Tire wear, bent axle, replace or trade

[FLGup]

On our summer trip we returned with tires wearing out on the inside edges. The axle on the unloaded trailer were flat across. The dealer bent the axle so it bowed upward when empty. He said if that didn’t work I would need new axles and should go stronger (currently 3500 lb ea. On dual axle and tt is 6000 lb gvwr, see RV in sig). We just returned from a 300mile trip with inside tire wear on new spare. So issue remains. Which begs the question: 5 year old RV. Do I replace the axles or trade for a new RV? Has anyone had axle issues before? Cost to replace two axles and all 5 tires?

[Huntindog]

myredracer wrote:
We have factory installed 5200 lb axles on our TT when standard is 3500 lb. on it. Besides having stronger axle tubes and springs, it has the larger 12" brakes. Over 20,000 miles around 7 western states on all sorts of roads in the past 5 seasons and no issues.

If you don't want the expense of having to use 6-bolt wheels, axles can be ordered with a larger diameter 3" tube so you can use 5-bolt wheels. Going to a frame & axle shop is the best place to go as they can do a detailed inspection to ensure there isn't more going on than just bent axles and have all the required equipment. I sure wouldn't trust a dealer on suspension work. No need to replace the TT, upgrade and have a better one. We had a previous brand new TT in to a frame and axle shop and couldn't believe what they found and it led to getting the TT replaced under warranty.

If you need to replace the axles anyway, I'd go with stronger ones. They're a straightforward bolt-in install so don't overpay for the work. Replace the stock cheapo plastic bushings and at least get the Lippert Never-fail ones or much better, get the Dexter wet bolt kit EZ-Flex equalizers. If you hadn't already, I would also upgrade to one load range higher tires.

FWIW, we also installed shocks on our TT. Really helps to stabilize the TT and tows way better. Recommended upgrade!

Agree Except I am currently testing the never fails
I have had two units with the dexter grease bushings with so so results
At this point I think the never fails are gonna beat them out

[myredracer]

We have factory installed 5200 lb axles on our TT when standard is 3500 lb. on it. Besides having stronger axle tubes and springs, it has the larger 12" brakes. Over 20,000 miles around 7 western states on all sorts of roads in the past 5 seasons and no issues.

If you don't want the expense of having to use 6-bolt wheels, axles can be ordered with a larger diameter 3" tube so you can use 5-bolt wheels. Going to a frame & axle shop is the best place to go as they can do a detailed inspection to ensure there isn't more going on than just bent axles and have all the required equipment. I sure wouldn't trust a dealer on suspension work. No need to replace the TT, upgrade and have a better one. We had a previous brand new TT in to a frame and axle shop and couldn't believe what they found and it led to getting the TT replaced under warranty.

If you need to replace the axles anyway, I'd go with stronger ones. They're a straightforward bolt-in install so don't overpay for the work. Replace the stock cheapo plastic bushings and at least get the Lippert Never-fail ones or much better, get the Dexter wet bolt kit EZ-Flex equalizers. If you hadn't already, I would also upgrade to one load range higher tires.

FWIW, we also installed shocks on our TT. Really helps to stabilize the TT and tows way better. Recommended upgrade!

[Huntindog]

Vintage465 wrote:
I'm kind of stepping into this thread w/o reading every response. But to answer the question to replace axles or buy a new rig.........I just put new 5k Dexter axles on my daughters horse trailer. They were the EZ lube. $369.00 for both axles plus $90.00 shipping. Pretty reasonable for a set of first class axles. Naturally there is additional cost of bolts, bushings, equalizer/rocker etc. I did the work my self. A new rig is a heck of a lot more cash than that, even if you paid someone to put those on.

,

I am in the replace/upgrade camp myself. If you upgrade and do it right you will have a much more reliable TT.... Trading it in will just get you another TT with marginal running gear.

Even if you spend 2-3K on the upgrade, it will be worth it.....IF you like the TT otherwise.

My only warning is if you decide to upgrade, is do not go partway. That will likely mean a waste of money.

[Vintage465]

I'm kind of stepping into this thread w/o reading every response. But to answer the question to replace axles or buy a new rig.........I just put new 5k Dexter axles on my daughters horse trailer. They were the EZ lube. $369.00 for both axles plus $90.00 shipping. Pretty reasonable for a set of first class axles. Naturally there is additional cost of bolts, bushings, equalizer/rocker etc. I did the work my self. A new rig is a heck of a lot more cash than that, even if you paid someone to put those on.

[FLGup]

I stopped in a good RV repair place today. They came highly recommended and do axles too. He has me slotted for next Friday to look it over and work up a recommendation/cost for me. I’ll post what I find out then. I’ll need new tires too, so I might look at upgrades all around. Thanks everyone for the great suggestions and advice.

