5er axles

[SOLER]

I need some help/advice. I have a 10-12K 5er (depending on how much crap we take), and it has 5200# axles. The spindle on rear-left axle is bent. I am getting it replaced under warrenty, but am thinking of paying the difference and upgrading to 7000# axles. The differences will be 8 lugs instead of 6. The tires are all worn and need to be replaced also.



So, my only cost will be:

1. five 16" rims

2. one whole axle assembly

3. the difference in cost between replaced axle and upgrading it to 7000#



My question: Does anyone know if I'll have to replace the spring hangars? I have about 4-5" between the tires now (225/75R15). I want 235/75R16 tires to replace the existing ones.



Any help will be appreciated. Thanx

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by SOLER

I need some help/advice. I have a 10-12K 5er (depending on how much crap we take), and it has 5200# axles. The spindle on rear-left axle is bent. I am getting it replaced under warrenty, but am thinking of paying the difference and upgrading to 7000# axles. The differences will be 8 lugs instead of 6. The tires are all worn and need to be replaced also.



So, my only cost will be:

1. five 16" rims

2. one whole axle assembly

3. the difference in cost between replaced axle and upgrading it to 7000#



My question: Does anyone know if I'll have to replace the spring hangars? I have about 4-5" between the tires now (225/75R15). I want 235/75R16 tires to replace the existing ones.



Any help will be appreciated. Thanx

Safety first take your question to the experts at www.dexteraxle.com and they can advise you E-mail or call the number found on the web site . Hope you find what you need and cost is not to bad. LOL Ron in Louisville KY {PS Torflex is a Dexter product too

 

[B.G. Smith]

5er axle

I went from 15" tires, 225/75R15 to 16" 235/75R16 and had to weld a 1/2" spacer on the frame above the axles to keep the tires from rubbing the wheel well. This was a factory upgrade on a 95 Carri-Lite. The axles are still 5200# but I have a little more tire.

 

[SteveH]

Ditch the Dexters and go with Torflex 7000# axles. No hangers, shackles, or springs to bend or wear out. I replaced my 5200# Dexters with the 7000# Torflex and 16 inch E rated tires and love the difference. The Torflex I ordered has a grease zerk in the end of the axle and this puts grease into the bearings, forcing the old grease out, making it a 5 minute job to grease all four wheel bearings.

These axles ran $440 each.

Tires (Goodyear E rated 234x85xR16) and wheels from the same company ran $160 each.

Wiring kit for two axles was $14.

mounting kit for two axles was $40. (optional but convenient if you ever want to replace an axle)

The custom shop that put these on for me charged $300 labor and built in 3 heavy welded cross members for stronger support. Care must be taken when putting these axles in to line up the old fender arc with the larger tires and keep the unit looking good. At least look at a set of Torflex before you make up your mind and see the much higher quality over the Dexters.

Steve H

 

[Dieselnerd]

Steve, Dexter also makes the Torflex. Pretty hard to "ditch the Dexters", you can ditch the springs but Dexter is the major manufacturer of almost every type of trailer axle on the market.



I also have the EZ lube axles. A hint for those that put in too much grease. After you force enough lube into the axle to bring clean grease out to the front, remove the hubcap with the rubber plug in it and clean all the grease out of the cap and all that you can wipe off of the spindle nut and then put the cap back on and replace the rubber plug. If you fill the whole cap with grease (I learned this the hard, expensive way) as the grease expands it has no place to go so it goes past the seal and onto your brakes. It's a 2 part seal that has a rotating inner part. Good seal but won't take the pressure of too much grease. Just like overfilling the bearing buddies on a boat trailer.

 

[SteveH]

Originally posted by Dieselnerd

Steve, Dexter also makes the Torflex. Pretty hard to "ditch the Dexters", you can ditch the springs but Dexter is the major manufacturer of almost every type of trailer axle on the market.

I didn't realize that, the shop that ordered my axles had an order book with "Dexters" and were the conventional axles. Another book had "Torflex" and showed nothing but the springless Torflex type axles. I took for granted they were a different company, you know what they say when you "assume" something. Thanks for the info.

Steve H

 

[SOLER]

Update

Well, my first inclination was to replace the tires, becaues I have seen what a tire will do when it lips a belt. However, I was afraid that the axle was bent, and if that was the case, then I was going to upgrade to 7K# axles. That way, I would never worry about an over-load situation.



Well, the manufacturer of the RV was him-hawin about covering it, and so was the axle company "Alco-Kober. " This will sway me form using these axles in the future. I was tired of them giving me the run around, so I decided to have a local shop rebuild my original axle. I'm glad it wasn't the axle, and am even more glad that I didn't have a new axle shipped when there wasn't anything wrong with what I had, but I caught a glimpse of their service. Not pretty. Well, I had to replace the tires since the tread was separating, and after doing so the trailer was tracking straight. Now, mind you, the trailer was dog-walking something terrible, which would look like a bent axle or spindle, but it was one of the tires.



I just thought I would let you know. BTW, I am purchasing a 38' gooseneck car hauler next month, and it will have 3 Dexter Torflex 6000# EZ lubes with 16" tires.