Dexter trailer axles

jjrbus · October 20, 2009, 01:42:18 PM

I'm looking at a 10 year old 20 foot car hauler trailer with Dexter axles. The trailer is rated at 10K lbs. The Dexter are a torsion type axle. How do I tell if the axles are any good? Worst case cost to replace if needed?? Any other infor??

JIm

bevans6 · October 20, 2009, 01:48:38 PM

at 10 years old they are probably fine. They are actually pretty good axles, I have them on my trailer. Just visual inspection, check for significant rust or weld cracks where they are welded onto the chassis. Check out the brakes, bearings, hubs (integral with the drums), sttub axles as you would any other, check that they aren't toed in or out (each wheel is independant).

Brian

DaveG · October 20, 2009, 03:35:24 PM

Hey, I sell and service trailer axles so I can tell you more about axles than I can about buses!

If the trailer is rated at 10,000 then it probably has two (2) 5,200# axles. These have 12x2" brakes, not self adjusting. The rubber part of the torsion axles does wear out, so probably what you should be looking for is rubber coming out between the square "axle" tube and either end where the dog leg or drop down is. Also, try jacking up the trailer to lift the wheels off the ground and try lifting the tire/wheel or stub axle-there shouldn't be any play there. While you have it jacked up, pull the tire/wheel/hub/drum off and clean/inspect the bearings and pack with new grease and replace the seal. The brakes don't have much lining to begin with, so don't git skered if there is only 3/16" or so. To check for axle alignment, put a straightedge on the outside of one and the outside of the opposite side one and pull a tape measure. Toe is what you will primarily be concerned with. They should be within an 1/8 or so...3/16 and you'll be wearing tires.

Anything else?

rusty · October 20, 2009, 04:24:20 PM

Good information from Brian and Dave. We have 3 or 4 trailers with that axle under them that are every bite of 10 years old. We use them every week and they are still in good shape. FWIW

Good Luck Wayne

jjrbus · October 20, 2009, 04:35:33 PM

Thanks alot, I love this board

What would be a ball park figure on replacement of one of these axles??

Jim

rusty · October 20, 2009, 06:58:27 PM

We haven't built a trailer for 10 or 12 years but the ones we bought back then were a little more expensive than an axle with springs. But we have found out they out last the spring type axle. Sorry I can't remember.

Wayne

DaveG · October 20, 2009, 07:00:29 PM

Seems like about $350 per, but I can price them out in the morning if you'd like

Email me at work if you want current pricing <david@reddingtrailer dot com>

jjrbus · October 21, 2009, 02:23:45 PM

Thanks again. I inspected axles for broken welds and for rubber coming out. I could not see where could come out?? So they must be OK.. I will try to email tomorrow for a price, dont need them just curious.
JIm

bevans6 · October 22, 2009, 05:57:34 AM

Think of the axle like two long square tubes, one inside the other rotated 45 degrees so it's standing on one corner. The rubber is long and fills up the corners between the outside tube and the inside tube stood on it's point. the rubber would goosh out the ends of the tube like toothpaste if it was bad. That's not really how they are constructed, but it's an easy picture to draw...

Brian