Ultra light chassis

[newbuilder]

Does anyone have any experience with the chassis design in the design library? Why could I not use a sprung axle with it?

[angib]

Why could I not use a sprung axle with it?

The Ultralight uses the strength of the rubber torsion axle as part of its structure. If you wanted to use a leaf-spring axle, then you have to replace that strength. You would need to lengthen the angles on the side so that they pick up the two ends of each spring and then you would need to add a cross member at each end to hold the axle brackets rigidly in place.

This would add quite a bit of extra weight and complexity to the chassis, so I never considered that alternative - it kinda stops being an ultralight and becomes a light-ish.

Andrew

[newbuilder]

So how does the torsion axle compare to a spring axle in price?

[aggie79]

My #9 Dexter torsion axle was about $230, including the weld-on mounting brackets. The hubs are the standard lube hubs, and I did not get brakes.

The #8 Dexter is lighter and less expensive. (I went with the #9 to get the larger bolt pattern on the hubs so I could use car wheels.)

[dwgriff1]

I used a Dexter 8 and the price was under $200, but that was a few years ago.

dave