Ready to order a Torflex.

[Weerider]

I have my frame welded up and am anxious to order my Torflex axle but first I needed to get a set of wheels and tires in order to get the correct hubface. I finally got the wheel pictured below in 15X7 and had them fitted with 215/60R15s.

I know that this is pretty basic but I would like to be sure I have the hubface calculated correctly. My frame is 60" wide and the floor frame and sidewalls will extend 1.5" on each side for a total of 63" I think I will need 2" wheel clearance on each side which brings me to 67". The backspace on this wheel tire combo. is 4.375" for each wheel so I need a hubface of 75.75"... right?

I talked to the tech. folks at Dexter and think I need a #9 Torflex with 1500#rubber capacity and a 10 deg down start angle. The printout they sent me shows an inside of arms dimension of 63.35" which gives me only 3/16" clearance on each side... do I need to modify my design for more clearance or is 3/16" ok? Does anyone know if the outside brackets to inside of arms dimension of 1.675" is a fixed dimension on Torflex axles?

I don't really know what my 5.25'X10' tear will weigh but I am hoping it will come in around 1100# or less. I don't know if this is realistic or not. What does your's weigh?

That's more than one question but your thoughts and comments will be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Howard


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[mikeschn]

I bought a flexiride axle with the brackets welded on to fit a 54" frame.

Outside of wheel to outside of wheel is 75".

That's 10 1/2" on a side. I don't know if the 7" brakes have any impact.

But if you were to buy a straight flexiride axle to fit on a 60" wide frame, your wheel outside to wheel outside would be 81"

Mike...

[mikeschn]

Okay, using your dimensions...

If you have a 0 offset wheel...

With a flexiride axle you would have a hubface to hubface of 72 3/4

Mike...

[Weerider]

Thanks Mike... do you have any info. about Torflex axles?

Howard

[mikeschn]

No I don't... but I just wanted to throw up a flag so you could check, and didn't wind up with something that was wider than you really wanted.

Mike...

Thanks Mike... do you have any info. aobut Torflex axles?

Howard

[angib]

Does anyone know if the outside brackets to inside of arms dimension of 1.675" is a fixed dimension on Torflex axles?

No, I believe it's very variable - as the overhang is increased, the arm moves further away from the bracket - it is the arm to hubface dimension that is fixed.

Here's a good Dexter axle measurement PDF that shows how and where they measure things.

Andrew

[Weerider]

No, I believe it's very variable - as the overhang is increased, the arm moves further away from the bracket - it is the arm to hubface dimension that is fixed.

Here's a good Dexter axle measurement PDF that shows how and where they measure things.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew, I used the Dexter Axle measurement pdf to figure the hubface to hubface ... where I almost screwed up was not being able to figure clearance for the arm. I see that the arm to hubface dimension is fixed but I still can't find that dimension in the literature. Maybe it's different from one hub to the next, depending on the hub weight capacity. This wouldn't matter if I weren't overhanging the camper body in order to cover the sides of the frame. I had plenty of clearance for the wheel & tire but only 3/16" for the arm. I am adjusting the amount of overhang to give the arm 7/16" clearance... this will work fine according to Dexter.

It is becoming all too clear that you don't just go out and through one of these T&TTTs together. I never thought that you could but I didn't know there was quite so much involved in getting the chassis and running gear sorted out.

I have ordered the Torflex axle and even though I don't have it yet, the folks at Dexter were great. They were very helpful and didn't seem to mind taking as much time as necessary to see that I got the right axle for my particular need. I know that this is as it should be but it's refreshing to deal with professionals who care and let it show.

Thanks again,

Howard

[angib]

I see that the arm to hubface dimension is fixed but I still can't find that dimension in the literature.

I've never seen it given (and I've done a lot of looking).

Maybe it's different from one hub to the next, depending on the hub weight capacity.

Oh, for sure, then it will be different. It will also be different within each weight capacity (#8, #9, etc) between the short spindle and the standard spindle. These two spindles are shown in the Dexter data sheets but they don't seem quick to offer them to customers. A short spindle, instead of a standard one, will give you a smaller arm to hubface measurement, so may be just what you're looking for. You'd have to check with Dexter if it's available in the axle specification you want - for example, it might not work with brakes, maybe.

Andrew

[Weerider]

A short spindle, instead of a standard one, will give you a smaller arm to hubface measurement, so may be just what you're looking for.

That sounds like it would do the trick. I will look into it... seems like the arm to hubface measurement would decrease by the difference in spindle lengths and move the arm outward by that same amount if the hubface to hubface dimension stays the same.

I would guess that the vast majority of trailers have the trailer frame and body the same width so that the inside of arms dimension isn't quite so critical. In my case (a first time trailer builder building an unconventional trailer) it would have been most helpful if that information had been readily accessible.

