Questions about a Dexter axle I found

[Tom7707]

Guys,

I am in the early stages of planning my trailer build and came upon a Dexter axle in a trailer shop that was ordered but never picked up. It is a Dexter #9 torflex axle (10 Deg. down) with electric brakes. I can get it for about $100. My problem is that the hub to hub is 83". Hub face to side hanging bracket is 10". I was planning to build a trailer with 2 x 2 tubing for a 5 x 10 TD. I understand that if I use 15" tires that are 8" wide with zero offset on the rims then I will have 4" of tire on each side of the hub face. This will make a 6" gap between the inside of the tire and the side of the side hanging bracket. To overcome this I was thinking about just building the trailer frame out (wider) to within about 1/2" of the link arm. What is the normal distance (gap) between the inside tire and side of the TD usually? Fenders are another issue that needs to be looked at also. I saw some cool looking ones on the web ($$$) that were 10 " wide. My concerns are that a 8" tire, offsets of the rims, and 10" fenders don't leave much room for error in this part of the planning game.

Anyone see why this wouldn't work?

Thanks, Tom in Indy.

[madjack]

Tom, that is one HECKUVA deal on that axle, which is normally around a $400+ axle...you can always build to suit the axle if that is something that would work for you...some things to consider...you will DEFINITELY be over 80"s and will require additional lighting to be DOT legal...that extra width will put your camper into the windstream, adding to aerodynamic drag and may well cause you to need additional mirrors...depending on what materials you are using to build with, it could POSSIBLY add to your waste to make it all fit...none of these are all that big a deal and can be fairly easily worked with...especially with the price of the axle...you need at least 1" minimum between tire and side wall and around a 1/4" between the torsion arm and the side wall...I have 10.5" steel fenders on my camper, which came from RedNeckTrailerSupply for 16bucks apiece.........
madjack

[Tom7707]

Thanks Madjack,

Yea, After looking around, the price on the axle was a good one. A little long but this can be over come by building the TD a little on the wide side. ( I just hate to pass up a good deal) Good deal on the distance between the side and the inner tire. I plan to start building the trailer frame starting the 28 0r 29 of this month. I'll post pictures as I go.

Thanks again, Tom

[Dale M.]

Why not contact Dexter and see of axle can be narrowed, if not build wide...

Dale

[madjack]

Why not contact Dexter and see of axle can be narrowed, if not build wide...

Dale

...the axle can probably be narrowed but that pesky, upwards bow in the middle of the axle will havvta be accounted for.......
madjack

[Alphacarina]

A better solution than narrowing it would be to use wheels from a FWD car with larger offsets - A pair of 50 mm offset wheels would 'eat up' about 4 inches of that 'too long' axle you've got such a great deal on

My problems are always the opposite - I LIKE FWD wheels (so they match my car and don't require me to carry another spare) and I usually have to run a 2 inch spacer to make them fit

Don

[Tom7707]

Thanks for the ideas on my axle. I think I am just going to build a few inches wide. Another reason for that is that I found a set of Ford Rims (and tires) for $100.00 here in town. I really only wanted the rims but for now I can use the tires to work on the trailer and get new ones later.





I will need to clean them up a little but I was looking at spending a lot more on them if I were to buy retail. Being a cost effective (cheap) type of person I think these will work fine for what I have in mind. After I finish building I will purchase new trailer rated tires for the rims. Now, if I can only get the wife to start polishing them!

Later guys

[Tom7707]

Here is a picture of one rim starting to clean up. Lots of work to go.





At this rate I may be able to start my trailer frame this week or at least get the metal to the house.

Tom

[Steve_Cox]

Tom.

You wil enjoy having the extra width in the trailer, galley wise, and otherwise.

When I built my teardrop, I too started with the axles and wheels, then built the frame to give me the exact behind the wheel space I wanted.

[Nitetimes]

I forgot I've got a set of Lincoln wheels like that...gonna have to dig them out and check the bolt pattern.