Hello all!
Thanks for the information, suggestions, and questions.
Since we posted the original thread back in 2020, we did more research and we did get Dexter lift kits installed on our axles later that summer at Airstream of Oklahoma. We purchased this Dexter lift kit from etrailer:
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer_Lea...71-725-02.html
I believe the only modification they had to do to install them was to drill out a bit more of one of the bolt holes in the lift frame spacers.
We were happy with their work BUT we think the tech might have messed up one of our electric brakes lines a bit as no signal was going to one of the brakes and he had to fix it. Later that summer, the no signal thing happened again and we had to get our electric brake lines replaced by a mobile tech.
We have realized that it is time to replace our Henschen axles due to the age after doing research. I'm not sure if it is related but we are starting to get a bit of a weird wear pattern on one our tires. It may also be because 1 axle is slightly bent.
We were able to make to make an appointment in Jackson Center for the end of June this year to get new axles. Yeah! They quoted us a bit over 2,100 per axle installed. That includes new shocks, Dexter axles with the the never-lube bearings and self-adjusting brakes. That price doesn't seem too much higher than what we expected.
Based off our GVWR and the axles we have now (4200 lb.), they said they are going to install #11 tube Torflex axle which can support up from 4100 to 6000 lbs I believe. They also said they have the correct lift kits there at the factory that they will install as well. That will be a minimal charge for parts. It should be about a 2 day job.
We originally wanted to get a lift kit after bottoming out on the rear a few times going in and out of parking lots and dips on various roads. We haven't had an issue since! It also puts up higher which makes emptying our tanks easier with more gravity power.
Let me know if you have other questions and we'll do our best to answer.
Paul Mannion