#3500 axle

[Rickxr2]

I realize it is overkill, buy is there a disadvantage to a #3500 axle, other than the cost? The company building my frame had a concern of putting 14" wheels on the #2000 axle he normally uses.
Thanks,
Rick

[SteveH]

Rick,

The only things I can think of are unnessesary weight and the suspension may be a little ruff. If you are using leaf springs, the suspension can be dealt with.

[Nitetimes]

I've been running 14' wheels on 2k axles for years, never had any issuses with it. As long as you don't blow the tires up hard as a rock it should never be a problem.
We sold lots of them that way when I worked for a trailer manufacturer.

[David Grason]

The 3500# axles have an arch to them that is designed to straighten out under a heavy load. That way, when you're running loaded, the tires track straight and wear evenly. When running unloaded, the tires will be farther apart at the top than at the bottom and will wear a little unevenly.

But of course, if there isn't any weight on them, even if they are wearing unevenly, they certainly won't wear out any time soon. But at least now you'll know.

[Nitetimes]

David Grason All of your axles these days (2k, 3500#, 6k, ect.) will have an arch in them that should be up when mounted correctly. If you get an axle that is straight it is probably used and used hard or it is very poor quality. If you look at a trailer that has the bow down either the axle was installed wrong or it was overloaded frequently.

[len19070]

Your Manufactures concerns over using a 14" wheel on a 2000lb axel would concern ME. 14" wheels on 2000lb axels is very comon place. I would ask EXACTLY what are His concerns. Maybe he knows something we don't know. Everything is done for a reason.

Len

[Rickxr2]

Thanks for the suggestions, it helped alot. Turn in my order Monday and soon I'll be the proud owner of a chassis to set my cardboard prototype on.

[emiller]

I think if you look on the side walls of a tire you will see the pounds it can carry and if not mistaken two 14 inch tires can carry more than 2000#. When I buy tires for work the small 5.70-8 c load rated are 910 lbs ea. the 14's are 1410 lbs ea that meens the 2000# axle is under size for 14 or larger tires.

[Gerdo]

Does anyone have any thoughts on removing a leaf from the spring pack on a 3500# axle to get a softer ride? Are there any problems with this?

[JunkMan]

Does anyone have any thoughts on removing a leaf from the spring pack on a 3500# axle to get a softer ride? Are there any problems with this?

I had a dunebuggy trailer that had tandem 2500 pound axels, and was pretty stiff considering the buggy only weighed about 1000 pounds, so we took some leaves out, and it worked fine. Been using it that way for 15 years.

You might need to remove all but the main leaf. The main leaf will still be stiffer than a lighter axel spring, but it might be OK.

[So-Cal Teardrops]

The axles that we get have two different spindle sizes for the 2K axles. One is smaller and the mfg. doesn't recommend anything larger than 13", the one we use has a bigger spindle and bigger bearings and is designed for 14's or 15's.

See if they have the bigger spindle.

Happy building.

[Southern Oregon Bob]

I'm not on the road yet but I bought a 3500# axle and leaf springs from a fabricator who builds trailers. He recomended the larger axle for offroad and gave me new spring ratings for the 3500# springs depending on wether I removed 1 or 2 leafs. With 29" tires there was a full 1.25" differance between the tires measuring at the top then at the bottom with no load. I was wondering if taking some of that bow out would be a good idea either by cutting or maybe even with my tractor? Bob

[JunkMan]

I was wondering if taking some of that bow out would be a good idea either by cutting or maybe even with my tractor? Bob

Do you mean cutting the springs? I would think that the heat from cutting them would weaken them, unless you used something like a sawzall.

[Gerdo]

Leaf spring packs are held together by a locating pin/bolt and then the "U" bolts that hold the axle on. HYPOTHETICALY SPEEKING If one wanted to remove a leaf or two one would unbolt the ubolts and then remove the locating pin. Remove a leaf and then reassemble. If the locating pin/bolt breaks you can pick one up at your local spring repair shop. This way if you don't like the ride or ride height you can reverse the process.

[emiller]

I went with a 2000# axle from northern tool and hit a pot hole in L.A. on the way back from Morro Bay, CA to Phoenix, AZ and when I got home a saw my wheel was leaning inward at the top (bent axle) so I ordered a 3500# 4" drop axle from ABC trailers in Moulton, AL and it's nice to have piece of mind. I also installed a 3500# drop axle on my new teardrop.