I hope somebody can help me out with one heck of a problem. I have a 2008 Dutchmen 18' TT. A wheel came off while making a turn in a parking lot, just a normal 90 degree turn. It was towed to a big truck and trailer service shop, who inspected the wheel and sxle and determined that the axle would have to be replaced. It's been 4 days now, they have yet to find a replacement axle. The shop says that there is usually a manufacturer's name on the axle, which they haven't found. There were some numbers they were able to read, but they weren't sure what all of them meant. The shop then contacted another parts source and they have yet to find a replacement axle. Can anyone provide any advice at all? I hate to think that a nice camper is totaled because of a wheel falling off. Thanks for any help.

By big truck, do you mean a large business, or just one that deals with medium/heavy duty commercial rigs and trailers? Seems odd this would be a problem for them.Are you filing an insurance claim, is that why it has to be an exact replacement?Otherwise it's just a matter of ordering the proper diameter and width and either drop or straight, with or without brakes and hubs matching your wheels (probably with?) More than likely it's a Dexter axle?

Sometimes a TT is built with unusual specs for the axles. If that is the case, then it is unlikely that a parts supplier will have it on the shelf. That has happened to me twice. It would need to be ordered from the manufacturer. I have waited as long as a month for one.

Huntindog wrote:Sometimes a TT is built with unusual specs for the axles. If that is the case, then it is unlikely that a parts supplier will have it on the shelf. That has happened to me twice. It would need to be ordered from the manufacturer. I have waited as long as a month for one.I had the same experience, twice and both times when someone else packed the bearings but that is another story.

This isn't rocket science. From the 2008 Dutchman brochure, you have dual 3500 lb axles on a leaf spring suspension. They just need to make measurements of the existing axle (hub face to hub face and spring center to spring center), then order a new one - it doesn't have to be the same manufacturer. They should be able to move the brakes from the old to the new, and they'll probably need to weld the spring mounts in the right place.But 99% they're Lippert or Dexter, so they should be able to get one from the same manufacturer. Lippert powder coats their axles, Dexter paints. There are certainly other ways to tell them apart, perhaps looking at the brakes (assuming Dutchmen used Dexter brakes on Dexter axles, etc.). But Dexters seem much more readily available in the aftermarket - Lippert focuses on OEM sales.I'd question the competence of that shop. "Big truck and trailer" sounds like they may not be knowledgeable about RV and small trailer stuff. That they - don't know how to/can't find a - replacement would make me worry.

I agree with Mike-s. Sounds like they're not familiar with the RV world.My old trailer similar to yours had dual 3500 lb Dexter axles. Trailer was 5800 lbs gross weight. They were painted with no tag or easy to find identification.

axle replacement issue | Good Sam Community

kknowlton
Explorer II
Oct 12, 2017
It might be worth getting a second tow to an RV dealer, if there are any in that area. I second the advice re: Dexter or Lippert axles. Another possible manufacturer is Al-Ko axles; that's what we had on our previous trailer (a Forest River product). GOod luck to you!
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Oct 12, 2017
I agree with Mike-s. Sounds like they're not familiar with the RV world.

My old trailer similar to yours had dual 3500 lb Dexter axles. Trailer was 5800 lbs gross weight.

They were painted with no tag or easy to find identification.
mike-s
Explorer
Oct 12, 2017
This isn't rocket science. From the 2008 Dutchman brochure, you have dual 3500 lb axles on a leaf spring suspension. They just need to make measurements of the existing axle (hub face to hub face and spring center to spring center), then order a new one - it doesn't have to be the same manufacturer. They should be able to move the brakes from the old to the new, and they'll probably need to weld the spring mounts in the right place.

But 99% they're Lippert or Dexter, so they should be able to get one from the same manufacturer. Lippert powder coats their axles, Dexter paints. There are certainly other ways to tell them apart, perhaps looking at the brakes (assuming Dutchmen used Dexter brakes on Dexter axles, etc.). But Dexters seem much more readily available in the aftermarket - Lippert focuses on OEM sales.

I'd question the competence of that shop. "Big truck and trailer" sounds like they may not be knowledgeable about RV and small trailer stuff. That they - don't know how to/can't find a - replacement would make me worry.
CaLBaR
Explorer
Oct 12, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
Sometimes a TT is built with unusual specs for the axles. If that is the case, then it is unlikely that a parts supplier will have it on the shelf. That has happened to me twice.
It would need to be ordered from the manufacturer. I have waited as long as a month for one.

I had the same experience, twice and both times when someone else packed the bearings but that is another story.
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 12, 2017
Sometimes a TT is built with unusual specs for the axles. If that is the case, then it is unlikely that a parts supplier will have it on the shelf. That has happened to me twice.
It would need to be ordered from the manufacturer. I have waited as long as a month for one.
GordonThree
Explorer
Oct 12, 2017
By big truck, do you mean a large business, or just one that deals with medium/heavy duty commercial rigs and trailers? Seems odd this would be a problem for them.

Are you filing an insurance claim, is that why it has to be an exact replacement?

Otherwise it's just a matter of ordering the proper diameter and width and either drop or straight, with or without brakes and hubs matching your wheels (probably with?)

More than likely it's a Dexter axle?

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