Getting ready and found this!

[howardwheeler]

I endlessly prepare to leave on a big trip--and occasionally actually do go. So yesterday I started thinking about checking my suspension and slid under the rear axle--just for a look. I was startled to discover this:

[Me_Again]

Alpenlite, has always been a misnomer. Hopefully you have sturdy tires under it. Those look like 17.5 wheels in the one picture?

[howardwheeler]

I've gotten a new truck that has a higher bed, and this had made the trailer nose high. Since we had to redo the hangers we went ahead and raised it five inches so it rides level. That's another reason the new subframe is so beefy.

[tinner12002]

Well I guess I should have read all the way through the posts...lol. Looks like you've raised it quite a bit also, about 6-8". Hopefully the big frame cross members don't obstruct access to anything...a bit overkill in my opinion but you shouldn't have any susp issues above your springs.

[tinner12002]

It only looks like 3/16" steel to me but using 1/4" top to bottom on the outside of the existing hangers would be a good reinforcement along with some boxing in of the end of the hanger also.

[DallasSteve]

I see there are two holes higher up the hanger. I don't know their purpose but it makes me wonder if the spring can be positioned using a higher hole which would put less stress on the hanger.

[howardwheeler]

So it's all welded up and next will be painting. All the hangers are full quarter inch plus completely braced. Turns out the old ones were just three sixteenths. Monday we will put the axles back on.
These pictures are reversed. The last one is with the subframe just tacked up. Notice again that I'm taking all the pictures while my friend does all the work. I am convinced that I will not bend this setup. It is much, much stouter than before.

[howardwheeler]

[howardwheeler]

[howardwheeler]

[howardwheeler]

Agreed. It was the most ill-maintained stretch of Interstate I'd ever been on.

[filrupmark]

Five years ago not only the pothole but I 10 from Sulphur La.to Texas was the worst highway we ever traveled.

[howardwheeler]

Basically, I'm doing what WNYBob suggested and putting on an entirely new subframe. Also, I'm fairly well convinced that bpounds is right that these hangers have been flexing for a while. I guess the rear one just finally broke this last year. They were just too long for the stresses of this heavy trailer twisting when I'd jack knife it.

[howardwheeler]

Here's the subframe being welded up. It will be very strong and allow the hangers to be short. We are going to put triangular braces on the hangers as well. If we are doing all this, we might as well make sure it's not going to happen again.
Notice that the cross bracing is the same as the subframe where the hangers fit. We are also putting a cross brace on the place of the middle hanger. It's just not on yet. Tomorrow we should be putting it in place and doing a lot of welding. We've had a big fire extinguisher on hand with all the sparks.

[howardwheeler]

Got it off. When we took the other one off it turned out that the front hanger did have the beginnings of a crack on it too.

[howardwheeler]

Pulling the old hangers free. (You might have noticed that I'm taking the pictures while my friend does all the work).