Found a 1000 pound torsion axle for $50. Will it work?

[cleonard]

Actually I found 50 of them. I was looking around Craigslist for something else and stumbled across an ad for some military surplus axles. They come with the axle, hubs, wheels and tires. The ad listed $60, but when I emailed him he said $50 would be fine.

Sorry, but I don't have a pic. The ad expired and I didn't save the photo. I know a post like this is pretty worthless ithout a pic and I will try and get one.

Now for the not so good part. The axle is a 1000 pound rating and that means a lightweight build for sure. The axle is also way too short. It must have carried something small because it's only 29 inches center to center on the mounting brackets. Clearly to be usable it would either have to be cut into two half axles or extended with a new center section. Is this realistic? Can an axle be modified like this? Since it's so small I'm guessing that the rubber pieces would have to be removed before welding. Is that easy to do on most torsion axles?

At only $50 I will likely pick one up. Just the rims should be worth that much. The tires looked pretty big. Maybe even 15 inch rims, but it was hard to tell. If anyone else is interested in one, they are located in Palmdale or Lancaster California.

How wrong can you go for $50?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Carl

S

[Mike M.]

buy 2 and make it a tandem tear

[bobhenry]

And you are not gonna let any of us in on this find!

see how you are !

[Mary K]

Nope it wont work.....send it to BobHenry!!


(How's that Bob?)

[cleonard]

No problem sharing. All I have at the moment is the guys email address. If I post it here the spam bots will find it and start slamming him. Just ask an ye shall receive.

They are pick up only so that will limit the usefulness of them. He just doesn't want to deal with the hassles of shipping such a big thing.

[brian_bp]

My guess is that the components are far heavier than required for a 1000lb-capacity axle, given the military origin. After cutting and extending, it will be even heavier. The bolt pattern may be unusual (limiting wheel options), and the tires could be even more oddball (for civilian use). I also wonder about anything "surplus" (if it was not needed, it must be obsolete; it could also be substandard).

... but at $50, it's worth considering. I look forward to seeing what hardware actually appears.

[bobhenry]

OK ship them to me and send the bill to Mary K

[Mini Renegade]

I bought an ex Air force braked trailer axle with springs and 8" wheels to use on my tear. When I went to collect it I found it took 2 large guys to lift it! It has a 2" solid square bar beam and the heaviest springs I have ever seen on something that small. A bit a research and it turns out it is the rear axle ( with parking brake) from a ww2 RAF bomb trolley! the ones used on the airfield to transport 1000 pound bombs to the Lancaster and B52 bombers!!!!!!

Needless to say I haven`t used it on my teardrop!!!

[teardrop_focus]

cleonard

How wrong can you go for $50?

If they're quality, rubber torsion axles with a 1000 lb rating, I'd like to see one, but I think the width between the dynamic portions of the axle ends are too close together. At that point, then, one can cut them, then bolt the-now-stub axles onto another axle. But then that begins to appear somewhat of a "hack".

Did you ever pick one of these up?

Oh, and, Hi! everyone. I'm new here. :-)~ I'm planning a teardrop and want to use this type of axle.

[teardrop_focus]

Six weeks to the day later...

Bump!

Mr. Leonard, did you ever get hold of one of these things? or more...?

[Gerdo]

Info needed.

Do they still exist?

I could use two of them for an offroad ATV utility trailer.

[kennyrayandersen]

My guess is that the components are far heavier than required for a 1000lb-capacity axle, given the military origin. After cutting and extending, it will be even heavier. The bolt pattern may be unusual (limiting wheel options), and the tires could be even more oddball (for civilian use). I also wonder about anything "surplus" (if it was not needed, it must be obsolete; it could also be substandard).

... but at $50, it's worth considering. I look forward to seeing what hardware actually appears.

I think these can go either way. The way things are procured by the government is could vary from truly derelict to nearly new. It's interesting that it actually lists the capacity as 1000 lb which shouldn't be too bad for a tear build. Seems like it wouldn't be too difficult it cut the tube of a torsion axle (since the rubber is usually out at the end) and weld a spacer in the middle. If the bolt pattern is a bit weird, you are only a spacer away from mounting whatever tire you want. The big deal is for $50 bucks you could buy it and if you couldn't figure on how to make it work you could sell it to the next unsuspecting nabob.

Might be worth it if you have more time than money.