replace axles

[Cordy]

Just returned 9400 mile trip with 5th wheel. Had my share of tire problems on slide out side of 5th wheel. Found out today camber out on that side and am now leaning toward new axles. Trailer has a GVWR weight of 10100lbs. Checked axles and they are 4400 lb. axles. Thinking of going to a heavier axle possibly 6500 lbs if hubs match lug pattern of present wheels. Are the 4400 lbs axles enough to carry load. Also told by Tire dealer that I am over weight on the 15 inch tires load range D 2540 lbs load weight.

 

[cwienenga]

call up dexter axle,they can tell you all you need to know, also maybe your coach builder.

 

[Matt42]

Originally posted by unoit

Just returned 9400 mile trip with 5th wheel. Had my share of tire problems on slide out side of 5th wheel. Found out today camber out on that side and am now leaning toward new axles. Trailer has a GVWR weight of 10100lbs. Checked axles and they are 4400 lb. axles. Thinking of going to a heavier axle possibly 6500 lbs if hubs match lug pattern of present wheels. Are the 4400 lbs axles enough to carry load. Also told by Tire dealer that I am over weight on the 15 inch tires load range D 2540 lbs load weight.

Wowzers. Two axles at capacity give a rating of 8800 lb for just the axles, and that assumes a 1300 lb hitch weight. At that, you have no factor of safety, even assuming that all the wheels carry the same weight. But they don't, because a trailer (or fiver) load is never equal on each wheel.



In theory, the tires should be adequate to handle the average weight for each axle, but again, the loading is never equal. Don't be surprised if one or two tires are badly overloaded because of that, with the others OK. It's no surprise that one or more of your spindles bent out of camber. Is the bad one under the appliance part of the unit?



6500 lb axles may be a good idea, but there are some problems. Assuming that the current hubs have a five lug pattern, it may be a special order to get heavier axles to fit the wheels you have. But the tires you have now are probably the biggest you can get in 15 inch. So you'll have to go to a six or eight lug pattern anyway, and buy new wheels and tires.



If you are going to go that route, I most humbly suggest heavy duty 16 inch wheels, and the installation of Michelin XPS-Rib tires in LT-235/85R16 or in LT-245/75R16.



Does the trailer frame have a U-chanel, I-beam, or box frame? The springs will have to be matched to the actual GVW of your trailer. (You *have* weighed it, haven't you?) Springs too stiff and the trailer will bounce, and may fatigue the frame at the mount welds. Box frames, although stronger overall, are usually thinner walled. They may be more prone to fatigue under those conditions, but that's edumacated speculation on my part. Heavier axles can batter a frame if the springs aren't just right.



In my opinion (for what it's worth), your rig has undersized axles. What make is it?