Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:01 pm**

I was wondering about the axle below.. Since we have most all axles at standard starting angle here. (boring)

Starting angle is -20 degrees..

Would it work if the axle would be flipped over and the mounting brackets
welded onto the other side (lower side) thus bringing the angle -20 facing upward?

Would this work or is this not a good idea? Or can the axle or install plating be modified in anyway to give the proper height that most tears are? These measurements below are in mm. not inches.

Here is a pic of the axle and drawing ..

Classic Finn

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:14 pm**

Don't weld on this type of axle, you'll destroy the rubber inside the tube. I think most tears have the axle below the chassis so flipping it over might make it too low???

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:21 pm**

Leon wrote:Don't weld on this type of axle, you'll destroy the rubber inside the tube. I think most tears have the axle below the chassis so flipping it over might make it too low???

Hi Leon, Thank you for the reply.. In your opinion would this axle work? Since Im by no means an expert with this kind of subject.. Can you tell me how low the frame would sit with this axle?

It comes in 4 x 100 and 5 x 112. So I can find wheels to fit.. Now only if I new how to find the real height with this axle..

Also these axles are not so expensive here.

Classic Finn

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:36 pm**

I have a set of 1/2 torsion axles, with similar mounting brackets. They also have weldable (if thats a word) brackets that are welded to the frame, and the axle is bolted to the brackets. I don't think you can flip the axle, I know most spring ones have a built in camber (it's bent on purpose)

http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/6-8 ... 80_res.pdf

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:11 pm**

Classic Finn wrote:I was wondering about the axle below.. Since we have most all axles at standard starting angle here. (boring)

Starting angle is -20 degrees..

Would it work if the axle would be flipped over and the mounting brackets
welded onto the other side (lower side) thus bringing the angle -20 facing upward?

Would this work or is this not a good idea? Or can the axle or install plating be modified in anyway to give the proper height that most tears are? These measurements below are in mm. not inches.

Here is a pic of the axle and drawing ..

My experience with these type of axles says "yes".. As noted if the axle tube itself had a camber in it I would say "no". The torsion rubbers have no idea which way they are flexing. From the ones I have seen apart there is not difference in the way the rubber block is made, it's just a block of rubber with the hub secured inside. Your digram does not show any degree of camber so I see no reason why it could not be flipped

Classic Finn

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:51 pm**

The rubber suspension system works the same either way up, so flipping the whole assembly to from a "down" starting angle to an "up" starting angle would work fine, except...

There is normally that bend for camber in the main tube which goes across, and you don't want the negative camber which mounting upside down would cause.

With a used axle, I would wonder if the distortion (or "set") of the rubber might cause problems when used the other way.

The bracket is intended to take load in a known direction, and flipping it over without welding on new brackets (because that does kill the rubber) would require consideration of structural loads. There are trailers which use similar axles this way, because that's how the brackets are integrated into notches in the frame rails.

So my net conclusion, like Jester, is go ahead if there is no camber... but I'll add to put some thought into the bracket structure.

As for the height... the rubber acts the same way in the opposite direction, so the change in hub height per unit of load (inches per hundred pounds, or mm per some number of kg) will be the same as stock units... turn the drawing over and check it out.

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:02 pm**

Ive been looking at that drawing upside down as well for some time this evening.

Now I need to check how low this axle will be from under the frame once its installed. With direct install and no modification.

Thank You everyone.

Classic Finn

Posted: **Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:36 pm**

One thing to consider is a lot of teardrops are built with straight axles that hang quite a bit below the frame. Mine is a drop axle that has the loaded trailer frame about even with the spindle, so if you were to be able to flip that axle without camber problems or destroying the rubber by welding, I think it would be too low if you started with the frame below the spindle. Usually those drawings are starting points and the suspension will compress some.

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Axle Question

Axle Question

Re: Axle Question