Leaf Spring & Axle Dilemma

JJKM wrote:
I noticed last season my trailer (2010 KZ Spree 324BHSLX) has sunk a few inches as I have to pull back the fender skirts to install and tighten my wheel chocks. Also, the tops of the tires are about 1" from the inside of the wheel well and both side are the same. I'm not overwieght and None of the springs are broken, but the springs do look to be flattened out a little. I know its a 'super lite' trailer, but there are 3 leaves in each leaf spring. A quick look around my storage facility at similar length/size trailers and any trailer from a 27' up to 35' has 4 leaves in each leaf spring. Local shop has offered to put 4-leave leaf springs on but can't guarantee it will raise it up by any amount. I called KZ and they tell me that the trailer was built with Dexter 4400lb axles and 3-leave leaf springs to keep it lightweight and that installing 4-leave leaf springs may be too stiff and damage other components on the trailer. They suggested calling Dexter. When I called Dexter they asked for the s/n off axles and then they'll be able to make a recommendation. When getting the serial numbers I notice the axles are actually 3500lb Al-Ko. I've called and left a message at Al-Ko, but my question is has anyone else seen/experience this and are axles and leaf spring sets 'matched?' Would it hurt anything if I kept the 3500lb axles and went with 4-leave leaf springs? Thanks in advance.

Are you sure you actually have Al-Ko axles? I have Lippert axles, but the actual axle is made by Henschen. There should be a metal axle tag welded somewhere near the ends of the axle showing the real manufacturer of the axle. My Lippert axle tags list them as 3500 axles, however, the metal Henschen axle tag shows a cap. of 2800 so I don't know what sort of games some of these trailer manufacturers play with how they put together their axles or rate them. Henschen AFAIK Henschen also supplies or used to supply the axles for Airstream trailers. Henschen was bought out by GKN back in 2008 before I discovered where my axles were actually made so I never sorted out this number discrepancy. With that said I've now got close to 20K miles with axle loads averaging above 3400lbs per axle and so far so good.:E

I have a sneaking suspision there is a lot of smoke and mirror that goes into some of this axle stuff.

Larry