Good luck with customer service if you have an issue with what you order from etrailer. I have a story on request. Ask me how I know.
Bent axle on 5x10 trailer
- Thread starter Colonel428
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Colonel428
ArboristSite Operative
So I have to ask. Where would you shop for a new axle if you were to do it again?
TSC should have axles
I bought mine at Princess Auto
Call it a lesson learned and get a bigger trailer.
composter
ArboristSite Lurker
I saw a guy on Youtube straighten an axle with a hydraulic pipe bender. I plan to try that with a 3500# axle I bent when I get a chance.
Unless you know what you’re doing and to get the correct “bend” back in the axle, I would replace it. Back in 2019 I paid 380 bucks CDN for an Lippert 3500 lb c/w brakes for my camper. I also contacted a automotive frame repair shop. It was going to be about 600 with no guarantee it will be 100%. In 2020 I bought a cargo trailer and installed the trailer brakes from the bent axle on it. That’s the beauty of these. Both Lippert and Dexter use the same backing plate bolt pattern. Of course your trailer axle has the have that brake mounting flange on it. Some older axles don’t.
Retired guy from SE Manitoba
Retired guy from SE Manitoba
Colonel428
ArboristSite Operative
Would love to get a bigger trailer but I live in a neighborhood with an HOA and have to park it inside my garage at night. 5x10 is easiest to back in. I could probably squeeze a 6x12 in there and I would love to find a used one with double axles. Even if I find what I'm looking for I still need to fix the 5x10 I've got to be able to sell it in good faith...
Colonel428
ArboristSite Operative
Thanks Catman. Yeah, my 5x10 has brakes. Good idea about reusing them on a new axle. I gotta find a solution quick - I use that trailer a lot.
Of course not. Do you have the tools? Than you have the ability to remove, and toss away, the now forever distorted, out of square axle assembly. The bearings will glow Orange , and you will be going thru the exercise of, buying another pair of matching tires, paying to have them mounted and balanced, only to go thru that again. Of course, I would be remise if I didn't remind you, that you will be towing something that could kill someone.
Than theres this. IF thats some old farm trailer that gets dragged around the property, than YES. Make whatever repair you see fit.Drag it in the barn, flip it over, and you are off to the races. Around here, we cut off the cab of a free junk pick-up, and make it into a wood trailer. Takes a day. Load size = unlimited.
I have yet to see a trailer axle that didn't have welded spring seats. Wouldn't really serve their purpose very well if they weren't.
That depends how sturdy the trailer is built. If it'll hold the weight, now is a good time for an axle upgrade. If it's lightly built, there's no point.
How bad is the bend? I have used a length of H-beam, 2 chains and a jack to straighten the axel on a trailer. Get the whole trailer off the ground so you can rotate the wheels. Bolt a straight 2 - 3' length of angle iron to each hub. Measure the distance between them front and back, then rotate hubs 90 degrees and measure again top and bottom. Bend until all 4 distances are the same. Simple, cheap, but takes a bit of work.
I would start with google and compare prices and options then start calling locally. There are a lot of trailer places that sell parts in my area so I would shop and compare there prices. I ordered a set of 4 wheels and tires for one of my trailers from etrailer and they sent the wrong bolt pattern. They wanted $150 to restock plus I had to pay shipping. I called my credit card co. and explained what happened and refused the charges. etrailer call 2 hours later and said they would give a full refund and pay for return shipping. It wasn't till the credit card co. got involved did etrailer do what they should have done in the beginning. etrailer treated me very rudely and didn't even try to correct there mistake. It was only when my credit card refused to pay that they changed there tune.
Loosenuts the Goat Farmer
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You can try etrailer.com also for an axle. depending on what weight, etc you need they might have a reasonably priced axle. I got one from them for a 5,000 lb. trailer and it was reasonable.
You can find this info on-line about trailer axles.
Most trailer axles when bent properly have the front of the tires at their center toed in 1/8 to 1/4 inch and same at the bottom on ground called positive camber.
I've made or re-bent small trailer pipe axles up to around 3 inches in dia or take a grinder or torch and cut a groove in the center and front of a axle use a tape measure and bend the axle to the measurements above and then tack weld at first then fully weld after tacking.
If you want to beef up the axle, make it stronger after you get the toe in and positive camber correct just weld on an additional pipe or piece of steel. Be careful when welding on additional because heat will cause warping quite readily.
A trailer axle that is not toed in has tendency to wander or fishtail when being towed.
Also the axle cannot be cocked sideways to the tow vec. (spring tie bolt broken or bent frame)
Most trailer axles when bent properly have the front of the tires at their center toed in 1/8 to 1/4 inch and same at the bottom on ground called positive camber.
I've made or re-bent small trailer pipe axles up to around 3 inches in dia or take a grinder or torch and cut a groove in the center and front of a axle use a tape measure and bend the axle to the measurements above and then tack weld at first then fully weld after tacking.
If you want to beef up the axle, make it stronger after you get the toe in and positive camber correct just weld on an additional pipe or piece of steel. Be careful when welding on additional because heat will cause warping quite readily.
A trailer axle that is not toed in has tendency to wander or fishtail when being towed.
Also the axle cannot be cocked sideways to the tow vec. (spring tie bolt broken or bent frame)
Old-Feller
Pretty Fart Smeller
Go get a mobile home trailer axle, with split rim Daytona rims. Put huge bias ply's on them, haul forever
Both TSC, and Princess Auto sell chinesium.
kinda appears maybe you need a skid plate or stump jumper on your log trailer.
My last two pickups came with auxiliary skid plates, and my son-in-law is ALWAYS teasing me about those plates!!
Sounds like Son-In-Law needs to be educated, old school, back woods, trail driving kind.My last two pickups came with auxiliary skid plates, and my son-in-law is ALWAYS teasing me about those plates!!
