New Axles Belly Pan Removal?

[Jeepjunk4]

So I've seen axle replacement done in pics, but now that I have my new axles ordered, I went under to spray the bolts with pb blaster. Unless I'm not getting it, it appears I have to remove the pan covering the tanks, to get at the axle nuts. Yes the heads of the bolts on the outside of the frame rail are accessible, but I don't see a way to get, forget about a socket, or even a box wrench on the inside nut. The threaded end of the bolts are probably less than a half inch away from the side of the pan, and most of the axle replacements I've seen, are hanging below the tanks. Am I missing something here? 1990 29 excella

[Action]

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[woodfox45]

Those pans support the water tanks so you might want to make sure before you do that.

[Globie64]

I don't think the tanks are ever supported by the belly pan, they're not strong enough and are just a cover for the underside of the trailer. If your tank is sitting on the belly pan (as happened in my own trailer) you should pull it and repair the supports. You don't want a full tank of whatever pulling the rivets out of your pan and stressing whatever plumbing is connected to the tank.

[woodfox45]

I don't think he is talking about the belly pan . I'm referring to the pans that protect the water tanks on the 80's - 90's trailers they do support the water tanks .

[Becky B.]

I had an '86 and replaced the belly pan. It doesn't support the tanks--straps do. They don't even touch the pans that protect them.

[dbj216]

Yep, the steel pans do in fact support the water tanks. I have removed the pan under the black tank. I broke several of the rusted in bolts doing this. I was quite surprised to see my tank hanging from the toilet flange and vent pipe. The gray tank is supported in the same way. The tanks are empty of course and they are plastic and not all that heavy. I don't tow with much water in the tanks, but I like a little sloshing around in there to keep things wet. There was 1" Styrofoam between the tank and the pan for "insulation". The Styrofoam was crushed and not very good at all. I didn't think this was an impressive water tank installation.

I have not had the fresh water tank pan under the axles off yet. It looks to be more challenging. I will need to replace axles soon on this 28 year old Airstream.

David

[Pileus]

I had the axle assemblies replaced last year on my 1985 Excella. The only trick was disconnecting the gas line to the hot water heater. No tanks had to be removed.

[putback]

Just in case. In some instances on many applications if you can't get to the nut "blind bolt" the nut is welded in place. Any chance? If not and I understand the problem correctly a crows foot open end wrench held with a breaker bar may slip in place and hold the nut. A crows foot is one of those useless tools 'till you need it. View it as just the end of the wrench with a sq hole to receive a breaker bar, lets you get a good hold in tight spots and around corners.

[dbj216]

I found another picture of the front axle. I took this photo during my front belly pan replacement project. I wanted to document the heating duct for the fresh water tank.

It appears I could get at the front axle bolts without removing the tank pan. I'll take a look soon at the other axles to see if in fact I would have to drop the fresh water pan to get at the axle mounting bolts.

Wanting to be helpful...

David

[Globie64]

Okay, I see what you mean.

[Becky B.]

I stand corrected...I cut an access hole in the pan & where I could see inside, it wasn't being held by the tank. I didn't physically remove the entire box surround....just some of the insulation to see what I was doing (replaced the valves between the two tanks). I would take the word of the guy who had the entire thing off.... Accept my sincere apologies

[Jeepjunk4]

Pileus your setup looks similar to mine. You say you had the axles done? It looks like I could probably sneak an open end wrench in there, but that would not be my preferred tool. I'm thinking it's probably gonna take a good amount of torque to free em up I would prefer a socket or box end, really don't want to round em off. Those low hanging tank pans pretty much wrap around the axles.

[Pileus]

I took delivery on the new axles from the freight depot. They were loaded onto my truck with a forklift and the help of several men. I had intended to install the axles myself, but I quickly assessed this as more than I wanted to handle. I drove directly to a Truck & RV Alignment shop. They unloaded the skid with the new axles with their forklift.
I didn't even ask how much this job would cost. I delivered the Airstream to them with detailed instructions on how to remove and install the axles which I found on this forum. The shop followed the instructions to the letter. I was there at the shop to ensure they used the correct jack points. It took a couple of hours. They stored my Airstream for a week during the Christmas Holidays in a totally enclosed shop and did the job that week. Total cost for storage and installation was $225. Did an excellent job. Axles from Colin Hyde; shocks from Out-of-Doors Mart.

I know that people do this in their driveway, but I would have killed myself just unloading the skid off my truck.

So my total involvement was to spray the old fasteners with penetrating lubricant before I delivered the Airstream to the shop. There was no difficulty removing any of the fasteners.

[Del Gurney]

Jeepjunk4: Hi. Mine's an "05 but as part of an under carriage paint job had to release the Axle bolts to drop the belly pan. The bolts for my axle run through the frame channel with adjustable slots. The frame channel "pinched" the belly pan in place.
This may not apply to yours but here is what I learned:
Ensure the trailer is supported from here to eternity b'cuz you don't want it falling on you.
Paint everything while you are in the middle of this project...pays off in the long run.
I dropped my water tank to ease removing the bolts and found out the insulation was "s#%t" from factory...or maybe decomposed (remember this is an '05) I chose the former judging by the evidence.
It is not easy but once done well worth it.
best of luck