axle placement help

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axle placement help

Postby peggyearlchris » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:43 pm

:D 8) Hey I finally have my axles and springs. My tear will be 5'x10' benroy shape. I'm hoping the rain will stay away this weekend so I can get it all put together. I'm ready for the fun stuff, the woodworking. I'm still not really sure where to mount the axle 41" or 42". Does that sound about right ? I could sure use the help. Thanks :thumbsup: Peg
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Postby PaulC » Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:48 pm

Hi Peg, i'm not sue if you've checked Andrew's site out, he has a spreadsheet that may help you decide. Have a look here http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear81.htm

Cheers
Paul :thumbsup:
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Postby peggyearlchris » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:04 pm

:? :? Thanks paul. I have looked at Andrew's site but it is Greek to me. I'm trying to understand it. No such luck yet. I'm crying :cry: :cry: But i'll get there .Peg
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Postby Ken A Hood » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:22 pm

Rule of thumb is 34 1/2" from the back (for an 8 footer) and you add 6" for each additional foot...

So for a 10 footer (34 1/2" + 6" +6" =46 1/2") from the back.....give or take a couple inches either way.
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Postby peggyearlchris » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:51 pm

8) Ken thanks for the help. I need to get this axle on so I can get it done. God Bless :) Peg
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Postby BrwBier » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:20 pm

I just used the dimensions from the generic benroy plans. My understanding is that an inch or two will not make much difference because you can adjust the weight of the tongue by the way heavy objects are placed later in the build. Such things as tongue box, battery etc.
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Postby dwgriff1 » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:34 pm

I'm building an ultra light. The plans show the axle at 40" from the back. You are saying 34 1/2".

Could someone reconcile these two measurements?

I am mounting mine on my nearly complete box tomorrow!!

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Postby Ken A Hood » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:47 pm

The 34 1/2" comes from either this forum or the other one (which is a closed membership).....I remember the post, and it might have come from Grant. But keep in mind this was from the "original" teardrops; and as with anything has evolved.
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Postby Ken A Hood » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:52 pm

I just dug out the plans I have; Desert Teardrops (8') say 32" from the rear, and Kuffel Creek (Comet 10') say 40" from the rear. So there is a range for each...
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Postby dwgriff1 » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:56 pm

Thanks.

Unless I hear from Mike or Andrew otherwise, I'll follow the ultralight plan. It might be that as light as this little lady is that the placement makes more sense slightly forward.

BTW, my build is frameless and all wood, so bolting the axle on the box is a big mark toward completion!

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Postby madjack » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:01 pm

...my personal rule of thumb sez 34/36"s onna 8'er 40/42"s onna 10'er but this has nothing to do with anything but my own builds....there are tremedous variables such as what you have in the galley area, stoves, water tanks, batteries, microwaves, propane tanks ect,ect,ect...a minimum of 10% to a max of 20% of total weight on the tongue gives you a pretty good leeway...
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Postby dwgriff1 » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:19 pm

Thanks MJ.

The Ultralight has a half galley, which should make it lighter in the back. Since I intent to pull the little gal with a small car, that 10% rule is important.

If I get it wrong, I can move it a little! I glued and glassed a 24" Oak strip to accept the axle. I have that much flex!

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axle placement

Postby KA » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:30 pm

How does the tongue length affect the rule of thumb for axle placement. Should you move the axle foreward a little bit if you have a longer tongue with a box on it? I'm planning the Benroy style, 8 feet long, 5 feet wide with a drop floor dinette. :thinking:
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Postby madjack » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:10 am

Kris, the variables are almost endless...the length of the tongue does have an effect but it is minimal...a tongue box is altogether different...what are ya gonna put init...junk, batteries, 20#propane tank, water, EZ up, chairs, dead bodies...see what I mean...on that rule of thumb...the 10% minimum is the most important...anything over is limited by vehicle limitations...unless you are planning massive weight in the tongue box, I wouldn't move the axle forward by more than a couple or 3 inches over what the GB plans call for...
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axle placement

Postby KA » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:53 am

Thanks Madjack! :)
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