Easy axle upgrade for your harborfreight trailer

[Grid Runner Adventures]

I wrote a full write up over on offgridrving.info forums
http://offgridrving.info/forum/general-discussion/easy-axle-upgrade-for-your-trailer/

[ERV]

Good fix. But me being a back yard welder, I don't think I would trust my welds at 65-75 mph. And I think you should add, take the hub apart and remove the bearings and seals. Heat and seals don't work.


Erv

[Grid Runner Adventures]

Ya I was thinking of that when I did mine, figured there was enough mass to help dissipate the heat. I will add some pictures some time of what it looks like now after a few years.

[Larry C]

I wrote a full write up over on offgridrving.info forums
http://offgridrving.info/forum/general-discussion/easy-axle-upgrade-for-your-trailer/

Interesting fix. I just put together that same trailer to use as a utility trailer. I had thought of doing the same thing you did to make my axle wider for a 5' wide TD, but I see the axle is bowed slightly probably for tracking. Did you have any problems with tracking after your alteration?

What size pipe did you use 1" or 1-1/4" ID. and was it schedule 40 or schedule 80?

Here's before and after photos of the spindles on a brand new trailer. Note the weld splatter (most you can't see, but can feel) and rough tool marks on the the surface where the seal rides!! The big hunk you see had to be chiseled off. The second picture is after polishing. Were your spindles in similar condition?

[img][img]http://i41.tinypic.com/fnacg.jpg[/img]

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Larry

[Grid Runner Adventures]

H i didnt have to take mine down to nothing when I did mine. just cut the welds to remove them from the old axle and slid it in the end of the pipe and weled through the holes I drilled.

I have over 3500 miles on it now and all is well.

also got a spare chunk of pipe if i run over another semi truck U joint

[rainjer]

One thing to keep in mind is the spindles stubs are case hardened. I did the same thing and the guy that welded mine said that you had to preheat the spindles before you weld them to get a proper weld.

Jeremy

[Shadow Catcher]

One thing to keep in mind is the spindles stubs are case hardened. I did the same thing and the guy that welded mine said that you had to preheat the spindles before you weld them to get a proper weld.

Jeremy

Preheat temperature should be about 200F. Depending on how the spindles are case hardened probably carburized (low carbon steel) this should not affect that. Get it too hot and you are cooked.