[GrandpaKip]

Have you ever weighed the camper? Before I went to all the expense listed above, I would try to find my unloaded weight and my loaded for a trip weight. Inside tire wear is one of the signs of an overloaded trailer.
Our camper is similar to yours, with a 6000 pound gross and a 4100 pound “dry” weight. We usually travel at about 5000 pounds. So far, the 2 3500 pound axles have been fine with no unusual tire wear.
If they didn’t have the proper equipment, your dealer may have done more bad than good.
Regardless, I’d still get the weights.

[Lynnmor]

Cost will depend on retaining the original brakes, springs or hardware. If all you want is stiffer axle tubes, then you would need to order axles that have the same ends, but with heavier or larger tubing. Go to Eastern Marine website to get an idea, or call Dexter directly and see if they still build custom axles. I did purchase directly from Dexter and the cost was fair considering I ordered custom parts. Carefully measure center to center distance for the springs and the distance from hub face to hub face before inquiring.

[time2roll]

If you otherwise were planning to keep the trailer another 5+ years I would get new axles. Not sure I would worry about the upgrade if you would also need new tires and wheels. But maybe you need tires anyway so not a huge deal. Although I would tend to go disk brakes. Just a little more on the hardware but the pump and install will be a bit extra.

[twodownzero]

I would really want to know why they failed in the first place. Your trailer weighs 5,000 pounds. Even at max GVWR, two 3500 lb axles should have lasted the life of the trailer.

[Huntindog]

I do think that you probably "need" heavier axles as most TTs are underaxled IMO..... But you do need to consider the cost.
Do you presently have 5 or 6 lug rims?
To do an upgrade you will need 6 lug rims, and most likely heavier tires as well.

If it were mine, I would jump up to #5200 axles and 16" rims with Michelin XPS ribs. Expensive, but very stout and trouble free.

Buying a new TT, will likely get you another one with the same issue...

BTW, it is likely that you have been overloading your TT. It is real easy to do, and the way they are built, there is zero extra capacity.

I am a heavy packer as well, so I have some experience with this.

[ktmrfs]

lenr wrote:
I would look for Dexter authorized repair shops that are not RV dealers. If you make the jump go to 5200 because you get bigger, better, everything. There are some axles in between (4400?) that use parts from both 3500 and 5200, depending on manufacturer. Don't change your springs (unless you're breaking them) because that will bounce your trailer more shaking stuff apart.

5200lb axles often have 12" brakes rather than 10" (good IMHO) and usually a 6 bolt hub. If your making a jump from 3500 or 4400lb axles sure you have at least 15" 6 bolt rims or you will likely need new rims as well to fit the hub and have room for 12" brakes. Many 3500lb axles have 5 lug hubs, the 4400lb axles seem to usually have a 6 luhg hub.

When I went looking some 4400lb axles (my existing ones included) had a 5200lb tube an oddball spindle,(neither 3500lb or 5200lb) 10" brakes like 3500lb and 6 lug hubs like a 5200. Kinda a mismash between the 3500lb and 5200lb axles.

with 5200lb axles, you will need at least a 225/15 LRE tire to match axle capacity. with a LRD 15" tire, tires will be the limiting factor. If you need new rims, and have the room, may as well go 16" in that case. way more tire choices!

[vjstangelo]

Lynnmor wrote:
3,500 lb axles are thin and easily bent. I replaced the bent from new junk on my KZ with custom made heavier axles from Dexter. Axles are rather cheap and not hard to replace. Replacing the entire trailer might just get you the same marginal stuff.

Ditto. Our Kz also had bad axles made by ALKO. Our shop replaced with Dexter axles and no more problems. The rig was about 5 years old at the time. We sold when it was 13 years old. I think the cost was about $500 or so total for the axle swap.

[Grit_dog]

If you've bent both 3500lb axles on a TT that wieghs 6000lbs or less loaded, either the axles are junk/defectvie or the trailer jumped one too many RxR crossings!
Seriously. Putting 5200lb axles under a trailer that has maybe 2500lb/axle load is silly. But not much different than thinking a 3/4 ton diesel only has a payload of 2000lbs.

[JIMNLIN]

Look for a big rig trailer repair shop. They can R&R your trailers suspension and give you estimates on replacing or fixing current axle/suspension issues.
They have the equipment to bend the axle back to toe and camber specs for proper alignment.
Remember those folks are the experts on trailer frames and their suspensions.

Also tire wear especially with older gen ST tires can be the tread belt has separated across the tread...or one side of the tread....or one spot some where under the tread.

[lenr]

I would look for Dexter authorized repair shops that are not RV dealers. If you make the jump go to 5200 because you get bigger, better, everything. There are some axles in between (4400?) that use parts from both 3500 and 5200, depending on manufacturer. Don't change your springs (unless you're breaking them) because that will bounce your trailer more shaking stuff apart.