Drop axle flip?

[Wygate]

I bought a 1992 35' park model camper. It has 4" droop 5200lb 6 bolts on her and it drags the casters everywhere. I am well aware of the caster issues with just flipping the axle. I am now back to a spring over and maybe drop the frame brackets by using so 2" square tube.

I am on a tight budget so new axles are not a viable option.

Am I missing a "easier " path staring me in the face, anyone have experience in the same thing?

I am a capable Fab. And welder.

I have thought of cutting off the ends and re-indexing the tubes then weld them back, but getting it perfect would be very hard and time consuming.

 

[JJPage]

Wygate, not sure I am understanding correctly, but I believe you want to lift your trailer so it does not drag the castors on the rear of your trailer? I do not believe you can simply flip the axles, as they are arched for alignment, I used this Dexter axle kit when I moved my springs below the axle, it worked great.

Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - Over/Under Conversion Kits

 

[jelag]

I had an early trailer with the same problem... I did two things...

1 - we made an adapter for the front of the trailer so the trailer sat level when it was hitched to the truck. . we cut the tongue and welded a plate to the front part of the tongue and a plate to the back part... we than offset the tongue and drilled holes through the 2 plates to keep the trailer level... like a commercial implement trailer. .

2 - we cut the hangers to the spring shackles from the frame and welded in a piece of 2x3 tube. the tube was long enough to go across all the spring hangers, so we raised the trailer frame 3" and re-welded the spring hangers back on the new tube...

Before we did either step we created marriage marks so that we'd get the thing back together aligned correctly... once the trailer was raised the 3" and now level it no longer drug the ground in the rear going in and out of dips...

Hope this helps...

 

[Wygate]

thanks JJ, Jim hit it on the nose.
My old man lived in Thompson Falls for a few year's, Wyglendowski ring any bells?

 

[Wygate]

Jim,
Thanks I replied to you once, don't think it posted.
That is exactly what I am going to do, already got the steel, perches ...
Was hoping I might be missing the 500lb gorilla.
thanks again
Jay

 

[jelag]

We get to Astoria every year. . we spend at least 2 weeks each summer at Ft Stevens. I'm guessing for the last 43-44 years... .

 

[Wygate]

I am just off hwy 30 in Knappa just about 15 miles east of Astoria. If you need anything while in the area, i have a big shop fairly well equipped or just want to get together for a meal with our families.
757- 350- 9220 is my number.
Jay

 

[JJPage]

My old man lived in Thompson Falls for a few year's, Wyglendowski ring any bells?

I am not living there permanently just yet... We have just now completed our garage, water, electrical and septic are in for the house, and we leave our fifth wheel there full time. I met with the excavator last week, for where we want the house to set in relation to the river.



I absolutely love T-Falls area, trying to get my house in Spokane sold so we can concentrate 100% on our new (smaller) home.

 

[Road Dog]

You can always weld on new spring perches and go spring over without physically flipping the axle.

 

[Wygate]

Road Dog,
Unless A Lea d I have comes through today I will be moving the perch and dropping the mounting brackets with some square tube , that should get me five inches and well in the way to keeping out of the dirt.
Thanks
Jay

%

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I had an early trailer with the same problem... I did two things...



1 - we made an adapter for the front of the trailer so the trailer sat level when it was hitched to the truck. . we cut the tongue and welded a plate to the front part of the tongue and a plate to the back part... we than offset the tongue and drilled holes through the 2 plates to keep the trailer level... like a commercial implement trailer. .



2 - we cut the hangers to the spring shackles from the frame and welded in a piece of 2x3 tube. the tube was long enough to go across all the spring hangers, so we raised the trailer frame 3" and re-welded the spring hangers back on the new tube...

Before we did either step we created marriage marks so that we'd get the thing back together aligned correctly... once the trailer was raised the 3" and now level it no longer drug the ground in the rear going in and out of dips...



Hope this helps...

This is the best solution if a spring over conversion isn't possible.



Re- enforce the hangers while you're at it.