are these original axles? 1965

[millers grg]

I sanded the data plate to see the information.
Looks like original axles under my 1965 Tradewind. Hard to believe.

What is the 27 stamped in the upper right?

[Hittenstiehl]

Yes those would be the original axles. Do not know what the "27" stands for. Might surprise you but not unusual at all to find original axels under these vintage trailers. We're on our 4th vintage 60's trailer and all had original axels.

Contact Colin Hyde Trailer Restorations in Plattsburgh NY to get new axels if you want them. He likely also knows what that #stands for.

65 Tradewinds are very popular and a favorite. If you still have the funky rear tail lights and they are in poor repair Vintage Trailer Supply has retrofit metal replacements.

[Hittenstiehl]

PS, sorry about the tail light repeat, forgot that was already discussed on another thread.

[millers grg]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

PS, sorry about the tail light repeat, forgot that was already discussed on another thread.

And they are polycarbonate not metal

[Hittenstiehl]

Thanks for the correction, they're definitely better than the originals.

[Scott S]

Many people do not seem to grasp the fact that torsion axles have a limited lifespan. About 20 years ago while on a Vintage Airstream Club caravan I was following an early 60's Bambi. We were on a bumpy road and as the trailer rolled over virtually every bump in the road it would bounce to the point that I could see air under the tires! When we pulled over for a lunch break she opened the trailer door to discover that the potted plant that she had left in the sink had fallen to the floor, and some of the potting soil had somehow ended up INSIDE the refrigerator! Yet the owner would not admit that maybe, just maybe, the axle needed replacing. While that axle did hold the wheels in place, it had absolutely no give left in the suspension!

[Action]

That is a tag from the axle manufacturer Henschen. Henschen torsion axle model was called Dura-Torque.
Henschen started manufacturing torsion axles just after WWII.
Airstream first used Henshen axles in 1961 or 1962.
At some point Henschen was owned by Airstream.
These axles were made in the same town and on the same street as Airstream.
Then Airstream sold Henschen to GKN when Airstream was having economic issues. Then the company was called GKN/Henschen.

Somewhere, early into this century Henschen did not produce enough profit making axles so GKN closed the Henschen axle factory. Airstream did some scrambling and now uses torsion axles from Dexter.

There is not a lot of data from that axle tag. Just the axle weight rating. (Down angle, brake sizing or ???)
The tag is welded on and has some historical significance.
The axle is well past it's prime.
The 27 is likely an internal thing. Like it is the spec for xx model.

On edit - Keeping the tag would be cool. Keeping the axle not so much.

Action

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by Action

That is a tag from the axle manufacturer Henschen. Henschen torsion axle model was called Dura-Torque.
Henschen started manufacturing torsion axles just after WWII.
Airstream first used Henshen axles in 1961 or 1962.
At some point Henschen was owned by Airstream.
Made axles in the same town and street as Airstream.
Then Airstream sold Henschen to GKN when Airstream was having economic issues. Then the company was called GKN/Henschen.

Somewhere, early into this century Henschen did not produce enough profit making axles so GKN closed the Henschen axle factory. Airstream did some scrambling and now uses torsion axles from Dexter.

There is not a lot of data from that axle tag. Just the axle weight rating. (Down angle, brake sizing or ???)
The tag is welded on and has some historical significance.
The axle is well past it's prime.
The 27 is likely an internal thing. Like it is the spec for xx model.

Action

Not the Down-Angle..??

[Action]

I am going to guess no as 27 degrees was not an option for an axle to have when ordered.

The choices back then were:
zero degree
10, 15, 22, 35 & 45

Action