Free axle..what to look for

[Juneaudave]

Saw this ad in the Juneau Freecycle.

"Old Heavy-duty trailer axle, 66" track, 45" leaf springs, G78-15LT
tires, shock mounts. We would love to get this to someone who can
make use of it - good start for building a trailer. Needs loving
attention, but it should be sound and usable."

I've seen several such this past year, but purchased a Dexter for my build. Out of curiosity...what should a fella look for in a "give away" axle??

[madjack]

...excessive rust and free turning hubs...I would at least try and pull the grease caps and getta look in there...I would also repack bearings and replace grease seal on any "old" axle, I might aquire.....
madjack

[Juneaudave]

Ya know...this Tear thing gets to you. After awhile...everywhere you go you see stuff and say "Gee..I could use that on the next build!"

Sad part for me is that No. 1 still ain't finished...and it's been a couple years now!!!!

Hey..it was kinda like this in college...took 6 years for a 4 year degree..but in the school of T&TTT, I feel I have graduated basic trailer, profile and cabinet with a C+ average...now I'm taking Hatch 101!!!

[del]

Ya know...this Tear thing gets to you. After awhile...everywhere you go you see stuff and say "Gee..I could use that on the next build!"

Sad part for me is that No. 1 still ain't finished...and it's been a couple years now!!!!

Hey..it was kinda like this in college...took 6 years for a 4 year degree..but in the school of T&TTT, I feel I have graduated basic trailer, profile and cabinet with a C+ average...now I'm taking Hatch 101!!!

This trailer looks like well beyond masters work, A+ would be selling it short.

Now if the axle looks like it will work, and you have space to store it....

del

[Juneaudave]

Thanks Del!!! Funny thing...I went and looked at that free axle and had to pass it up after it was so heavy I couldn't lift it in my truck!!! Man...that thing must have carried a sherman tank. Not only did it have shock mounts..it had brakes, about 4 ft. of steel where they cut it out, and tires that looked like they came out of WW2! Seems they were using the trailer to carry water before service was put into their area...

[del]

I do not know could make a unique trailer, of coarse the TV would need to be a Kenworth.
del

[Alphacarina]

Those are called 'mobilizers' and you bolt half onto the front and rear of military equipment vans and pallets

I was stationed at a mobile radar facility in Germany and we towed about 30 vans all over Europe for 3 years using those things - You can't back up with them, BTW

They use airbags for suspension and the hydraulic cylinders you see are used when you bolt the mobilizer onto a van sitting on the ground - The hydraulic cylinders raise the van up to the towing position

Don

[brian_bp]

Thanks, Don!
It looked like a folding arrangement of some sort, but I didn't really have any idea. That's a fascinating setup, and with the description it makes perfect sense, and I had never heard of them before.

Want a travel trailer? Pick up your cottage and go!

Now back to your regularly scheduled topic... used axles, right?

I would look for some sort of manufacturer's plate to get an idea of capacity, and the chances of finding service parts (such as bearings). I would want something I can get wheels to fit, so I would check at least the bolt pattern and offset. Of course it needs to be a suitable width, but that was already mentioned.