Lift kit question - 2005 with Henschen axles

[rosmuck3]

Hello Airstream owners! We have a 2005 30' Airstream Safari with the original tandem 4200 lb. Henschen Dura-flex axles.
I believe Airstream stopped using this brand in the mid 2000s. We have an appointment in May with the Airstream dealer in Oklahoma City to install a lift-kit on these axles. From my research online, it seems like the current Dexter Axle (which Airstream has been using for a while now) lift kits can work with the older Henschen axles with perhaps a slight modification in drilling the bolt holes a bit bigger. I shared this with the dealership and they seemed confident at doing this.
Has anyone installed a Dexter lift kit on their Henschen axles? If so, how was the process? Which size lift kit did you have installed? I see 3 optsion... The 2-5/8 Inch goes up to 4000lb which would be a bit lower weight capacity. But they also have 2-7/8 inch kit with weight capacity from 4100 to 6000 lbs. (probably the best bet) and then a 3-1/8 inch kit with weight capacity from 5,500-7,000 lbs. capacity.
Thank you for any guidance!

[booma]

No, not THAT ME TOO😁
I would be interested in what you find.
We have a 2001 30’ Classic (S/O) with Henschen axles.
We are looking for a 3” +/- lift.
Thanks

[Tim A.]

I suggest getting new axles (with or without a lift kit). Henschen axles from 2001 and 2005 are very close, if not at, their useful lifetime.

Why pay for lift kit modification and installation if the axles will give in quite soon?

Tim

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by rosmuck3

Hello Airstream owners! We have a 2005 30' Airstream Safari with the original tandem 4200 lb. Henschen Dura-flex axles.
I believe Airstream stopped using this brand in the mid 2000s. We have an appointment in May with the Airstream dealer in Oklahoma City to install a lift-kit on these axles. From my research online, it seems like the current Dexter Axle (which Airstream has been using for a while now) lift kits can work with the older Henschen axles with perhaps a slight modification in drilling the bolt holes a bit bigger. I shared this with the dealership and they seemed confident at doing this.
Has anyone installed a Dexter lift kit on their Henschen axles? If so, how was the process? Which size lift kit did you have installed? I see 3 optsion... The 2-5/8 Inch goes up to 4000lb which would be a bit lower weight capacity. But they also have 2-7/8 inch kit with weight capacity from 4100 to 6000 lbs. (probably the best bet) and then a 3-1/8 inch kit with weight capacity from 5,500-7,000 lbs. capacity.
Thank you for any guidance!

Why are you installing a 'lift kit'?

POI...we replaced our axles 3yrs ago, the rubber in the torsion axles had worn out. My advise replace the axles and then consider the kit.
They don't last forever and you may also be near the 'end of life' for them.

FWIW...I would not go with the kit...just my preference.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by rosmuck3

Hello Airstream owners! We have a 2005 30' Airstream Safari with the original tandem 4200 lb. Henschen Dura-flex axles.
I believe Airstream stopped using this brand in the mid 2000s. We have an appointment in May with the Airstream dealer in Oklahoma City to install a lift-kit on these axles.

...

I replaced the axles on my 2002 Classic 30 Slideout. The originals were Henschen 4400# axles. I replaced them with Dexter 5000# axles. You can see the process starting at post #38 here:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f43...ss-177345.html

I added disc brakes at the same time because the performance of my existing drum brakes was unacceptable. You can ignore that part of this post. A slight modification of the axles (slotting one mounting hole in two places on each axle, and relocation if the shock mounting bracket) was required.

A little later I added the lift kit. If I had it to do again I would do both at the same time to save labor costs. The length of my trailer made the lift more important. a previous owner had dragged the rear enough to dimple the curved segment slightly on both sides and I dragged it a couple of times at gas station entrances. Actually without the lift kit the height was too low. With it the double step is just the right distance off the ground.

You can easily test to see what the condition of your axles is. Measure the distance from the top of the wheel hub to the bottom of the body wheel molding directly over the hub while the trailer is loaded for travel. Then jack the trailer until the wheel is off of the ground and measure the distance again. Factory spec is 2.2". I changed mine at 1.5".

[rosmuck3]

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

[ROBERT CROSS]

Paul...your new axles will raise the AS even more, that's why I advised replacing them first.
BTW i don't believe it's a 'tube' axle as AS uses the Dexter torsion axles.

It's likely the axle isn't bent, I thought ours was bent because of the ware on the tire. As it turned out the rubber inside the axle tube had deteriorated. I noticed inside edge wear on the curbside front axle, checked it with a straight edge and jumped to the conclusion that I had bent an axle.

We also barely avoided a brake concern as the tech at Jackson Center did not secure the brake wire and I caught it when I removed the wheels for Winter storage.

Good luck

Bob
🇺🇸

[Action]

Originally Posted by rosmuck3

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.

Paul Mannion

The torsion axle tube is designed with a small bend mid-way in the axle tube from end to end. If this is what you are referencing, it is normal.

Action

[ROBERT CROSS]

As referenced above....

Bob
🇺🇸

[booma]

We have decided to replace the old Henschens with new Dexters, brakes spindles, bearings and incorporate the 3”lift at the same time.
Now to find a reputable wrench to do it.
Any one know of a SE US AS mech?

[rosmuck3]

Thanks Bob for all the insights on the axles and the photos too! I am learning a lot about axles which is good since they are kind of important.
I know to double check everything before leaving Jackson Center after the new axles are replaces.

Booma, I hope you get some suggestions here for your inquiry.

Paul Mannion