new axles

[rfequity1]

I see a lot of people relacing axles. I saw a 2010 for sale saying they added new axles. Do these axles really not last that long? 11 years and you need new ones? Anyone know why this is happening?

[rich e]

On the +side I have a 1997 Excella with original axles. The height is good and the ride as well. As THEY say. It all depends.

[richard5933]

Airstream axles perform two duties - they are the axles holding the hubs/wheels, and they are the springs. Rather than leaf springs found on many trailers, Airstream uses a rubber torsion springs which are internal to the axles. This rubber breaks down and/or hardens over time, causing the 'springs' to droop and the trailer body to lower.

Usually axles can last longer than 11 years, but there are other reasons to swap them out. Two common reasons to seem to be to install axles with a higher pre-set angle providing an extra bit of trailer height, and to get axles with a higher weight load limit than what the trailer was built with. Another reason to swap axles early is due to damage.

Best thing in this case would be to ask the seller why the axles were swapped out after 11 years.

[tbrowne]

Rubber deteriorates over time and that is the main reason torsion axles may need replacement. There are many factors as to the rate of deterioration such as heat, humidity, where and how the trailer is stored plus others. It's hard to predict how long the axles will last but I think most last much longer than eleven years.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by tbrowne

Rubber deteriorates over time and that is the main reason torsion axles may need replacement. There are many factors as to the rate of deterioration such as heat, humidity, where and how the trailer is stored plus others. It's hard to predict how long the axles will last but I think most last much longer than eleven years.

Ours lasted 17yrs, one side wore out causing inside edge tire wear on the curb side front tire.
I did upgrade from 3500lb to 4000lb.
I think they lasted as long as they did because they didn't sit loaded thru the Winter.

Bob
🇺🇸

[1StreamDream]

Another, maybe less popular, reason for the swap is due to pricing decisions (purely business decisions) made by Dexter in regards to an upgrade to disc brakes on the trailer. Many cite the positives of disc brakes, but the way Dexter prices the upgrade kits, it’s almost foolish to do disc brakes only … you can buy the entire axle assembly, with disc brakes installed, for nearly the same price, so most folks go that route.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by 1StreamDream

Another, maybe less popular, reason for the swap is due to pricing decisions (purely business decisions) made by Dexter in regards to an upgrade to disc brakes on the trailer. Many cite the positives of disc brakes, but the way Dexter prices the upgrade kits, it’s almost foolish to do disc brakes only … you can buy the entire axle assembly, with disc brakes installed, for nearly the same price, so most folks go that route.

Similar reasoning applies to drum brakes as well. I was originally going to try for another few years from my axles, but when a shop messed up a brake job requiring all new brakes on both axles I started asking questions. New axles with brakes were only $100 more each than a bare axle, so with the money refunded from the lousy brake job I was halfway to getting a pair of new axles. Just didn't make sense to spend any more on the old ones.