tobyd wrote:Thanks for the comments.
"My speculation is that the rating is based on a specific length of the rubber "bushing" that surrounds the rotational part of the swingarm, inside the fixed axle tube. Longer rubber bushing = more force required to rotate the swingarm. Shorter rubber bushing = less force."
Yep, I called Dexter and that's exactly how they do it. They suggested that there might be advantages using the heavier (#10) axle for off-roading as it'll be better at taking side loads when towing through rough stuff. They said it would be easy to de-rate it to the 2,200 -2,500 lb range simply by shortening the rubber inside. They do it all the time.
Thanks,
Toby.
But, will the builder of your custom trailer actually order the #10 torsion axle with the de-rated rubber springs, if you specify a rating? Or will they say that the 3500 lb rated axle is what you get, take it or leave it? There have been some reports, on this forum, of custom builders doing it their way, and ignoring hardware changes specified by customers. Make sure, by getting the axle specs on paper, or at least on the sticker Dexter Axles puts on their custom axles (my 3500 lb leaf-spring axle had one, so I assume they affix a sticker to all their customer-spec'd axles).
ordered thru a local dealer, shipped from Dexter with sticker attached (I was waiting there when received)