Thanks again,

Howard

[Alphacarina]

Using the Fexiride Torflex stub axles allows you to make the trailer (and the axle) width anything you want it, quite easily

I paid about $200 including shipping for my 1400 pound axle - Stub axles are much cheaper to ship too

Don

[Esteban]

Howard, I have a Dexter #9 torflex axle on order:

Called Dexter and ordered a #9 Torflex axle with:

1. #9 axle with brakes
2. hub face = 75.5"
3. 7 x 1 1/4 electric brakes
4. short spindle (to lessen track width)
5. EZ Lube
6. hubs with 5 on 4.5 bolt circle
7. 1/2"-20 studs
8. 22.5 down angle
9. 1700 lb. rubber capacity
10. low profile standard orientation brackets
11. side mount hangers
12. outside of brackets = 61" (frame width)
13. wheel nuts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. price $312.40 (not including 8% sales tax and shipping)

Told to expect delivery around the end of July. I'm on my way toward building a teardrop!

I'm building on a 61" wide frame, with 1" of cabin wall out beyond the frame on each side, for a total cabin width of 63". I ordered the axle with short spindles to lessen the gap between the body and the inside of the tires. In your case with a 1" narrower frame and a similar 63" cabin width you should be OK as your regular length spindles are each 1/2" longer that what I ordered.

Your Dexter Prospec should have an inside of arm to inside of arm measurement for you to check to make sure they'll clear the body.

With a 61" frame width and short spindles the narrowest hub face to hub face I could get was 75.5" and still have room for the arms to clear the 63" body. My Prospec shows the inside of arms to be 64.1" so I'll have just over 1/2" of clearance from each of the arms to the body. I'll have about 2.4" of clearance from the body to the inside of the tires.

Something I didn't anticipate prior to ordering the axle was the additional DOT lighting requirements for a trailer over 80" wide. With the fenders mine will be wider than 80".

[Weerider]

Thanks for the reply Steve, I have my axle on order and it should be here by Aug. 14. Here is what I ordered... maybe between yours and mine someone can glean some useful info.

1. #9 Torflex without brakes.
2. Hub face + 75.75".
3. No brakes
4. Standard spindle
5. Standard Grease
6. Hubs with 5 on 4.5' bolt circle.
7. 1/2"-20 studs.
8. 10 deg. down angle.
9. 1500# rubber capacity.
10. Low profile std. orientation brackets.
11. Side mount hangers.
12. Outside of brackets = 60" (frame width)
13. Inside of arms =63.35"
14. Wheel nuts.
15.Price $184.44 (plus shipping estimated to be $50.00)

I wish I had known that the short spindle was available and that the hubface to inside of arm was 1/2" shorter. As it is I will reduce my body width by 1/4" on each side and gain the necessary clearance for the arms (not a big deal).

Thanks to all responders, I really appreciate your input.

Howard

[S.A.Mike]

could someone give me a pro and con on
Dexter torflex verses ucf flexride axles?
I am intending to use it on a build like the Squidget.
Also I am in the process of getting a price to build
the frame(no welder) and the guy is suggesting a hitch
that grabs the ball from the sides.anyone know
anything about them? Thanks Mike

[brian_bp]

could someone give me a pro and con on
Dexter torflex verses ucf flexride axles?

There are two basic differences between the Flexiride and essentially everyone else (Dexter, Al-Ko, etc).

1 - While both types have a fixed housing separated from a shaft (with the suspension arm on the end) by rubber, the Flexiride rubber is moulded in place completely filling the space, while the others use rubber rods (three for most Al-Ko, four for everyone else) inserted into spaces between the parts. Flexiride's moulded rubber is permanently bonded in place; the rest also stay together because of the tight fit.

2 - With the exception of some lighter sized units, the Flexiride arm is clamped on to splines on the end of the shaft; the others are all welded together and thus not adjustable. You order most axles at the desired "starting angle"; you adjust a Flexiride (if splined) to the desired angle and can change later.

... a hitch
that grabs the ball from the sides...

That's probably the forged or cast model of coupler from Bulldog (a Cequent division). They have a catalog on-line.

They're billed as heavy-duty components with a secure latching system. I have heard opinions on both sides about them, but although I've seen them up close, I've never used one myself.

[Nitetimes]

could someone give me a pro and con on
Dexter torflex verses ucf flexride axles?

If you don't need an adjustable trailing arm angle use the Dexter. The Flexrides have splined shafts to adjust the height of the trailer.
Other wise it is usually personal preference or whichever one you can get a better price on.

I am intending to use it on a build like the Squidget.

Also I am in the process of getting a price to build
the frame(no welder) and the guy is suggesting a hitch
that grabs the ball from the sides.anyone know
anything about them?

They are heavy, strong and nearly indestructible and ugly. Way over kill for a trailer this size. They can also be miserable to open and close unless they are kept well lubed which gets grease all over you whenever you couple/uncouple them.