new axles in they fit tight in the notches. The axle placement mattered on the holes not at all.

***note, I raised my trailer 3", but the procedure is the same. ***

[Jim Foster]

Now that I think about it, when I replaced the axle on the '65 Caravel the holes were very different from the original, much like yours. The Caravel is a Jackson Center trailer. The replacements on the '83 Excella were exactly the same.

The new axles for the Excella were way out of alignment. Inland RV, wher I bought the axles, was told by the manufacturer that they were aligned at the factory. I paid for a proper alignment. Andy at Inland RV went to bat for me and got the alignment cost refunded to me by the axle manufacturer.

Have yours checked. Cheaper than a new set of tires.

[KennewickMan]

Lining up the original bolt holes was the trick. We jacked the axle into place tight against the upper frame and marked all the new holes on the mounting plate. Then made up a template using original holes, made up 3 new pilot holes, drilled with step bit. Then moved template to other side and drilled those pilots. Poof, axle magic. And yes, I did put the shock on backwards the first time.

[RM66caravel]

Awesome job I like how it turned out! Keep up the good work but I am curious why no frame prep for the exposed area?
Jus asking
Cliff

[Frank's Trailer Works]

What is so hard about drilling a hole? I see this over and over again. It is almost as pervasive as bellypanitis.
On Monday the 107th axle to hit my shop over the past 5 years is going to be installed. I guess I have done so many now that I do not even blink an eye at drilling a hole. It is 1962 so I already know all the holes are going to miss the original ones. On each set of holes, one will be half covered by the new mounting bracket. No big deal, just drill it out. Being a 62 single axle the new axle will be a wider axle tube and it will not fit into the receiver slot and I will just cut it out. No big deal, that is what a cut off wheel was developed for.

I saw where it was said the slot should align the axle… do not count on that. Use a tape measure and make sure it is aligned. Just a little bit out can cause the wheel to drag ever so slightly. This will cause frequent blow outs on the same tire. Any of you blowing out the same tire? There is your reason why.

[J. Morgan]

It does seem that there is some apprehension about drilling holes that "are not supposed to be there", many, many years ago I was subject to this aversion to one degree or another, not so much now.

[KennewickMan]

Originally Posted by RM66caravel

Awesome job I like how it turned out! Keep up the good work but I am curious why no frame prep for the exposed area?
Jus asking
Cliff

Ignorance, inadequate research, lack of instructions supplied with the axle....I have more excuses if you need 'em!

[RM66caravel]

No I think I have all of those myself and made up some others! I still think you are doing an awesome job! Most if not all of us has learned as we went and the design was good but we have all found issues that we correct as we go! Keep the motivation and you will have half the battle won!
Cliff