Forum Discussion

JCR-1's avatar
JCR-1
Explorer
Nov 12, 2016

Axle Camber

I lost my camber on my 21 foot Coachman Clipper. Wearing tires on the inside pretty radical too. Don't know how but apparently I went over a speed bump or hole and bent the axle to negative camber. But I noticed that its a single axle and its rated at 3500 lbs. The trailer empty from the factory is like 3200 + lbs. Don't they build in a safety factor ? That is really cutting it close and when you add water and clothes this is at max or exceeds max. This trailer by design should have a 4500 lb axle or dual axles. I think I would like to upgrade to a 4500 axle, but where do you get one to fit ?? Thanks
  • JCR-1's avatar
    JCR-1
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    I think the best bet would be to replace as I think a recamber is not the solution. Its just not sized correctly if it bent the first time., and a recamber is a weaker component. I think something up around 4500 should work out better. Ill contact dexter and see if they can cross over my 3500 to a 4500 part number or see what options are out there. Torsion axles sound good as well but not sure about mounts to the frame .Good possiblity and worth looking into. Thanks
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    Note re: getting it "adjusted"

    I use a very established alignment shop, one of those 100+ year old family shops that still aligns everything and anything. They even have an axle press. But they stopped re-bending used axles. They'll add camber to new, but they became concerned over used axles, because one that lost its camber has probably been over loaded, and bending an axle back again makes it weaker.

    Really, if a 3500 pound axle won't hold camber, it's probably time for an upgrade. For a single axle trailer, a runner torsion axle would be a nice upgrade. They transmit less shock, are self-damping, and increase ground clearance (no axle tube). Timbren and Mor-Ryde both off alternative rubber spring suspensions as well, which may last even longer than a torsion setup.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    We have a winner. I have done quite a bit of axle work. What RBPRU is stating cannot happen.
    Lynnmor wrote:
    rbpru wrote:
    Are you sure you lost the camber, or did the axle slip in the clamps and rotate from positive to negative?.

    It is difficult to believe an axle can go from positive to negative but understandable that it might rotate in the mounts.

    Mine are rated below the max TT weight because some of the weight is carried by the tongue.


    They can't rotate unless all the welds break on the spring pads. The 3500lb axles are a joke, the tubes are paper thin and the spindles have a design error.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    rbpru wrote:
    Are you sure you lost the camber, or did the axle slip in the clamps and rotate from positive to negative?.

    It is difficult to believe an axle can go from positive to negative but understandable that it might rotate in the mounts.

    Mine are rated below the max TT weight because some of the weight is carried by the tongue.


    They can't rotate unless all the welds break on the spring pads. The 3500lb axles are a joke, the tubes are paper thin and the spindles have a design error.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Nov 13, 2016
    Are you sure you lost the camber, or did the axle slip in the clamps and rotate from positive to negative?.

    It is difficult to believe an axle can go from positive to negative but understandable that it might rotate in the mounts.

    Mine are rated below the max TT weight because some of the weight is carried by the tongue.
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    allen8106 wrote:
    TrailerTraveler1 wrote:
    Good luck JCR! We have a slightly out of camber axle on our Lance 1685 - probably from some crazy adventure like towing the trailer to Chaco Canyon - miles and miles of dirt washboard road... but we've been trying to get it replaced. Unfortunately, the dealer ordered the wrong Dexter axle (and they're not returnable). So we still don't have it replaced & we leave Monday for 1000 miles south to Florida. We have yet to call Dexter ourselves, thought the dealer could do it, but that didn't work out. We've talked to the dealer in FL who basically told us they didn't do such work. Too bad the factory is in California! Please post back and let us know if you got your axle replaced and where (since you're also in Florida - we're headed to Lakeland & then the Panhandle!).


    Get an alignment at an axle shop, they can fix it.
    Not for long. His TT is under axled for his use... Like many are. An upgrade shouldn't be a big deal. Just recambering what he has now will just mean that it will bend again... easier the second time as the metal has already bent once.
    lippert was able to make me exact replacement 7000K axles for my 5200K axles just by my sending them a picture of the tag on the old axles..

    My only suggestion is to get 6 lug drums while he's at it. Then he can run 16" rims and have a WIDE selection of LT tires to choose from
  • mbopp's avatar
    mbopp
    Explorer
    Nov 13, 2016
    We have a good frame / axle / heavy truck shop locally. They straightened the Lippert 3500# axles on my previous TT.
  • allen8106's avatar
    allen8106
    Explorer
    Nov 12, 2016
    TrailerTraveler1 wrote:
    Good luck JCR! We have a slightly out of camber axle on our Lance 1685 - probably from some crazy adventure like towing the trailer to Chaco Canyon - miles and miles of dirt washboard road... but we've been trying to get it replaced. Unfortunately, the dealer ordered the wrong Dexter axle (and they're not returnable). So we still don't have it replaced & we leave Monday for 1000 miles south to Florida. We have yet to call Dexter ourselves, thought the dealer could do it, but that didn't work out. We've talked to the dealer in FL who basically told us they didn't do such work. Too bad the factory is in California! Please post back and let us know if you got your axle replaced and where (since you're also in Florida - we're headed to Lakeland & then the Panhandle!).


    Get an alignment at an axle shop, they can fix it.
  • TrailerTravele1's avatar
    TrailerTravele1
    Explorer
    Nov 12, 2016
    Good luck JCR! We have a slightly out of camber axle on our Lance 1685 - probably from some crazy adventure like towing the trailer to Chaco Canyon - miles and miles of dirt washboard road... but we've been trying to get it replaced. Unfortunately, the dealer ordered the wrong Dexter axle (and they're not returnable). So we still don't have it replaced & we leave Monday for 1000 miles south to Florida. We have yet to call Dexter ourselves, thought the dealer could do it, but that didn't work out. We've talked to the dealer in FL who basically told us they didn't do such work. Too bad the factory is in California! Please post back and let us know if you got your axle replaced and where (since you're also in Florida - we're headed to Lakeland & then the Panhandle!).

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