Broken Axles I have a 2014 Salem 27RLSS. It was purchased new in February 2015. It has less than 3000 miles on it. While having some service done on it I was told and shown two axles that need to be replaced on my camper. All four tires showed wear on the inside showing a bow in the axles. I’ve got a couple of questions that no one seems able to answer. How did this happen after such light use. It’s only used by my wife and myself. The replacement axles are rated for 3500 pounds each for a total of 7000 pounds. However according to Salem specs the dry weight is 6373 and the payload weight is 1239 for a total of 7612. Is this a case of they just don’t use the right size capacity axles? I’d appreciate it if someone could explain this for me. Thanks.

that is odd to have worn out with only 3k miles. I have over 50k on my 2013 trailer and it's ready for a new axle. it only has one, and I run heavy so understandable it takes a beating.could be your factory axles had some defect, or you ran really heavy these past four years? maybe the factory put on the wrong axles? how many lugs on your wheels, what diameter is the axle tube?

That sucks. I doubt the factory will do anything, but try it. When you do replace them look into 4400lb axles. There shouldn’t be much difference in price. You might also consider bumping the tire capacity up a notch. Those are usually on the just barely scale too. Good luck!

I had this same issue, and I and the tire shop highly suspected the tires. The jury is still out on that until I get more mileage on these tires. What tires are you running?I also think I got ripped off by a mobile mechanic in Twin Falls ID who claimed to 'straighten' my axles with a jack and chains.

I would bet your actual dry wieght is within a few hundreds pounds or less of you axles limits. Add a few common items and water and your well over. Yes, your axles were undersized from the factory. This is something to look for when you buy (bet you will next time!). I wont buy anything without at least 1500# of CCC and preferably 1 ton. My last TT had 3900# of CCC. As I wrote in your other post, upgrade them to 5200# (or 4400# if your concerned with ride) axles and your good to go.Oh and they're not worn out, they're bent from over loading.

This is typical of MFG's when building entry level TT's. They depend totally on the tongue weight to help with carrying capacity.

Broken axles | Good Sam Community

GordonThree
Explorer
Jan 22, 2019
Going to a bigger beam means new brakes, wheels, tires too? Or can I bolt my 5 lug brakes onto a 3 inch beam?
FLGup
Explorer
Jan 22, 2019
Redneck-trailer.com

I’m in the same boat. I’m going to have an RV shop swap out my 3500lb bent axles for 4400lb axles. I’ll let them research and get the correct supplies and do the work. This is beyond what I want to tackle as a DIY project. They said they use Redneck Trailer Supply for the parts.
Terry78
Explorer
Jan 22, 2019
I think laws need to be changed to prevent this kind of thing from happening
in the first place. If you add 30+ gallons of fresh water, 40# propane, 10
gallons of black water, You have over loaded the trailer considerably. That
does not include food clothes towels clean clothes people pet food or pets.
drsteve
Explorer
Jan 21, 2019
GordonThree wrote:
Anyone with links to the 4400? Is this something a suspension shop orders but isn't common on the Internet for some reason?

4400 LB Axle Beam
GordonThree
Explorer
Jan 21, 2019
Anyone with links to the 4400? Is this something a suspension shop orders but isn't common on the Internet for some reason?
Kitchenpan
Explorer
Jan 21, 2019
Huntindog- after much consideration I’m taking your advice. Upgrading from two 3500 pound axles to two 4400 axles. Thanks to everyone for the discussion. It certainly has been enlightening.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Jan 21, 2019
Has the trailer been weighed? We all know that dry weight is a mythical number.
My guess is that if you subtract the brochure tongue weight from the gross, it would be within specs. Just barely. Then the builder can say that it’s all good.
Huntindog
Explorer
Jan 21, 2019
Kitchenpan wrote:
Broken Axles

I have a 2014 Salem 27RLSS. It was purchased new in February 2015. It has less than 3000 miles on it. While having some service done on it I was told and shown two axles that need to be replaced on my camper. All four tires showed wear on the inside showing a bow in the axles. I’ve got a couple of questions that no one seems able to answer. How did this happen after such light use. It’s only used by my wife and myself. The replacement axles are rated for 3500 pounds each for a total of 7000 pounds. However according to Salem specs the dry weight is 6373 and the payload weight is 1239 for a total of 7612. Is this a case of they just don’t use the right size capacity axles? I’d appreciate it if someone could explain this for me. Thanks.
Many have offered possibilities.

But, all 4 tires wearing on the inside is a classic sign of overloading.
It is easy to do. And your TT like many doesn't have any extra axle capacity.
So you can weigh it... But regardless, you need to move up in axle size to prevent a repeat.

I would not mess with an alignment shop. For several reasons, mainly because rebending the axles back to spec will not fix the reason they bent in the first place.

Axles are cheap and easy to do.

Welcome to the TT world. Many things will break. I have a system that has served me well: Whenever something breaks, I fix it better than it was. I have never had to go back and fix that item again.
whiteeye42
Explorer
Jan 21, 2019
all axles have a bow in them so that way when you load it up they straighten out your might be bowed a little to much one thing you can do is take it to a truck shop and have them check the bow and if need be thay can either bend some more or take the bow out
Fisherman
Explorer
Jan 21, 2019
goducks10 wrote:
Upside down axles?

Bingo, you win. Somebody put the spring perches on the wrong side and they installed them that way.

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Broken axles

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