Which axle?

[JazzDad]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Parking long term, is a sure fire way to kill the rubber rods, on any brand torsion axle.

Just great! Another thing to keep me up at night- worrying that my axle is going bad. Silently... surely... sagging as I try to sleep.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by JazzDad

Just great! Another thing to keep me up at night- worrying that my axle is going bad. Silently... surely... sagging as I try to sleep.

It is great.

No need to worry, just take the trailer on a little trip once a year or more.

The worry comes with long term "non use".

That's when you raise the trailer and set it on some jack stands, which removes all the weight from the axles.

That helps preserve the life of the rubber rods, that are in the axle tube.

Andy

[dznf0g]

Just to confirm, I did hear back from Dexter after I emailed them a few days ago. This is their response:

"Here is a comparison of the two axles

Airstream part#: 410875-17 :410875-24
Dexter par #: 58593 :385495
Model #11 :#11
Hub face 86.75” :72.63”
Outside of brackets 67.07” :53.63”
Rubber capacity 5000 lbs :4500 lbs
Hub/drum 6 bolt 42mm Nev-R-Lube :Standard grease
Brake Hyd disc brake :electric brake
Start angle 22.5° down :10° down
Mounting bracket Hi-Pro reverse :Hi-Pro reverse
Top shock brackets Yes :No shocks

These two axles are totally different"

hmmm, I can't seem to make the columns more readable. When I hit save the columns scrunch together....sorry

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Just to confirm, I did hear back from Dexter after I emailed them a few days ago. This is their response:

"Here is a comparison of the two axles

Airstream part# 410875-17 .410875-24
Dexter par # 58593 385495
Model #11 #11
Hub face 86.75” 72.63”
Outside of brackets 67.07” 53.63”
Rubber capacity 5000 lbs 4500 lbs
Hub/drum 6 bolt 42mm Nev-R-Lube Standard grease
Brake Hyd disc brake electric brake
Start angle 22.5° down 10° down
Mounting bracket Hi-Pro reverse Hi-Pro reverse
Top shock brackets Yes No shocks

These two axles are totally different"

hmmm, I can't seem to make the columns more readable. When I hit save the columns scrunch together....sorry

Interesting that Dexter always says "shocks not needed".

Yet they indeed do install the shock brackets for Airstream, as noted.

Andy

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Interesting that Dexter always says "shocks not needed".

Yet they indeed do install the shock brackets for Airstream, as noted.

Andy

Yeah, I found that strange as well.

[JazzDad]

Oh, that is good information. I looked at the angle and saw it was indeed down about 10 degrees (eyeballed, no protractor or inclinometer applied). I was thinking that this axle started positive about the same amount, and had calculated that it settled 20 degrees in 3 years. There is about 4 inches clearance between the top of the tire and the bottom of the wheel well, which seemed about right.

Just an observation: As I mentioned before, I thought the trailer was sitting level. This being observed by a torpedo level set on the A frame (both sides). Today, I stepped back and looked at the trailer. It seemed to be 'leaning' forward. So I put a tape measure to the trim piece that delineates the aluminum skin and the black plastic banana wrap. At the back of the trailer, the shorter distance back from the wheel, the measurement to the ground is X. (I forgot the actual amount.) That same trim piece near the front is 1 1/2 inches closer to the ground. This would lead me to believe the trailer is not really level. When I get home I will put a framing level on the floor inside.

I am posting this observation in case some other poor sap loses sleep over his axle settling into oblivion. He or she might stumble upon this discussion while searching the Internet in the wee hours, and can go back to bed.

[MaxAB]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

The 410875-24 axle is rated at 5000 pounds and comes with disc brakes, and never lube hubs.

The 410875-17 axle is rated at 4500 pounds and was used on the "Sports" model.

Andy

Hello Andy,

I used a 3400# rated axle from Inland on my '77 31-footer in 2009 - worked out great.

Now, I'd like to replace the original axles on my 1985 25-footer with axles of an upgraded weight limit... Does Inland have a Dexter axle with disks for this application? What would you recommending as a gross weight rating increase?

Thanks...

Art