axle weight question, is it ok to...

[nickclifford]

hi folks, i'm having my wheels sandblasted, is it ok to leave full weight of the trailer on two wheels while other two are at the shop? Maybe i'm over thinking this, but could the rubber get over stretched? I have new axles, about 4 yrs old now. The trailer is definitely sitting a lot lower when I removed two wheels ..

sorry if a dumb question

[Action]

You should be OK as long as the trailer isn't being moved.

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[BlackAces]

Originally Posted by nickclifford

hi folks, i'm having my wheels sandblasted, is it ok to leave full weight of the trailer on two wheels while other two are at the shop? Maybe i'm over thinking this, but could the rubber get over stretched? I have new axles, about 4 yrs old now. The trailer is definitely sitting a lot lower when I removed two wheels ..

sorry if a dumb question

You're probably severely overloading the tires that are supporting the axle. Stationary tires that are overloaded are just like overloaded tires rolling down the road. They degrade quickly and soon go bango.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Do people do this all the time and get away with it? Sure they do. Do people have "unexplained" blowouts running down the road? Yes again. Much better to support the unloaded axle with something, not just for the sake of the other tires. Wheel off, spare on, sandblast wheel, replace wheel would work pretty well ....Borrow spare from neighbor and swap two at a time would be twice as good

Bob

[AlinCal]

Bottle jack under the frame between the axles and set it on some 4x4 or whatever and worry is off the table, plus you can do all wheels at same time.

[dkottum]

Apparently overloading the tires is an everyday and ongoing event in the process of going down an uneven road, or entering a driveway dip where one wheel, then the other of a tandem axle Airstream is lifted off the ground. Or when changing a flat by driving the tire next to it up on a ramp.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

You are not just overloading the tires. You are also (obviously) overloading the axle and wheel bearings. Sitting overloaded for a long period of time is not the same thing as a quick bounce or jolt. The damage is cumulative.

You also are changing the way the trailer sits on the axles. Again, not a big deal short term, things flex and bounce. Long term, you stress things like rivets, screws, and staples. They "pull" in the same direction for a long while. Eventually they become unhappy.

Lots of issues.

Bob

[nickclifford]

[QUOTE=uncle_bob;1992056]Hi

You are not just overloading the tires. You are also (obviously) overloading the axle and wheel bearings. Sitting overloaded for a long period of time is not the same thing as a quick bounce or jolt. The damage is cumulative.

You also are changing the way the trailer sits on the axles. Again, not a big deal short term, things flex and bounce. Long term, you stress things like rivets, screws, and staples. They "pull" in the same direction for a long while. Eventually they become unhappy.

Lots of issues.

thanks for the advice, i'm in it now and picking up wheels on Monday, so they'll have been sat for a 7 days ... hope nothing fatal, the tire place said no problem as far as weight .. they're rated to hold 2,000 each , = 4,000 and my trailer comes in at 5k, he thought fine with 65psi for a week .. i'll check the axle rating , it's new. Maybe this post will be helpful for someone in the future !

[nickclifford]

i checked the axle sticker, it says 3500lbs rating ... find it hard to believe that leaving the trailer stationary on one axle for 8 days could damage the bearings? I'm having the breaks checked next this week, I'll have them look at the bearings too ..

[mikeinca]

I hope I'm understanding your question correctly or maybe I'm missing something altogether but....don't you have to jack up one side of the trailer to remove the wheels you're taking to be sandblasted? If so, then the weight which had been supported by those wheels is now being carried by the jack or whatever temporary support you'll be using. I don't see that the remaining wheels will be carrying significantly, if any, more load than they were before.

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by mikeinca

I hope I'm understanding your question correctly or maybe I'm missing something altogether but....don't you have to jack up one side of the trailer to remove the wheels you're taking to be sandblasted? If so, then the weight which had been supported by those wheels is now being carried by the jack or whatever temporary support you'll be using. I don't see that the remaining wheels will be carrying significantly, if any, more load than they were before.

I have duel axle trailer, so removed both wheels from one axle at a time for sand blasting, leaving weight of the trailer on just one axle. With duel axle, to change a flat, you roll onto a small ramp which lifts the wheel needing to be changed up in the air. Maybe I'll take some pics when I reinstall tomorrow. I'm sure these axles are over engineered to take a pounding as they bounce down the highway? Hard to imagine they be damaged by sitting stationary ?

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by nickclifford

I have duel axle trailer, so removed both wheels from one axle at a time for sand blasting, leaving weight of the trailer on just one axle. With duel axle, to change a flat, you roll onto a small ramp which lifts the wheel needing to be changed up in the air. Maybe I'll take some pics when I reinstall tomorrow. I'm sure these axles are over engineered to take a pounding as they bounce down the highway? Hard to imagine they be damaged by sitting stationary ?

I get it now. I'm familiar with how to change a tire on a dual axle trailer but for some reason I was imagining you had removed both wheels on one side. Brain freeze on my part. Good luck!

[Action]

By description I had the same thought.

I don't think 8 days with one axle in the air should not be an issue in my opinion. I would be more concerned about the trailer being disturbed and sitting on one axle set. I would properly support the trailer in the air for no other reason than the trailer would be more stable. That's just me.

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

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by Action

By description I had the same thought.

I don't think 8 days with one axle in the air should not be an issue in my opinion. I would be more concerned about the trailer being disturbed and sitting on one axle set. I would properly support the axle in the air for no other reason than the trailer would be more stable. That's just me.

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

I thought you weren't supposed to jack the AS by the axle? Or do you mean putting something under the wheel assy?

[Action]

Lifting the trailer by an axle tube is not recommended by Airstream as far as I know.

The axle tube needs no support as it is bolted to the trailer. I will revise one word from axle to trailer in post #13

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