Torflex Axles

[HBarlow]

I have put axles on 2 separate Airstream trailers. Airstream originally used a 22 1/2 degree down angle axle made by Henshen. They were bought out Al-Ko. Axis Axle also make the torsion axles.
When I replaced axles I used the Dexter 32 1/2" degree down angle because this gives about 1. 5" of lift over stock which is good for ground clearance and modern TOO TALL tow vehicles. Torsion axles have been used on Airstreams since the mid 1960's. In general they can last up to 30 years but that is by folks use them frequently. If a torsion axle sits idle then they go bad. I take the weight off the axles during the off camping season.

When Airstream calculated the axle weights, both axles together would equal 90% of the GVW.
If you look at a slightly older Airstream they can be found for a decent price if you look hard enough. Like all RV's there are pros and cons to each manufacturer. I own a 1994 Airstream 30' and absolutely love it!

Actually the original Airstream torsion axle design was Airstream's and the axles were originally built by Airstream in their plant. In the early '80s, I think, when Airstream was in financial trouble and was purchased by a food processing company whose name I can't recall now, the torsion axle department and designs were sold off to Henschen who was located in Jackson Center also. Henschen built the axles for a number of years. I haven't owned an Airstream in a few years but I have toured the Airstream plant in Jackson Center several times and also visited the Henschen plant in the '90s. I didn't know Henschen had sold out.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Question If I were to get the axles and had them set at WHAT EVER DEGREE ANGLE and wanted to change it COULD I OR NOT?

 

[jhenderson]

Can't be changed once built.

 

[BIGNASTY]

meat trailers are for those of us who are not lucky enough to own a string of MULES !! it does the same job without all the lovely ATMOSPHERE that comes with mules !! LOL !! but I do miss the atmosphere of live pack animals. Butch :-laf :-laf :-laf :-laf

I was kind of thinking that but didn't want to sound STUPID (to late for that I guess) As for the mules YES im VERY LUCKY to have my 4 legged friends to take care of me in the mountains. I think of them as JUST BIG DOG'S they are very much like them in their personalities loyal and want to be around people some more than others. I take very good care of them some say to good but with only one leg I need them to take me to the places that I take pictures of and hunting in luxury compared to allot of hunting camps that we have ran across.



CRAZY HORSE



That ain't SC in the Picture and I dont believe in the wizard of OZ where did you do the hunting? You said Caribou would like to see the heard!!!!!! Have seen MANY ELK but Caribou herds are HUGE!!!! As far as hunting what ever it takes to get out and back is ok with me. Lots of ATV hunting around us but never seen a MEAT TRAILER they are the kind that carry the game over the rack in back and are very restricted to fire roads and snowmobile trails.





BIG

 

[BIGNASTY]

Can't be changed once built.

Ahhhhh thinking involved in this i'm in trouble now Thanks.

 

[BIGNASTY]

CBari



Quote



As for Bix-tex trailers I have had numerous experiences with them and they are a top notch company. Any of their trailers that are custom jobs go down a seperate line in the plant and quality control over those is second to none. That being said they are a little pricey, and I have seen several others that I think are every bit as good. One I would also recomend is Rice Trailers.



We have a BIG Tex 30ft tandem dully that I used a bunch when we moved to MT with the Dodge. Sense then its been used at least weekley by us or FIL/BIL for things around the place but its behind our International 4700. For our stock trailer we have a Gooseneck brand 3 axle alum stock trailer that the gang rides in we got it used and didn't have the option of the torflex axles sounds like I missed out on that.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I agree with the price of steel. I drew plans to build a tandem dual equipment trailer. When I checked out steel prices I was shocked. I was going to seve MAYBE $800 to $1,000 buy building my self. NOT WORTH it for me.

 

[CBari]

I have seen several tri-axle trailer with torflex axles some have had issues and some haven't. I personal think a tri-axle stock trailer used in rough terrain would be better served with springs. What tends to happen on the torflex is one axle carries all the weight when going something steep like a curb. Which is ok most of the time but on a tri-axle it is usally carring 3 times it rated load.

 

[RustyJC]

What tends to happen on the torflex is one axle carries all the weight when going something steep like a curb. Which is ok most of the time but on a tri-axle it is usally carring 3 times it rated load.

This is an important point worthy of consideration. A standard torflex multiple axle arrangement does NOT have equalization, so towing as level as possible to balance the load between axles becomes much more important than with an equalizer-equipped leaf spring axle design. A Google search reveals that some manufacturers now claim to have equalized torflex-type axles available, so that might be worth investigating.



Rusty